Cowboy 12 Pack

by Cynthia D’Alba, Paige Tyler, Elle James, Donna Michaels, Shoshanna Evers, Randi Alexander, Cora Seton, Beth Williamson, Sabrina York, Sable Hunter, Lexi Post, Becky McGraw

  Bleeding…

  “Wait. You’re hurt.” She twisted to face him. “We need to fix your cut.”

  He smiled and shook his head. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll live.”

  But she did worry about him. “I…thanks, Kade.”

  Tears filled her eyes and slid down her face. Dammit. And she’d tried so hard to keep them in. He must think her weak. And stupid. More chills and shakes decided to join the pity party.

  “Hey, come here,” he said, gently drawing her against him again.

  Mmm…he was nice and warm and hard. Before common sense had a chance to flicker, she flipped her legs over his right thigh, and the puppy thought it was a game. He reached up to lick the tears from her face, then the sheriff’s jaw. She laughed despite how awful she felt. “Thank you, Ace.”

  “Ace? Is that me, or the dog?” Kade asked, amusement coating his tone.

  She smiled. “Both.”

  “Is that right?”

  “Yeah,” she replied, snuggling closer, her smile widening as those strong arms of his tightened their hold, yet somehow avoided her wound. “You called the dog Ace when you were rescuing him from that hole.”

  “So I did.”

  She nodded, loving the feel of his steady heartbeat against her ear, and firm jaw resting on her head. “And, well, you are certainly an ace today. I really appreciate your help with the animals…and me.” Her mind raced the fast pace of her heart. “And, please don’t say it’s your duty, because I just might have to hit you for ruining my fantasy.”

  He stilled. “You have a fantasy about me?”

  Hell yeah. Several. But those were too private…and hot. And just delicious enough to make her quiver. “Yes.” He wasn’t getting any more out of her. Nosiree. She’d already said too much.

  “Well now, I’d love to hear it.”

  A giggle escaped her dried throat. “I bet you would. But it’s not happening, sheriff… cowboy… soldier… whatever you are.”

  He shifted their position so quick, she found herself lying back in his arms, staring straight up into his mischievous gaze.

  “That sounded like a dare, and you should never dare me, honey.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  Shoot. Why’d she say that?

  “Yeah,” he replied, warm breath hitting her face. “I bet I can make you tell me.”

  He could make her do a lot of things. Hell, her body was already humming his name. And if it weren’t for Ace licking the sexy man’s chin and nose, she probably would’ve taken the guy serious. And maybe just taken the guy. But with puppy slobber and fur on his skin, all she could do was laugh.

  “Oh, you think it’s funny?”

  She nodded, reaching up to pick a piece of white fur from his chin. “Yep. I do. I really do.”

  “We’ll see about that, honey. One day soon, when there’s no blood or skinny puppies running blocker, we are going to pick up this discussion.”

  Promise?

  A slow smile claimed his lips. “Promise.”

  Shoot…did she say that out loud? Her heart rocked in her chest. The man was seriously flirting with her. But why?

  “Uhum.”

  The sound of someone clearing their throat had them both turning to investigate.

  “Don’t you two look cute?” A familiar looking paramedic with black hair and blue eyes stood a few feet away, lopsided grin on his handsome face. “I hate to break things up, but you called for assistance?”

  In the blink of an eye, Kade was on his feet, holding her in his arms, all traces of heat gone from his expression. “What are you doing here, Jace? I called for a paramedic.”

  “Yeah, and you got me instead. They’re short staffed so I volunteered.” The newcomer’s attention shifted to her. “Hi, Brandi. What happened? You didn’t like the tree so you tried to take it out?”

  She laughed, recognizing the general practitioner she’d met when she’d first moved to Harland County. The cute physician had recommended an endocrinologist to continue her thyroid treatment. “Hi, Doctor Turner. And, no. I liked the tree just fine. I needed a new truck.”

  “Well, that’s a dangerous way to go about it,” he replied, warm fingers gently brushing her hair aside. “Looks like you hit your head in the process. Since Top has you…”

  Top? Ah…Kade. First Sergeant. Handsome sheriff holding her against his yummy chest.

