Page 15 of Wild Heart
“Sure was.” Lad slaps my bicep. “You need a few beers to cool off, buddy.”
“I can hear the bottle necks clinking already.” The barn door slides open, bringing sunlight in. “See you tomorrow.”
I stomp toward the house. My face is tight and snarled like I'm brewing up a tornado in my head. Cow shit clings to my boots, and my tee sticks to my back with sweat. I groan knowing Summer is inside my house cleaning, and I’m walking up stinking like crap. Not that it should matter. I’m not trying to impress her. The gross fumes alone will be enough to keep her at a safe distance.
My stinking boots are best left outside. Before I enter, I flick off my hat and peel my damp tee over my head. I drape the material over my shoulder and duck inside quietly. She won’t notice me if I sneak in and grab a quick shower before driving her back to Sawyer’s.
The smell of astringent bleach wafts up my nostrils immediately, stronger than the aroma of manure lacing my skin. I have to pass the kitchen to reach the bedroom. Curiosity gets the better of me. I step lightly, hoping her back is turned. Peering around the doorframe, I find her petite frame kissed by sunlight. My entire body revolves around to better my view.
In slow motion Summer flips her ponytail, oblivious to my gawking. She’s standing in front of the sink like an angel without clothes, except skimpy underwear, dipping a mass of whatever in and out of water. I have no idea what she’s doing because I’m barely holding on to my sanity. I lose it when my gaze settles on rounded ass cheeks peeking out from under violet panties. A thick, uncontrollable grunt escapes me.
As the sound competes with water splashing and squelching, her head snaps around. “Holy shit!” She gasps. Summer whirls on the spot, her hands hidden under mounds of foam. A stunned gaze drifts from my face and lingers on my bare chest, giving me the once over. In that second, I’m overcome with an urge to slam her back to the wall and take her hard, but just as quickly as the thought creeps in, then it’s gone.
“Hayden!” Dad calls me as he enters the house, hot on my trail. “You get those calves tagged? I’ll let them out into the pasture in the morning. What the…” He stops beside me and straightens his back. Summer scoots behind a chair, her hands floating in front of her chest. What skin we can see, turns a pretty pink. “You wanna explain yourself, missy?” His voice masks his surprise, but I hear it.
“I… eh…”
Without thought, I grab a hand towel from the drawer and offer it to her, knowing she’ll have to move a hand away from sheltering her bra. That thought alone gives my heart a victory squeeze. “Where are your clothes, honey?” I ask.
Summer plucks the offering from my fingers and quickly holds the small gingham rectangle to her chest, all the while chewing her bottom lip. “I couldn’t find the mop and bucket, so I poured bleach over the tiles. Then I used paper towels to wipe it around. Now my clothes are covered in white blotches. I’m trying to get them off.”
“You put bleach directly on the floor?” My dad sounds exasperated.
“My fault. I didn’t tell her where the mop was kept. No harm done, Summer. Except for your clothes. They’re ruined. I’ll take it from here, Dad.”
“Hayden,” Dad grits out.
I glance back at him; aware she’s barely dressed and I’ve no top on - a recipe for scorching horny hormones to spin out of control. “I said, I’ve got this. I’ll get her something to wear and take her home.”
Embarrassment and unspoken words war in her big blue eyes before they lower. “I’m sorry.”
I reach out for her shoulder, intending to tap her with a comforting man pat. Yet when my palm lands on her satiny soft skin, the rush of contact stops me from taking my hand back.
In one touch, I’m hooked on her.
The way I feel right now isn’t normal. It’s like I’ve taken a wrong turn and bumped into heaven by accident. I know I shouldn’t thumb the curvature of her clavicle, but my fingers belong on that spot, and everywhere else on her body.
My dad coughs, reminding me of the fact he’s right here also. Summer gazes up at me, and I can’t quite interpret what she’s thinking because her hands lower to reveal hardened nipples beneath her bra, and her lips are pulled in between her teeth. I wrench my hand away quickly and cross my arms, for no other reason than trapping my hands. “Go back into my bedroom and grab something to wear. I’ll have a shower in the main bathroom before I take you home. Wait out on the front porch so I can get dressed. I won’t be long.”
Her eyes wander from my biceps all the way up to my face. “Where’s your bin?” I barely make out her quick lilt. She moves toward a mushy mound of paper towels on the floor.
“I was tagging, honey.” I shrug.
Summer throws me a strange look. “No, where’s your wheelie bin?” A fisted hand jerks back and forth like she’s moving something invisible. I have no idea why.
“I’vereallybeen with the calves.” I’m not sure why she doesn’t believe me.
Summer sighs, nodding gently to the mess. “Where do you put the stuff you throw out?”
“In the trash can.”
“Right. Where’s your trash can - I call it a bin? I need to tidy up those paper towels and chuck my clothes out if they’re ruined.”
“Are you sure you want to throw your clothes away?”
“If they’ll always have those unsightly marks all over them, then yeah.”
“I’ll take care of it.” I chuckle a little, but she doesn’t join me this time. Instead, she swallows hard and flounces past me, all ponytail and peachy ass on show. My greedy gaze follows her sway, devouring each sultry movement. Once she’s out of sight, I look to the tiles and shake my head slowly. They’re probably the cleanest I’ve ever seen them. Aside from ruining her clothes, she did an excellent job.
