A Moment To Love (10 page)

“Those do sound beautiful. If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll get to witness them while I’m here.”

“The beauty of the land is all around you. Take a look. I mean, really see the beauty in the simplest parts of nature. You’ll be amazed by the secrets of this land.” He pointed to a little red flower in the distance. “Even in this harsh terrain, this plant refuses to be defeated.”

Just like him, she thought, standing tall against all adversity.

“You know, I was warned about you.”

“Maybe you should heed the warnings.”

His facial expression didn’t give any hint of his feelings. It was almost as if he wasn’t surprised. Why would that be? Why would he let the townspeople of Whistle Stop assume he was some unfriendly hermit, when in fact he could be quite friendly?

Cord averted his gaze. “Now that you’ve seen Haggerty, is it what you were imagining?”

She wanted to ask more about the residents of Whistle Stop, but she decided not to press him for answers. “I think it’s the most amazing place I’ve ever been. I can see why you’re so protective of this place.”

His gaze jerked back to her. “You really mean that? You think this place is special?”

“I do.” Her pulse started to race as he continued staring at her. “This place is loaded with a rugged charm and rare beauty.”

He lifted his bottle to drink. When a trickle of water trailed down his chin, she longed to reach out and run her finger over his damp skin, over the place where his vein pulsed. She wondered how he’d react if she gave in to the impulse.

“There’s a far more beautiful sight.” His voice was deeper than normal. The sweet words drizzled over her like thick, rich caramel.

“Where would that be?”

Their gazes connected and held. “The woman standing right in front of me.”

Her gaze searched his. Could he read the desire in her eyes? Did he know how much she’d been longing to feel his lips pressed to hers? The heat was definitely affecting her now. There was no other acceptable explanation for her overwhelming yearning to have him kiss her.

When his hand claimed her hip, her heart soared. With a tug, he pulled her closer, and her body willingly obliged. This shouldn’t be happening. It wasn’t right. They were opponents. But, somehow, out here in the desert miles from civilization, reality no longer seemed quite so important.

Her gaze slipped to his lips. The breath hitched in her throat, and his head dipped toward her. This was it. The moment of no return. Her eyelids drifted closed. His mouth grazed hers, and her resistance melted away. For the moment, a truce let their differences fade into the background, and they melted together. His tongue gently probed her lips, parting them with ease. Their tongues moved in unison, as in a well-rehearsed dance.

When Cord sucked on her lower lip and ran the tip of his tongue over it, her fingers tightened on his shoulders. Shivers of need zinged through her, bringing her body to life. She should have pulled away, but she couldn’t—not yet. His lips were as sweet as a Choconut Bar—no, definitely sweeter— and she was on a sugar high. Her very being craved more of his kisses—of him.

Much too soon, he pulled back.

Knowing he wasn’t coming back for more, she let her eyes flutter open. Reality careened in on her, knocking her back to earth. She knew better than to put herself out there—she’d only end up getting hurt. But in this one particular instance, it’d been worth it. She licked her lips, savoring the memory. All the while, she knew it could never happen again.

She mustered up every bit of self-control and moved away. “We can’t let that happen again.”

His eyes flashed with surprise then grew dark. “You’re right.” He turned toward his truck. “Time to head back.”

Alexis watched his retreating back. She didn’t want things to end like this. “Cord, wait.”

Without a backward glance, he climbed inside and fired up the engine before stomping on the gas, spraying the area with dirt. Obviously, she wasn’t the only one unsettled by that mind-blowing kiss. But could they move past it?

Her fingers pressed to her tingling lips. She reminded herself that a kiss was just a kiss. Something she’d done in the past. She was making too much of it. Wasn’t she?

She climbed into the SUV, still wondering what had gotten into her to let down her defenses with Cord. There wasn’t a chance it could lead anywhere. They were adversaries over a very important deal. And when he realized that she was right about knowing what was best for both of them, his wounded male ego wouldn’t be able to deal with it. She’d forever be the woman who stole away his land—his heritage.