  “…and doesn’t seem like he’s ready to relinquish his hold, he can carry you over to the ambulance so I can take a look.”

  With a curt nod, her rescuer followed the doctor, carrying her to the vehicle parked near a fire truck. When the heck had they all arrived? Must’ve been the bump to her head, or the thump of her heart because she had no recollection of the fire department arriving. Or the pickup with a horse trailer that parked near the tree where Old Charlie continued to graze.

  “I hope the horse is okay,” she said. “He had to hurt something. He’d come out of nowhere and clipped the corner of my truck. That’s when I swerved away to avoid him and hit the tree.” Okay, she’d sort of already told him, but at least now the doctor knew how she’d gotten the bump.

  As Kade set her down on the back of the opened medic mobile, she grabbed his arm and stared up at him. “Thanks, but don’t go. You need to get your back checked.”

  “I’ll be fine,” he said, breaking her hold to grab the puppy from her arms.

  “What’s wrong with his back?” Doctor Turner clamped a hand on Kade’s shoulder when he made to leave. “Hang on there, Top. You may be the First Sergeant and sheriff, but you bleed just like the rest of us. Let me have a quick look.”

  That confirmed her suspicions. She glanced from one alpha to another. Yep, they were definitely in the Guard together.

  “I’m fine, Jace.” He shook the doctor off. “Just take care of Ms. Wyne.”

  Ms. Wyne? When had she gone from Brandi to Ms. Wyne?

  The doctor smiled broadly. “Sure, I’ll take good care of Brandi.”

  Kade’s eyes narrowed and he glanced from her to the physician before he nodded. “Good. Doc Kirkland just pulled up. I need to take this little guy over and talk to the vet about Charlie, too.” He twisted around, puppy in arm, and walked away.

  “Now that was very interesting,” Doctor Turner said, standing in front of her, shining a flashlight in her eyes.

  The pain in her head increased enough to make her grimace. “Oh…how so?” She pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders and tried not to glance at the sheriff, the dog or the horse.

  He just smiled and shook his head. “I’ve known Kade Dalton a long, long time and I’ve never seen him act that way around a woman. You, Ms. Wyne, are very good for him.”

  She smirked. “Yeah, about as good as an abscessed tooth.”

  “Oh, I can assure you, you’re nothing like that to him.” The cutie held up a finger, asked her about her vision, her stomach, to rate the pain in her head. “You don’t appear to have a concussion, but just in case, keep the drinking and partying to a minimum.”

  “Will do, Doc.” She laughed, then closed her eyes against the pain.

  “You may want to avoid sudden movements,” he said, touching her shoulder. “Sorry, hun, I know it hurts.”

  She opened her eyes and nodded. Then winced.

  Empathy filled his blue eyes. “What did I tell you about sudden movements?”

  “Didn’t think nodding fit that category.”

  “’Fraid so. And it wouldn’t hurt to avoid sleeping for the next few hours,” Handsome said, turning his attention to her arm. “Now, what’s this I hear about you fighting with the barbed wire fence?”

  “Yeah, and I lost…my shirt,” she added, dropping the blanket, and digging deep to find the courage to drop Kade’s shirt, too. “I even left some skin for good measure.”

  The doctor smiled as he removed the bandage Kade had applied, then quietly assessed her wound before he checked the rest of her for cuts and scrapes. She only blushed a littl
e. Her head and arm hurt too damn much to care about her nakedness. A nakedness no man had seen in years.

  At this point, she’d show him the full monty if he could stop the pounding in her head. He placed the blanket back over her unharmed shoulder and pulled it around and under her injured arm so she could cover her chest.

  What a sweetheart. Seemed Texas was full of them.

  “When was the last time you had a tetanus shot?”

  Before deployment, part of the Guard’s required regiments of shots, but thanks to the pounding in her head, she couldn’t quite remember the year. “I’m not sure exactly. A couple years ago,” she answered without conviction. It was getting harder to think.

  If the doctor thought her answer was odd, he didn’t show it. He just nodded, then opened a few boxes and produced a vial and syringe.

  “Allow me to reacquaint you two.”

