82
" Well, I admit, you’re not exactly what I have in mind, either. I was thinking around twenty-six, more hair, polo shirt, or maybe a sharp, crisp, white button-down,” she said, and then she grinned at him. He was totally shocked. He’d spent all this time fighting the attraction and she had something else in mind anyway? “I’m too old for you, plain and simple,” he pointed out. “Probably, but there don’t seem to be many single men around. You kind of stand out.” “You should throw your net wider,” he suggested. “Until I do, let’s not get ridiculous. It’s a beer and some dinner. It doesn’t really matter how old we are or who my uncle is.” He smiled. Sometimes she seemed a little older than twenty-five. She was awfully bright. Quick. Usually the problem with girls her age was they were dimwits. Not this one. She was honest and direct. Luke respected that. "
― Robyn Carr , Temptation Ridge (Virgin River, #6)
89
" You’re killing me. Come inside with me for a few hours.” “No. Not yet,” she said. Then she shrugged. “Sorry if I’m teasing you.” He pulled away and dismounted. “Shelby, I don’t think you’re sorry. I think you’re in control here, trying to make me sorry,” he said, but he couldn’t help smiling. “See you tonight. For a beer.” “Maybe.” “Come on,” she laughed. “It’s not possible I’m more brave than you. You’ve been in combat how many times?” “This is so different. This is a small town. You’re a general’s only niece.” “Yeah,” she said, taking Plenty’s reins with a naughty grin. “Man up.” * "
― Robyn Carr , Temptation Ridge (Virgin River, #6)
90
" So, I invited my brother to go over to the coast to have a beer, check out the women, and what does he tell me? Not interested in doing that—he wants to go to this little bar in Virgin River. But he doesn’t tell me why. What an incredible coincidence that you happen to be here, Miss McIntyre.” She laughed at him, finding him darling and playful, two things Luke definitely was not. “Please, it’s just Shelby. He knew I’d be here. It’s almost a standing date.” “Is it, now? Is there another one of you at home?” “I’m afraid not,” she said. “But I understand there are more brothers.” “Aiden, Colin and Paddy. But I’m the richest and most handsome.” “And the biggest pain in the ass,” Luke inserted. “Where do you fall in the pack?” Shelby asked. “Number four. Luke’s the oldest.” He looked over his shoulder at Luke. “He’s very old, you know. And I think my family and your family were at war for thousands of years,” he teased. He sipped his beer. “Yeah, the McIntyre-Riordan wars. Sure am glad that’s over.” “And none of you married?” “At last count, two of them tried it and blew it. They insist it wasn’t their fault,” he said, grinning. Luke was going to take him home and beat the shit out of him. But Shelby was loving it. The sly grin on the general’s face was unmistakable and the amused crinkle at the corners of Jack’s eyes suggested he was getting too big a kick out of this as well. And "
― Robyn Carr , Temptation Ridge (Virgin River, #6)
95
" The September afternoon was pleasant and sunny and she could see that Luke was crouched atop one of the cabins tearing off rotting shingles. Although it was cool enough for her to need a jacket, his broad sunburned bare back was facing her—it was a very enjoyable sight and she drank it in, silent. Then Plenty whinnied and Luke glanced over his shoulder. He stood and carefully turned toward her, balanced on the sloping roof. A smile found its way to her lips. What a sight he was, bare-chested, whiskers on his cheeks and chin, wearing jeans and a tool belt. She briefly wondered what it was about a tool belt… What was it she had said about the guy she had in mind? Clean-shaven, starched and pressed, polo shirt…? Nah…. “Looks "
― Robyn Carr , Temptation Ridge (Virgin River, #6)
97
" If you get a whiff of anything in there that has my scent on it, back away. If you touch it, you’re a dead man.” Sean grinned. “Okay, now I’m catching on. Oh man, this is going to be fun.” He jumped out of the truck and bounded up the stairs, clearly dying of curiosity. Luke was right behind him, but almost plowed into him. Sean stopped short right inside the door. Walt and Shelby were sitting up at the bar and both turned at the sound of someone entering. Luke put a firm hand, a reminder, on Sean’s shoulder. “Holy shit,” Sean whispered. Luke gave his shoulder a little shake and pushed him forward. “General Booth,” Luke said. “Shelby McIntyre. Meet my brother Sean.” “Sir,” Sean said. “Miss.” Standing behind him as he was, Luke couldn’t see Sean’s dimpled grin, but knew it was huge. It made Luke’s frown a little deeper. God, he thought, why couldn’t I have had sisters? Jack "
― Robyn Carr , Temptation Ridge (Virgin River, #6)
98
" I don’t come here every night, so I thought maybe we just missed each other. But I asked Jack—you haven’t been around for a beer at all. A couple of weeks, I think….” Eleven days, he thought miserably. “And you were going to make a break for it once I showed up. I hadn’t even considered you were avoiding me. Do I make you nervous or something?” she asked. “Whew,” he answered, shaking his head. “I haven’t been out of the army long enough to get over that rank thing. Your uncle—” “Isn’t anywhere in sight,” she said, cutting him off. “Is it just my uncle?” “You’re a pretty girl, Shelby,” he said. “And you’re just a girl. Puts me on edge, yeah.” “Well then, we’re even,” she said. He gave her a perplexed look and she said, “You’re a good-looking guy, obviously been around a lot more than I have, and you’re older. Scary.” He laughed at her candidness. “There you go—like water on a grease fire. Let’s play it safe, huh? Now tell me about your day.” “Nothing to tell. Besides, this is interesting. I’d like to know what’s going on here. So, it’s pretty much that I’m a lot younger than you are. Or you just don’t like me.” And then she blushed, which made him squirm. It obviously took guts for her to push on this issue. But she wanted to know. So he decided to tell her. “You know what it is, Shelby,” he said. “You’re young and tender. A sweet young thing. I’m hell on sweet young things.” She laughed at him. “I bet anything you usually find a way to get past all that.” Well, she didn’t scare easy, Luke realized with some admiration. "
― Robyn Carr , Temptation Ridge (Virgin River, #6)
100
" I haven’t seen you in a couple of days. Are you avoiding me again?” “I should, but I haven’t been. I’ve had stuff going on. Does the general know you’re doing this?” he asked. “Of course. They’re his horses.” “Aw, Shelby,” he said, sounding a little miserable. He took off the tool belt and buttoned up his shirt. “What did he say?” “He said, ‘You be careful of that Black Hawk pilot. They have a reputation for abusing women.’” He shoved his shirt into his pants. “God,” he moaned. “Why don’t you go away and leave me alone before you get me shot.” She laughed. “He didn’t say that. He said, ‘Be sure to tell Luke that Plenty nips and bolts.’ So—Plenty, short for Plenty of Trouble, nips and bolts. You’ll have to pay attention.” “Bolts?” he asked a little nervously. “Not usually with a rider. But if you get off, keep the reins. She can be a handful when she acts up, but she’s a pretty good ride.” “Aw, man. I have a feeling this is going to be humiliating. Where are we going?” “How about upriver a ways to check out the turning leaves?” she asked. “Think you can handle that?” “I’ll give it a go,” he said. "
― Robyn Carr , Temptation Ridge (Virgin River, #6)
