Emma stopped her vehicle and grabbed her phone from the passenger seat, making sure she kept the horse in view. She stabbed the buttons, breathing a sigh of relief when Cade answered on the first ring.
“I’ve found him!”
“Where?”
“Spring River Road.” She sensed he was about to speak and continued, “I’d finished checking Northgate and thought it would be best if I met you here.”
A second of silence passed. “Good call.”
She smiled, ridiculously pleased with his praise - before remembering she didn’t know what they were anymore, except maybe just agister and horse trainer. Or a curvy girl and a hot, sexy guy who could have any woman he wanted - but he didn’t want her. Her smile disappeared.
“I’ll be there in a few minutes. Don‘t spook him.”
She shook her head as she ended the call. Don’t spook him! Who did Cade think he was talking to? She’d grown up around horses, had lost count of how many ribbons she’d won on Pirate and her childhood horse Jupiter, had a business looking after other people’s horses as well as a fledgling horse stud, and he told her not to spook Shadow?!
She didn’t know whether to kill Cade Winters or kiss him. But you can’t kiss him, remember?
Five minutes later, Cade’s truck pulled up alongside her. She’d had to inch along the road in order to keep Shadow in sight. Winding down her window, she realized this was the first time she’d seen Cade since…the kiss.
“He’s up there.” She indicated a spot further up the road and purposely kept her voice business-like, hoping her face didn’t betray her emotions. Why did he have to look so…so…masculine and yummy?
“You okay?” She met his emerald gaze and saw the concern in his eyes.
She swallowed, her throat suddenly tight. “Sure. But I’ll feel a lot better once he’s back home.”
“I’ve got a rope.” Cade exited the truck and rooted around in the back. He emerged holding a rope which he started to fashion into a makeshift halter.
Emma hopped out of the SUV. Don’t think about anything except bringing Shadow home safely, she told herself, as they began to walk along the dusty road.
She kept her eyes on the horse in front of them. Shadow didn’t seem aware of their approach as he trotted along. Emma couldn’t help peeking under her lashes at Cade. He looked as if the only thing he was thinking about was the task ahead. And that was as it should be, she told herself fiercely. So why did she feel a flash of disappointment?
Emma could now see that the road dead-ended in another couple of hundred feet.
Cade stopped and turned to her. “You take one side of the road and I’ll take the other. I’ll call him, and when he gets close enough, I’ll slip the halter on.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
“Hopefully he won’t make a fuss and will come quietly when he sees it’s us.”
Emma hoped so too. The last thing she wanted was Shadow getting spooked and charging off down the road. She and Cade had parked on the side of the road so there wouldn’t be any risk of the horse crashing into their vehicles if he did bolt.
Cade whistled. The horse’s ears pricked up and his pace slowed. The black horse stopped and turned around at the second whistle.
“Shadow.” He kept his voice low and friendly.
The quarter horse looked at Cade and Emma inquiringly. “Come on, boy.” Cade whistled again.
Shadow snuffled and started to walk over to them. Suddenly, a bird cackled from one of the nearby trees and the horse’s ears flattened against his head. Shadow hurtled towards them, not caring about anything but getting away from that frightening noise.
“Arms out,” Cade shouted, but Emma already had her arms stretched out from her sides. She and Cade formed a human barricade. Shadow would have to flatten them if he wanted to get past them.
Emma’s heart thundered in her chest just as the horse’s hooves thundered on the dirt road. Shadow was usually a calm, steady horse but he’d already had a taste of adventure today and now he was spooked.
Cade quickly glanced at her. “Stay steady,” he commanded.
Shadow came bearing down. The dust from the road swirled around him, and Emma blinked to keep her vision clear. Even though it was frightening to have one thousand pounds of horseflesh galloping towards her, there was no way she was going to break her nerve and risk Shadow’s safety.
The horse veered to the left at the last possible moment. Emma’s knees wobbled when she realized the danger had passed. Before she could catch her breath, Cade slipped the halter over Shadow’s head.