  Then the little devil smiled as he sterilized then stuck her arm. Smiled? If the bugger wasn’t so cute and sweet she might’ve had a few choice words.

  “Okay, now for the unpleasant part.”

  Unpleasant? She blinked at him. “Trust me, that wasn’t all that enjoyable.”

  He shook his head, a rueful smile on his face. “Then you’re going to hate this, because I have to stitch you. But you have a choice. I can do it here or at the hospital.”

  “Here.” She had no desire to see the inside of a hospital again. Ever.

  Doc Handsome chuckled. “Okay. Just so you know, a few shots are required to numb the area so I can clean and stitch you. Your arm’s going to be sore for a little while.”

  Lovely. At least it was no longer required for her livelihood. Her musical livelihood. But now that she was a designer, she could manage to work on the Masters’ patio without using her arm for a few days. “Just do what you have to, then when you’re done, look at Kade’s back. I don’t care how much he complains.”

  Another smile tugged the cutie’s lips. “Yes, ma’am. See? You are good for Top. The man always takes care of others. No one ever takes care of him, not since his aunt died, and even then, he more than likely insisted he was fine.”

  And while the good doctor picked, poked, prodded and stitched, she thought about those sad words, and recalled Kevin’s words, and the image of a young boy with big gray eyes filled her mind.

  Now Brandi’s heart ached, along with her arm and head.

  IT’D BEEN A long and trying day, but Kade couldn’t quite constitute calling it bad. Once they’d determined Brandi and her truck had received more damage than Old Charlie, the vet had carted the horse back to Haggerty’s ranch, and he’d taken responsibility of the woman. No vehicle. No family. Someone had to help her. But even as he’d slipped into a spare Army T-shirt stored in his jeep, he’d known it all boiled down to the fact he just hadn’t been ready to leave the designer.

  Then there was the puppy. With no chip, a mass of fleas, in need of a good bath and several meals, Ace had been given a clean bill of health…and to Kade.

  It was either that or a shelter. He was having none of that. He didn’t abandon. Ever. Even if he technically hadn’t been the one to find the dog.

  His glance settled on the woman curled up against him as he sat watching the evening news at her house. Pangs of some foreign emotion battered and poked until he shifted. He really should go. This was crazy. What was he doing here? Christ. He was too messed up to play house, no matter how good the woman felt in his arms.

  “You okay?” Big, brown eyes looked up at him, all sleepy and warm.

  That warmth settled inside him and squashed the urge to run. He brushed a piece of caramel colored hair behind her ear and smiled.

  “Yeah, I’m good. How about you? Doc gave me your pain meds. It’s been several hours since your shot. You want one?”

  “No.” She shook her head and winced. “Okay, yeah, maybe.”

  Gently wriggling out from behind her, he wondered just how the woman kept ending up in his arms today, as he got to his feet to fetch water and pills from her kitchen. She’d given him the grand tour when they’d first arrived. The quaint little seaside cottage done in whites and blues, although small, had a big, warm feel. The designer claimed it suited her and her cat just fine.

  Ace had certainly approved, rushing in and out of all five rooms in record time. Her big, fluffy, orange cat Mozart hadn’t appreciated the rescue’s curiosity and promptly retreated to the sanctuary of the window seat the dog couldn’t reach. No matter how many times he tried. And he tried many.

  Kade didn’t blame the poor cat, though. Ace was most definitely hyper, even more since Brandi had insisted they bathe and treat the bedraggled pup for fleas in a basin out back two hours ago.

  He glanced down at the dog following closely at his feet. Who knew there was a cute white puppy underneath all the dirt and dust that had matted his fur? Now he could see the poor dog was minus a few too many meals. Something Kade would rectify without trouble at Shadow Rock. In the meantime, Brandi had insisted he stop to buy kibble for the pup on their way to her house, so now the little guy was cleaned and fed. Which was more than could be said for him. But his needs could wait until Brandi’s were met.

  “Okay, here you go.” He handed the pretty designer the bottle of pills and a glass of water. “You sure I can’t get you something more to eat?”

  “No.” She shook her head, and then winced as she sat on the couch. “Kerri and Jordan are bringing food over when they leave work in an hour. Besides, you already made me some killer grilled cheese. But, please, if you’re hungry, go ahead and fix yourself something.”

