Chapter Five
Haley was halfway through her Saturday morning, cleaning out another stall in the old barn so any repairs needed could be easily spotted, when she heard a truck pull up. Cord. Had to be. And damn her stupid pulse for leaping at the thought.
He kissed her stupid, knocked down her defenses, and just when she was ready to let him in, he walked out. Avoided her ever since. During that time, she had the opportunity to think straight, and it dawned on her that he probably had a girlfriend, and it had been thoughts of that girl and the date he’d left the ranch for last night that had been behind his rejection.
Technically, he never said it was a date, just told her not to include him in her dinner plans and that he wouldn’t be back until the next morning.
Which was now. And he was. Back.
Dammit. Already she was suffering brain farts.
He sauntered in, looking too damn sexy for her own good. Stubble on his chin, hair somewhat messed, as if he’d run his fingers through it. Gray T-shirt stretched tight over a chest she was never going to get out of her head ever again. Jeans with worn creases in all the right places, and a neutral gaze. He gave nothing away. As usual.
“Hi, Haley.”
“Hey.” She nodded. “So you’re talking to me today?”
His lips twitched. “I deserved that. Sorry.”
Surprise washed through her. Now she was curious. She headed toward him, removing her work gloves as she walked. “You feeling okay, Warlock?”
“Fine. Why?”
“It’s just that ‘sorry’ isn’t a word you say often.”
“I do when it’s necessary, and the way I’ve treated you since we kissed is unacceptable.”
Holy shit. He was actually acknowledging their kiss? Her heart rocked against her ribs. Now that he had, she had absolutely no idea how to respond.
“It was a mistake. There was no reason to take it out on you,” he said.
Haley stilled to the point of not breathing. A surprise? Yes. A shock? Sure. Not a mistake.
“So…are we okay?” The anxiety clouding his gaze and the tightness stiffening his broad shoulders told her that her opinion actually mattered to him.
Although they were far from okay, she nodded and smiled, determined to put his mind at ease. “Of course. We’re friends,” she replied, and realized it was true. “We may have come by it a little unconventionally, but I consider you a friend, nonetheless.”
He nodded, letting out a breath that eased the stiffness away and his gaze cleared. “How’s your arm? Do I need to change the dressing?”
“It’s good,” she rushed to say. Lordy, she did not need that man’s hands on her. “I’ve been changing it.”
He glanced past her and frowned. “You’ve been busy. I hope you haven’t overdone it. Maybe I should take a look anyway.”
“I’m fine.” She stepped back, because his gaze was sporting a determined gleam too strong to ignore. “And I only cleaned out two stalls. Two out of twelve is not a lot.”
“It is if your arm, wrist, and hand are injured.” This time he moved too quickly for her to anticipate and had her arm in his vice-like grip, examining her wound with a surprisingly gentle touch.
All the protests died on her lips and she called herself all sorts of fools. How could he render her speechless with the briefest brush of his thumb? And it wasn’t even sexual. His touch was impersonal and yet, her heart was thundering in her chest, pounding away her breath.
Unreal.
She was an idiot, and proved it a few seconds later when he moved his attention to her wrist, running his thumb back and forth, causing her pulse to leap again, only this time he literally felt it.
He stilled, just like he had in her bathroom. And she remembered what had happened next. That incredible kiss. His gaze lifted to hers, all dark and smoldering, as if he, too, was reliving their kiss. Drinking and tasting like they’d been starved.
Was it bad that she wanted to taste him again?
It is if he has a girlfriend, her mind insisted. And slammed her back to reality. She was never going through that again.
Dammit.
What the hell was she doing?
Disgust washed through her body like a bucket of ice water, cooling every bit of her desire. She tugged free and stepped back. “I should get back to work,” she muttered, grabbing her gloves off the ground.
He nodded, looking as bewildered as she felt. “I’ll take my things into the house then give you a hand.”
No avoiding her this time?
That was a surprise. She was still contemplating that when he returned and started on the next stall.
“Stone and Brick are coming out next weekend to lend a hand,” he stated. “And the following weekend, too.”
She straightened and let out a breath, unaware her chest had been weighted down until some of it dissipated with his words. “That’s so sweet of them. I appreciate it.” She moved to the opening in the stall to glance across the way, to where he stood gripping a pitchfork, muscles flexing in his forearm, mouth grim.