With a resigned sigh, she glanced down to fasten her seat belt and noticed something sticking up between the passenger seat and the center console. Her fingers worked into the narrow space and yanked out her camera. It must have gotten jostled off the seat.

How could she have forgotten her camera? It had to have been Cord’s sudden appearance and him bandying about threats to have her arrested that had her forgetting the main reason she’d come out here. She needed photos to send to her father. She could imagine him checking his e-mail every hour on the hour waiting for them. She didn’t have a choice. She had to get pictures. It was her job.

Until she’d set foot in Whistle Stop, she’d been fine with putting her life on hold to work her way up through the ranks at HSG. But it hadn’t worked out like she’d hoped. At one point she’d thought being in charge—being president of HSG—would make her happy, but it hadn’t. There were too many people to please and no way of pleasing everyone. With so many hoops to jump through, there was never any time left to smell the roses.

She didn’t know if it was the sense of community she’d witnessed in this small desert town or spending time with Cord, but the nagging sense of wanting more than a successful career grew each day she was here.

A trail of dust behind Cord’s truck beckoned to her, but she continued to hesitate. She’d be fine here on her own. He had already given her a stern lecture about the hazards of this place.

In all honesty, it shouldn’t be too hard to follow his tire tracks back to the main road. After all, it seemed like it was pretty much a straight shot.

She wouldn’t even be sitting here contemplating all of this if he hadn’t planted those worst-case scenarios in her mind. She was certain he’d been exaggerating—trying to keep her off his precious land. Well, she wasn’t falling for his scare tactics. She’d be fine on her own. She clutched the little camera and headed back to Haggerty. Cord’s stern warnings echoed in her mind. She stared down at the clay, watching every step she took.

She snapped pictures of the General Store, the telegraph office and the opening of the mine. She even made a point to trek over to the graveyard. This place was special with a reverent air about it. Knowing that Cord’s family was buried here, she intended to ensure it remained as is by thoroughly documenting its current state.

While standing there taking photos, she decided the chain-link fence she’d originally envisioned wouldn’t do this place justice. A high stone wall would be more in line with the landscape and would ensure privacy. She wondered what it’d take to convince Cord that she would do her best to secure the graveyard.

Her footsteps picked up the pace as she headed back to the center of the ghost town. A few more photos and she’d be on way her—most likely to the sheriff’s office, after the way Cord tore out of there. Oh well, she’d deal with him later. Right now, she had to get the rest of the pictures she’d promised her father.

She paused by the remains of the church where Cord’s ancestors had been married. She carefully checked for the snake. Not spotting it, she stepped just inside the opening.

A nostalgic feeling came over her as she snapped pictures. Her imagination conjured up images of life back in the old days. She leaned back against one of the adobe walls, resting her hand on the sun-warmed clay. What would it be like to have someone pledge their undying love and then to grow old together? A wistful sigh passed her lips.

Something tickled the back of her hand. She wiggled her fingers, causing the sensation to cease. Lost in her fantasy, she pictured the women in their prairie skirts and the men with their chaps and side arms.

The image of Cord intruded into her daydream, ruggedly handsome, all done up like an old-fashioned cowboy. She imagined he’d followed her back here. A smile tugged at her lips as she savored the thought of him making a play for her, his fingers grazing over the back of her hand as his mouth nuzzled a sensitive spot on her neck.

Once again, she noticed the tickling on her hand, and as much as she wanted it to be Cord’s fingers caressing her, she knew it couldn’t be. He was long gone, and by the sour look on his face, he wouldn’t be back any time soon. So if he wasn’t touching her, then that meant…Oh no! Could it be another snake?

She tensed. Her chest tightened. She glanced down. There sat a tan insect bigger than a half dollar with numerous legs.

A scorpion.

