Page 32 of Snow Kisses

“For someone who doesn’t care, he sure kisses you a lot lately.”

“He said it wouldn’t hurt either one of us,” she said bitterly. “But he reminded me all the same that I’m here to get over the attack, and I’ve got a career to go back to. You’d think he couldn’t wait to get me off the place.”

“Has it ever occurred to you that he might want you gone for the same reason you’re going?” Melly asked quietly. “I get the idea that he doesn’t think you could give up modeling.”

“It’s not that at all,” Abby protested. “This ranch is his whole life. He’s always talking about how stupid people are to get married, and that he never will. And almost in the same breath, he’ll swear that he doesn’t believe in affairs. I don’t know what to make of him.”

Melly threw up her hands. “I give up. You’re as dense as he is. Okay, show me these records and I’ll help you catch up. When are you supposed to get back to Jessica, by the way?”

“She’s coming to the wedding, and we’re going to talk. What does she look like?”

Melly grinned. “Wait and see. It’ll be a revelation to you. Now, this is where we need to start taking off cattle….”

They worked steadily until supper. Melly went out with Jerry to a friend’s house. Abby had just finished changing her clothes and was telling a persistent callerfor the fourth time in as many hours that Cade was still out when he came slamming angrily in the door. His face was rigid, his lips compressed. He was still wearing his chaps and the brim of his wide hat was crushed in one hand.

“Well, don’t just stand there, for God’s sake, hang that thing up and get the liniment,” he muttered, hobbling up the stairs to his room.

“What happened?” she called after him, absently hanging up on the caller before she thought.

“Cow fell on me,” he growled. “Hurry up, damn it!” He went into his bedroom and slammed the door.

Abby rushed into the kitchen to get the liniment. Calla got it out of the cabinet for her.

“Bull again, huh?” old Jeb asked from the doorway as he entered the kitchen.

“He said it was a cow,” Abby volunteered.

“Told him he ought to let the younger boys wrestle them things.” Jeb nodded. “Yep, I told him, but he wouldn’t listen. He’s got more broke bones and scars than any man I ever knowed. Lot of them were from his rodeo days, but he’s got more being bullheaded and doing jobs he’s too brittle for.”

“He never listens,” Calla agreed, nodding her head. “Why I remember one time…”

She was still going strong when Abby left the two of them recalling other incidents of Cade’s intentional deafness.

He had his shirt off when she went into the bedroom. She closed the door behind her, hesitating. The last time she’d been in this particular room was that nightwhen he’d carried her in from the swimming pool in nothing but her damp jeans. It brought back bittersweet memories.

“Open the door if you’re nervous being alone with me,” he growled, rubbing his shoulder.

“Sorry,” she murmured, trying not to appear too interested in his naked chest. Without his shirt, he was the sexiest thing she’d ever seen, bronzed and muscular, with a thick wedge of dark, curling hair narrowing down to his flat stomach.

She uncapped the bottle of liniment and wrinkled her nose. “My gosh, you’d better make your men sign affidavits that they won’t quit if I put this stuff on you.”

“Shut up and rub,” he grumbled, indicating the smooth flesh of his shoulder.

She poured liniment in her palm and began to apply it. Her fingers tingled at the feel of his flesh under them. “How did a cow manage to fall on you?”

“It’s a long story.” He lit a cigarette while she massaged the aching limb, wincing as she went over a tender spot.

“Should you smoke?” she murmured. “We might both blow up if a spark ignites the fumes….”

He glared at her. His hair was tousled over his broad forehead, over his dark, glittering eyes and heavy brows, and he looked impossibly masculine.

“Funny girl,” he mocked.

“Laughing beats crying, my papa always used to say,” she reminded him.

He turned his eyes away and sighed. “I can’t imagine you crying over me.”

Abby blinked, wondering at how stupid God had made some men. “That works both ways. I’ll bet you’re just counting the days until I’m on my way back to New York.”

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