Guess my body is more alive than I thought.
In truth, it had nothing to do with being more alive, and had everything to do with Jayson McBride.
“I’ll be there in a few.” She smiled brightly, while wondering what it would be like to see him with his clothes off. Down, girl. Down! “It won’t take me long at all.”
The corner of Jayson’s mouth quirked, as if he’d heard her thoughts. “Coffee?”
She gave an enthusiastic nod. “A quick cup would help clear the fog.”
Jayson left and closed the door behind him. Celine slid on Bailey’s Wranglers that were so worn they were soft. They fit Celine a little snugly across her hips and her thighs, but otherwise perfect. The pink T-shirt stretched tight across Celine’s breasts, but felt comfortable.
After she slipped on the sad-looking sandals she’d rinsed off, she carried the towel with her as she walked in the direction Jayson had pointed.
When she reached the end of the hall, she took a slight jog to the left and walked into the kitchen.
Jayson was in front of the open fridge, his back to her. She studied his backside, enjoying the play of muscles beneath his T-shirt as he looked for something. Who knew what, but she hoped he’d do it longer so that she could stare at her leisure.
She sighed. It must have been loud enough to hear because he looked over his shoulder and gave her a sexy grin.
Heat prickled her scalp. Damn. Busted.
He turned and let his gaze drift over her from head to toe, like she’d just done to him. “Those clothes fit you just fine.”
She nodded. “Thank Bailey for the loan, please.”
Jayson nodded as she pushed hair over her shoulder.
Damn, it had really curled now. She sighed and tugged on a curl. “No straightening iron handy, I imagine,” she said, with no hope whatsoever.
He cocked his head. “A what?”
She pulled out one of her curls. “I go curly when it’s humid or rains. I prefer it straight, not that it matters right now.”
“I like it that way.” He gestured to the curl she was playing with. “You look cute with curly hair.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Cute?” No one called her cute. She didn’t remember ever being called cute, except maybe as a child.
“Yep.” He nodded. “Ready for that coffee?”
She let the curl pop back into the rest of the mess. “Yes, please.”
He reached for a mug out of the cabinet, filled it from the pot on the stove, then handed it to her.
Their fingers touched again. Damnit. He’s doing that on purpose.
She put the mug to her lips then made a face as she drank the coffee. She emptied the mug and handed it back to him. “My chest is going to be extra fuzzy after that cup.”
He laughed. “Would you like more?”
She shook her head. “I need to get my team out of here for the night. We can come back in the morning.”
He set the mug into the sink. “You won’t be here for dinnertime since you’ll be heading back to Prescott with everyone else, so how about lunch tomorrow?”
She smiled. “Deal.”
Jayson walked outside with Celine. Thor barked from across the barnyard and bounded toward them. He immediately went to Celine and she rubbed him behind his ears as she looked up.
The sun shone through sparse clouds, and it smelled wonderfully of rain. “It’s beautiful out here. It’s clearing up.”
“Don’t let that fool you.” He frowned as he looked to the north, where dark clouds clustered. The sky had turned dark gray beneath the clouds. “Looks like it’s raining like the devil in the mountains. Probably a good idea for you all to get going so you don’t get caught in a flood or stuck here for the night.”
She nodded. “I’ll get everyone out of here.”
They walked closer to the trailers and she did the one thing she knew would get instant attention. After a good ear-splitting whistle that made birds scatter from the trees, she had everyone’s attention in a moment. “If it floods, all of us may have to stay overnight in the trailers or the barn instead of in Prescott. So get in gear and let’s move it. That is unless you would prefer the barn over the hotel.”
When Celine’s crew was motivated, they could haul ass. She’d never seen them get everything together so fast since she’d started working with them.
She didn’t drive much in New York City because she walked or took cabs everywhere. However, this time she insisted on driving herself to the hotel in Prescott. She wasn’t about to let Charlie drive her again, she was irritated with both Rod and Monty, and she didn’t want to spend time in a car with idle chitchat that she might have to participate in with anyone else.
It wasn’t that she was antisocial—well, not really—it was more she wasn’t in the mood to talk.
In truth, she wanted to be alone in her own thoughts, and just maybe let them settle on Jayson McBride.
She groaned to herself. Pull it together, girl.
Celine hurried to Monty’s trailer to get her purse and tote from where she’d left them on the couch. The purse was there. The tote was not.
She hurriedly searched for the tote, but couldn’t find it anywhere.
Someone honked outside. Damn it. She’d have to look tomorrow. She left the trailer and headed across the muddy ground for the rented Mercedes.
Ahead, a line of vehicles was already leaving the ranch.
According to Jayson, his men had left a good thirty minutes ago, after making sure everything was set to the foreman’s approval. Jayson sent them off so they could spend time with their families as opposed to getting stuck here for the night.
Jayson perched on Starlight. He and Thor watched as the convoy took off. Celine gave Jayson a brief wave before she slid into the buttery soft leather covering the driver’s seat.
She fished the keys out of her handbag, then tossed the purse onto the seat before she secured her seatbelt and started the vehicle.
