A Family For The Rancher. Allison B. Collins
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Название: A Family For The Rancher
Автор: Allison B. Collins
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Контркультура
Серия: Cowboys to Grooms
isbn: 9781474077330
isbn:
He waited, could almost see the wheels turning in her head.
“Maybe we could turn this into a session.” She peeked out through her fingers, he assumed to assess the rock, shoreline and find a way he could get out.
“Just get me out of here,” he growled.
“You’re going to have to learn how to do this on your own if you come back here. Might as well start today.”
“Get me the hell out of this pond. Don’t lecture me about rehab. I can’t get out by myself. You think that makes me happy?” If she said one more damn word about rehab, he wouldn’t be responsible for his actions.
“Fine,” she huffed, dropping her hands to her sides. She stomped to the edge and held her hand out.
He reached up to grab her hand, and she pulled. Using his foot, he tried to scramble as best he could up the slippery slope.
She gripped his wrist with her other hand and pulled again, just as he started sliding backward. He tried to let go, but she followed him with a big splash and sank underwater. She rose to the surface, spluttering and coughing.
“Kelsey, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean—”
Her outrage was so absolute he was surprised the water didn’t start boiling around them. Her black as sin hair plastered to her head, and she scooped it out of her eyes.
A tickle rose up his throat, and he tried to cough it back. Which only made it worse. It turned into a snort.
“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” The accusatory finger aimed his way could have been a lethal weapon.
Choking back another laugh, he held his hands up. “No, ma’am. Honestly, I didn’t.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she swiped a hand down her face. “Better not have, mister,” she muttered, heading for the shore.
Another laugh bubbled up, and it felt so foreign, he let it out. Which was followed by another laugh, sounding rusty even to his ears.
She froze and slowly turned to face him. Drawing her hand back, she swooshed it across the surface, sending a tidal wave of water into his face.
It should have pissed him off, but even as he coughed out the water, he admired her feistiness.
Reaching the shore a few yards from the rocky ledge, she turned around to wait for him. “Hurry up. I need to get packed up and back to the cabin for Maddy’s nap.”
He swam forward, cursing himself for being naked.
“The bank is more of a gentle slope here. I’ll put my arm around you, and you lean on me however much you need to.”
God, he hated this. Having to depend on someone to help him grated on every last nerve. And to rely on a woman, any woman, made it worse.
Her hand slid across his back and around his side as she tried to support him, leaving a trail of fire over his slick skin. Oh geez. Think of something else. Anything else besides her hand on me. He pictured the pile of horse manure he’d had to shovel as punishment one hot summer as a teenager just to get him the few yards till he could grab his towel.
He tried not to pant as they hobbled together out of the water. Hated showing weakness, even if she was a therapist. As soon as they were close enough, he leaned forward and grabbed his towel off the rock, wrapped it around his waist. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Her voice sounded breathless, and he glanced up to see her hurrying away. She stopped suddenly. “You okay from here?” she asked without turning around.
“Yeah.”
Leaves crunched as she hurried away, leaving him alone with the crickets. He dried off, then leaned against the rock, looked around the serene setting. This place had always been his sanctuary, a place to be completely alone.
And now it would always remind him of limitations.
And desperate need.
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