Its long tail lifted and curled, ready to strike her.

Panic crowded in, smothering her common sense.

A scream ripped from her lungs.

CHAPTER NINE

C
ord pressed his boot down hard on the accelerator and clutched the steering wheel as the truck bounced over the rough terrain, jostling him in the seat. He seriously reconsidered his threat to have Lexi charged with trespassing. It’d certainly teach her a lesson and keep her at arm’s length, just in case he lost his mind again and decided to kiss her.

He sighed. The last thing he wanted to do was deal with the sheriff. He hadn’t been friends with Will since a fight in third grade. After all of this time, Cord couldn’t even remember what their disagreement had been about except that it had something to do with playing baseball. Things had been quiet between them for the longest time, until Cord’s ex-wife had stirred up that hornets nest of lies. Ever since then, Will had been giving him strange looks. Cord always shrugged it off. If the man wanted to think ill of him, there was nothing Cord could say to change his mind.

Cord shifted his gaze to the rearview mirror. He squinted to see through the cloud of dust. Not making out Lexi’s vehicle, he eased up on the gas pedal. As the air cleared, it only confirmed his worst thought—Lexi was missing.

Where had she disappeared to? His fingers tightened around the steering wheel. That kiss had so unnerved him that he hadn’t made sure she’d pulled out at the same time. He’d only had one thought—putting distance between them.

Back at Haggerty, when she’d revealed her love of the land, he felt like he’d finally found the right woman. He’d caved in to his desires. For one idyllic moment, he’d dismissed the stark facts of his reality—his shortcomings—and he’d let down his guard. He wouldn’t let it happen again. He remembered vividly how much it hurt when the dream faded.

Down deep, he knew he was the main reason his marriage had failed. His difficulty with reading left him wanting to stick close to home. His ex-wife, Susan, had been a dreamer. She’d wanted to see the world, but when he’d refused, their troubles had begun in earnest. She hadn’t understood him and how inadequate he felt when he was outside of his element.

He refused to let that happen again. If he should ever marry again, it would be different. It’d be with a woman content with life on the Brazen H—someone who would accept him the way he was. That definitely left the up-and-coming president of HSG off of the list.

Cord lifted his boot from the accelerator, waiting for Lexi to catch up. His gaze remained glued to the mirror. The seconds ticked away, but still nothing. A bad feeling churned in his gut. He imagined her with a flat tire out there in the barren land. What were the chances she knew how to switch out a tire? He had no choice but to head back.

He stomped the gas pedal and spun the steering wheel hard to the left. The more ground he covered with no sign of her, the more his sense of urgency increased. Something was wrong. He got these intuitions only when it came to the weather or the livestock—never with another human. However, none of it changed the fact he knew in his gut Lexi was in trouble.

His truck skidded to a stop next to her SUV. He jumped out and ran over to her vehicle. Empty. Had she gone back to the ghost town? For what?

A shrill scream sliced through the air, raising the hairs on the back of his neck.

Lexi!

His heart slammed into his ribs. He set out at a dead run.

Please don’t let me find her crumpled form at the bottom of a mine shaft.

The horrific thought sent his legs pumping harder, faster. His lungs burned, but he kept moving. He had to get to her. She had to be all right.
Please God, let her be safe.

He stopped on what had once been Main Street. One deep breath after the other, he sucked in oxygen. His eyes continually scanned for any sign of her.

“Lexi! Where are you?”

Blood pulsed in his temples. If she had fallen into a mine shaft, the chances of hearing her weren’t good. She’d be deep underground. He refused to accept the possibility.

He paused, thinking he’d heard something. “Lexi, I can’t hear you.”

“Cord,” a thready voice reached out to him. “Cord, over here.”

He made his way up the street, scanning to the left and then the right. At last, he spotted her sitting on the ground in the opening of the church. Thank God. As he drew nearer, her red, blotchy complexion became apparent.