He nodded. “They would’ve come this weekend but have a job to finish.”
“Of course. I appreciate any time you all can give, as long as it doesn’t interfere with Foxtrot. Or your personal life.” She decided to venture. “I hope your girlfriend doesn’t mind you staying here.” Or the fact we can’t seem to keep our hands—and lips—off each other.
His head jerked back and he frowned. “Girlfriend? I don’t have a girlfriend. Jesus, you think I’d kiss you if I had a girlfriend?”
“I…” She blinked, trying to ignore the elation flowing through her from that knowledge. “It wasn’t a pleasant thought. But you’d made it seem as if you’d had some sort of prearranged date last night, from the way you mentioned it the other day.”
Dawning cleared the disgust from his gaze. “I did. Group therapy at At-Ease,” he replied, shocking the hell out of her for two reasons.
First, because she hadn’t known they started that at the ranch. And second, because never in a million years would she have pegged the tight-lipped Warlock as someone who would open up at any kind of therapy, let alone a shared one. Her heart warmed a little further for the man who wasn’t afraid to seek help if he needed it.
She cleared her throat. “Oh. I didn’t know you had group therapy there. Is it new?” she asked as nonchalant as possible, needing to completely avoid the fact he was unattached.
He shrugged. “Leo suggested it a few months back after having met with the therapist in private a few times, and since it appeared to be helping him, we felt it might help a few of the other vets at the ranch.”
“And has it?”
He nodded. “I think so. Each week a few more wander in.”
She wanted to ask if he opened up, but that was way too personal a question and none of her business, so she nodded and changed the subject, determined to get a grin out of him. “There’s something I’ve got to know.”
His gaze turned weary. “What?”
“You any good at killing spiders? Because there’s a web in the corner of the stall you’re at. That’s why I skipped it.”
His lips twitched. “You mean the invincible Haley has a weakness?”
Bad judgment where men were concerned topped the list.
“First of all, no one is invincible. And second…hell yeah I have weaknesses.” And it wasn’t just spiders. She had the sinking feeling the gorgeous former Ranger regarding her with a slight gleam in his eyes was capable of wreaking havoc in her life if she let him.
So don’t let him.
That gleam turned into a flicker of admiration, and that was a little more than she could handle, so she nodded and turned around to get back to work. Their attraction was palpable. Whenever they were near each other, the air around them seemed to change to a weird, heated fog. At least it had for her. Just because she became aware of every inch of sexy guy didn’t mean she affected him the same way, and that really scared her. God, she hated the self-doubt. But what scared her the most was how much she enjoyed their connection. Wanted it. Craved it.
Craved him.
She inhaled a shaky breath. Yeah, she had weaknesses. None more dangerous than Cord. He topped the damn list now.
Hell, he was the list.
…
At the dinner table the next night, Cord did his best to be polite and contribute to the conversation, in an attempt to make up for running out on the two dinners she’d made that week. The first was an oversight. The second was his survival instinct kicking in. His inner safety mechanism after nearly combusting from that hot-as-hell kiss in her bathroom. There was no way he’d be able to sit at a table with her and pretend it never happened. Pretend he didn’t want to have her for dinner, and then again for dessert.
Because, son-of-a-bitch, that was exactly what he wanted to do then…and now. He was living dangerously just being in the same room with her. She was trouble.
He was having the hardest time concentrating on what she was saying as he watched her sweet lips move, remembering how they’d tasted. Remembering how damned incredible they’d felt devouring him.
Shit.
That wasn’t helping him. He ripped his gaze from her mouth, stared down at his plate, and frowned. Jesus, it was empty and he barely remembered eating the bacon cheeseburger she’d grilled while he’d taken a quick shower.
Get a damn grip, man.
Her ability to knock him off balance, to obliterate his control was a huge issue. It had to stop. He couldn’t…wouldn’t give in to his attraction to her. She was Drew’s widow for Christ’s sake.
His stomach knotted. How could his buddy have been so damn foolish?
Haley had been a loyal, trustworthy wife to Drew. She’d supported her husband. Never would’ve betrayed him or given him cause to worry, especially during deployment. He’d been so damn envious of their relationship. Why the hell had his friend jeopardized it?
You could have it now, his mind insisted.