  “I’m good,” he said, part of him relieved to know he only had to keep an eye on her for another hour, while other parts of him protested. The woman was too tempting. And he’d seen more of her luscious body than he should. Thank God she’d put on one of her own shirts and a pair of jeans that weren’t ripped when they’d arrived. He was only human. “You only had half of the sandwich, though. Surely you’re still hungry? That was over three hours ago.”

  Brandi took her medicine and smiled. “I’m fine.” Then she frowned at the clock above the stone fireplace. “I feel so bad. You’ve been babysitting me for a good five hours, Kade. Go home. The girls will be here soon.”

  “Nope.” He smiled and retook his seat on the couch. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.” Ace promptly jumped up and settled on his lap. “Looks like it’s unanimous.”

  She scooted closer to scratch the pup behind his ears. The white bundle of fur let out a sound of acquiescence and rolled over for a full belly rub. Lucky dog. Brandi laughed, the light sound going straight through Kade as he fought the urge to touch the woman’s soft skin.

  “I’m glad he’s a nice dog.”

  Grateful for the subject change, he latched onto it like a vice. “Me, too. You do know it’s not smart to try to catch a stray dog though, right?”

  The thought of her getting bit, especially by something rabid stopped his heart. She turned and hit him with an open brown stare. More open than she’d ever allowed him to see.

  “No,” she said simply. “If I can help, I help. And I somehow got the impression you were the same.”

  It was the strangest feeling to have a piece of his heart click into place. Hell, he hadn’t even known it was out of place. But it was, and now, as he stared into the smiling woman’s warm brown eyes, he realized she wasn’t as hard and shallow as he’d originally thought.

  Damn.

  Keeping his distance was a damn sight easier when he saw the sexy woman as superficial.

  Now what the hell did he do?

  “You didn’t seem to waste any time grabbing the stray, and you got cut in the process. Sorry about that, by the way. But I’m glad you didn’t need stitches. Or we’d both be taking the happy pills.” She paused, a frown creasing her brow. “Then who would be watching us? Ace?” She giggled. “No, Mozart. Yeah, my money’s on Mozart.”

  “The cat?” He smiled, deciding he really
liked the laid back Brandi.

  “Of course, silly.” She punched his arm. “Oh, sorry. Didn’t mean to hit your booboo.”

  His smile widened. “Brandi, you’re the one with a cut on the arm.”

  “Oh, yeah, right.” She giggled some more. “Yours is on the back. Sorry about that.”

  “I know. You told me,” he replied. “It’s okay.”

  “If you say so, Ace. Oh, wait, that’s the dog, right?”

  “Yes.” He frowned, narrowing his gaze. Something was wrong. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, sir.” She saluted him and giggled. “I’m feeling okie dokie, Top.” Then she crooked a finger at him, glancing back and forth before placing the finger to her mouth. “Shhh…I probably should’ve only taken one pill.”

  He stilled, then grabbed her face. Shit. Her pupils were slightly dilated as her gaze darted around. “How many did you take?”

  “Only two, but it’s okay.” She waved at him. “Don’t worry. I just won’t take any next time.”

  He put the dog on the floor, sprang from the couch, then turned to stare her down. “Stay put.”

  Damn woman saluted him again.

  He made a quick call to Jace and was relieved when the doctor told him Brandi would be a bit loopy, but otherwise okay as long as someone was with her until it wore off.

  “Well?” She rose to her feet. “What’s the verdict, Top, Topper, Toppest? Am I going to live?”

  “Yes.” He bit back a smile. She was just too cute, hands on her hips, smile on her lips, eyes bright. Heaven help him, the woman was really going to be hard to resist, now. “You just may feel a little drunk.”

  “Okay. Cool.” She twirled around and stumbled. “Is this what drunk feels like?”

  He lurched forward, grabbed her uninjured arm and steadied her with his body. “You’ve never been drunk?”

  “Nope. N. O. Nope.”

  “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

  “Because you think I’m a stuffy poopyhead.” Her pout turned into a wicked-ass grin as she patted his chest. “But I’m not.”