“What’s wrong?” He crouched down beside her. His hand cupped her warm cheek, while his thumb stroked her smooth skin. “Why are you sitting here in the dirt?”

“A scorpion stung me.”

She trembled like a leaf in a windstorm. He pulled her to him. His own heart pounded from the scare she’d given him.

“Calm down. You’re okay now,” he murmured, trying to keep her from having a panic attack. “Show me where.”

She held out her jittery hand. No doctor’s diagnosis was necessary to tell him that the swollen red patch was a sign of a reaction to the venom.

“What did it look like?”

“It was ugly. And it was tan.”

Her description didn’t tell him much. He’d like to see the culprit for himself. “Where were you when it stung you?”

“Back there.” She pointed over her shoulder. “I was leaning back, and it crawled on my hand.”

He walked over and scanned the designated area. He knew from growing up here that there was more than one species—one more venomous than the others. A thorough scan of the area turned up nothing. The little devil must have scampered off into a crevice.

He returned and helped her stand. “We need to get you to a doctor.”

“Should I be worried?”

He smiled, hoping if he portrayed a calm composure she’d do the same. “Trust me, you’ll be fine.”

“Don’t scorpion bites kill people?”

“Only in the rarest of cases. You might get a little sick, but that’s all. This never would have happened if you’d listened to me.” He didn’t want to lecture her now, but if his words kept her from panicking, so much the better.

“I’m hurt, and all you can do is say, ‘I told you so’?”

He wrapped a secure arm around her waist to guide her back to his vehicle. “You’re lucky you didn’t end up at the bottom of a mine shaft.”

She glared at him. “I’m not dumb. I listened to everything you said. You just didn’t warn me to be careful where I put my hands.”

Her last statement sent his mind whirling off in a totally inappropriate direction. When she was better, he knew exactly where he wanted her hands. First, though, he had to get her to the doctor.

“The problem with you is, you’d do anything to get out of trouble,” he teased, trying to keep her talking.

Her eyes flared with anger. “Meaning what? I got stung by the scorpion so you wouldn’t have me arrested?”

“Calm down. I was only teasing.”

“Well, it’s not funny.”

“Point taken. It’s just that I knew you were in trouble.”

“You did?” Surprise rang out in her voice.

Now why in the world had he gone and told her about his intuition, or whatever you wanted to call it? She’d think he was crazy, or worse, she’d start thinking they had some kind of deep connection. Neither of which was true.

“I figured that if you hung around here by yourself, sooner or later you’d get yourself in trouble.”

“I forgot to take pictures of Haggerty for my father.”

They stopped next to his pickup, and he opened the door for her. “Hop in.”

“But my vehicle—”

“Will be fine right here. I’ll send a couple of ranch hands out to pick it up later.”

The red splotches on her face hadn’t faded, and the swelling of her hand was getting worse. No way was he letting her behind the wheel.

Holding her arm to her chest, she climbed in without any further argument. That in and of itself set off alarms in his head. He jumped in the driver’s side, fired up the engine, and tramped the gas.

“Can you turn up the air conditioning?” She leaned her head back against the headrest.

Damn. He’d meant to have the air fixed at the beginning of summer, but he’d put it off for one reason or another. “Can’t. It’s busted.”

“You should have said something before. We could have taken my SUV. Turn around.”

“No. We’ve wasted enough time.” He wasn’t up on his first aid, but it was obvious she was having some sort of reaction to the venom. “We’re going straight to the doctor’s. You’ll be fine. Think about a swimming pool or Antarctica or something cold.”

“Boy, you’re a lot of help.” Her frustrated voice faded.

His foot rested heavily on the accelerator, letting up only when the ground got too rough and Lexi groaned from being jostled. At last, they reached the paved road. He floored the gas, ignoring the posted speed limit.
Please, God, make her better, and I’ll do whatever it takes.

