Hugh's Chase

by Rhonda Lee Carver

  “It can’t be helped. I guess my nerves are hypersensitive,” she admitted.

  He removed the bloody cloth. “Grab me another.” She did. He carefully wiped the remaining dirt and blood from her foot. “Definitely a shard of glass. You wouldn’t happen to have a pair of tweezers in that bag would you?”

  She smiled. “I do.” She reached in and brought out the grooming set, removing the tool from the plastic case.

  “I was only teasing, but looks like you’re definitely prepared for anything.”

  “I spend a lot of time at the hospital so I make sure I have everything I need.”

  “You wouldn’t happen to have a gas can in there too?” She gave her head a shake. “Didn’t think so.” He positioned the tweezers by her foot and she jerked again.

  “Wait.” She touched his shoulder, delighting in the feel of his warm skin under her fingers.

  “For what? Until it starts bleeding again?”

  “No..”

  He chuckled. “Now who’s the wienie?”

  “You’re freaking me out because you’re nervous and pale. You’re not going to pass out, are you?”

  “Hell no,” he scoffed.

  “If you’re sure.”

  “I get it. You’re a nurse who likes helping others, but doesn’t know how to accept help in return. No one can help as well as you.” His expression softened and his smile relaxed her—some.

  “I’m not used to having someone take care of me outside of my sisters.” Especially a gorgeous cowboy.

  “You could close your eyes if that’ll make it better.”

  “No. I have to see everything” Miss a chance of seeing his muscles tense and coil? No way. This was the highlight of her week. The thought exhilarated and saddened her at the same time.

  “Suit yourself.” He sat down on his bottom, extending his longs legs beside her. She noticed how the crotch of his jeans stretched across the bulge behind his zipper. Was he hard? From touching her? Sweat beaded between her breasts. “One of your sisters is the one my buddy, Jobe, was at dinner with after the auction, right?”

  She threaded her fingers through her hair, pulling it away from her cheeks and laid back to rest on her elbows. Anything to keep from staring at him like an enchanted puppy. “That’s Ruby. I have two other sisters as well. Crystal and Sapphire.”

  He blinked. “What’s up with the pattern of names? All gemstones.”

  This wasn’t the first time she’d been asked that question. “I guess it wasn’t enough that our last name was Stone. We had to be named after gems too. I have cousins who are named Jewels, Pearl and Emerald Stone.”

  He smiled and it actually reached his eyes. “Emerald? I bet that was a doozy to learn to spell for a wee one.”

  “Wee One? I like that endearment. My mom used to call us girls her ‘wee ones’.”

  “You and your sisters still live at home?”

  “Yes. Please don’t tell me you’re going to say something rude about the chicks needing to fly the nest.”

  “No I wouldn’t dare.” He winked. “I have a feeling there’s quite a history between Jobe and Ruby. He was hell bent on winning a date with her.”

  Violet nibbled at the corner of her mouth. She couldn’t tell Keefer that Ruby and Jobe were an item a few years back and she became pregnant with his baby, keeping it a secret. Violet had a feeling everyone would know the truth soon. Ruby was still madly in love with Jobe, obviously. “What about you, Keefer? Why did you bid for me at the charity auction?”

  “Why did you agree to be auctioned off for a date with a stranger?”

  “Answering a question with a question never works. As you know, I work at the hospital and all proceeds from the auction goes to the children’s ward. A co-worker did it last year and she said they raised over fifty thousand, so I thought I should do my part. Now your turn.” He wasn’t getting off easy.

  He shrugged. “I was approached by someone from the fundraising committee, asking if I’d like to buy tickets to the charity function and I did. I wasn’t necessarily planning to bid, just watch, but I guess I wasn’t a watcher after all.” He wagged his brows. “Look where it landed us.”

  “Yeah, in the middle of nowhere with a piece of glass stuck in my foot.” Realizing how negative her words sounded, she gave him a small smile. “What drove you to bid on me? There were lots of beautiful women volunteering. Lawyers. Doctors. Even a model who I heard was on a magazine cover last year.”

  “You really don’t remember me do you?”

  “Prior to the charity?”

  “From the emergency department almost six months ago. I was brought in after a dirt bath from a bull. I hit my head and had fractured my elbow. Hell, if it’d been up to me, I’d gone to my trailer and taken a couple aspirin. Damn insurance with all their hoops, saying it’s too risky not to be checked out for a head injury.”

  “Better safe than sorry. Can’t let your stubbornness be the death of you.” She searched her brain, through all of the patients she’d seen, but couldn’t place him…until… “Ah, you were brought in listed with head trauma and possible internal injuries. Neck in a brace, a bandage covering your forehead.”

  “You do remember me, or at least the flat on my back in pain version.”

  “But it wasn’t Keefer on the medical charts. It was Christopher Lane and I remember there was a lot of talk going around that we had a rodeo stud in our department.” She could have sworn his cheeks turned a pale pink but vanished before she could be sure. So maybe he did have a bashful bone in his body.

  “Keefer is a nickname that had stuck with me since elementary school. My buddies could never pronounce Christopher right.”

  “I like Christopher. You’re lucky to be alive. You took a pretty bad fall.”

  He shrugged. “I’ve heard that a time or two.” He clicked off the light to his phone. “All done.” His didn’t make a move to let go of her foot.

  “Done?” She actually felt a bit disappointed.

  “Bleeding has stopped, glass is gone, and you’re all set. Looks like you’re not the only one with a healing touch.” His eyes dazzled, matching the brilliancy of the sky.

