Page 42 of Captured By the Billionaire Cowboy
He tightened his grip. “I bet you’re expecting a lecture.”
“I’m quite shocked you’re not giving one.”
“Oh, I’m going to give one.”
“I should have known it was inevitable.” She waved a shaky hand. “Get it out of your system.”
He didn’t hesitate. “If you’re riding alone, tell someone where you’re going. Share when you’ll be back, so they know if you go missing. Tell them where you plan to stop.” He ticked off his demands. “If something happens, it’ll be easier to find you.”
It made sense, and after this afternoon, she’d already planned to be more cautious. But she couldn’t let him think he could dictate her actions. “I don’t always know where I’m going,” she hedged.
His expression darkened.
She sighed. He was only trying to help, and his suggestions were logical. Commonsense precautions wouldn’t be bad. “But if I have a plan, I’ll let someone know.”
He seemed to accept that. “Can you please check the weather report before you go riding?”
“That’s one promise I can make,” she admitted wryly. “Believe me, I learned my lesson. No more limping through thunderstorms for me.”
“Good.” He shifted, bringing her chest flush against his. Nowthatwas something she agreed with. “And don’t go riding without a phone. You could’ve called for help after you fell instead of setting out on your own. Even if you can’t use it, we could track you after an accident.”
“That was unintentional,” she protested. “I didn’t mean to leave it behind.”
“But from now on you’ll check?”
She hesitated, but then nodded. Likely he would refuse to release her until she agreed to his demands. “I promise.” She exhaled, not nearly as annoyed as she should be with his high-handed mandates. They were reasonable, smart even. Any rider, no matter how skilled, should let someone know when riding alone, and one should most certainly carry a means of communication. Rowan was only looking out for her, just as she would do for him. How effortlessly he took the role was not something she would question.
Or why it felt so right.
She allowed herself a small smile. “No time-out?”
“No, but you have to write ‘I will not fall off a horse and scare Rowan’ a thousand times.”
She laughed. “Deal.” Her smile faded as she shivered again, instinctively pressing closer to him as he traversed the spacious hall. He didn’t stop at her bedroom as she expected, but continued into the expansive master bedroom, past large cherrywood dressers and the king-sized bed she somehow noticed despite the situation. She inhaled the woodsy scent that was entirely Rowan. In his territory, it was even stronger.
When he carefully placed her on a recliner outside the bathroom, she tried to get up. “I’m going to ruin the chair. I can stand.”
“It’s just rainwater. It will dry,” he said with quiet firmness, “Please stay seated.”
She should rebel and rise, yet her ankle throbbed and chills wracked her. Thus she did as he said, and sank into the plush velvet fabric. She couldn’t stop the small sigh.
“Be right back. Don’t try to walk,” he warned.
She wouldn’t because she didn’t want to, not because he demanded it. She resisted the urge to make a face at him as he disappeared into the bathroom. Then she stopped resisting and stuck out her tongue.
The reply was immediate. “You realize I can see you in the mirror.”
Well, darn.“I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
The tap suddenly sprang to life. A moment later, Rowan exited the bathroom. It was the first time she’d gotten a good look at him since they’d returned.
She stared.
And stared some more.
It wasn’t really her fault when he was the perfect example of masculinity. The wet clothing revealed everything. Tanned skin. Taut, powerful muscles. A large, towering man borne of power. With his skin still damp and his hair slipped back, he looked like Neptune, the mythological king of the sea.
Heat raced through her.
