Loving Cara (7 page)

I should tell him I’m not interested. But I can’t form the damn words.

“Okay.” He nods and smiles. “I’ll pick Seth up at two.”

“You didn’t have to bring him here,” I mutter.

“Yeah, I did. I’ll see you later, sweetheart.”

I follow Josh out of the room and into the living space. He leaves without another word.

Seth is watching me as if I might die of the plague any moment. “Are you really sick?”

“I’m feeling better.” I shrug and offer him a small smile, and he returns it, a bright, sweet young-boy smile. “Let’s get started on fractions.”

“I hate fractions.”

“I’m with you, kid.”

*  *  *

“So, he didn’t call you at all over the weekend?” Jill asks over the phone. I press it between my ear and shoulder as I pull the bag of popcorn apart to empty it into a bowl. The screen on my back door is suddenly slammed, hard, and I hurry over to secure it.

“Storm’s coming in.” I love summer storms. They move in fast and hard, blowing wind and spitting rain, and then they move out just as fast. “The wind is nuts right now.” I eye the tree in the backyard and remind myself for the hundredth time to call Mr. Eckles to come over and trim it.

“Is there thunder?” Jill asks, making me laugh. She’s so in-your-face most of the time, but a total wimp when it comes to storms.

“Yes, and lightning.”

“Ugh, I’m glad I’m not there. Now, focus. You didn’t hear from Josh over the weekend?”

“Nope. It’s been a week since he showed up here the day I called in sick. He didn’t lie before. He hasn’t touched me in front of Seth, but when Seth isn’t around, he definitely does.”

“Touches you how?” She’s chewing on something crunchy.

“You know, brushes against me when he walks past, tucks my hair behind my ear, that kind of stuff. Like yesterday—” I stop short.

“If you stop now, I swear to God, I’ll shoot you the next time I see you.”

“You don’t know how to fire a gun.”

“I’ll learn. Keep talking.”

“Well, yesterday, I was leaning over Seth’s shoulder to read the worksheet he was working on, and Josh moved up behind me and rubbed his hand up and down my back, and when I looked up at him, he winked at me.”

“But no more kissing?”

“No.”

“Boring.” Jill sighs.

I laugh. “I’m so sorry that I’m not more entertaining.”

“Hey, you’re getting more action than I am these days.” She takes another bite of the crunchy. “So maybe
you
should just kiss
him
.”

“Maybe he came to his senses and realized that a sexual relationship is a bad idea.”

“Maybe pigs will fly out of my ass.” I can practically hear her roll her eyes.

“I’ve always hated that expression.” I frown and stuff a handful of popcorn in my mouth.

“I think he’s being a nice guy. Getting to know you. Letting you get used to him, and all that boring shit.”

“Probably. Did you watch
Dancing with the Stars
last night?” I ask, changing the subject.

“Of course. I’m so glad they brought Max back this season. That man melts my panties off.”

Suddenly call waiting is beeping in my ear. When I pull the phone away, it’s Josh’s name on the caller ID.

“Jill, I’ll call you later. Josh is on the other line.”

“I want all the details!”

“Good-bye, Jilly.” I chuckle as I switch over. “Hello?”

“Hey.” His low voice sends shivers through me and I immediately set my popcorn aside while wiping my hands on my jeans.

“Hey, what’s up?” My voice sounds a bit too high even to my own ears and I wince.

“What are you doing?”

“I was chatting with Jill.”

“Do you want me to let you go?” I hear him shifting in the background and I wonder if he’s lying down.

“No, I hung up with her. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, I was just thinking about you.” I pull the phone away from my ear and frown down at it. This is the first time he’s called me just to chat.

“What were you thinking?” I ask, genuinely curious.

“That I wish you were here with me. Is it weird that I miss you and I just saw you four hours ago?”

No, it’s not weird because I feel exactly the same way!
“I always knew you were weird,” I respond playfully, and am rewarded with his deep chuckle. My panties dampen as I picture that sexy dimple in his cheek, but then I grow quiet.

“Okay, you’re quiet. What are
you
thinking?”

“Well, it’s weird. You miss me, but I haven’t heard from you much the last few days.”

He sighs deeply. “I had a few foals born over the weekend. One didn’t make it. A portion of the fence line on the far side of the ranch went down, I have no idea how, and a few head of cattle got out. Had to round them up. It was a shitty weekend.”

