Second Burn Cowboy (Second Chance Series Book 6) (3 page)

The urgency within her amplified.
She wanted to fall into him and feel his strapping arms roped around her aching body—again, but this time longer.

Not going to happen.

It’d taken her years to build a wall of protection. No one person, no matter how kind he was or that he’d saved her, could come along and single-handedly destroy that barricade.

Snatching
her arm back, he removed his hand. “I’m okay now. Thank you.” She rubbed the skin where the heat of his touch lingered.

“Great.” There was a new huskiness to his voice.

Smoothing the back of her knuckles across her wet eyes, she took a deep breath. “Things could be worse. I realize you risked your life to save mine. I hope I’m not coming across as ungrateful.”
Hiccup.
“I’m very thankful.”
Sniffle.

He sat down next to her feet. The mattress eased under his weight and she
involuntarily slid closer, her calf pressed against his hard thigh. She held her breath. “You have every reason in the world to be upset. You lost something near and dear. That’s a lot to accept in one evening.”

She
rolled her tongue along the roof of her mouth, hoping her voice would work. “I have a booked schedule for wedding cakes. My clothes, pictures, I can never get back. I’m homeless. Unbelievable.”

The
curtain rustled, and Deckland groaned. He quickly stood up as if they’d been caught doing something dirty.

He had guilt written all over him. Apparently, the massage
had him worked up too.

The
doctor, a tall, balding man with kind eyes, looked at each of them. “I’m Dr. Jones. You must be Mr. Matthews?” The doctor stuck out his hand and gave Deckland’s a swift shake. Elsa noticed that he opened his mouth as if to correct the doctor, but it was too late because the moment was lost. Dr. Jones was already facing her. “Mrs. Matthews, you’re a lucky woman. Your lungs are clear, no broken bones, nothing major. You have a slight concussion on the back of your head, but it’ll heal in a few days. It’s important you get lots of rest until then.”

Relief spread through her
, almost pushing out the idea of her name being linked with Deckland. “Does that mean I can go?”

Dr. J
ones took out a pen and pad from his side pocket. “You’re free to go. I’ll prescribe you something for pain, just to be on the safe side. You’ll be on restrictive duty for a couple of days, which means no driving, no heavy lifting, no hikes in the mountains. Let your husband help you so you’re not up and moving too much. Looks like he’ll have no problem carrying you.”

Averting her gaze so that she
wouldn’t accidently make eye contact with Deckland, she thought it was best not to inform the doctor that Deckland wouldn’t be carrying her anyplace. But would Deckland correct the doctor? If Dr. Jones was told she didn’t have anyone to help her, or that she didn’t have a home to go to, he might decide to keep her in the hospital. That couldn’t happen. She had too much responsibility waiting—too many obligations.

“I’ll make sure she gets
lots of rest,” Deckland said.

Her
heart missed a beat. At least he was going along with the misunderstanding.

“
Good then. I’ll have the nurse write your discharge papers and you’ll be on your way.” Dr. Jones patted her knee. “Take good care of her,” he said to Deckland.

“I’ll certainly try.” He winked at Elsa.
“I’ll make sure she doesn’t lift a finger.”

Sweat beaded between her breasts.

Once Dr. Jones was gone, she sighed. “He thought you were my husband. I guess I should have told him the truth.”

“Why?”

“He thinks you’re going to take care of me. That’s too much for me to ask.”
Beep. Beep.
There went the blood pressure cuff again.

“You didn’t ask. I volunteered,” he said.

“But…but…” What could she say? She could think of far worse things than being Deckland’s wife—
pretend
wife.

“Do you have
anywhere else to go? You said you’re homeless.” One thick brow lifted.

She swallowed the quarter-sized lump in her throat. “Maybe you could point me in the direction of the closest hotel.”

“That’d be an hour away.” Her stomach did a
funny loop. “But my place is much better…and cheaper. Not to mention I’ll be at your beck and call.”

Every cell in her body zinged. A naughty image came to mind
involving Deckland doing the massage-thing on other areas of her body, especially around her inner thighs. “You really want me to come stay at Brooke Creek Ranch?”

“
Yes. I have the space.” Not an ounce of hesitation.

“I can’t let you do that—”

“You’re not ‘letting’ me do anything. Again, I’m volunteering.”

“But why?”

“Do you always ask so many questions?” He scratched his jaw.

“Yes, when I’m curious.
No one just offers something without expectation.”

“I’m not offering because I have some covert plan to take advantage of you. It’s called generosity
, Elsa. Y’all may not have that where you’re from, but welcome to Texas where hospitality is alive and well.”

CHAPTER TWO

DECKLAND PULLED OUT of the hospital garage and headed south for home, along with his passenger who had her head against the seat and her gaze concentrated on the dark scenery. He knew he’d caught her by surprise when he’d offered his home to her. Hell, he’d even shocked himself with the outrageous suggestion.

He guessed he could have driven her
into San Antonio, found her a nice place to stay and been back at the ranch before sunrise, in time to start his chores. He could have even called April and Dante to ask if she could stay at the farm, maybe even Peyton and Dillon. After all, they had plenty of room and, from what he understood, April, Peyton and Elsa had become good friends over the last few months.

T
ruth was, he was a gentleman—and real men always helped a woman in need, and it had nothing to do with the needling attraction in his gut.

Sure,
there was no reason to deny he found her attractive. What man, straight or otherwise, wouldn’t appreciate her striking eyes, upturned nose with a faint scattering of freckles and perfectly shaped lips? And her scent—wow—was that caramel apple? Even the smell of burnt wood couldn’t mask it.

