Texas Tough (The Tylers of Texas 2)

Erin caught the top rail of the fence, swung a leg over, and jumped to the ground. “Guess I’ll go see if Jasper needs anything,” she said. “Thanks, Sky. I know you were really busy today.”

He gave her a quicksilver smile. “I can always make time for you and Tesoro.”

“More tomorrow?” she asked. “Just for a little while.”

“Sure.”

Lauren watched the girl race back toward the house. Pulse tripping, she turned back to face Sky. Was he going to welcome her, or chill her with a look?

His gaze found her. His chiseled face was unreadable. “Hell but it’s hot,” he growled. “Hand me that empty bucket next to your feet.”

Puzzled, but knowing better than to question him, Lauren passed the bucket over the fence. He moved to the nearby watering trough and filled the bucket to the brim. Tossing his hat aside, he lifted the bucket high and emptied it over his head. Lauren watched the cool water spill over him, plastering his black hair to his head, flowing down his face and body like a cascading stream over a rocky ledge.

With one hand, he raked his hair off his face. His dripping clothes clung to his body. His breath eased out in a long exhalation. “That’s more like it,” he said. “Now what was it you wanted, Lauren?”

His voice was as cold as his look. Lauren was on the verge of excusing herself and

walking away when a crazy idea struck her. Taking a reckless chance, she placed a boot on the middle rail and swung over the fence to stand facing him. With a nod, she pointed to the bucket in his hand. “I could use some of that myself if you wouldn’t mind,” she said.

“But you aren’t—” He broke off, raising one ink-black eyebrow. His expression had become knowing, half-amused. With a deliberate move, he stepped to the trough and scooped the bucket full of water. Lauren braced herself, closing her eyes as he lifted it above her head.

If he hesitated, it was no more than an instant. She felt the shock of the cool water, breathed the mossy smell of it as it poured over her, soaking her hair and her shirt, dripping down over her jeans and boots.

When she opened her eyes, Sky was grinning down at her. “You look damn good wet,” he said. Then his eyes went hungry.

Lauren didn’t reply. She’d become sharply aware of the way their clothes clung and the way their gazes devoured each other’s bodies. The ache that rose in her was sweet and hot and raw. If he so much as touched her she knew she would topple past the edge of all common sense.

But nothing was going to happen here, in the sunlit paddock where anyone coming out of the barn or passing the corrals could see them. They stood in mute frustration, moisture steaming off their hair and clothes.

Sky cleared his throat. “Let’s go for a ride,” he said.

They saddled Storm Cloud and Belle, mounted up, and headed west into the rugged canyon country. Riding single file through the scrub, hat brims lowered against the glare of the late-day sun, they said little until they’d reached the lengthening shadows of the escarpment. It was cooler here, the trail more open. The first rays of sunset cast a glow over the rocky buttresses and hoodoos.

“I had no idea it would be so beautiful here.” Lauren caught up with Sky, who’d paused on a level spot to wait for her.

“People can miss a lot with their heads buried in their computers,” he said.

“I’ll try not to take that personally.” Lauren let her hat fall back against her shoulders. Her hair and clothes had dried in the heat. A light breeze cooled her face.

Storm Cloud snorted and tossed his handsome head. They made a striking pair, Lauren thought, the black horse and the hawk-proud, black-haired man. If she’d been an artist she’d have chosen to paint them like this, with the setting sun and the canyon behind them.

“Storm Cloud seems to be behaving today,” she said.

Sky patted the gelding’s shoulder. “I haven’t had much time to work with him, but he does seem more relaxed. If he’s calm enough by the time we’re ready to go back, I’ll let you ride him.”

“No perfume today, I promise.” Lauren laughed, thinking this was as happy as she’d felt in months.

“There are some petroglyphs up that steep-sided canyon. It’s not far. We should have enough daylight left to see them.”

“Then let’s go.” Lauren nudged the mare to a walk. The uneven ground here was slow going, but the pace made it easier to talk.

“I want to apologize for yesterday,” she said. “I was trying to smooth things out for my father’s sake. It turned out to be a bad idea.”

“I don’t own you, Lauren.” Sky’s voice had taken on a slight chill. “I’ve no right to judge your choice of company.”

“Not even if that company turns out to be a horse’s ass?”

He sucked in his breath as if her choice of words had shocked him, then exhaled with a chuckle. “I won’t have you insulting some poor innocent horse.”