She stood still for a couple of moments, watching Cade talk reassuringly to the horse.
“I’ll walk him home.” Cade led the colt over to her.
Emma nodded, suddenly feeling shy, and patted Shadow on the neck. “Okay. Thanks.” She really was thankful Cade had helped. Although Shadow knew her, Cade was the one training him nearly every day. If Cade hadn’t been here… Emma didn’t want to think about the might have-beens.
“You okay?” He gently touched her hair with his free hand. Their gazes collided.
Emma yearned to lean into the caress, but reminded herself he didn’t feel about her that way. He was only being kind.
She forced a smile. “Sure.” Looking away from his rugged features, she focused on his vehicle. “What about your truck?”
“Once we get Shadow settled, we can come back for it.”
“No problem.” She hopped into her SUV.
Cade leaned into the open window. “You go first in case he doesn’t like someone driving up behind him.”
His face was so close to hers that if she leaned forward the tiniest bit, their lips would touch. She drew back slightly, hoping he couldn’t read her expression. The last thing she wanted to do was to make a fool of herself - again.
Emma inched down the road. Although Shadow was used to her SUV entering and leaving the ranch, she didn’t know how he would feel about it right now. But she needn’t have worried. When she glanced back in the rear-view mirror, Cade and Shadow seemed to be sharing a man to horse conversation. Lucky Shadow.
Once she arrived home, Emma flipped up the sun visor and checked her hair in the small mirror, smoothing it into a tidier ponytail. She knew it was ridiculous to do a little primping since Cade wasn’t attracted to her, but that didn’t mean she had to walk around with tangled hair.
Pacing the driveway, she waiting for Cade and Shadow. Was the horse behaving himself? Or had Cade run into trouble? She debated whether to jump into the SUV and look for them when they came through the front gate, Shadow plodding beside Cade.
“Is he okay?” Emma headed over to them, knowing she wouldn’t be completely satisfied until the quarter horse was back in the south pasture with the gate securely locked.
“He’s fine.” Cade patted the quarter horse’s neck. “I think he’s tired from all the excitement.”
They shared a relieved glance. “Then let’s get him tucked in for the night.” Emma smiled.
They walked Shadow to the south pasture. Emma had already put in some hay for him to munch on when he and Cade returned. Cade stood close to her as she latched the gate, checking twice that it was locked properly.
“It’s fine, Emma.” His hand closed over hers, stopping her from checking the lock for the third time. She closed her eyes, savoring his touch.
Raising her eyes to meet his, she asked, “But how did he get out? I’ve been racking my brains and I don’t know how it’s possible. The last time I locked this gate was yesterday evening. And I’m sure it was secure then.”
Before he could answer, she heard the faint ringing of her phone from the SUV. “It might be a client.” Hurrying to the vehicle, she grabbed the phone from the passenger seat and checked the caller ID. Bernie. Her heart sank.
“Hey Emma,” her client’s gravelly voice greeted her.
“Hi, Bernie.” Surely he hadn’t heard about Shadow’s escape?
An embarrassed chu
ckle filled her ear. “I visited Shadow today while you were at work and my phone rang when I left. The thought’s been nagging me all afternoon that maybe I hadn’t latched the gate properly. Can you go check?”
Relief flooded her. It hadn’t been her fault Shadow had escaped! She hesitated. Should she pretend that nothing had happened or should she be totally honest? She didn’t want anything like this happening again.
“I don’t think you did latch it securely, Bernie.” She took a deep breath. Total honesty. “I came home to find the gate open and Shadow missing.” Before he could say anything, she continued, “But don’t worry. Cade and I found him on Spring River Road and brought him home. He seems to be perfectly fine.”
“Thanks, Emma. I‘m glad Shadow’s okay. I’ll make sure I never make that mistake again.” And judging by the self-condemnation in his voice, Emma knew he wouldn’t.
She put the phone in her pocket and returned to Cade, unable to stop smiling. “It was Bernie, not me. He got distracted with a phone call and didn’t check the gate when he left.”
