True-Blue Cowboy - Vicki Lewis Thompson Page 0,43
be fine. Like Nick said, Leo’s a great guy.”
“Can’t wait to hear about it tomorrow night.”
“I have a feeling my story will be a yawner compared to yours.” She grinned and walked around to the driver’s side. “See you soon!”
Eva waited until she’d driven away before returning to the house. And Nick. Last time she checked, he was still working in the backyard.
When there was no sign of him inside, she headed for the back porch and opened the door. Her breath caught.
He’d retrieved a battered straw cowboy hat from his truck. It lay on the ground, along with his T-shirt, his pick and his shovel. His bare chest and shoulders gleamed with sweat as he tilted his head back, eyes closed, and gulped water from his jug. His throat moved in long, slow swallows.
Lowering the jug, he glanced in her direction and smiled. “Hey, there. Good timing. I just finished.”
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Her brain refused to function but the rest of her was oiled up and ready for… anything he wanted. Nick was an Adonis. How had she missed that all these months?
“I took out plenty of rocks. Dug ’em up from other parts of the yard so there’d be enough to make a really nice waterfall.”
She tore her gaze from the splendor of his physique and focused on a waist-high pile of football-sized smooth stones in various shades of gray and brown. She cleared her throat. “Great job.”
“It was fun.” Putting down the jug, he picked up his T-shirt and yanked it over his head and down his chest.
She swallowed a cry of protest.
“Come over and take a look.” He grabbed his hat and put it on. “Wait. You’re still barefoot.”
“I don’t mind.” She padded down the wooden steps and started toward him. The grass that had survived was dry and prickly but not enough to bother her. “Next spring I’m giving this grass some love.”
“It’ll come back. I was thinking of building the waterfall a little to the right of where I have the rocks piled.”
She nodded. “Good placement. And maybe add some stepping stones leading from the porch to the waterfall area.”
“I like that idea. Something smooth and cool that feels good to walk on.” He glanced down at her bare feet. “Your toenails match your hair. I didn’t notice that before.”
“Your mind was on other things.”
“Still is.”
Shading her eyes with her hand, she glanced up at him. “Fiona’s gone.”
He sucked in a breath. “I figured. I’ll leave in a few minutes, too.”
“You don’t want a bowl of chili?”
“I want a whole lot more than a bowl of chili.”
The husky note in his voice sent a shiver down her spine. “Then why leave?”
“Because, no matter how much you love the way I smell, I can’t even stand myself anymore. I desperately need a shower and maybe a shave. A change of clothes is on the list, too.”
“Okay, if you must. I’ll get cleaned up, too. But you’re coming back, right?”
“If you still want me to.”
“Absolutely.” She smiled. “I could never eat all that chili by myself.”
“Then I’ll take off. But first, let me know what you think of the flowerbed. Make sure it’s what you want.”
She crossed to the curved strip of turned earth which now looked like a potential home for tulips and daffodils. “Just what I wanted. Perfect.”
“Good.” He tugged on the brim of his hat. “I tilled the soil a little. I can bring you compost from the ranch to give it some extra zip.”
“Great! I’ll pick up bulbs this week. Can’t you just picture it? Flowers, green grass and a waterfall.”
“A slice of paradise.”
“Exactly. A couple of comfy wicker chairs, or maybe one of those old-fashioned gliders with a canvas top, something cool to drink….”
“Someone hot to kiss….”
She turned her head. He was looking at her the way a chocaholic looks at a piece of fudge. “Are you sure you want to leave right now?”
He took a ragged breath. “Yes, ma’am. At least my head’s sure. My package is telling me something different, which is why I’m not going to risk a goodbye kiss. I’m outta here.” He grabbed his pick and shovel from the ground. “I’ll be back before you know it, shaved, clean and sweet-smelling.”
“Hey, would you do me a big favor?”
“Anything.”
“Don’t put on your shaving lotion.”
“You don’t like it?”
“I like it a lot. It’s a very nice scent. But it covers up your natural scent, and I like that way better than pine.”
“Huh. Okay,