He couldn't help the smile that crossed his mouth. He'd taken great pleasure in marking her. He wanted everyone to know she was taken. He might be considered old fashioned, but he figured he'd laid claim to her and the sooner everybody realized it, the better off they'd be because he wouldn't have anyone else trying to stake a claim on what he considered his.

"What I know is that you'd better watch your mouth, darlin'. That's no way for a lady to be talking."

"Oh, go screw yourself, cowboy. I've never pretended to be a lady and sure as hell don't look like one with this damned thing on my neck." She must be pissed, Clay thought. He'd never heard her use foul language.

"I won't warn you again, Bobbie. If you can't curb your tongue I'm sure I can find something for it to do."

The look on her face had been comical until he'd added, "I told you everyone would know you belong to me. There's no mistaking it now so you might as well get used to it."

Without further words or action, Bobbie had turned and left the room and hadn't looked his way ... read full excerpt from California Cowboy ebook