But he wasn’t looking for a woman. Didn’t want that complication. Hell, he was still dealing with issues from that last mission. If he’d done his job better. If he’d been…more…then he wouldn’t be sitting at this table now. Drew would be here helping his wife, not Cord.
Didn’t matter now. That was all in the past. He was there to fulfill his promise to Drew to take care of Haley. Only, it wasn’t just for Drew, was it? No. It was for himself, too. He liked Haley. There, he admitted it. He liked her. She was a good woman, and he wanted to help her out.
Even if she was stubborn as hell.
That afternoon he’d told her she could let the stall go and work in the new barn, setting up the stalls there, away from the muck, and the spiders, and heavy lifting. She’d hit him with a surly brown gaze that had as much as said, “Like hell, pal.” No way was she going to leave before finishing the one she’d started.
Admiration seeped into his chest and straightened his spine. Typical Haley. Responsible. Hard headed. Beautiful.
He stilled. Not the path his thoughts needed to head.
“So, how many vets are at your ranch now?”
A safe subject. One he liked to talk about.
He lifted his gaze, finding hers filled with genuine interest. “Twenty-three,” he replied. “Nineteen men, four women.”
“Women?” Her brows rose. “Where do they all stay?”
“In separate barracks.”
“Barracks? That’s pretty great.” She smiled. “So is what you do for them.”
The approval in her gaze sent a responding warmth through his chest. He nodded, reaching for his water to alleviate his suddenly dry throat.
“I’m sorry I haven’t gotten up there to see it.” Color rose high on her cheeks, amplifying the impact of the honesty in her gorgeous brown eyes. “I feel bad. I hope you all know I think it’s an incredible thing you’re doing.”
What was incredible was the way she regarded him with a rare genuineness that reached to his soul and soaked in like rain in a desert. If he allowed it, if he let her in, she could easily become addicting.
She already was, his mind whispered.
He ignored it.
“Thanks.” He cleared his throat and fought for the control he felt slipping away at a rapid pace.
“Well, I…uh…should clear these dishes and go grab my shower.” Her gaze was hesitant, and heaven help him…heated.
“I’ll take care of the dishes,” he offered. “You go ahead.”
He needed her to leave. Now. Before he cleared the table with a quick brush of his arm to make room for her body.
Damn. What happened to her being off-limits? To not wanting complications?
They seemed to fly out the damn window with one bat of her genuine, honest eyes.
“Okay. If you’re sure.” She rose to her feet, hesitating while she waited for his response.
At that moment, the only thing he was sure of was if she didn’t leave, right then, he wasn’t going to be able to hold onto his dwindling control. His attraction to the woman had never been stronger.
He nodded. “Yep.” And to prove it, he stood and started to gather their dishes, needing to fill his hands with something to prevent him from reaching for her.
“Thanks.” She smiled. “I’ll only be a few minutes.”
He carried his armful to the sink, grateful for the distance. “No rush,” he called over his shoulder, and spent the next ten minutes returning the kitchen back to pre-dinner condition.
It was good to have a purpose. He thrived under those situations, otherwise his mind wandered. But even with a task to do, he still couldn’t completely concentrate with the sound of the shower running just down the hall. His mind kept conjuring up images of Haley soaping up her lush curves, and he now sported the biggest damn hard-on he’d had in years. If not ever.
Before she finished, he needed to get to his bedroom and stay there. At least until she was safely in hers and the temptation was gone.
And just as he neared his door, the one across from it opened and Haley emerged, in a pale blue robe that clearly outlined her mouthwatering nakedness underneath.
Son-of-a-bitch.
He should’ve gone to the damn barn.
“Oh.” She blinked and seemed to have trouble drawing in air.
Like him. Where the hell had all the air gone?
It messed with his head. Hell, his whole damn thought process ceased until his needs became wants and his wants became needs.
“You shouldn’t look at me like that, Cord.”
He watched, mesmerized by the pulse at the base of her neck, pounding out a crazy beat. “Like what?”
Her chest rose on a strangled inhale. “Like you want me as bad as I want you.”
Ah hell. Her words energized the heat flowing through his veins, and when he lifted his gaze and found hers dark with the same fierce need racing through his body, it was too much.
It was too damn fucking much.
“Jesus, Haley, don’t say stuff like that.”
“Even though it’s true?”
“Yes. No…fuck.” He sucked in a breath, but the oxygen arrived to his brain too late.
He had already stepped into her.