Page 30 of The Unbuttoned Ranger
“I haven’t stepped on your toes so I’m doing good.” Emotion sparked in his eyes.
His head dipped and she closed her eyes, waiting for his lips to touch hers…
“Mommy!” Carsen’s voice broke through the hypnotic cloud of the dance.
CaDee separated herself from Sharp and once she pulled herself out of the magnetic clutch, she realized Carsen’s knee was bleeding. She quickly went into action and dampened a paper towel. She knelt to gently dab away the blood and dirt while Piper stood nearby.
“What happened?” CaDee asked.
“I fell, but I’m okay,” Carsen said bravely.
“I’ll get him bandaged,” Piper said, taking Carsen’s hand. “You two finish up—I’ve done this before.”
CaDee nearly intervened but stopped herself, trusting Piper. She turned to Sharp with a laugh. “Thanks for notstepping on my toes. You’re a better dancer than Cooper-what’s-his-name.”
“That made my day,” he replied, chuckling. “I should head out.”
Though she wished he’d stay, she couldn’t bring herself to ask. Asking meant she’d have to be vulnerable.
“Thanks for dinner. It was delicious,” he took a step toward the door.
“I’m sorry my chili’s better than yours,” she teased.
“If I had to lose, I’m glad it’s to you.”
She walked him to the door, and they stood there a moment as if they didn’t know how to end the evening.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said.
“Bright and early.”
She closed the door behind him and leaned against the doorframe, gathering her wandering feelings.
Chapter Thirteen
He heard tires crunch on gravel and looked up as Delta’s truck pulled in front of the farmhouse.
Sharp strode over and met the captain halfway for a firm handshake.
“Now I understand why you've kept your distance. I felt my blood pressure drop the second I pulled onto your place. It sure is something out here.” Delta peered off into the distance.
“It does do wonders for stress. What brings you out here?” Sharp asked.
“I wanted to touch base.” Uneasiness entered his expression.“Got some time to talk?”
“Want to sit on the porch? Thirsty?”
“Too early for a beer?”
“We can manage that.”
Sharp grabbed two beers from the kitchen and returned to the porch, sitting in the rocker.“How are things in your neck of the woods?” He uncapped his bottle but didn’t drink.
“Wading through a political swamp, but other than that, wonderful.” Delta saluted Sharp with his bottle and took a long drink.“How are you feeling? You look brand new.”
“I’m back to my old self. I don’t think you came all the way out here to discuss my health, so let’s cut through the bullshit. Do you have some news?”
Delta set his bottle aside.“I’m reassembling Texas Heat.”
