Cody released her slightly and she gazed into the smoky grey eyes, which she had loved for so long. He reached into his jeans and withdrew a handkerchief. He gently wiped away the last of the tears. “Come and sit down.”
He lowered himself onto the ground and, to her surprise, pulled her onto his lap. She snuggled against his chest.
“Emma, I’m so sorry I’ve hurt you. We need to talk.”
“You didn’t hurt me. I was just missing Mum and Dad.” she lied.
He placed his hand under her chin and tilted her head toward him. “Emma, I know. Zoe told me after chewing me out.”
She heated with embarrassment and pledged to have words with her best friend. “It doesn’t matter. I know you don’t like me and I’m being silly, getting so upset.” She dropped her head back to his chest.
“Will you stop insisting I don’t fucking like you? It’s not true. You drive me fucking crazy but I do like you.”
“Okay.”
“Look at me.”
She lifted her head and their eyes locked.
“The last thing I want to do is hurt you but I can’t put my life on hold while you’re here. I care about you a great deal, you’re like another sister to me. But, I’m not in love with you. I’m sorry.”
Emma forced a laugh. “You don’t have to be sorry. I just have a silly crush. I’ll get over it.”
Watching her plump, pink lips as she spoke sent a message faster than lightning to his cock and it danced under her butt. She looked at him in surprise. Just one kiss. No. She’ll take it the wrong way. Don’t do it. Fuck. What the hell.
Before Emma knew what was happening, he lowered his head and captured her lips. A delicious shiver tiptoed down her spine and she sighed. He seized the opportunity and plundered her mouth with his tongue. She responded with a passion he had no idea she possessed, arousal flared like a bonfire. When he finally drew back, they were both breathless. Her eyes were glazed and he knew his oozed lust.
They remained quiet for a few moments, studying each other. Trying to come to terms with what had just happened.
Emma felt elated. She knew she would never have his love but, she now had one hell of a kiss to remember him by.
What the fuck? Cody had never been so affected by a kiss. He trembled, trying to make sense of it all. His heart was telling him, one kiss with Emma would never be enough. Did he care for her more than he realized? More than he was willing to admit?
“Emma….”
She placed her fingers to his lips. She didn’t want the moment spoiled. “Ssshh, it’s okay.”
He wriggled under her. He needed to get away and figure out what the hell he was feeling.
Emma took the hint, pushed from his arms and sprang to her feet. “I should get back to Zoe. I might take her to Periwinkles for an hour. It will do us both good to get away from the house for a while.” She gabbled. “Will you be home for supper?”
He stood and peered down at the woman who had him tied in knots. “Yeah. I think I’ll give the bar a miss. I have some accounts to catch up on.”
“I’ll see you then. I’m sorry I kept you from your work.” She snatched up her sandals and started toward the house. Cody strode with her. Neither spoke.
~*~
Zoe was sitting on the back porch reading and enjoying the sunshine when she heard the front door open and close.
“Emma, is that you?”
“Yes. Where are you?”
“Out the back.”
She traipsed down the hall and into the kitchen. “Do you want a drink?” She called out through the open window.
“Yes, please.”
Emma reached into the fridge and removed a large pitcher of iced tea which she’d made earlier. She poured two tall glasses, replaced the pitcher and stepped through the back door onto the porch.
Zoe reached out as Emma handed her a glass. She studied her friend’s swollen lips. “Thanks. What happened?”
“Nothing why?”
“Don’t tell me, nothing. Your lips look like they’re full of Botox. Did Cody come for you?”
Emma sat in a chair alongside her friend and sipped at her tea.
“Emma?”
“Yes, he came. He told me he liked me but he doesn’t love me.”
“How do you feel about that?”
“There’s nothing I can do about it. I can’t force him to feel something for me, no matter how desperately I want it.” Emma smiled as she again sipped at her tea. There was still some hope if the passion in his kiss was any indication.
“I can tell by the look on your face, something happened. Tell me.”
“We kissed.”
