Page 22 of The Rancher’s Ecstasy

Neither said anything for a long moment.

“I think you should go, too. I feel bad having you stay with me. I’m going to be fine. You’ve got a ranch to run.”

Cole used the side of his hand to raise her face. “I’m not going anywhere, so you might as well shush and get some rest. Unless there is some unforeseen crisis, I will be here until your temperature is gone and you’re up.” He pressed his finger to her mouth. “Not another word. Now rest.”

She stared for another moment before tucking her head down and against his chest. She felt her heart race. Had anyone ever cared this much about her, ever? Her breathing slowed as she felt the fatigue of sickness pull her back into sleep. Her last thought was she could get used to sleeping next to him every night.

Chapter Thirteen

Two days later, Emily felt more human. “I want to take a shower.”

“I don’t think you’re well enough yet.” He said as he tucked his shirt into his faded jeans, a ranch hand had brought him.

“It’s been two days. Yesterday my fever broke in the morning, and you made me stay in bed the rest of the day anyway. I feel better now, and I’d feel wonderful if I could get the stench off me.” He stood, narrowed-eyed, staring at her with his hands on his hips.

“Okay, but you have to agree to have me in there or have the door open, so I can hear you if you get dizzy or need me.”

Emily stood in another pair of her summer pajamas, with long silky pants and short sleeves, and crossed her arms. “Now wai—”

Cole took the two steps he needed to crowd her and placed both of his hands on her shoulders.

“No, those are the terms. I can see you starting to tremble a bit at this very moment.”

Emily growled. “I don’t know why you think you can boss me around—”

Cole bent over, so his nose was close to hers. His mouth quirked to the side. “Because I’m bigger than you.” He raised one eyebrow when she opened her mouth.

She growled under her breath and twisted away from him and went to the dresser, pulling out underwear, jeans, and a shirt. She ignored him as she walked by him on the way to the bathroom and closed the door halfway.

“Nope. All the way open.”

Emily turned and scowled at him but opened it all the way and let it bang slightly against the wall. She laid her clean clothes on the counter and threw a towel over the shower rod before getting in the shower still wearing her clothes. She closed the curtain and undressed, throwing her clothes out onto the bathroom floor. She peeked around the curtain to find him standing with his arms crossed and his back against the bathroom door jamb, his gaze toward the bedroom, away from her, trying to give her a measure of privacy.

Emily relaxed and turned on the shower, waiting until the water was nearly hot. She caught the moan that wanted to slip from her lips when the hot water cascaded down her back, loosening up the tight muscles from lying in bed so long.

Neither said anything while she bathed. She washed her hair twice before applying conditioner and scrubbed her body until it tingled. Nothing had felt this good for days, except Cole's arms around her. She rinsed the conditioner from her hair before turning off the water. She pulled the towel down, wiped the moisture from her body, then wrapped it around her and tucked a corner in to keep it secure. She twisted her hair to get as much water out before opening the shower curtain.

She gasped as she came face to chest with Cole.

“Here, baby. Let me help you.” He took hold of her arm and helped her balance as she stepped over the side of the tub, out of the shower. He led her to the counter and lifted her on top of it.

Emily gasped as the back of her legs came in contact with the cold stone counter. She watched in fascination as he used another towel to squeeze more water out of her hair.

“What are you doing?”

“I’ve wanted my hands in your hair since the first day I saw you,” he murmured softly and tossed the towel aside before picking up the comb sitting with her other things in the corner of the counter. He worked his way up from the ends, making sure he didn’t pull as he untangled the knots. “I never got to help a daughter with her hair. I only had my son Cain.”

They talked while he combed her hair. She told him about her childhood and absent parents. They talked about their marriages, children, and future plans. Cole told her about the foal they had lost the previous night, and her heart broke for him. She could clearly see the emotion of the loss in his eyes. Emily had heard a little about his son but wanted to know more. “Tell me more about him.”

“Well, I already told you he’s twenty-seven and lives in Dallas. He’s some kind of day trader. He seems to be good at it. He makes a great living.”

“Do you think he’ll ever move back to the ranch?”

Cole concentrated on an especially nasty knot. “He’s talked about it a few times, but he’s having a great time in the city right now.”

“You would like him to, though, right?” she asked.

“Yeah. He grew up here. I grew up here. My dad grew up here. This is all I’ve ever known except for the four years I went to college, and I couldn’t wait to get back. I hope he’ll be ready to take over my share of the ranch when I’m ready to retire. Daisy and her husband Neil will take over my brother’s half.”