Page 27 of The Unbuttoned Ranger
“Could have fallen in the pig pen and been covered in more than mud.”
Her nose wrinkled.“I can’t walk into the house like this.”
“Come on. I’ll show you what we do around here.” He led the way to the water hose.“This will be cold.” He squeezed the trigger and sprayed water over her.
She squealed and ran in place as the cold water soaked her. He released the trigger.
“I think you enjoyed doing that.” She stared him down.
“We’ve all been there before. I don’t think you want to keep this.” He pulled a blade of grass out of her hair.
She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Mommy why are you wet?”
Sharp laid the hose down.“Your mama and a pig wrestled.”
Carsen giggled. Then Sharp couldn’t contain himself any longer. He laughed.
“You two think this is funny, do you?” CaDee tapped her boot.
The next thing Sharp felt was a cool spray of water.“Happy?” he said, swinging his head to dry his hair.
“I thought you needed cooling off?” she said innocently, as a mischievous gleam burned in her eyes.
CaDee and Sharp turned their attention on Carsen as he laughed.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Sharp said.
“If you’re thinking that he’s still dry then yes. I don’t think that’s quite fair.”
“Agreed.”
“Let me remedy this.”
Sharp watched as CaDee chased Carsen, spraying him in spurts. Milo had joined the fun and was jumping and dancing around the mother-son duo.
Sharp felt…what? One minute he suspected her of foul play and the next he felt an undeniable attraction. This was a lot like…family.
His chest expanded. Sure, he could like her and Carsen, but feeling something more couldn’t happen, not this quick.
Not when he barely knew her.
At some point she’d turned the nozzle back toward Sharp and didn’t let up.
When she finally gave him some time to breathe, he said to Carsen,“I think it’s our turn with the hose.” Sharp took a few steps toward CaDee and her water weapon.
“Don’t come any closer,” she aimed the nozzle his direction, pulling the trigger in pulses as if that might deter his advancement.
She laid her head back and laughed. This was a new side to her. One that he could get used to seeing.
He lunged for the hose and got it from her.“Now who’s afraid?” he joked.
“You wouldn’t dare!” She held her hands up.
“No?” He sprayed her and she and Carsen ran around in the water.
****