Zoe spat out the mouthful of tea she had just taken. “What?”
Her face heated. “He kissed me.”
“That’s fantastic. Maybe he does feel something.”
“No. It’s just one of those things that happened. It wouldn’t have meant anything to him.” She ran her finger tips over her lips, remembering how wonderful his kiss had felt. She didn’t dare admit her hope out loud.
“We’ll see.”
“Please don’t make anything out of it. How about we go and buy a car and then go to the bar?”
“I’d love to.”
Emma stood and pushed Zoe’s chair back inside. She collected her purse and the keys to the car. After helping Zoe into the vehicle, she gunned the motor and sped down the drive.
“Goddamn it Emma.” Cody sat astride his horse watching her drive off in a cloud of dust. Again.
~*~
Cody rode the filly to the arena and placed her into a short shank correction bit with Argentine shanks. Eight young calves milled about but the filly stood patiently. He was confident this young lady would prove to be a good cutting pony once she was trained. He fitted her with a special headsetter so she wouldn’t be able to get her head too far up. It would apply a little pressure to encourage her to keep her head down. This pressure would only be applied if her head went unusually high.
He mounted up and began. His goal for the afternoon was to get her to go with the cow, stop with the cow and get her nose in.
Gil and Spencer hung over the rails and watched their boss take complete charge of the filly. She responded to his every whispered command and subtle leg movement. After fifteen minutes of work he rode to the rail near his men.
“She looks good, boss.” Gil ran his hand over the filly’s nose.
“Should get a good price for her,” Spencer said.
“I’m thinking I might keep her. Work her with our cattle and breed her. I’ve never had a horse respond as well as this. She learns fast. It would be a shame not to breed her intelligence.” Cody dismounted.
“Probably be a good one to put to Zorro.” Gil suggested.
Zorro was the best cutting pony Cody had ever owned and the thought of putting him with this intelligent filly excited him. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
Spencer climbed through the rails and took hold of the reins. “We’ll have to come up with a name for her.”
“I might ask Zoe to name her,” Cody said. “After you finish with her, work Fancy Girl. Gil, you get the pinto, I’ll get the paint.”
The men dispersed in different directions.
Cody strode through the stables and opened the door to a stall holding a large paint gelding. He was a good looking creature and he had been asked to break him in to be used in dressage competitions, cross country and jumping.
He patted the horse’s nose as he approached. “Feel like doing some work?” The horse nickered and Cody chuckled. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
He led the horse from the stall and began to tack up. “What am I gonna do, boy? Emma’s got me so confused, I don’t know my own fucking name when she’s around.”
Just thinking about her made his cock dance in his pants. He’d been perpetually hard since she’d arrived and didn’t know how much more he could take. He was going to have to make that phone call to Leanne
after all. Kissing Emma was one thing, fucking her was out of the question. More than anything, he wanted Emma in his bed. In his arms. Wanted to feel her body under his, taste her passion. If her kiss was any indication, she would be explosive. He groaned. Emma was a long term commitment kind of gal and he wasn’t ready for that. He seriously doubted he ever would be.
Chapter Six
Emma held the door to the bar open while her brother Daniel pushed Zoe inside. Caitlin waved from the other side of the room.
“There’s Caitlin. Let’s go and join her.” Emma sauntered to where she was sitting. Daniel followed with Zoe.
Caitlin stood as they neared. Daniel let out a low whistle. He leaned forward and whispered in Zoe’s ear, “Who is that gorgeous creature?”
“Down boy. She’s my Physiotherapist, not a toy for you to play with. I suspect she has moved here to get away from something or someone who has hurt her.”
“Hey, easy there. I don’t treat women like toys.” He feigned hurt.
“Says he who has a different girl every week.”
Caitlin and Emma stood talking as Daniel pushed Zoe’s chair into the table.
“Caitlin, this is my brother, Dan. She’s Zoe’s Physiotherapist.”
Daniel took Caitlin’s hand, lifted it to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. His eyes never left her face and he chuckled as she blushed bright red. “Extremely pleased to meet you,” he drawled.