“Did you tell him the whole story?” He cocked his head.
Awareness rushed through her when she realized only an inch separated them. She nodded. “Yes. He was okay about it.”
“Good call. It’s best to be honest.” He flashed a smile.
Warmth flickered through her at his praise. “I guess we should go get your truck.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
She looked at him sitting next to her in the SUV as she fastened her seatbelt. Dust stained his clothes and some of his hair was damp against his forehead, but it didn’t make him look less attractive. In fact, it made him even sexier, because he’d helped her. Even after Wednesday.
“Want to stay for dinner?” She issued the invitation before she second-guessed herself. Inviting him to dinner was the least she could do.
He grinned. “Sounds good. Thanks.”
She focused on driving out of the gate, not wanting him to see how much pleasure his acceptance gave her, but unable to help the smile that touched her lips.
They made quick work of returning to Spring River Road. Cade jumped into his truck and followed her back to the ranch.
Emma parked in the garage, checking her watch: 6.45pm. Somehow, it seemed as if it should be a lot later, although the sun hadn’t set yet. Joining Cade in the driveway, she knew she had to thank him. She’d been thinking about it all the way back to the ranch.
“Cade…” Her voice trailed off when he turned to look at her. His eyes smoldered with desire.
Her breath skipped. “I…I just want to thank you for helping me today.”
“Anytime, Emma. You know that.”
Do I? she thought hazily as he continued to gaze at her in that unnerving way. Before Wednesday, she would have said yes. But since that kiss - and the way it ended - she had no idea what was going on.
She took a step back. “I better start dinner.”
He took a step forward. “Emma.” His hand cupped her cheek.
Her pulse pounded. His face was so close to hers. If she rose on her toes, she could kiss him.
Before she could make the decision, his lips snared hers. She parted her mouth in surrender, not wanting to think about anything except how good it felt to have Cade hold her and kiss her.
His scent enveloped her: horse, man, soap and hay. Her arms stole around his neck, and he shifted slightly, pressing her close to his firm, muscular body. Cade finally dragged away his mouth from hers. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you since I watched you compete in the barrel racing,” he admitted huskily, his forehead touching hers.
His statement seared her senses. If that was true… She frowned. “But what about Wednesday?”
His large hands caressed her waist, then held her securely against him, as if he were afraid she was going to run off again. He looked into her eyes. “I think - hope - that was a miscommunication.”
“Oh?”
His brow creased. “Since I met you, I tried to keep my distance and only be your friend, but I’m a man, not a saint.” He exhaled. “Things were getting heated in the barn and if they developed any further… I was trying to be romantic, dammit.”
Warmth rippled through her. Even though she’d mistaken his words in the barn, he’d been trying to be thoughtful. Smiling, she kissed him softly on the lips.
“Was it a miscommunication?” He searched her face.
“Yes,” she whispered, wondering if she was having one of her nighttime fantasies.
“Good.” He slanted his mouth over hers, kissing her for long, delicious seconds, then buried his face in her neck.
“You don’t know what you do to me,” he murmured thickly, stepping back from her with a visible effort. “Maybe tonight isn’t the best night to do anything except eat dinner.” He looked down ruefully at the dust and dirt coating his clothes. “How about we go to the new steakhouse tomorrow night?”
“I’d like that.” She smiled up at him. If she read him correctly, tomorrow night would be the night.
Butterflies danced in her stomach when Cade took her hand as they walked the short distance to the house. She only wished she looked and smelled cute and clean instead of dirty and dusty.
Turning to him in the hallway she suggested, “Why don’t we get cleaned up a bit first before I make dinner? There’s a shower in the guest bathroom you can use.”
His eyes crinkled. “Good idea.”
Emma pointed him in the direction of the bathroom, and headed to the main bathroom. A quick, warm bath was exactly what she needed right now. Shutting the door, she checked that her terry-cloth robe hung on the back of the door. She would have to walk down the hall a short way to pull on some clean clothes after her bath, and if she ran into Cade…
She shivered, imagining meeting Cade in the hallway with only a towel wrapped around her body. “Tomorrow night,” she whispered to herself longingly, then turned on the taps.
