Page 45 of The Cowboy Complication

“I forgot clothes.”

She moved toward him, wanting to get a better look. Wanting to bask a little in the way he was staring at her.

“It’ll just be a few more minutes.” Struggling to find enough air, her voice came out soft and a little raspy. “Is that okay?” She fought in a deep breath, hoping to calm the swimming in her head.

Cooper’s eyes dropped to where the towel was pulled tight across her boobs, the limits of the tuck holding it in place tested by her need for air. “Take your time.”

Was his voice a little husky too? Was he feeling a little of what she was?

The steady beat happening between her thighs picked up as he continued taking her in, ramping up until she was forced to press them together in an attempt to suppress the sensation before it got totally out of hand.

Speaking of out of hand…

This whole situation was heading that way, because she was one bad decision away from ‘accidentally’ dropping her towel, just to see what would happen.

It took way more willpower than she’d ever had to exhibit with a man, but Isla managed to back away, bare feet moving slowly as she inched into her bedroom, unable to look away from Cooper for a second.

Because the way he was staring at her was doing wicked things to her insides. And her ego.

For the first time in… ever, she felt almost desirable. Like she was really putting the past—and Eric—where they belonged.

Far, far away from Moss Creek.

And it had her acting unlike she ever had in her life. Doing things she never would have dared.

Like leaving the door to her room open.

Like stepping out of sight then tossing her towel onto the floor where Cooper could see it.

Like pulling on just her panties and jeans before draping her hair over her boobs and crossing to pick a hoodie from her closet.

By the time she was finished, her heart was racing erratically and she was flushed. Her skin was hot and certain places a little slippery. Not a great way to head into work, but after being in a funk for so long, she wasn’t willing to miss the opportunity to claw back a little of what was almost taken from her.

Stepping out of her room, she found Cooper sitting on the couch, staring at her door like he hadn’t blinked the whole time she was inside.

And it had her standing taller. Smiling wider. “Ready?”

Cooper cleared his throat, eyes dropping. “Yeah.” He’d taken his flannel off to reveal the fitted T-shirt beneath. He clutched the discarded plaid fabric tightly in his hand as he followed her out and down the stairs.

This time, he opened the driver’s door for her, letting her get behind the wheel. He took his place beside her without putting his shirt on, settling it on his lap as she pulled out of the lot.

And now it was her turn to stare at him. With the cooler weather, she hadn’t seen him in anything but long sleeves, and when he’d sent her shirtless photos two nights ago, she’d had to scrape her jaw off the floor. Even fully clothed it was obvious he had a decent body—broad shoulders and a defined chest—but she hadn’t been expecting so much…

Just so much.

The man had pecs and abs and biceps and traps and delts and just about every other muscle abbreviation she could think of. Plus a vein that ran down the length of his forearm that made her mouth water. And it was that damn thing that had her almost running onto the shoulder for the first time in weeks.

“Sorry.” She gripped the wheel a little tighter. “I thought I saw something on the road,” she lied, eyes already seeking out that line she wanted to trace with her tongue.

What.

The.

Fuck.

Was wrong with her? Trace it with her tongue? Who thought shit like that? Not her.

Not about her friend.

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