“H….hi,” Caitlin squeaked out.
Emma’s brother was as handsome as they came. His almost black eyes were like large pools of oil. He had the ability to weaken most women’s knees and Emma could see he was having that effect on Caitlin.
Caitlin withdrew her hand and sat down at the table. Dan sat in the chair by her side and pushed an empty glass out of the way.
“Fuck, talk about jump in a fella’s grave.” A deep voice came from behind Zoe and Emma, they swung around to check out who it was.
Zoe’s eyes locked on a tall, blonde, seriously handsome man. His eyes were as blue as a summer sky and he was the sexiest hunk she had ever clapped eyes on. His resemblance to Caitlin left no doubt, he was her brother. The man placed two drinks on the table and Dan bounced from his seat. “Sorry man, I didn’t mean to muscle in on your date.”
Zoe and Emma gave Caitlin a knowing look before they all burst into laughter.
Dan glanced at them. Puzzled. “Am I missing something?”
Scott held out his hand. “Scott Young, Caitlin’s twin brother.”
Dan smiled as the two men shook hands. “Dan Jamison. Emma’s big brother.” He scowled at his sister who was still laughing.
Scott nodded to Emma but moved to the other side of the table and lifted Zoe’s hand into his. “You must be the beautiful woman my sister keeps telling me about.”
Zoe couldn’t pull her eyes away from the man’s face. His square jaw showed evidence he hadn’t shaved since early morning. His very kissable lips curled into a smile and she felt spine tingling shivers shoot down to her feet. She almost leapt from the chair.
“Zoe, are you okay?” Caitlin asked with concern.
Zoe’s heart was beating rapidly with excitement but she wasn’t ready to announce what had happened in public. “Yes, I’m fine.”
Dan sat back down in the chair next to Caitlin while Scott moved a chair to sit next to Zoe. Emma wished Cody was with them.
“Did you get your car?” Caitlin asked.
“Yes, I did. Dan was already in town so he came to check everything was okay with it before I signed on the dotted line. It’s out back in the carpark. Which reminds me, you’re supposed to be getting the drinks, big brother.”
Dan was mesmerized by Caitlin and hadn’t heard a word his sister had said. When he didn’t answer, Caitlin turned to find his eyes fixed on her. Her cheeks heated under his scrutiny.
“Dan! Tear your eyes away from Caitlin and get our drinks.” Emma shouted over the music and talking.
Dan shook his head and stood. “Sorry, I’ll get them now.”
Caitlin watched as he strode to the bar. Her mouth watered, he had the sexiest butt she’d ever seen on a guy. It complimented the rest of his body. Broad chest, she knew he’d be ripped, narrow waist and long muscular legs. There should have been a law against a man having such a perfect body.
Zoe and Emma noticed Caitlin’s eyes following Dan and they smiled knowingly at each other.
“So what sort of car did you buy, Emma?” Scott asked. His eyes never left Zoe.
“An SUV. Not too big, not too small. Good for dirt roads out at the ranch.”
“Good choice,” Scott answered. “Do you drive, Zoe?”
“Not since the accident. Probably won’t unless my brother consents to having one of the ranch vehicles adapted. At least now Emma is back I can get out.”
“I don’t understand.” Scott said.
“My brother wouldn’t let me past the front porch until Emma turned up and said she was taking me out whether he liked it or not. I was so sick of being stuck in the house.”
“I can imagine. I’m very glad Emma brought you here and I got the chance to meet you at last.”
Dan returned to the table with drinks in hand. He placed them down on the table before moving to Zoe and whispering in her ear. “Cody’s just walked in with Leanne.” Dan was well aware of how much, and for how long, his sister had loved Cody.
“Fuck.” Zoe glanced around.
“Zoe are you okay?’ Emma asked worriedly.
“I’m not feeling very well. Do you mind taking me home?”