While Emma waited for the bath to fill, she checked her hair in the mirror. Brushing it out, she snagged a clip from the drawer and piled the shoulder-length locks on top of her head. It would take too long to wash her hair, and besides, she had promised Cade dinner. Mentally running through the proceeds of her refrigerator and pantry, she remembered she had a pack of fresh gourmet beef ravioli and some spaghetti sauce. Perfect.
She stepped into the bath, sinking below the rose scented bubbles she’d added a few minutes ago. Mmm. Bliss. Emma closed her eyes, relishing the warm water and bubbles against her skin. After a couple of minutes, she picked up the washcloth from the side of the bath. Mustn’t take too long. Cade would probably be finished his shower soon.
Emma had just finished with the washcloth and trying to persuade herself it was time to get out of the tub when a brief knock sounded on the door. A split-second later, a squeak alerted her to the door opening. Her eyes flew to the bathroom door. “I’m still in the tub, Cade,” she called, heat rising in her cheeks, matching the temperature of the water.
The door continued to swing open. Cade stepped into the room, clean, damp and magnificent in a white towel wrapped around his waist. Emma stared at his tanned, powerfully muscled bare chest, realizing it was the first time she had seen him without a shirt.
“What are you…” her voice trailed off when she noticed he eyed her just as hungrily.
He cleared his throat. “I was going to ask where the washing machine was. I thought I could wash and dry my clothes while we had dinner.”
“Of course.” Why hadn’t she thought of that? Because she’d been too busy thinking about tomorrow night. “The laundry is at the back, behind the kitchen.” She tried to think if there was anything Cade could wear to dinner besides a towel, when he moved towards the bath.
“Need any help?” he asked huskily.
She licked her suddenly parched lips. “I was about to get out.”
His eyes followed the movement of her tongue. “Not just yet.” He knelt down beside the
tub, his hand reaching out and tracing the bubbles along her shoulder. Her heartbeat accelerated. She stared into his eyes, mesmerized, waiting for his next move.
“You are so sexy.” He cupped the nape of her neck and drew her closer. His lips brushed hers, teasing each corner of her mouth. “And so sweet.” He sipped at her lips, his tongue gliding into her mouth. Emma clutched the side of the tub for support. When he kissed her like that, she couldn’t think.
He eventually released her lips, his hand dipping below the bubbles, grazing her breast.
“What about tomorrow night?” Somehow she managed to get the words out, her voice a mere thread of sound.
“I can’t wait that long. You’ve been driving me crazy for the last eight weeks.” Longing and desire etched his face. “And since I kissed you the other day, it’s been even worse. I need you, Emma.”
Excitement raced through her at his words. She had that effect on Cade? She’d practically convinced herself that her feelings were one-sided…until today.
His hand cupped her breast, his thumb teasing the pointed nipple below the bubbles. Her pulse began to beat erratically, shivers of pleasure coursing through her. Then his hand delved lower, trailing down her waist and hips, until he reached her thigh. She squirmed. “Cade…”
“Let me show you how good it will be, sweetheart.” The sexual tension simmered in the air.
After a second she nodded, unable to refuse. Wondering if he could see any part of her body beneath the bubbles, and hoping he wouldn’t be disappointed, she allowed his hand to skim along her thigh, trailing higher until he reached the juncture of her thighs.
“Cade,” she gasped, when he touched her silken folds, the sensation of his fingers and warm water causing her lower body to quiver with anticipation - and need.
He kissed her, his tongue stroking hers in the same way his fingers stroked her secret nub. She trembled, desire scorching her nerve-endings, her stomach tightening as intense pleasure gathered there, spiraling through her body until Cade’s touch was all she was aware of.
Raw pleasure surged through her. She tore her mouth from Cade’s, gasping for air, her whole body shuddering with the force of her climax.
Curves and the Rodeo Star (BBW Romance - Coldwater Springs 4) Page 3