“I’m sorry about the foal,” I murmur, and close my eyes.

“It happens. Seth took it hard.”

“He didn’t mention anything about it today.” I pop a kernel of popcorn in my mouth and munch thoughtfully. “What are you up to? Before you called me, that is.”

“I was reading, gonna call it a night. Wanted to hear your voice.” The last sentence is whispered and I’ve never been more tempted to jump in my car and race over to a man’s place.

“It’s kind of early to go to bed.” I glance at the clock and am surprised to see it’s only eight thirty.

“I have to get up at five to feed the horses and meet with my guys before the day gets started.”

I settle in deeper against the cushions of my couch, enjoying the deep timbre of his voice. “That’s right, you’re a morning person.”

“It’s habit now,” he agrees with a chuckle. “Are you a night person?”

“Depends on my mood, I guess.” The back screen door slams against the house again and I walk through the house to secure it. “It’s windy tonight.”

“Are you okay?” I hear the concern in his voice and I grin.

“Yeah, the screen door keeps coming unlatched from the wind.”

“Do you need me to come in to town to help you out?”

I’m so, so tempted to say yes, just so I can see him, but it’s only a silly storm.

“I’m fine, Josh, but thanks for the offer. I’ll probably head to bed soon too.”

Silence.

“Josh?”

“I’m here.” His voice is soft and the line is still.

“What’s wrong?” I whisper.

“The thought of you in a bed conjures all kinds of images, and you’re a good fifteen minutes away from me right now.”

I laugh and shake my head, but my nipples have puckered at his words and my toes curl. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I want to see you this weekend, just you and me.”

“Like on a date?” I lean my head back against the couch, biting my lower lip.

“Yes, on a date. I want to take you to dinner, in public. Take a walk. Go to the movies. You know, a date. What do you say?”

“Is this a good idea?” I ask softly, and close my eyes, wishing with all my might that it
were
a good idea.

“It’s just dinner, Carolina. Stop overthinking it.”

“We both know it’s not going to end at dinner.”

“Fuck, I hope not,” he agrees with a smile in his voice.

“It’s a date.”

*  *  *

I’m jolted awake by what sounds like warfare. The house is trembling as though I’m under fire, pounding and groaning, splintering wood. It’s pitch-dark, and snow is falling inside my room, but it hurts when it hits my skin. My heart is beating so hard I swear it’s going to come out of my chest, and I can hardly breathe.

I sit straight up and, to my horror, see my ceiling falling apart above me. Water is spilling inside, along with what looks like snow, but I quickly realize it is insulation from the roof.

Holy fuck!

My lungs are screaming in pain from inhaling the sharp shards of fiberglass, and then I don’t feel anything at all as adrenaline kicks in.

I have to get out of here!

I leap from the bed and yank the yoga pants I tossed at the end of my bed up over my hips, step into flip-flops, and run outside to the sound of sirens and wind. My neighbors have come out of their homes, and someone wraps me in his arms and holds on tight.

“Thank God you’re okay.”

Ty!
Ty lives just four houses down from me.

“My God, Ty!”

I pull from his arms and turn toward the house. The tree from the backyard has toppled over, its old, rotten trunk splintered in half. It’s lying across the entire left side of my house. The roof is completely collapsed, and the wall to the master bathroom has crumbled.

I could have been killed.

A fire truck pulls up, and then another, their sirens blaring. An ambulance approaches behind them, and my street is suddenly in a flurry of activity. More neighbors are filtering out of their homes, gasping and crying, and all I can do is stand in shock, not caring that I’m getting wet and dirty, and not even feeling Ty’s strong arms looped around me, holding me up.

I’m thankful for Ty, but suddenly all I can think about is being in Josh’s arms. I need him.

And I don’t even have a phone.

“My phone is under the tree,” I mutter.

“Who do you need to call?” Ty asks.

“Jill. My parents.” I swallow hard. “Josh,” I whisper.

“I called Josh,” Ty responds with a warm smile. “He’s on his way.”

I nod and turn back to the house, unable to tear my eyes away from the destruction.

“Cara, we have to check you over and make sure you’re not hurt.”

