Was he hearing what he wanted to hear, or had she actually spoken those words out loud?Beau was so close to nodding off that he couldn’t be sure if those words were real or imagined.
“Let’s get those clothes off,” she said.That, he heard loud and clear.
Beau planted a hand on the counter to steady himself as Ivy worked the snap and zipper on his jeans.He toed off his boots.Within a few seconds, the jeans were off, and he was stepping out of them.Next came his socks.
She stood up to unbutton his shirt.Standing toe-to-toe with her sent a tsunami of need crashing through him.Too bad he didn’t have enough energy to act on it.Then again, blood flew south, reminding him that his body had a mind of its own and a deep well of resources.Acting on the attraction would invite questions he wasn’t ready to answer yet, like where did they go once this ordeal was over?Her life was in Austin.As she’d said, this was her neck of the woods.There’d been a great deal of pride in her voice when she’d spoken about her hometown.The life he was building was on the ranch with his siblings.They might have found love and happiness, but that didn’t seem to be in the cards for Beau.His feelings for Ivy were strong, no doubt about it.He would never ask her to give up the life she’d built here.Her stability had been on shaky ground before the move back to Austin.If she lived here and he lived on the ranch, where would that leave them?Commuting on the weekends?Making time for each other when they could?
He worked seven days a week on the ranch, just as the others did.Would he always be asking her to be the one to make the sacrifice to come see him?If she did, how much time would he have to give anyway?
Shoving those thoughts down deep, he shrugged out of his unbuttoned shirt.Pain shot through his shoulder and down his arm.
Shit.
There was no hiding that level of pain.He grunted as his face contorted and he sucked in air.
Ivy drew back as she studied him.“Did I hurt you?”
“No.In fact, I don’t know how I would do any of this without you.”
Time stood still as their gazes met and held, almost like a caress.The southern blood flow wasn’t helped by the glitter of need in those beautiful eyes.
“Can you manage the rest on your own?”Ivy asked, her voice shaky for a different reason this time.
His throat dried up, rendering him unable to speak.
It would be the most natural thing to lean forward and claim those beautiful pink lips of hers.
Would it be the smartest move?His heart said yes.Logic said it would only complicate their arrangement.To hell with logic, he leaned just enough to claim those lips.It took less than a second for her to step forward and close the gap between them.
The taste of dark roast coffee still lingered along with the peppermint she’d popped in her mouth in the truck earlier.He’d done the same.The move paid off now.
His pulse raced, making him dizzy as hell.He could’ve stayed this way all day except for the fact he might actually pass out.
He pulled back and tried to catch his breath.After clearing his throat, he said, “I should probably—”
“Yeah, no, definitely shower,” she said, tripping over her words.“Should I?”She motioned toward the spigot.
“That would be great if you don’t mind.”He wasn’t exactly spouting Shakespeare.
The fact they could barely form sentences amused him as much as it caught him off guard.Ivy was a rare beauty with intelligence to match.Those facts weren’t lost on him.
She leaned over and turned on the water, testing it before taking a satisfied step back.“I’ll just be out here if you need anything.”Those words barely left her lips before she was out the door.
His amusement must have shown on his face because she half-smiled when she got a good look at him before making a quick exit.She cracked the door rather than closing it, mumbling something about needing to hear if he fell.
Beau slipped out of his boxers and into the warm water.It was magic on his sore body.He checked out his shoulder.The bleeding had stopped; a small miracle in and of itself.He’d take it.
After a quick shower, he managed to towel off without causing any additional bleeding.Another small miracle.They were adding up.
Ivy had thought to ask the front desk for toothbrushes and toothpaste—manna from heaven.He used the supplies and then wrapped his towel around his waist.No way was he putting dirty clothes back on.He’d rather sleep in the buff anyway.
“Your turn,” he said to Ivy as he walked over to the bed.The bed.One.It was king-size, but he should definitely ask if sleeping naked bothered her.
“I’m in the same boat, Beau.Just stay on your side of the bed.”Her cheeks flamed.Was she embarrassed?
Damned if it didn’t make her even more beautiful.Then again, it would take more than a red blush to take away from her looks.Physically, she was a ten.Her intelligence put her over the top.Did he deserve to be with someone like her?
The answer came faster than a 100-mile-per-hour pitch.No.He didn’t.
