Swept Away. Kristina Mathews

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СКАЧАТЬ his mind and he brushed it away like a pesky mosquito.

      Cody stood downstream, holding his rod case over the water. A rope would be better, but they’d left the hoopi in the truck. The tubular nylon webbing, often used by climbers, was one of their most valuable pieces of river gear. Almost as versatile as duct tape, and Carson wished he had some with him. He did have his brother. Cody might not remember to pay his cell phone bill on time, but get him on the river and he was one of the most reliable men around.

      “Hold tight.” Carson reached for the case, and grabbed hold as Cody pulled them toward the shore, reeling them in like a couple of steelhead. Carson got his feet under him and helped the woman stand.

      “You’re okay. You’re going to be just fine.” His legs felt like wet beef jerky now that the adrenaline drained from his system. His heart rate should be returning to normal, but he’d just felt her up in the middle of the river and he didn’t even know what color her eyes were. Let alone her name.

      “Thank you.” She shivered.

      Hidden Creek would be a very different river in another month. Once the runoff slowed, it would be marked with gentle riffles, calm pools, and some of the best trout fishing in Northern California. Today, it was a surging flow carrying a winter’s worth of snowmelt as it merged into the South Fork of the American River. Not as cold as it had been a few weeks ago, but still cold enough that twenty more minutes might have led to a different ending.

      Carson tore off his wet shirt and pulled the woman against his bare skin. “I’ve got to get your core temperature up.” He massaged her arms and torso briskly, hoping she wouldn’t think he was some kind of perv. But, damn, she felt good pressed against him, soft in all the right places and naked except for her bikini bottoms. The idea was to warm her up, but he was the one on fire.

      “Cody. Give me your shirt.” His words came out harsh and demanding. His brother obeyed, pulling the dry T-shirt off and tossing it to him in one swift motion. Carson slipped it over her head, breaking the contact but not the impact of her bare skin against his.

      “What’s your name?” Carson asked.

      “Lily Johnson.” She held her hand out, but quickly retreated. “Sorry. It’s Price. Lily Price.”

      She shook her head before extending her hand again. Her grip was firm and surprisingly warm. Had she recently changed her name or was her confusion because of injury? He glanced down at her left hand. Bare. But that didn’t mean a thing. The river was a thief. She’d been known to take jewelry, sunglasses, and bathing suits. Even lives.

      “I’m Carson Swift.” Carson dropped her hand, but he still felt the charge as if he’d been struck by lightning, and the water only intensified the conductivity. “This is my brother, Cody.”

      “Oh, so there are two of you.” She let out a sigh of relief. “I thought I was seeing double.”

      “We’re twins.” Cody reached out to shake hands. “Identical.”

      “Nice to meet you both.” Lily glanced from one brother to the other. The glazed look in her honey-gold eyes told Carson she’d have to work at telling them apart. They were too much alike. On the outside.

      “It’s our pleasure.” Cody emphasized the last word, letting her know that he was interested. Then again, Cody rarely met a good-looking woman he wasn’t interested in.

      “Well, thank you both for…” Lily held her breath just long enough for Carson to suspect she was not as calm as she pretended to be. “Saving my life.” She flashed them a fake smile to let them know she was fine, thank-you-very-much.

      “Hey, no problem.” Carson wanted her to believe it was no big deal. All in a day’s work.

      Except it was a problem. A big problem. He couldn’t just walk away from her now.

      Physically, she’d recover. She’d be sore for a few days, but the color had already returned to her cheeks. She stretched her arms overhead and rolled her head from side to side. He almost expected her to throw a few jabs in the air just to prove she was a fighter. But she kept casting glances at the river as if it might reach up and swallow her. Carson worried more about her emotional state. Fear could creep in like an unwanted vine and if left unchecked, it would take over, choking the life out of her.

      “Let’s get you someplace warm.” Carson took her arm to lead her back up the path. “My truck is just down the creek.”

      “Oh, that’s okay.” Lily eyed the water again with mistrust. “My cabin is right on the river.”

      “Cedar shingles? Green trim?” Cody asked. They had fished this stretch of the river enough times to know the place she was talking about.

      “That’s the one.” Lily’s face lit up with pride. There were only a few residences along the way and hers was by far the most welcoming.

      “Trust me,” Carson said. “My truck is much closer.”

      She shrugged and then bent down to pick up his keys and phone.

      “You might need these then.” She handed the keys to him and their fingers brushed, sending a shiver down his spine.

      “Is there someone we should call?” Carson asked as he took the phone.

      “No.” Lily shook her head. Sadness flickered across her face, disappearing almost instantly. “I’m enjoying the solitude of Hidden Creek.”

      “So you’re all alone out here?” Cody’s voice dripped with invitation. Could he be any more obvious? The woman had just been plucked from the river and Cody was trying to get her into bed.

      “I’m taking a much-needed vacation.” Lily’s voice held a hint of defiance. “The first since my honeymoon seven years ago.”

      “So will your husband be joining you?” Carson’s voice cracked like a thirteen-year-old boy. He half-hoped she was still married. Then he could just forget about her.

      Yeah. Right.

      “My ex-husband can go to hell.” Lily’s voice shook a little. As if she wasn’t used to using such strong language. Or maybe she wasn’t used to standing up for herself. “Did I say that out loud?”

      “You did.” She made him laugh, in spite of everything.

      “I am so embarrassed.” Lily blushed, a deep, dark pink. “I’m not really the bitter ex. I swear.”

      “What, did the guy cheat on you?” Cody asked. Leave it to his brother to use a woman’s divorce as an opener to hit on her.

      “Yeah. Among other things.” Lily looked down at the trail, as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. Obviously she didn’t want to talk about it. She marched forward, but stumbled on an exposed root.

      Carson grabbed her arm. Just to steady her. The sooner he got her back to her cabin, the better.

      “Let’s get you home. Get you warmed up, and we’ll be on our way.” Carson would sleep better knowing she had no lasting effects of her ordeal. Besides, he already felt responsible for her.

      He needed someone else to worry СКАЧАТЬ