  Clearing her throat, she pulled her foot out of his grip, instantly cold. “I guess you’re right.” He stood and helped her to her feet. She tested the weight on her wounded foot. “Thank you. It no longer hurts.”

  “Well, you need a bandage, but for now, it’ll do.”

  Smoothing her dress down her thighs, she looked up and down the quiet road and across the wheat field. The sun was setting along the edge of the tree line. Soon, it would be dark and she’d rather not be out here in the middle of nowhere that long. “Why is there no traffic on this road? I understand we’re out in the country, but not even one car has passed this entire time.”

  “This is all private property. I know the person who owns all of it.” He waved a hand around the perimeter. “It’s a dead end road.”

  “You have a friend that lives on this road? A house with a phone?”

  “No, eventually he’ll build a house. He plans to start a ranch. When I came out here to check out the land I was taken back by the gorgeous views from the property. I can only imagine what it looks like at night.”

  “And that’s why you wanted to bring me here?” As angry as she was at their dismal situation, she couldn’t deny she found his effort sweet and thoughtful.

  “It seemed like a good idea at the time.” He rubbed his jaw. “I guess we have no other choice.”

  “No other choice but what?”

  He took two steps toward her, pausing in front of her and leaning in. Her mind swirled, her palms became clammy. He was going to kiss her! She closed her eyes in anticipation, waiting, but it didn’t come. Instead, he wrapped an arm around her waist. She flipped her eyes back open just as he lifted her up, supporting her in his muscular arms. “What are you doing?” she sputtered.

  “I’m carrying you.” He adjusted her higher on his chest and she
could only relax against him. The hem of her skirt slid higher on her thigh and his fingers erupted tingles over her skin. She pressed her hands on his shoulders, attempting to keep her back straight, otherwise she’d sink against him and be a goner. Not only did he look good, but his scent should be bottled.

  “Why?” she practically choked on the word.

  “Because you can’t walk on that sore foot. We don’t want it to start bleeding again, do we?” He was already moving, but she was safely tucked against his body—a very good place to be—and a very dangerous one.

  “I’m too heavy to carry.”

  “You’re no heavier than a bale of hay.”

  “A bit more, but I can’t ask you to do this.” A tickling sensation stuck in her throat. Her nipples pebbled and ached.

  “You didn’t ask. Relax. Make it easier for me.” He winked.

  How in the world could she be this close to him, with him looking this sexy, smelling so good, and she’d have to remain detached? What were her earlier thoughts on not dating a cowboy? It didn’t matter. She had no rules against have sex with a cowboy.

  Then it flashed through her brain that he wouldn’t be asking for a third date and her spine automatically stiffened. Could he have just said that to irk her? Why wouldn’t he ask her out for another date? She should probably concentrate on getting through the current one because it wasn’t over yet.

  Up ahead she could hear the low hum of a car passing. “How close are we to the main road?”

  “Just a bit more.” He didn’t even show any signs of exhaustion from carrying her. Yes, this man would have the endurance in bed that she desired.

  Once they reached the end of the narrow lane, he gently placed her on her feet and she took a short step away from him. “Instead of heading on the road toward the city, I say we head south. I do believe it’s closer to civilization. There’s a small town about a mile up,” he said.

  “Are you sure?” She raised a brow.

  “Pretty damn sure.”

  He didn’t sound convincing. “Check your phone again. Maybe if we have some luck you’ll have service.” He grabbed it, stretched his arm into the air and the corners of his mouth dipped. “Nothing?”

  “Nope. Not one bar.”

  “Fine. Then we’ll move on to plan B.” She slipped back into her heels, glad her foot didn’t give her too much of a problem.

  “Plan B? I didn’t even know we had one of those. Care to share the details considering I’m involved?”

  “We’ll hitchhike.” She went to the edge of the gravel and peered down the road for cars.

  “Hitchhike?”

  “Yes. We know cars pass here because we’ve heard them.” Seeing his frown, she sighed. “Haven’t you ever done it before?” She watched several expressions flicker across his face.

  “Yes, I’ve hitchhiked before, but not with a lady by my side wearing...”

  She blinked. “Finish your sentence.”

  “I’m only saying what you’re wearing is modest enough, for being out to dinner, but out here it sort of gives the wrong impression.”

  She saw that he’d struggled with the explanation and her rational side could see his point. But she didn’t care. Screw logical thinking when her physical well-being was at stake. “There is no other choice. I know I’m not walking another few miles in these shoes or barefoot. At least my outfit should help us get a ride.”

  “Do you know how many creepers there are out in this world?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Are you scared? I promise I’ll protect you.” She bit back a smile. “Big, bad bull-rider Keefer Lane is afraid of grabbing a ride from a stranger…and blood. That’s two for the books.”

  “Okay, that’ll be enough of that, princess. And I’m not scared, just wary. I don’t think we’re very far. We could hoof it. I told you I can carry you. It’ll be no problem.”

  “And that’s less conspicuous than what I’m wearing? A man your size carrying a woman on the side of the road.” She turned, crossing her arms high on her chest. “If it’s only a few miles, then we won’t be in a stranger’s vehicle long.”

  “You sound like you’ve done this a time or two.”

  “I have. Hasn’t everyone?”

  He smirked. “No, not everyone. If I was your father and knew you’d hitchhiked, I’d be swatting your fanny.”

  “I’m sure if my father was still alive and I told him, he would indeed threaten to.”

  His eyes widened. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

  “Of course you didn’t. Now stand there and look real pretty. I hear a car coming. I’ve got this.” She stuck her thumb out.

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