Minutes later, they rolled into Whistle Stop. With no open spots in front of Doc Willard’s, he ended up double-parking. He jumped out and rushed over to open her door. She was drenched in sweat and clutching the wrist of her enflamed hand.

He didn’t waste time with words. He scooped her up. Lexi’s cheek pressed against his shoulder. The alarming heat of her skin penetrated his shirt. His arms tightened protectively around her.

He strode into the office. A familiar face turned his way, Tony Granger. They’d been friends the whole way through school. Tony had always been a good guy in Cord’s book, and that was saying a lot. They nodded at each other in greeting, and then Tony’s gaze drifted to Lexi.

With a hand on his young nephew’s shoulder, he stepped back from the receptionist’s window. “Go ahead. We’re just here for Johnny’s annual physical.”

“Thanks.”

Cord rapped his knuckles on the glass partition.

Mrs. Willard ambled over. A smile pulled at her bright red-painted lips. “Goodness gracious, Cord. You never come here. What—”

The words trailed off as her gaze took in Lexi resting against his chest. The woman wheeled around and rushed to open the door leading to the exam rooms.

“What happened to her?”

“A scorpion stung her. Think the doc better have a look at her right away.”

“Poor thing.” Mrs. Willard held the door for him. “Bring her this way.”

She guided him down the hallway past a couple of closed doors. She pointed to the room at the end of the corridor. “Let her rest in there. I’ll get Doc.”

She hustled off in the opposite direction, while he carried Lexi inside and set her down on the paper-lined exam table.

Seconds later, footsteps echoed in the hallway, and then Doc Willard stepped into the room. “I hear you’ve brought me a new patient.”

Cord turned to the gray-haired man in his usual white coat—the same man who’d delivered him and patched up all of his childhood scrapes. He was one of the few people in town who’d never judged him or his short-lived marriage.

“Doc, this is Lexi Greer. We were out visiting Haggerty, and she had a run-in with a scorpion.”

The doctor’s gaze moved from him to her and back again. “Okay. I can take it from here. Why don’t you go wait in the waiting room? We’ll be a few minutes.”

Leave? An unfamiliar sensation came over him—protectiveness. Cord turned to Lexi for direction. He wasn’t anxious to clear out, but he’d do whatever would make her the most comfortable.

“Go ahead,” she said.

He slipped out of the room, closing the door behind him. The weight of responsibility hung round his neck, pulling down on him. He never should have given in to her plea to traipse around Haggerty. He’d known nothing good would come of it. And he’d been right.

Once in the waiting room, he started to pace. He didn’t know why he’d let himself get so worried. He’d seen a lot worse after spending his whole life on a ranch. So why did Lexi’s incident strike him so profoundly? It wasn’t like she meant anything to him.

A little boy, not much more than a toddler, waved a toy airplane above his head. He spun around and bumped into Cord. With lightning-fast reflexes, Cord bent over to steady the child.

“Hey there, buddy, be careful.” Cord’s vision moved to the toy. “That’s a really cool plane.”

The boy shot him a wide-eyed stare before running to his mother and clinging to her jean-clad leg. Cord smiled, hoping the boy would do the same—he didn’t. Cord hated the thought of a little kid fearing him. He didn’t think of himself as being big and scary. He sure hoped it wasn’t the impression he gave other people—especially not Lexi.

Was she scared of him?

He hadn’t exactly gone out of his way to show her his nice side. He expelled a frustrated sigh and ran a hand over the back of his neck. He’d have to work on being nicer to her. Just because he didn’t want her building a resort on his land didn’t mean he had to come across as an ogre.

He glanced around, finding all of the chairs in the small waiting room filled. When his gaze landed on Tony, his friend slid over on the bench, making room for him.

“Thanks.” Cord sat down, even though he’d prefer to be pacing. His knee bobbed up and down.

“So that’s the lady the whole town is buzzing about?” Tony nodded toward the exam rooms. “The one who wants to buy your ranch?”