Home For a Cowboy Christmas(33)

Emmy leaned forward and kissed him. “The attack and you being hurt was a lot worse than you make it out to be, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah,” he said with a slow nod.

“The other two on your team? Did they make it out?”

Dwight swallowed, his nostrils flaring. “Someone threw a grenade at us. Killed them instantly. In a blink, I felt like I was back in my military days. Instinct took over, but training can only do so much when you’re wounded and pinned down.”

“But you got out. You came home.”

“I don’t regret serving my country in any of the three capacities I did. But it takes a toll on a person’s body.”

“Not to mention their mind,” she added.

Dwight pulled a face. “That’s the truth. A lot of my friends didn’t want to see anyone about their PTSD.”

“Did you?”

“Absolutely. I didn’t want to go through the rest of my life with all of that in my head. I mean, I still do. It’ll always be there, but I’ve learned how to handle things. I’m not embarrassed to say that I took medication for a few months, but opening up to a therapist worked the best. They’re trained to treat combat veterans.”

She leaned her head to the side, loving how he reached over to play with the ends of her hair. “And after the training exercise with Dalton?”

“I went back to therapy. I knew that situation would trigger things, and I was right. I got a jump on it, but there were still some very rough months. Even now, years later, little things can elicit a memory of those traumatic times. Stress is a trigger in itself.”

Emmy frowned and began sitting back, but Dwight held her in place. “My being here is stressful. I don’t want to cause you any harm.”

“You aren’t,” he told her pointedly.

“But I am.”

He held her firmly. “Have I added extra security? Yep. Do I double-check things more than usual? Sure. Do I like protecting you? Absolutely. Is it a stressor? It’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“And what if Joe and his men come? What if they find me?”

“I’ll deal with it.” He pulled her up and kissed her slowly, seductively. Then he whispered, “Having you here has been good. I knew the risks with what Dalton asked, and I readily accepted them. I still do.”

She briefly closed her eyes. “I’ll never forgive myself if you’re injured. Or worse.”

“Don’t think like that. Keep positive.”

“Easier said than done.”

He grinned. “I’ve got something that will help.”

That sexy smile always made her stomach flutter. “What’s that?”

“Start a bath. I’ll be right back,” he said with a wink.

She moved so he could rise and walk out of the room with Sam on his heels. Emmy shook her head, still smiling. Despite her worry, she didn’t want to ruin a perfectly good day with morbid thoughts. She took Dwight’s advice and put them out of her mind, focusing on positive things instead. Like how great her body felt after sex with Dwight.

Emmy rose from the bed and started a bath. She tested the water to get it just right as she sat on the edge of the tub. The thought of sinking into it made her sigh in expectation. As the tub filled, she rose and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She blinked, not recognizing the woman who stared back at her.

She put her hands in her mussed hair that looked as if master hands had artfully crafted it. Her skin was flushed, her pupils dilated. Her body didn’t just look different, it felt it, as well. She slowly ran her hands from her breasts down over her hips. Images of her and Dwight tangled together filled her thoughts.

When her eyes refocused, she saw Dwight standing behind her in the mirror. His gaze blazed with desire. Emmy turned to him as he started toward her. His arm snaked out to wrap around her waist and bring her against him.

“Damn, woman. You drive me crazy with wanting,” he murmured against her lips.

She threaded her fingers into his hair and pulled back to look at him. “Not nearly as much as I want you.”

“That’s debatable.” He kissed her tenderly.

That’s when she noticed that he held something in his right hand.

He grinned and jerked his chin to the tub. “Check the water.”

She turned and noticed that it was getting near the top, so she shut it off. When she straightened, Dwight held out his hand. She accepted it as he helped her into the tub. “I hope you plan on joining me.”

“I certainly do,” he said.

She watched as he pulled a small stool close to the tub. There, he set two glasses and filled them with wine. He handed her one and said, “I’ll be right back.”

Emmy sipped the white wine and leaned against the back of the tub, making sure to flip her hair out so it didn’t get wet. Dwight was back shortly, Sam sniffing the air after him. She learned why when Dwight set down a plate of cut cheese, olives, and crackers.

“I’ve never been so pampered,” she confessed as she reached for an olive.

His smile widened. “Can I join you?”

“Please.” She scooted forward so he had room to climb in behind her.

The tub was wide enough that they could sit comfortably back to front. He stretched out his legs as far as they could go but still had to bend his knees. She leaned back against him, the water lapping around them.