Spurs 'n Surrender (Operation Cowboy Book 2)(28)

“Thank you for coming. This is the location if you’re ready to set to work.”

The foundations of the Kents’ old church and their house still stood, solid enough to be reused. Several men jumped out of their vehicles and started unloading their tools and the lumber.

Robbie Kent ran up, shirt tails flapping. “What’s going on? Momma sent me to see.”

She turned to the child with a smile. He was tall for his age, his arms and legs appearing too long. But it was only a matter of time before he grew into them.

“We’re starting your new church started today, along with a surprise.”

He followed her stare to the place where their house had been. She’d hired two teams to work side by side, and since the one crew was formerly based out of Los Vista, they had helped in several ways.

With the assistance of old photographs of the Kents’ and the crew owner’s memories of their house, he was going to raise it from the ashes, so to speak.

More Kent children came running, and finally the pastor and his wife. “What is this?” the pastor asked.

“Hello, sir.” The quiet way the worker spoke to the clergymen told of his emotions attached to this area. Maybe, just maybe, he’d come back and help to build more of Los Vista. And if he moved back, maybe others would too.

The men shook hands. Mrs. Kent descended on Anya with tears in her eyes. “I can’t believe this! This is too much.”

“It’s an investment. And maybe someday you’ll make a donation to a charity of your choice in my name,” Anya said.

Mrs. Kent threw her arms around her, crying. Two small bodies struck Anya too, and she smoothed her hand over each child’s head before being yanked into Pastor Kent’s arms.

“Los Vista got an angel from heaven the day you drove into town. Thank you, Anya.”

She squeezed him back. When she drew back and looked around, her heart did a mad dance. Wydell leaned against his truck, watching her.

A full body flush broke over her, and a bead of perspiration slid down her nape despite the low humidity at this time of morning. But under Wydell’s gaze, she felt ten degrees hotter.

A slight smile played around the corner of his lips. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from that tipped corner. How did his lips manage to look as if they were chiseled from granite, yet be so shivery-soft against her?

Without thought, she started toward him. He pulled away from the truck with practiced slowness—shoulders, middle, hips. His legs braced wide as he watched her come, and his smile widened.

Damn, he was a gorgeous specimen of a man. At least until he got on her nerves.

“This is great,” he said as she neared.

She lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “Anybody would do it in my position.”

“That’s the thing—I don’t think they would.”

She shifted her feet.

“What’s wrong? You can’t take a compliment unless it’s about your hair, is that it?” He stared right into her soul, which would be nice if he didn’t make her sound like a beauty queen.

“I don’t know why I bother trying to hold a civil conversation with you.” She started to walk away.

He grabbed her arm. Heat traveled up into her shoulder. When she looked down at his long fingers wrapped around her sleeve—

And his long, grubby fingers that had left a smudge on her brand new white top.

She wrenched herself away. “Look what you’ve done!”

“Crap, I’m sorry.” She glared, and he huffed out a breath. “I guess you didn’t expect to walk to a construction site and actually get dirty.”

His sarcasm made her see red. “I didn’t expect to be pawed at.”

“Pawed at? Sweetheart, you were begging for some pawing the other night.”

“Shut up, Wydell.” She started away as fast as she could.

In a few short strides he was at her side, dirtying her other sleeve. “Doesn’t the washer at the laundromat have a silk setting?”

“Damn you, I’m not a prima donna!”

“No, you’re fucking gorgeous and smart-mouthed and I want my fingerprints over every inch of your body.” He slid his fingers under her hair to cradle her skull and dragged her mouth to his.

A groan broke from her, more longing than frustration, which only ticked her off further. She shoved him back. “You and your ego think I can’t live without your touch, but you’re wrong, Wydell.”

He stared at her mouth, which felt swollen and bruised from one small kiss. She knew how sensitive she felt after he’d touched her—all over. A shiver slinked down her spine.

His eyes hooded. Then without warning, he picked her up and carried her away from the site. She pinched his ear, pulling a grunt of amusement from him. Before she knew what he was doing, he stood at her trailer and yanked open the door. How they fit through the doorway together, she had no idea because his tongue was already in her mouth. Stealing her mind.

She cried out. He shut the door and in one yank, ripped her top right down the front. She gasped.

His eyes darkened even as she felt his cock bulge against her lower belly.

“There. Now you don’t have to wash your shirt at all.” Take off those boots and jeans.”

“Am I supposed to obey you?”

“You will if you want what I have in store for you.” His gritty tone sent a thrill through her system.