Page 21 of Hot For You

“Most of the family is in the ranching business.” Cody adjusted his Stetson. “Now that our cousins have started having children of their own it’s hard keeping track of everyone.”

“You mentioned last night that your parents passed away some time ago,” Carilyn said.

“Mom died from a ranching accident years ago, when I was pretty young,” Cody said. “It’s been some time since my father passed away after a long bout with cancer.”

“I’m sorry.” Carilyn’s voice was low, quiet. “What kind of ranching injury did your mom die from? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“Mom got hooked by a horned bull.” Cody looked ahead as he spoke. “That’s one reason why I’ll only keep polled cattle.”

“How awful.” Carilyn felt an ache in her chest for Cody. “You said something about a brother, too, who was in Europe for a while.”

“My older brother, Clint.” Cody glanced at her. “I think I mentioned to you that he took off after his best friend died in a rodeo accident. He came back last summer. This July he’s marrying his best friend’s kid sister, Ella. She’s a real sweetheart and a great artist.”

Carilyn tipped her head to the side. “I’d like to see her work.”

“She’s talented,” Cody said. “Her sculptures and pencil drawings are in a Scottsdale art gallery, and she just had a piece commissioned by a large New York City gallery.”

While they rode, Cody told her stories of his brother and himself when they were young. “We got our butts whipped for climbing on the roof when we were little. I almost slid completely off the roof and was hanging from the rain gutter when our dad came out of the house. He caught me when I slipped. He was so mad and so relieved.”

Carilyn’s eyes widened. “He whipped you?”

“A couple of times with a belt.” Cody shrugged. “That was how his generation grew up. Beat idiocy out of a kid.” He shook his head. “I’d never do that to my children, but my parents came from other times.”

“My mom used a wooden spoon.” Carilyn’s lips twisted into a wry expression. “To this day I don’t like wooden spoons.”

“How long have your mom and stepdad lived in Florida?” Cody asked.

“They retired a couple of years ago.” Carilyn gave a small sigh. “I sure miss them.”

“Do you get to see them often?” Cody asked.

“Not often enough,” Carilyn said. “Fortunately with my career I can travel and still work, so I go to Florida two or three times a year. I just miss having her close. We always did so much together.”

Cody gestured ahead to a small copse of trees. “We’ll have lunch there.”

“Great.” She shifted in her saddle. “I’m getting hungry.”

“Can’t have that.” He clicked his tongue and his horse started to trot.

Molly followed suit and then Carilyn was bouncing in her saddle as the horses trotted toward the trees.

When the reached the copse, Cody brought Holly to a halt, and Molly stopped, too.

Carilyn leaned forward, her hands on the pommel. “It’s pretty here.”

“I sure think so.” Cody dismounted then walked to Carilyn and Molly. “My family moved to Arizona back in the 1880’s. That makes me a native and I have to say I love my state.”

“I love all of the mountains.” Carilyn looked around her. “Where I live, it’s flat as flat can be. The mountains are much prettier.”

Cody reached her and held up his arms. “I’ll help you down.”

She let him help her dismount. The moment her feet were on the ground, she found herself standing close to him, their bodies inches away. His hands clasped her waist and her palms rested on his shoulders. She felt the heat of his touch through her T-shirt and beneath her hands. She swallowed as she met his gaze and breathed in his masculine scent.

Her heart pounded as she looked up into his warm brown eyes and his grip tightened, telling her he felt the connection too. She longed to stroke her fingers along the day’s growth of stubble on his square jaw, to run her palms down the hard expanse of his chest. Her breath caught in her throat and a thought rattled around in her head… What am I doing?

His gaze held hers before she broke the spell and stepped back. Her hands slid off his shoulders and he dropped his own hands from where they had rested on her hips. It seemed like he’d held her several minutes, but it was probably just a matter of seconds.

Feeling awkward with Cody for the first time that day, she looked away and concentrated on looking at bird scuttling across the ground. “That must be a quail,” she said as Cody grabbed the saddlebags off of Holly.

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