Page 37 of Wrangling a Texas Hometown Hero

At least it didn’t when she was standing on the ground. When she was teetering on the top, it was a different story.

The neighbor’s dog spotted her and started barking. Not wanting to attract the attention of the entire neighborhood, she quickly swung a leg over the top pole and made sure the toe of her boot was securely tucked in a link before she swung her other leg over. But before she could secure that foot, her other foot slipped. She grabbed on to the top pole and caught herself, but in the process her dress snagged on a point of the chain link and she was stuck dangling there while she tried to find a foothold.

The clearing of a throat behind her had her freezing.

“Ms. Stokes?” She squeezed her eyes shut, praying she’d hear the old woman’s phlegmy voice. Instead she heard a deep, husky one.

“Nope.”

Chapter Twelve

When Jace peeked out the window of the guesthouse to see what the neighbor’s dog was barking at, he didn’t expect to see Hallie climbing over the fence. He stepped outside to find out what the hell she was doing, but all his brain cells evaporated at the sight that greeted him.

Whatever she was wearing was twisted up around her torso, leaving her lower half covered by nothing but a pair of skimpy panties that had ridden up her ass cheeks and were now just a piece of lacy floss.

All those images he’d tried so hard to erase flooded back.

He knew the feel of those perfectly plumped curves. His hands had stroked them and cradled them and gripped them tightly as he drove deep inside her. At one point, his fingers had even dipped into the shadowy crease where that sexy piece of lace rode.

He had to clench his hands into fists and squeeze his eyes shut to keep from racing over and doing it all over again.

“Well, don’t just stand there, Jace Carson!” Hallie’s voice infiltrated his concentration. “Help me get my dress unstuck.”

He slowly opened his eyes, hoping the view had changed. It hadn’t. Those pretty cheeks were still on display and made even more tempting as Hallie struggled to tug her dress loose.

It looked like he had no choice.

He had to help her.

He had to touch her.

“Hold on. I’m coming.” He cringed at his choice of words. God, he hoped he didn’t come. But if the raging hard-on fighting to get out of his sweatpants was any indication, it was possible. Especially when he moved closer and saw the sweet little raspberry-shaped birthmark on one pale cheek.

His cock felt like it grew another two inches as sweat broke out on his brow.

“Jace? Are you there? I swear if you left me dangling—”

“I’m h-h-here,” he croaked. “I’m just trying to figure out how to go about this.” Without touching her and going off in his pants. “You can’t pull your dress free? I’ll catch you if you fall.”

“If I could pull free, I wouldn’t be hanging here.”

He looked away from that glorious ass and tried to think. “Okay. You can stand on my shoulders and that will give some slack to your dress and free up both your hands to get unhooked.” He stepped closer, but then ducked when a flailing boot swung at his head. “Stop kicking!”

She stilled and he took hold of her feet, positioning each boot on his shoulders. “Okay, see if you can stand.” She held on to the top pole and pulled herself up. Her heels dug into his shoulders, but he didn’t say a word. The pain took his mind off his massive boner . . . for about a second. Then all he could think about was Don’t look up. Don’t you dare look up.

He looked up.

All the moisture left his mouth at the small scrap of blue lace nestled between firm thighs. Through that lace he was almost positive he saw a shadowy glimpse of heaven. All the blood rushed from his head to his cock and he completely lost his equilibrium. He wobbled on his feet like a drunk. There was a loud rip and Hallie’s boots slipped off his shoulders as she started to fall backward. He grabbed her calves to keep her from falling and her butt smacked him hard in the back. He stumbled, but kept a firm hold on her legs and pulled her up. Once she was safely sitting on his shoulders, he stood there clinging to her calves and panting with relief.

“Practicing for the cheer team, y’all?”

He glanced over to see Mrs. Stokes standing on her back porch, grinning like the sinister woman she was. Before he could come up with some excuse for Hallie sitting on his shoulders, Hallie spoke.

“As a mater of fact, we are. You can’t have a good football team without cheerleaders.” She held her arms up in a V. “Go! Fight! Win!”

“Wildcats!” Jace bellowed.

Mrs. Stokes tipped back her head and chortled. “I always knew you two would make a good team.” She turned and headed back inside.

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