Page 19 of Colton First Responder (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

But he pictured her pulling that towel away altogether. And then imagined what happened between them...

Okay, he felt a real attraction to her. One that made a certain part of his body stand at attention, although his jeans were loose enough that he didn’t believe that was obvious.

Or at least he hoped not.

But that attraction was highly inappropriate. She was a woman in trouble. He was a man whose main purpose was to help people in trouble—not add to their problems.

No matter how strong his urge to touch her beneath that damned towel.

And besides...well, he had no intention of getting involved with her other than to help clear her name. He had no intention of getting involved with any woman, possibly ever again. Not after the miserable way his last romantic relationship had ended.

“Thanks so much,” Savannah said, and he knew she referred to his comments about the supplies he’d brought, not his simmering thoughts about her. “Let me get dressed now, and we can go out to your car and bring it all in.” She walked a step toward the pile of clothes, then stopped. “Did you drive all the way here this time?”

“Yeah,” he said. “No closures or major impairments along the way despite the destruction in other areas. Not to mention all the downed trees and poles. Of course the dirt road that ends right here had some lumps and moderate rises that were probably the result of the quake.”

“But your car is here,” she said. She looked a bit pensive—another attractive expression on her pretty face.

Was she thinking about where to ask him to drive her?

But where could she go and remain safe, not grabbed by the law?

And he definitely didn’t want to be seen helping her.

He decided instead to tease her about it. “So, do you want to drive my car off somewhere? If I let you, I’d have to say it was stolen. And everyone would guess who stole it, probably, considering the fact that you’re the most likely flight risk around here at the moment.”

“You’re right.” Her tone was so sad that he wondered if she was about to cry.

“Hey, I was kidding. Sort of. No, right now I think you’re safer just hanging out here until we come up with some kind of plan to get you out of this mess.” He purposely stressed the “we” a bit, so she wouldn’t think that by bringing up her difficult situation, he was abandoning her.

At least she couldn’t think he’d turned her over to the cops, since here he was, on his own, with stuff in his car to give to her.

And as a first responder used to helping people in distress, that felt damned good with this woman who, right or wrong, he still believed to be innocent. Maybe it was because he hadn’t known anything particularly good about her husband, and couldn’t ignore her claim that Zane was still alive, framing her. Not until there was more evidence either way, at least.

“I agree.” Her tone was strong now, her expression somehow fearless—and he wanted to take a few steps toward her on the cabin’s dingy wood floor and give her another hug.

He didn’t.

“I’ll go get dressed,” she said. She maneuvered her way around him—almost, but not quite, touching his back with her own—and tugged her clothes off the chair.

> He hadn’t noticed before, but he saw some underwear peeking from beneath her shirt and slacks. It didn’t look particularly sexy. Whatever she had here now was probably the same thing she had worn in prison, utilitarian and bland.

But just the hint of seeing it made him wonder what she would look like in something tiny, or without it...

Enough of this, he told himself, turning his back toward the bathroom door after she disappeared behind it.

He opened the cabin door and stepped outside. He stood there looking around and listening for a moment, just to be safe. He’d no reason to believe he was followed here, nor had he seen anyone else driving or walking around who might wind up here. But he wanted to remain safe—to have Savannah remain safe—so he needed to stay alert and cautious.

He heard and saw nothing to warn him of any problems, so he continued to the rear of his SUV and opened it. He pulled out the nearest bags, paper ones filled with the food he had purchased at his third store before returning here.

He had managed to find what he hoped would be enough to keep Savannah fed and healthy. Bread, yes, which had been his first thought, plus several different kinds of fruits and vegetables, which wouldn’t last forever unrefrigerated, but she surely would be eating some of it fairly fast since it was the only food she would have here. He had additionally brought some canned meat—Spam and tuna—as well as wrapped and sliced meat, so she could make sandwiches. Plus, he’d bought some more bottles of water for her...and a little wine, just to make their meal more enjoyable, perhaps, if he ate here with her at all. And the food was in addition to some other essentials, such as a first-aid kit, paper products and some cleaning supplies, although he hadn’t brought much of those this time.

Still alert for sounds, he heard his own footsteps crunch a bit on the loose dirt and leaves on the path back to the front door. A couple of crows cawed, but he heard no other birds or wildlife making any sounds. No breeze, either; the trees were still and soundless.

He soon was inside the house—and staring slightly down at Savannah, who’d been about to come out the door. She was fully dressed now, even wearing the black slip-on shoes he had seen her in previously. She was equally attractive with her clothes on, and Grayson was glad, for his own peace of mind, that she’d gotten rid of the towel.

She looked down at the bags he held. “What do we have here?”

“Groceries,” he said. “I left water and other supplies in the car.”

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