Destiny Wears Spurs by Kari Lee Harmon Page A

everything he had to will his pulse to a normal rate, take a step back, then release his hold on her hands and wait. Her eyes fluttered open, glazed with passion, until a confused, hurt look flooded her face. She tried to mask it, and Cody almost gave in. He reminded himself even if she still wanted him after she knew the truth, he didn’t want to be in another serious relationship. Ever.
    “Come on. I’ll take you to bed,” he said, deciding he had to get her out of there before he did something stupid.
    “Oh?” Monica’s voice whooshed out, all breathy-like.
    He flicked a look at her mouth and then tore his gaze away. “You could use the rest, and I need to take a look at that leg.”
    “Oh, right.” She went rigid, her cheeks blossoming pink.
    “Right. Let’s get you out of your wet pants and shoes.” His hands shook as he touched her again, slipping her outer clothing off until she stood in nothing but her nightgown. “Wrap your arms around my neck while I carry you.” He lifted her and cradled her against his chest.
    She felt so good in his arms.
    “Whatever you say.”
    He nodded and then set out at a quick pace. Rounding the top of the hill, Cody stepped behind a pine tree to scope out the dude ranch. No one in sight. Relief bubbled through his muscles, releasing the tension in the back of his neck like a cork popping out of a fizzing bottle of champagne.
    Why’d she have to go and wear that damn nightgown again? It already haunted his dreams from the first time he’d seen it. Now that he’d seen it dripping wet and undeniably transparent, he didn’t plan on getting a good night’s sleep anytime soon.
    “Why are we stopping?” she mumbled into his shirt.
    “Everything’s fine. Almost there,” he replied. His constant woody made it difficult to walk. Gripping the cabin doorknob, he gave it a swift twist and shoved the door open. He slipped inside and kicked it closed with his boot heel.
    Cody placed Monica on the big bed and lifted her nightgown to examine her thigh. His probing fingers confirmed nothing was broken, but the tender-looking skin had turned various shades of black and purple. He slipped some liniment from his pocket and rubbed it in, stepping back the second he finished.
    “You’re not leaving, are you? What about the rest of me? My butt is so twisted up in knots I can’t stand it.” She pinned him with an accusing stare. “Let me remind you, it’s not entirely my fault.”
    “I, ah, I could call Cassie, if you want.” He cleared his sandpapery throat. Glancing at Monica’s hand, he shoved his own deep into his pocket. If he had to touch her again, he’d inevitably do something he had no damn business doing.
    Hell. He remembered why the dude ranch had looked deserted. “I can’t call Cassie. I forgot she’s taking the dudes on a sightseeing excursion today.” He scuffed the carpet with his boot, trying to think of something else.
    “Well, you have to do something. What about the stuff you rubbed on my leg? Won’t that work?”
    “You mean ....” He glanced at her body, clearly outlined beneath the nightgown, and swallowed hard. “You want me to massage your ... your ....”
    “Look, I don’t care what you massage, just massage something. I’m dying here.”
    “You asked for it.” Some of the things this little lady said shocked the hell right out of him. He was beginning to think she was purposely trying to drive him crazy. “We need to get you out of this wet nightgown and warm those muscles up.”
    “I couldn’t manage on my own this morning. I guess you could take it off for me.”
    “I said ‘we’,” he snapped. He was coming undone. Cody knew he had to help her, but dammit, he shouldn’t like it.
    “Excuse me.” She looked away.
    He rolled his head back and closed his eyes on a heavy sigh. She had no idea what she did to him. He looked at her. “Can we get on with it? I still have loads of work to do, remember?”
    Her eyes shot fire at him.