Celine followed the small convoy away from the ranch. As they drove, she glanced up through the sunroof. The sky was dark again from the incoming storm. Any time now and it could let loose another torrent.
She peered ahead as they reached the edge of the property and she saw the dry arroyo Jayson mentioned. It was as wide as a small river. Funny, she hadn’t even noticed it when Charlie drove her here. Maybe it was because she’d been grateful just to be alive at that point. Jayson had made it clear to everyone to not enter the wash if water was present.
Nope, they were fine.
Her phone rang as she drove behind the other vehicles. She paused just long enough pull her phone from her purse and glance at the caller ID. Meredith. She answered and brought it to her ear.
“Hi, Meredith,” Celine said as she gripped the steering wheel with one hand. “How did your day go?”
Mine turned out surprisingly well. Despite the mud bath and harrowing ride this morning, she felt pretty great.
Meredith gave an exaggerated sigh. “It was hell. Just hell.”
Celine stepped on the gas and entered the arroyo. She’d fallen behind the others. “Tell me what happened.”
She glanced to her right as she reached the middle of the bed of the arroyo.
Fear ripped through her like a blade.
A wall of churning brown water rushed straight toward her.
Chapter 4
Celine screamed.
Fear barreled through her like the wall of brown water bearing down.
The phone flew from her grasp as she grabbed the steering wheel with both hands.
She punched the gas. Her sandal slipped off the pedal.
The wall of muddy water slammed into the Mercedes.
Terror expanded in her chest in a cold ball that grew ever larger as the water lifted the car at least five feet off the bed of the arroyo.
She caught sight of the bumper of Rod’s car a moment before the car twisted and she screamed again.
On the opposite side, she
saw a flash of Starlight tearing down the road with Jayson, heading straight for the raging flashflood.
Meredith’s frantic shouts came through the receiver of the phone sliding around on the floor as Celine was jostled.
The vehicle bounced against rocks and boulders lining the arroyo. Metal creaked. Water sloshed across closed windows and sprayed into the car. The river-sized flashflood roared around her.
Celine felt as if her heart would explode. The car flipped again and raced backward with the flood.
Water started to fill the Mercedes, the flow growing faster and faster as the vehicle sank. The flood had to be at least five feet high.
The vehicle slammed into an embankment and came to a jarring stop.
Celine’s pulse raced, adrenaline pouring through her.
She had to get out of the car.
Had to get out before she drowned.
She unfastened her seatbelt and pressed the button to lower the window. It buzzed two-thirds of the way down and stopped.
She looked up at the sunroof. She found the button and managed to get it a few inches before the car moved and her fingers slipped.
She was flung against the partially opened driver’s side window.
Water the color of chocolate milk sloshed over the lowered window and slapped Celine’s face. The fluid went up her nose and she coughed and sputtered as dirt and debris filled her mouth.
She pressed the button repeatedly to lower the window, but it wouldn’t budge.
More floodwater rushed into the car.
She had to get out. I have to get out. Now!
Could she squeeze through the window opening? She could be trapped if she got stuck.
She’d be trapped if she didn’t.
The car sank faster and faster. She didn’t have time to think about it. She had to try.
She turned back to the window and pushed her upper body through the opening.
Water roared past and covered most of her. If—no when—she got out, she might be swept along with the power of the flood.
The water slapped her brutally as she wriggled through the partially opened space.
Debris hit her shoulder and a branch punched her back, nearly knocking the breath from her at the same time pain lanced her body.
She squirmed harder. Her hips stuck in the opening. She tilted her head back to keep the rising, thundering water from covering her face.
Celine pushed and wriggled and got her hips through. She freed herself and surged to the top of the water outside the car. She frantically grabbed for something to hold onto then grasped the partially lowered window. Then her fingers slid from the glass.
She screamed then grabbed the mirror before she could be swept along with the flood. Her hands slipped.
Something caught her ankle and jerked her below, submerging her completely.
Muddy water obliterated her vision as it covered her. She would see nothing even if she tried to open her eyes.
What held her ankle? A root. Had to be.
A log rammed the back of her head. Stars sparked in her mind. She struggled to maintain consciousness. She couldn’t pass out or she’d be swept away.
Celine fought the feeling and forced herself to ignore the pain. She grasped the driver’s side mirror again and struggled against the root holding her under.
Her lungs burned. How much longer could she hold her breath? Panic nearly overrode her.
She fought to have some semblance of calm as she tugged and yanked and twisted.
The root gave way.
Celine shot up. She lost her hold on the mirror and immediately slammed against a long tree branch. She broke the surface and sucked a deep breath into her burning lungs. She grabbed onto the branch before the floodwater swept her down the bank.
Rain came down in a torrent.
Lightning flashed. Thunder boomed.
A branch scraped her temple.
The car shifted and started to move.
Celine screamed, terror overriding every other thought.
Get on top of the car.
She held the branch with one arm, shoved herself up, and managed to get her knees on the Mercedes’ lowered window. The narrow glass bruised the skin below her knees.
