Page 326 of Conveniently Wed
An hour later, Nora declared the man badly beaten, but thought he would be fine with some rest and care. He had a few cracked ribs, numerous cuts on his face, and he’d have a doozy of a black eye. Other than looking like someone used him for a punching bag, he’d make a full recovery.
The man stirred and looked around with the one eye that would open. Nora assured him he was safe and offered him a drink of water. After taking a sip, he settled back down and went to sleep.
“I’ll sit with him for a while.” J.B. took a seat on the chair near the bed. “Nora, honey, go on to bed and rest. You’ll no doubt have a full day of doctoring our guest tomorrow. I can take the night watch.”
“I can sit up with him, Pops,” Garrett said, watching as his dad leaned back in the chair and stretched out his leg.
“So can I,” J.B. said with a smile. “Go on and put up the wagon. I can take care of things here. You say you found this fellow on the street outside the saloon?”
“Yep.” Garrett left out the part that he was on the street outside the saloon with Aundy. That portion of the story he’d take to his grave.
“Wonder who worked him over and why?” J.B. asked, not expecting an answer.
Garrett shrugged his shoulders then went outside to unload the feed and put away the wagon. Tom was still in the barn, so he helped put away the load and offered to brush down the horses when Garrett said he had something he needed to do. Quickly saddling Jester, he rode off at a fast clip. He’d never be able to sleep if he didn’t talk to Aundy.
Although he was mad at her for behaving so recklessly, he still wanted to make sure she arrived home in one piece. He wondered how she’d explain her outfit to Dent or one of the hands if they still happened to be out working when she arrived home.
He hurried up her lane then slowed the horse to a walk, stopping outside the front of the house. Looping Jester’s reins around a post near the fence enclosing the yard, he took the porch steps in two long strides and knocked on the door.
A light was on in the front room, indicating Aundy remained awake.
When no sound was forthcoming, he knocked again. He debated between going home or walking around back to the kitchen when the door suddenly swung open. Lamp light surrounded Aundy as she greeted him wearing a blue robe that matched her eyes.
“Garrett? Is everything okay?” She stepped back so he could walk inside.
Without responding, he wrapped his arms around her and drew her close while toeing the door closed. Her hair fell in a golden tumble to her waist and smelled faintly of roses.
She held herself stiffly until he rubbed his hands up and down her back. He felt her soften against him.
Before he let sense overrule desire, he yanked off his gloves and tossed them on the nearest chair then took her face in his hands. Slowly, he brushed his work-roughened thumbs over her cheekbones, gazing into her eyes and getting lost in the warm blue depths.
He lowered his head to hers, intending to give her a swift, chaste kiss. Heat exploded between them at the touch of their lips. His ability to think vanished as he repeatedly pressed his mouth, hard and hungry, to hers. When her arms slid around his neck, he drew her even closer and deepened the kiss.
Garrett felt lost to everything except the woman in his arms, the woman who fit there so perfectly. He admired her spirit, appreciated her fine figure, enjoyed her laughter, and liked her caring heart. What he felt now, though, was so much more.
He felt passion and, if he cared to admit it, soul-deep love for the girl who kissed him with every bit as much yearning as he kissed her.
Aundy finally pulled back with a ragged breath, eyes wide in delighted wonder. She’d promised herself she would never get involved with another man, but her feelings for Garrett were more than just involved.
Involved meant there was care and concern, maybe friendship and fun.
The wild currents of longing swirling inside her were so strong they made her bones ache. The emotions Garrett stirred in her were much, much more than she ever imagined feeling for anyone and most definitely beyond being merely involved.
“Garrett, I… you…” she said, unable to think with the sensational tingle of his kisses still riding her lips. She couldn’t believe he’d kissed her. Or that she’d kissed him in return.
Never, not once, had any kiss ever made her feel like her heart would pound right out of her chest. Her stomach felt light and her knees weak while she scrambled to regain the ability to have a coherent thought. How could one kiss, one magnificent kiss, affect her so?
She glanced at Garrett and noticed his hard breathing while his eyes filled with an intense light. He looked ready to reach for her again.
He couldn’t possibly be interested in her. Someone as handsome and charming as Garrett Nash could have his pick of women. There was no chance he’d set his affections on a plain, sturdy girl who was too stubborn and independent for her own good.
Irritated as she snatched her thoughts back together, she reminded herself that she did not intend to join her life with another man. Not even one as attractive, strong, and amazing as the one who’d just kissed her so ardently.
Drawn to him by something beyond her ability to resist, Aundy unknowingly focused her bright gaze on his lips, leaning enticingly closer.
Garrett groaned and buried his hands in her hair, taking her lips with his again.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that,” Garrett said when he finally lifted his mouth from hers. He tossed his hat onto the chair where his gloves had landed and raked a hand through his hair. Boldly staring at Aundy, he wanted to wind her silky tresses around his hands and feel her body close to his again. If he did, though, he couldn’t promise to let her go. No matter how badly he wanted to, he wouldn’t hold her that close again, at least atthat moment. “I wanted to make sure you made it home, that you were fine.”
