Desert Rain by Elizabeth Lowell Page A

ensemble, either, does it?
    Sand Dancer snorted and stretched his nose toward the strange human.
    Holly stood quietly while the horse whuffed over her, drinking her scent. After a minute
     the animals velvet nose bumped her gently, accepting her as a friend.
    She rubbed the horses ears, admiring their expressive elegance. Sand Dancers nose bumped
     Holly again, less gently. Friendly beast, arent you? she said, laughing. Like his owner,
     Linc said.
    Startled, Holly turned and looked over her shoulder.
    Linc was standing just out of reach. He wore no shirt because it had been shredded in his
     fall. His jeans were still wet.
    They fitted his body the way Holly wanted to, an unbroken line of intimacy.
    Sand Dancers all right, she said quickly. Are you?
    Holly winced at the breathless, husky quality of her own voice. She might as well have
     shouted Lincs effect on her.
    His right eyebrow lifted in a wry arc.
    Cold wet shower, cold wet jeans, he said. Either one gets the job done. For a time.
    I meant Holly felt herself blushing and groaned. Good Lord, you have me acting like Im
     nine again.
    You must have been a very advanced nine, Linc teased. Her blush deepened.
    He smiled and relented.
    My head aches, he admitted. My shoulder is stiff. My knee is tender.
    Oh, Holly said unhappily.
    Dont look so stricken, honey. Ive been hurt worse tripping over my own big feet.
    Somehow I cant see you as clumsy, she said, shaking her head. Ive been jealous of the way
     you move since the first time I saw you.
    Linc looked surprised, but before he could say anything, Holly was talking again.
    And those eyelashes of yours, she added. My God. Do you have any idea just how devastating
     your coordination and thick lashes were to this nine-year-old? And you never even noticed
     me for seven years.
    Dont bet on it. The thoughts that crossed my mind after you were fourteen would have
     gotten me arrested.
    At first Holly thought Link was joking.
    The look in his eyes convinced her that he wasnt.
    I wish youd told me, she whispered.
    Great, he retorted. You could have visited me in jail on alternate Thursdays.
    She laughed.
    Dancer bumped her with his nose, demanding her attention.
    Duty calls, Linc said.
    Looks more like a horse to me.
    Holly turned around and began to work on Sand Dancer.
    Linc walked up behind her. He stood so close she could feel the heat of his body radiating
     through the back of her jacket.
    My hands are cold, Linc lied. Let me warm them on you.
    He rubbed his palms over Hollys arms. Slowly he cupped her breasts. The nipples instantly
     hardened between his fingers.
    She made an odd sound, surprise and passion combined. With a soft curse he put his hands
     behind his back.
    Holly went to work on the wet, knotted twine that held the tarp on Sand Dancer. The job
     was made worse because her fingers refused to stop trembling.
    Im not to be trusted this morning, Linc muttered. Sorry. Put your hands in your pockets,
     Holly suggested. My hands wont fit in my pockets, he admitted wryly. His hands eased into
     the front pockets of her jeans.
    Can I use yours? he asked.
    Inside Hollys pockets, his hands moved in sensual rhythms.
    Linc, she said raggedly, feeling herself melt with each touch. Linc . . .
    He shuddered and pulled his hands out of her pockets.
    The things you do to my self-control, Linc said ruefully. I thought I was long past the
     age when I couldnt keep my hands to myself.
    Holly turned toward him.
    I wasnt complaining, she said.
    I know. Well make a deal, though. I wont touch you until poor Sand Dancer is taken care of.
    Holly thought of all the tight little knots and wondered if she could last that long.
    Shake on it? Linc asked, holding out his hand.
    At the same moment they both realized that he was waiting to feel the warmth of her hand
     sliding across his palm.
    Quickly Linc dropped his hand.
    Ill take your word for it, he said. Safer that way. Not as much fun, but safer.
    Holly didnt