Cowgirls Don't Cry(63)

“Working.”


“And your dad?”


She snorted. “Billy? Off rodeoin’, where he always was.”


Jessie rarely talked about her family. In fact, that was the first time he’d heard she had a sister.

She worked in silence and with such a deft touch he didn’t feel a damn thing. And his hand was much more tender than he’d wanted to admit.

She said, “Almost done.”


“Thanks, but you didn’t have to do this for me.”


“Oh, I didn’t do it for you. I did it for me, for purely selfish reasons. See, I love the feel of your rough, manly hands on me, but not so much if they’re swollen and pus-infected.”


“Nice visual,” he said wryly.

“But it’s a reason you’ll accept a lot easier than me admitting I can’t stand to see you hurting. Not when I can do something to help you or something to stop it.”


That’s when Brandt knew he loved her. Not lusted after her. Not felt obligated to her. He loved her.

Loved who she was, this woman who tended to him in so many ways. Who touched him in ways he was only beginning to understand.

Jessie finally looked at him. She brought his hand to her mouth and placed a tender kiss in the center of his palm. “All better.”


“Now that you’re done, will you let me put my hands all over you?”


“Nope. I’m thinking these need to heal up so it’d be best if I put my hands all over you.” She smiled with wicked intent. “We still get to the same destination, but I hold the reins.”


Brandt groaned. “You’re gonna torture me, aren’t you?”


“Yep. But I promise you’ll love it.” She gave him a thoughtful look. “Now. What did I do with those ropes?”


Chapter Thirteen


“No. That’s okay. I understand.” Jessie forced a laugh. “Yeah, cell service is shitty in Wyoming.” She walked into the kitchen and set her empty coffee cup in the sink. “I’ll check the road conditions. Uh-huh.

I’ll let you know. Bye, Billy.”


Jessie punched the off button on her cell phone and stared at the snowy landscape out Brandt’s front window. They’d finished chores as quickly as possible this morning because of the bone chilling cold.

She’d looked forward to spending the whole day snuggled up with Brandt since Tell and Dalton had taken on babysitting duties.

But now…


Strong arms circled her waist. The clean scent of a freshly showered and shaved Brandt surrounded her. His warm, soft lips traveled up the side of her neck.

“Who was on the phone?” he asked.

“Billy.”


“Billy…as in…your dad?”


“Yeah.”


Brandt quit kissing her neck and spun her to face him. “What’s wrong?”


“Nothing. He was just calling to let me know he’s competing at an event in Gillette. Today.”


“Today? He couldn’t’ve told you before now?”


She shook her head. “That’s how he operates, Brandt. In his own little rodeo world. Nothing else matters but chasing eight and winning that elusive gold buckle.”


“So, did he call you to tell you he’s just passin’ through?”


“What’s funny is he probably drove within ten miles of my place and he couldn’t be bothered…”