When a Cowboy Loves a Woman (Creedence Horse Rescue #2) - Jennie Marts Page 0,1

I’ve got you.”

She buried her face in his chest, clinging to him, as he carried her down the stairs and out the front door. Elle lifted her head and gulped at the fresh air.

“Is there anyone else in the house? Any pets?”

She shook her head. “No. Only me.”

“You remember me? We met a couple of weeks ago at Bryn’s?”

“Yes, I remember. But what are you doing here?” And why was she clutching his neck like he was a life preserver? A handsome, tall cowboy life preserver.

A scattering of neighbors stood on their front lawns, but the older woman from across the street hurried toward them. “Oh my word. Are you all right, honey?” she asked, her head tilting up to search Elle’s face. She stood barely over five feet, and a mass of silvery-blue curls covered her head. She had on pink-and-white-checked capri pants, a hot-pink T-shirt, and a white coat with a pink fur collar. The T-shirt matched the hot-pink shade of her toenails, poking out of her orthopedic tan sandals. As Elle looked closer, she also noticed pink streaks interspersed throughout the woman’s curly hair.

“She’s okay, Aunt Sassy,” Brody told her. “Just a little shaken up.” He gazed down at Elle. “Ms. James is the one who called the fire department.”

“Thank you so much,” Elle said to the older woman.

“You can put her down now, Brody,” Ms. James told the tall cowboy.

He set her gently on the ground and eased her robe from her hands. Shaking out the thin apparel, he held it as she slid her arms into the sleeves. Still clutching the blanket, she awkwardly maneuvered into the robe. The back of his fingers brushed the bare skin of her neck as she pulled the belt around her, and she froze at the sensation. Goose bumps rose on her arms as a heated thrill raced over her shoulders and down her back.

Stunned, she swallowed at the dryness in her mouth. It had been a long time since she had experienced any kind of thrill, heated or otherwise. Her shoulder warmed where Brody rested his hand.

This was the absolute worst and most awkward time to be feeling any kind of warm, other than from the fire. There was smoke billowing out her kitchen window, and she was feeling hot for the cowboy who had just carried her down the stairs in nothing but shorty shorts and a thin tank top.

“What happened? How did the fire start?” she asked him, already dreading the answer.

“I’m not sure. I think I heard someone say something about a skillet on the stove. Were you cooking something?”

Elle pressed her palm to her forehead. How could she be so stupid? “No, but I was going to. I put some oil in a skillet to make some fried rice, but I got distracted, then decided to take a bath, and I can’t remember if I turned off the burner under the pan.”

“That’d do it. Hot oil can easily catch fire.”

At least the house was paid for, her banker had reminded her that afternoon. And Ryan had been meticulous about having more than enough insurance. Still…how did she make such a dumb mistake?

“Don’t be too hard on yourself,” he told her, almost as if he could read her mind. Which she hoped wasn’t the case, since she’d just been thinking about how hot he was. “It could have been much worse, and thanks to Aunt Sassy here, the fire department got here quickly.”

“I can’t thank you enough,” Elle told her. A shiver coursed down her back as she thought of what could have happened.

Brody gave Elle’s shoulder a squeeze. “I’ll be right back. And I’ll see if I can learn anything more about the fire.”

Elle stared after him, not knowing quite what to do and missing the comfort of his hand on her shoulder.

The older woman put her arm around Elle’s waist. “Everything’s going to be all right.”

Shame heated Elle’s cheeks. This woman was being so nice to her. And of course she knew Elle’s name. Why hadn’t Elle ever accepted her invitation to tea? It’s not like people were knocking down her door to get to know her.

They had at first. After Ryan’s funeral, they’d shown up in droves, filling her counters and freezer with casseroles and meals. But she wasn’t used to the crush of small-town hospitality, the constant questions and offers to help. She didn’t know what to say. There was nothing anyone could do. They couldn’t bring Ryan back. And Elle