Lone Heart
Page 9
“Maybe, I would,” she whispered, lowering her eyelids halfway.
His gaze dropped to her mouth as pink lips parted around a sudden gasp.
“I can’t believe I just said that. To you.”
He narrowed his eyes. “It slipped kinda easy from your lips. Someone else you been teasin’, baby-girl?”
“I don’t tease.”
Brand ground his teeth at the solemn promise in her eyes. “Juanita at your house?”
Her head shook, and tendrils of wild, red hair moved around her face. “She’s in town, doing some shopping.”
He swore softly and pointed his horse west.
“Thought you were taking me home.”
“I am. My home.”
“But we’re closer to mine,” she said, raising an arm to point in the direction of her ranch house.
“You want Hector or Santiago cleanin’ you up?”
Her chin lifted. “I’ll manage on my own.”
“What about your shoulder?”
Again, her breath huffed, but a moment later, she whispered, “So, you’re gonna do it?”
The small, feminine smile beginning to curve her lips had him tightening like a bowstring. “I’ll tend your wounds. Then I’m drivin’ you straight home.”
One fine, auburn eyebrow arched. “Whatever you say.”
“Now, you’re all agreeable,” he grumbled, pretending an irritation totally at war with the anticipation building in his body.
“I’m not unreasonable. Makes sense,” she said breathlessly. “You tending my wounds. Nothing Mac wouldn’t have done.”
Shit. If Mac knew the thoughts running through his mind, he’d string him up by his balls. Brand pulled up to the gate between the two properties and leaned down to unlatch it. “Like I said, after we’re done I’m takin’ you straight home.”