Page 53 of A Cowboy's Heart

“Once you get to the cabin, you can take a hot shower. It’s what I plan on doing when I get home.”

He started the truck and drove down the road to Rocky’s cabin. Rain pounded the roof of the cab. The wipers were on full blast, but they couldn’t keep up with the torrential downpour. He drove straight past Willa’s cabin without even glancing that way.

“I hope Willa’s in her cabin.”

“If she’s not, she could be at the lodge. She’s smart, she’ll stay there until this stops. I just hope the power stays on. There are candles in each cabin in case it goes out.” He glanced at Rocky. “I’d get them out if I were you. They’re under the bathroom and kitchen sinks.”

“All right.” Rocky leaned forward to peer through the windshield. “How the hell do you see where you’re going?”

“I’ve been on this road so many times, I could drive it blindfolded.” He stopped in front of Rocky’s cabin.

“Thanks, Dev. I’ll see you tonight at the dance.” Rocky saluted and climbed out then ran for his porch. After giving a wave, he entered his cabin.

Devin slowly drove away from the cabin anddown the road then entered the way up to his home.Shit!He’d closed the gate that morning. Throwing the gear into Park, he climbed out and ran to the gate, opened it then ran back to his truck and got in. Rain trickled down the nape of his neck and down his back. Putting the gear into Drive, he drove to the house. He’d close the gate later. Stopping the pickup as close to the back porch as he could, he took a deep breath, threw the door open, climbed out, pushed the door closed, and ran up the steps. He could hear Dolly barking from inside. Even she wasn’t out in this shit. Opening the back door, he entered the kitchen and rubbed Dolly’s ears. He laughed when she shook as if to dispel water.

“You’re not wet, I am.”

Pulling his rain-soaked T-shirt off over his head, he entered the mudroom, tossed it into the hamper, and sat down to remove his boots and jeans then walked naked through the kitchen to the stairs. He climbed them then strode down the hall to his bathroom. A hot shower did sound good right now. Goosebumps popped up as the air conditioning hit his wet skin. After entering the bathroom, he reached into the shower and turned it on. Steam quickly filled the room as he opened the door and stepped inside. He groaned as the hot water hit him and then he reached for the soap, lathered it between his hands, and washed.

Willa seeped into his mind.Damn it!Drawing back a fist, he punched the wall then swore as he shook his hand to alleviate the pain. There wasn’t anything he could do, he was done. He’dnever been a man to beg and he sure as hell wasn’t going to start now. She was leaving him, and he couldn’t stop her. Why couldn’t she just go with it? She had to have some feelings for him. She didn’t seem like the type of woman to have sex with just any man who came along. She’d made it clear in the beginning that she didn’t have one-night stands or flings. Then why had she with him? There was so much sexual tension between them and that was probably why she’d given in, but she didn’t love him.

“Son of a bitch,”he roared.

Taking a deep breath, he washed and rinsed his hair then shut the water off and reached for a towel to dry off. Stepping from the shower, he entered his bedroom and pulled on sweatpants and a T-shirt. It was going to be a long day. The rain was still hitting the tin roof so any further activities scheduled for today would be canceled, and he knew Josie would call the guests to let them know. The dance, however, would still go on and Josie would let the guests know that too. Rain or shine, the dance would go on.

****

Willa sat in her cabin staring out the window at the pouring rain. She’d seen Devin’s truck go by and drop Rocky off. When he drove off, she was sure he never even glanced in her direction.Why should he?

“I don’t know, but I was hoping he would stop.” She shook her head. “You really need to stop talking to yourself.”

Thunder rumbled overhead and shook the cabin. Lightning streaked across the grey sky,and the lights flickered then went out.

“Wonderful,” she muttered.

Pushing herself up from the sofa, she looked for candles. The brochures mentioned that each cabin was supplied with them under the bathroom and kitchen sinks. Since the sky was so dark, it made the cabin hard to maneuver. Feeling her way along the wall to the bathroom, she squatted down to find the candles. After locating them, she found matches and lit them then carried two of them to the living room. They’d been used before, and she wondered how long they would last. Maybe she should call for more?

Nibbling on her bottom lip, she reconsidered that thought since she’d hate to make anyone come out in this weather. She emitted a sudden scream when thunder cracked above the cabin.

“Shit,” she murmured placing her hand over her heart. “I love a good storm as well as the next person, but this is ridiculous.”

Picking up her cellphone, she called Rocky but he didn’t answer. Knowing him, he was napping. How can anyone sleep with all this thunder going on? She jerked when the phone in the kitchen rang, so she made her way there with a candle.

“Hello?”

“Miss Foster, this is Josie at the registration cabin. Do you have enough candles? If not, I can send someone to bring you some.”

Send someone? “Um, who would go out in this weather?”

Josie’s laugh came across the line. “Any staff member I can find. We want to make sure ourguests are happy. Do you need more candles?”

Willa’s hope deflated. She was hoping Devin would be the one delivering candles since he was part owner. He’d want to make sure the guests were… satisfied. Shivering, she cleared her throat.

“I’m good, Josie. Thank you.”

“All right and I also need to let you know any activities you planned on attending this afternoon are canceled but the dance is still scheduled. Have a good day.”

Hanging up the phone, Willa made her way back to the living room and took a seat on the sofa.Have a good day?How was she supposed to do that? As far as the dance, there was no way she was going. No way. She knew Devin would be there and she just couldn’t look at him.

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