The car shifted against the bank again. It started to move.
She grasped the crevice of the partially opened sunroof.
With all her might, she dragged herself onto the top of the Mercedes. She’d lost her sandals and crouched barefoot on the metal, precariously close to the small opening of the sunroof.
Celine had only a moment to catch her breath before the car jerked away from the bank.
She lost her hold on the branch.
Her fingers slipped as she tried to cling to the frame of the partially opened sunroof window. She held on as tightly as possible. What if she lost her grip? Water rushed around her and the car. She’d be dragged under and carried away with the floodwater. She’d never make it.
No.
Celine gripped the opening tighter with both hands and pulled herself to her knees. She didn’t let go, wouldn’t let go.
The car banged against the opposite bank before bouncing off a tree and spinning backward.
Rain poured down. The lightning seemed brighter. Thunder louder.
Her fingers slipped on the window opening and she clenched tighter.
Celine searched the bank as the car bounced against it. Could she grasp a branch or bush and hold onto it?
She had to try something. The car was still sinking at the same time it was being shoved along in the flood barreling through the arroyo. Only a portion of the roof was above the water.
“Celine!”
A male voice barely carried over the rush and roar of the flash flood. A dog barked repeatedly.
Celine jerked her head around, frantically trying to find who had yelled at her while praying that person could help her.
Jayson.
He rode Starlight along the bank, keeping up with the car. Thor was on the bank, barking, encouraging her to hang on.
The Mercedes came to a hard stop.
Celine slipped and screamed as she slid off the roof.
She gripped the window opening.
Debris pelted her body.
Another crack of thunder.
Her muscles ached and burned. She didn’t know how much longer—
No. She had to fight as long as it took. And Jayson was here.
But her body was so tired.
Tired, so tired.
“Celine,” he shouted again.
She looked up to see she and the car were now facing the bank and Jayson.
He held a rope and shouted. “Grab the rope!”
She barely had the strength to hold on and raise one hand. The car was almost under water.
He whirled the rope into a lasso over his head. He released the rope.
The lasso settled over her head and dropped over her shoulders
Celine shifted so the rope slid to her waist.
“Hold on,” Jayson shouted as the rope tightened around her.
She grasped the rope with both hands.
He pulled, dragging her off the roof.
Fear slammed into her as the last bit of sanctuary vanished below the surface of the water.
She clung to the rope as Jayson dragged her through the raging water, closer to the shore. Starlight walked backward, helping Jayson bring her in. Thor clamped the rope in his jaws as he helped pull.
More debris. More foliage. Scratching her, hitting her, covering her.
Closer to the bank. Closer.
The rope caught on a branch.
Celine struggled to pull the rope off the branch but her energy was rapidly fading and the rope wouldn’t come free.
Thor bounded into the water and swam toward her. He grasped the rope and tugged until it finally came free.
Jayson reeled her in, closer to shore. “Come on, honey,” he said. “I’ve got you.”
Thor release
d the rope and swam beside her. She flung her arm over his neck as he and Jayson worked to get her to shore.
A few feet more and they reached the bank.
Celine collapsed onto the earth. She’d used every bit of her strength. Her muscles would no longer work.
Jayson dismounted the same time she reached shore. He pulled her the rest of the way up and brought her into his arms.
She struggled, feeling as if the current was dragging her down again. The flashflood continued to roar as she coughed and spit out muddy water.
“I’ve got you.” Jayson’s voice soothed her as he wrapped her in his embrace. “I’ve got you, Celine. You’re all right.”
Lightning seared the sky. Thunder rolled.
She stared up at Jayson, barely able to comprehend or understand. She blinked then slipped away.
Adrenaline pumped through Jayson’s body as he gathered Celine tighter. She looked so damned pale and cuts bled on her arms.
A hard thump in his chest caused a powerful ache as he stood. He had to get her home, assess her and treat her. No way could he get across the arroyo now. The massive strength of the flood had disintegrated the road from his ranch to the outside world. What was left was a mini-canyon, and the flood continuing to rage.
Jayson held Celine tightly as he dodged debris that had been flung onto the bank from the churning water.
On the opposite side of the raging flood, he heard shouts from Celine’s people.
The ground shook as lighting flashed a network of bolts across the sky and thunder boomed. Rain fell even harder, partially obscuring Jayson’s vision.
Celine shifted and her eyes went wide as she regained consciousness. She started fighting to free herself. “No.” She coughed and struggled. “Help.”
“Relax, honey.” Jayson’s heart hadn’t stopped thundering, even as he held Celine’s wet, shuddering body. “I’ve got you. You’re going to be okay.”
She went limp again, but when he looked at her, she was still conscious.
He glanced at the flashflood. A rattlesnake was swept along with the current like a stick. “We’ll get you warmed up,” he told Celine.
Her teeth chattered and body trembled, as if her body would never stop reacting to the trauma. He gripped her tighter, wanting to share his body warmth with her, even as rain continued to pour from the skies.
Amazed by You (Riding Tall Book 11) Page 5