Swept Away. Kristina Mathews

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СКАЧАТЬ for you to miss out on one of life’s great pleasures.”

      “You’re that good?” Lily finished off her tea, wishing she could forget the feel of Carson pressed against her. His hand on her breast. His strength completely enveloping her.

      “Honey, we’re the best,” Cody joined in, lightening the mood. His flirting, she could deal with. He made her feel feminine and attractive, but she knew he didn’t mean anything serious.

      “I’ll think about it.” They were right, of course. But still, she was afraid. Of the river, sure, but she was more afraid of spending too much time with the Swift brothers.

      * * * *

      They had a problem. Carson gripped the steering wheel of his truck as he backed down the long driveway. Lily was safe and warm in her cabin. She’d showered, dressed, and finished her tea. After playing hostess, offering them drinks and snacks, she no longer seemed dazed or confused as she’d been when Carson had first pulled her out of the river.

      But he was confused. Not about why he and Cody both found her attractive. That was perfectly understandable. No. What he couldn’t figure out was why he felt such a strong need to protect her. He was looking for less responsibility, not more. Yet some instinct rose inside him. It was almost primal.

      And it made him want to spar with the other male competing for her attention.

      “You went a little overboard with the come-ons in there.” Carson wasn’t sure if he was more jealous or embarrassed by Cody’s blatant flirtation. “I mean, ‘We can light your fire?’ Who says that?”

      “I was just trying to be helpful.” Cody had that innocent, “Who me?” tone in his voice.

      “It was too much, even for you.”

      “What’s that supposed to mean?” As if he didn’t know.

      “Helpful would be maybe waiting until she dried off before trying to get her into bed.”

      “You’re the one who felt her up on the side of the river.” Cody sounded a little defensive.

      “I was trying to keep her warm. Hypothermia can be a real danger, especially this time of year when the water is still barely above freezing.”

      “Listen to Mr. Boy Scout.” Cody chuckled. “You want her and you know it.”

      Carson didn’t respond. There was no use arguing, so he concentrated on the road. On putting distance between him and Lily.

      “So if I said I saw her first…” Cody wouldn’t drop it.

      “I went in after her,” Carson reminded him.

      “I like her. I really like her.”

      “You like every attractive woman you meet.” They’d had this conversation too many times. “Until you get them into bed.”

      “Lily’s different.” Cody almost sounded sincere.

      “Leave Lily alone”

      “I don’t think so. I’m not going to step aside just so you can have her.”

      “She’s not a prize to be won.” Carson couldn’t help himself. He was protective of her. A little possessive, even.

      “Afraid of losing?”

      “No.” Carson had learned a long time ago that it was easier to let Cody win. But not this time. “It’s just that I’d hate to see her added to the tailings of your pathetic love life.”

      “The tailings of my love life?” Cody choked out a laugh. Maybe Carson’s words hit a little close to home.

      “Yeah, all those women you just tossed aside. After you dropped your shaft, you couldn’t care less about the destruction you left behind.”

      “Hey, my shaft is bigger than yours.” Wow. A penis metaphor. There was something new.

      “You don’t get it, do you?” Carson gripped the steering wheel tighter. “You can’t treat women that way.”

      “Hey, I let them know up front what they’re getting into.”

      This wasn’t just about Lily. It was a conversation they should have had years ago. They weren’t twenty-two anymore.

      “Yeah, and you think they actually believe you.” Carson couldn’t believe his brother didn’t know the difference.

      “What’s that supposed to mean?”

      “Sure, they agree—no strings, no worries,” Carson said the words through a clenched jaw. “But most of them tend to think that maybe, just maybe, they’re special. That they might be the one woman who can tame the raging beast inside you.”

      “Lily could be that woman. Give me a little credit, will you?” Cody cranked the volume on the radio, tuning his brother out.

      They were traveling in uncharted territory. Amazing that they hadn’t ever both been interested in the same woman before. Or maybe Carson had stopped being interested in the kind of women Cody lured into his bed and sent out the back door the next morning because he didn’t care enough to walk them to their car.

      Maybe Carson was ready for something more. Something that didn’t involve Cody.

      “So not everyone stays friends with the women he sleeps with,” Cody said after several minutes of silence between them.

      “What’s that supposed to mean?” Carson kept his eyes on the road ahead. They were almost to the highway.

      “I mean, you manage to stay on speaking terms with every woman you bring home.” Cody’s voice held a note of contempt, and maybe a little bit of wonder. “Hell, some of them even invited you to their weddings. What’s up with that?”

      “I didn’t sleep with all of them,” Carson admitted. But he wasn’t sure if he was proud of the fact or not. “Some were just friends. That’s why they stayed friends.”

      “So you’re saying you never slept with any of those women?” Cody’s voice rose an octave.

      “No. I’m just saying I haven’t slept with every woman I’ve brought home.”

      “What’s wrong with you?” Cody wondered aloud.

      “Nothing’s wrong with me.” Carson shook his head, still not looking at his brother. “I just don’t have to prove anything to anyone by sleeping with every woman I meet.”

      “You know they have pills for that now,” Cody teased. As always. It was starting to wear on him. No. It had grown old years ago. It was just now he had a way out. A plan to make a life of his own.

      Carson fiddled with the radio, switching from music to sports talk radio. The Giants had lost their game earlier and the callers were demanding drastic measures. A trade. Bringing up that prospect. Dumping the guy who’d been the big hero last year.

      Was СКАЧАТЬ