One of the paramedics, Sam Waters, takes me by the arm, pulls me over to the ambulance, and sits me down inside. Ty stands vigil at the ambulance door and speaks into his phone.

“She’s getting checked out now.”

Who’s he talking to?

I can’t bring myself to care. I don’t feel anything.

Sam and his partner are running their hands over my arms and legs, checking for breaks and scrapes.

“Wow, there’s hardly a mark on you. You’ll have some little cuts and scratches from the insulation, though.” Sam’s face is worried as he looks into my eyes. “Her eyes are dilated.”

“She’s in shock.”

Someone wraps a thin hospital blanket around my shoulders, making me frown. Should I be cold?

“Cara.”

I don’t respond.

“Cara.” Sam shakes me, forcing me to look up into his face. “Maybe we should take you to the hospital anyway.”

“No.” I shake my head and grip the blanket around me. “I’m fine. I’m not hurt.”

“Cara,” he begins again, but I clamber out of the ambulance and down to Ty, who wraps his arms around me again and kisses my temple. The rain has stopped, but the wind is still vicious.

“Where is she?” someone is shouting in a panic, and my heart fills with joy at the sound of Josh’s voice. I turn to see him pushing his way through the crowd, his eyes wild with fear. “Where the fuck is she?”

“Josh!” He wraps his arms around me and I burrow into his chest. For the first time since waking up, I feel safe at last.

CHAPTER

Five

JOSH

“ ’Lo?” My voice is groggy as I answer my phone and check the time: 2:09 in the middle of the damn night. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Ty. I need you in town now, man.” I can hear rain and voices around him. I immediately jump from bed, pull on my jeans and a shirt, and pull my shit together. “We’re gonna need your generator and lights too.”

“What’s wrong?” I ask again, my voice hard and awake.

“I heard a loud boom about two minutes ago and came running outside to find a tree lying across Cara’s roof.” My heart stops as I pause in tying my boots. “The power’s out and it’s black out here, man.”

“Have you called 911?”

“Of course, and they’re on their way, but—”

“Is Cara still in there?” I close my eyes and pray that he says no, that she’s right there next to him. Please, God, let her be okay.

“Yeah, she’s not out here yet. Jesus, man.” I hear the fear and the shock in his voice and it spurs me into action. I grab my jacket and keys and run out to my truck.

“I’ll be there in fifteen.” I end the call and immediately dial Louie, our head ranch hand, and instruct him to call the other guys, grab the lights and generator, and come to town.

There’s no way in fucking hell I’m wasting time gathering that shit when I need to get to Cara. Now.

Jesus, what if she’s hurt?

I punch the accelerator on the way down the long driveway, swerving around fallen tree limbs and other debris thrown around by the windstorm. Once on the highway I punch it hard, driving much faster than is safe, especially in this weather, but I don’t care. I have only one thought in my head: get to Carolina.

Ten minutes later my phone rings again.

“Ty!” I bark.

“She’s out and she’s okay. Shaken up, but not hurt.”

I close my eyes with relief. The knot I didn’t even know was there loosens in my chest, allowing me to take a deep breath.

“Have the paramedics looked at her?”

“She’s getting checked out now. How far out are you?”

“I’m almost there. Louie and the other guys are bringing the equipment.”

“Thanks, man.”

I hang up and toss the phone on the seat beside me, relieved to see the edges of town in my headlights. People and official vehicles and barricades at both ends of the block stop me as I approach Cara’s street, so I jump out of the truck and run. The crowd in the street is surprisingly thick and full of movement and flashing lights and confusion, and the more I have to search for her, the more panicked I become.

“Where is she?” I yell, and push neighbors aside, frantically searching the crowd. “Where the fuck is she?”

“Josh!”

I see her now, not far from the ambulance with Ty; his arms are around her as though he’s holding her up. Her beautiful hair is covered in white, and she’s wearing nothing more than a black tank top and yoga pants. She flings a thin hospital blanket off her shoulders and pulls out of Ty’s arms to run to me. I wrap my arms around her shoulders, pulling her close.

“She’s covered in insulation, man. Be careful.”

I watch Ty’s serious face over Cara’s head and nod gravely. I want to bury my face in her hair and breathe her in, but I won’t do her any good if I’m in the hospital from inhaling fiberglass, so I just run my hands up and down her back, soothing her.