Glancing
across the seat, his chest tightened. She hooked him in an odd way, not to mention she was a hot mess. Her wild hair framed heart-shaped face, red-rimmed eyes and dirt-smudged cheeks. Had her pale skin ever seen sunlight?

Her clothes were filthy
and ripped. She even had some drops of his blood on her shirt.

What else was he supposed to do besides help
her?

He’d wanted to make it clear that he didn’t
lay out the welcome mat because he had expectations, especially along the lines of rekindling the kiss from two months ago that had practically knocked his boots into yesterday.

Hell, he could see how a beautiful woman like Elsa could mistake a man’s generosity for stupidity. She probably had interested men coming and going.

As much as he appreciated her
beauty, he wasn’t about to risk being revved up just to be turned down again. He knew when a woman was off limits, and Elsa had obvious red flags and neon signs of warning.

He
’d do what he could for her, send her on her way then forget the lure between them—at least on his part. He had a good feeling the attraction was one-sided.

He
inhaled sharply, and his nose hairs singed. He certainly didn’t smell like a sweet treat. A hot shower to wash the dirt and smoke from his body was in order and then he’d call it a night.

When they pulled into the ranch,
he parked the truck in front of the house and slid out. By the time he’d rounded the front, ready to help her, she was already out and standing by the sidewalk.

“Welcome to Brooke Creek Ranch,
” he said.

“Thank you again for inviting m
e here. I’ll be out of your hair in a few days, just like we discussed.” Her voice was soft and quiet, pulling every sentimental string in his body.

“No worries.” He opened the
front door and stepped aside so that she could pass. “Sorry to say that although we have enough bedrooms to host a soccer team we only have one bathroom. With a house full of men, we never needed a second. As kids, my brothers and I would hose off out back before we came in. Mom tried to teach us right, but she finally gave up and realized there was no hope for proper etiquette when it came to her sons.”

A smile curved her lips.
“I’d beg to differ. I can wait for a shower. You go first.” She scanned the assortment of family pictures hanging on the wall.

“Ladies first
. We have plenty of hot water. I’m sure you’re wanting to wash the day’s events off. Unless you’re telling me to go first because I stink as bad as I think I do.”

“
No. You don’t stink.” A twinkle lit her eye but didn’t last long. “Thank you again for asking me to stay.”

He shoved his hands deep into his
front pockets, feeling like a schoolboy at his first dance. He wasn’t sure why he had a nervous gut. A simple little kiss had never thrown him before, and he’d kissed more than a few willing females over the years.

“Promise me something.” He needed to clear the air.

“What is it?”

“No more thanking me, you hear? I’m only doing what anyone else would. Make yourself at home.”

The tip of her tongue darte
d out and swept across the curve of her bottom lip. “Okay, I’ll stop thanking you, but I feel I owe you a world of gratitude. You’ve gone above and beyond what a stranger should to help.”

“Y
ou don’t know me very well, sure, but again, I wouldn’t say we’re strangers.” The faint red appearing in her cheeks told him she knew what he meant. His zipper stretched, as it did every time he thought about that night. He’d never forget how she looked wearing a sky blue sundress, long blonde hair falling like silken waves down her back and her tight bottom moving against the fabric as she’d neatly arranged cupcakes. The evening ended with the kiss that still crept into his dreams.

He ticked his gaze over her now. At five
-foot-two and one hundred ten pounds, he knew this because he saw it on her hospital chart, she’d blow away if a swift wind came along. The dark circles rimming her eyes remained from the first time he met her.

“I guess I’m not used to
everyone’s kindness around these parts. Your family has been beyond generous.”

“
You should stick around and get comfy with the helping hand,” he said with an ounce of hope.

With a
slight shrug, she pointed to the picture of him and his brothers when they were kids. “Raising three strapping boys must have been quite a job for your parents. It sure seems they did an excellent job.”

Her sweet
expression could have registered many dangerous physical reactions in him in any other circumstance. A man didn’t take advantage of a woman who needed assistance. “I’m sure we were the cause of many gray hairs.”

She
jetted a glance up the stairs. “Bathroom that way?”

He pulled himself back on track. “I’ll show you.”

****

Climbing out of the shower and drying off in a huge fluffy towel, Elsa stared at her discarded pile of clothes on the floor and crinkled her nose. There was no possible way she could put them back on. She’d been in dire circumstances before, and
had always been one to prepare for emergencies. In the trunk of her car, she had a suitcase of clothes, but it wouldn’t do her any good tonight.

Wrapping the towel
tight around her body, she opened the bathroom door and peeked out. Deckland was nowhere in sight and the house was quiet. Earlier, as he was giving her a quick tour of the upstairs, he’d pointed to the bedroom on the right and said, “I’ll be in here if you need anything.”

A sexy cowboy couldn’t
make a delicious offering and expect a woman not to have wicked thoughts. Did he realize how he turned her inside out? A smart man like Deckland wasn’t oblivious to his good looks and charm, and she definitely wasn’t immune, even though she wasn’t available—at least not in the emotional way.

Tiptoeing down the hall, she had her focus on making it to the last bedroom
but his open door drew her like a fly to honey. She stopped, took a small step backward and peeked through the six-inch crack.

Holy Moly!

Her
mouth went dry as her bones went weak at the reflection in the dresser mirror. He was reaching into a drawer, his shirt was missing and his pants were undone, his large belt buckle dinged with each movement.

Afraid he’d hear her
heavy breathing, she laid her palm against her mouth.