“Of course.” Emma stood and stepped behind Zoe’s chair. It was then she spotted Cody with his arm around Leanne Warner. She froze, tears welled in her eyes. He came with her after all. He really doesn’t love me. The slight hope she’d nurtured after their kiss that he might care more for her than he was willing to admit, was shattered into a million pieces. “Dan, will you please see Zoe home?” Emma grabbed her purse and fled through the back door.
Cody moved to the table where the other’s sat in stunned silence.
“You bastard. I asked you not to hurt her.” Tears flooded his sister’s eyes.
Leanne glanced nervously at everyone before turning to Cody. “What’s going on honey?”
Dan placed his arm around Zoe. “Don’t cry darling. Cody has a right to live his life, it’s not his fault if my sister gets hurt.”
“But I asked him not to hurt her. He knew bringing Leanne here would upset her.” Zoe blubbered.
Caitlin and Scott joined Leanne in being confused.
“I can’t avoid going out just because Emma might be there. I’m not a monk. I thought you would have left by now. I’m sorry. I’ll go after her. Dan can you see Leanne home please?”
“Do you think it’s such a good idea to follow her, Cody?” Dan asked. “She was pretty upset. Maybe you need to give her time alone to accept seeing you with another woman.”
Cody dragged his fingers through his hair. He had no idea what he should do.
“Go after her, honey. I know if I was hurt, I’d want the man to come after me. You two need to talk.” Leanne said wisely. “You need to explain our arrangement. How we’re there for each other when needed, no strings attached.”
Cody was grateful for Leanne’s understanding. “We already talked. I thought she was fine about how I felt.”.
“She probably would have been if you hadn’t kissed her. You gave her hope!” Zoe shouted.
Cody groaned. His sister was right. “I’ll go after her. I can’t possibly make things any worse.”
“I’ll see Zoe and Leanne home.” Dan offered.
“Thanks,” Cody muttered before hightailing it from the club.
~*~
Emma sped down the road to the ranch. Tears washed over her face, obscuring her vision. She didn’t care. She needed her laptop and then she was gone. She would drive up to Houston and spend a few days in a hotel while she figured out what she should do.
She screeched to a stop, leapt out of the car and raced inside. It took only seconds to throw a few things into an overnight bag, grab her computer and fly back down the stairs. She fired up the engine and turned the car onto the driveway. As she sped away from the ranch house tears cascaded over her cheeks. She didn’t see Cody’s vehicle slowing to turn onto the ranch road as she fishtailed her car onto the highway.
Emma slammed her hand on the steering wheel in frustration. “Why did I get my fuckin’ hopes up? He said he wasn’t in love. I can’t stop him from seeing other women because it hurts. Get real Emma. Grow Up!”
Cody spun his four-wheel drive around and sped after Emma. “Goddamn it Emma. You’ll get yourself killed driving like that.”
She was weaving all over the road.
Cody saw her disappear around a bend and then heard an almighty bang pierce the silence of the night. A stream of smoke billowed into the air.
“FUCK NO.” He pushed the throttle to the floor, slowing as he came up on the bend and taking the turn gingerly. He was terrified of what he would find. His fears were soon realised. Emma had run off the road, her vehicle lay on its side in a ditch.
His heart lurched in his chest as smoke spewed from the cabin. He slammed to a stop, leapt from his car and raced to the wreck.
“EMMA,” he screamed as he ran.
Another car had also stopped. A young man was running toward Emma from the other direction. The two men slipped and slid down the sides of the ditch until they reached the now smouldering car.
Cody reefed the door open, Emma’s head lay on the steering wheel. “Emma, answer me sweetheart.” He shook as he unbuckled her seatbelt. He repositioned her head back on the head rest and gently shook her. “Emma, wake up.” Blood streamed from a large cut on her forehead. She had a lump the size of a tennis ball and her eyes were already turning black.
“I think we need to get her out of there,” the young man said as he held the door open.
“We can’t move her, we don’t know where she’s hurt,” Cody answered.
“We have to get her out, NOW.” The young man sounded frantic.
Accidental Love Page 5