Page 28 of Second Chance With a Cowboy

“It’s true.”

“You’re just trying to get me to take my bra off in front of you.”

He shook his head, trying to keep the sincerity in his voice. “No, it’s true. You’re beautiful.” He couldn’t help the grin that creased his face. “Although, if youdowant to take your bra off in front of me…”

She playfully kicked water at him with her foot. “Turn around, Lassiter.”

“Okay, okay.” He dutifully turned his back to her, but his stomach pitched as he heard the scrap of fabric land on her pile of clothes and the soft splashes as she quickly waded into the water behind him.

“You can look now,” she said, as she swam past him and out into the lake.

Her bare shoulders were the only thing visible above the water but knowing she was topless under the surface was enough to drive him mad.

She dipped her head under the water then let out a whoop as she came back out. “This feels amazing,” she shouted into the sky.

They spent the next hour swimming around, splashing and teasing and making each other laugh.

It had felt so good to be with her again, that Chevy hadn’t been paying attention to the dark clouds rolling in over the mountain until they suddenly blocked the sun.

“Dang. Those clouds look ominous,” he said, studying the sky. “We’d better get out.”

They started swimming for shore. But when they got closer, Leni stopped and pointed to the bank. “Um, Chev…do you happen to know where my clothes went?”

He waded into the shallow water, searching the bank for her shorts and top. He spotted one flip flop next to her pair of shorts, but they weren’t where she’d left them. “I’m pretty sure that guy you were uttering all those sweet nothings to earlier took off with most of your clothes. Your shorts are still here and one shoe though.” He whistled for the dog. “Murphy, get back here.”

The dog came running around the side of the cabin, Leni’s black lacy bra clutched in his mouth.

“Give me that,” Chevy said, holding out his hand as he walked toward the dog. The rocks got thicker and sharper, the further he got out of the water, and he grimaced as they bit into his feet with each step.

The dog must have mistaken his menacing tone for one of playfulness, because he took off, racing back and forth across the bank as Chevy tried to grab Leni’s bra while not breaking his toe on one of the rocks. “Forget this,” he muttered as he grabbed his boots and yanked them on.

Little grains of dirt still bit into the soles of his feet since he hadn’t wiped them off in his haste to pull on his boots, but it was better than the jagged rocks on the bank.

“There he goes,” Leni called as the dog raced by him again. “Grab him, Chev.”

“I’m trying,” he said, racing back and forth as the dog dodged this way and that and then sprinted away, the strap of Leni’s bra dragging in the dirt as he ran. He tried not to think about what an idiot he must look like running around in just his boots and his underwear. He turned back to Leni. “Just how badly do you need that bra?”

She didn’t answer. Her gaze had dropped to his boxer briefs and from the way she was staring, the soaking wet fabric apparently left little to her imagination.

Just knowing she was looking—and seemingly not able to pull her gaze away—added to the fact that she was naked in the water and the dog had run off with the majority of her clothes had his mind going to all sorts of dark places. And suddenly the part she was staring at decided to stand at attention.

A flash of lightning lit up the air, followed immediately by a deafening clap of thunder.

All thoughts of them both being half-naked left his mind as alarm filled his chest, and he yelled, “Leni, get out of the water! Now!”

Her eyes widened. They both knew how quickly a thunderstorm could roll in over the mountains and the damage that lightning could do. She stumbled forward, grabbing for her shorts and the lone sandal, wincing as the rocks bit into her feet.

He raced toward her as another flash of lightning struck, this one even closer. It lit up the sky as the thunder cracked at the same time.

The clouds opened up just as he reached her and let loose a torrential downpour.

The hard rain pelted his skin as he bent and scooped her up, shielding her body with his as he sprinted toward the cabin. “Murphy, come!” he yelled for the dog, but his voice got swallowed in the deafening sound of the rain.

Turning the knob, he flung the door open and ran inside. The dog darted in after him, Leni’s bra still dangling from his mouth. Chevy slammed the door and leaned his forehead down to meet Leni’s, his breath ragged as he cradled her against his bare chest.

She had one arm clinging to his neck and the other across her chest as she tried to cover herself with the tiny pair of shorts and the lone sandal.

Another flash of lightning and more thunder rumbled across the sky, but Chevy barely noticed. He only had eyes for the woman clutched in his arms. They were both drenched. Water dripped from her hair and skin, soaking the rug inside the door.

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