The dizziness dissolved as soon as Callum's strong hands gripped Madison's arms. But on its heels came embarrassment and she pulled back, breaking the contact.
"Sorry about that," she said. "Guess I'm more tired than I thought."
"Looks like you need a hot meal and a good night of sleep."
At the mention of sleep, the craziest image of curling up next to Callum flitted through her mind. To hide the new wave of heat invading her cheeks, she turned and went to stand next to her suitcase.
"I think you're right. Thanks for helping us with the luggage."
"Anytime."
When Callum didn't make a move to leave, she couldn't help looking up at him. When their eyes met, he seemed to come out of some sort of trance and moved toward the door.
"I'll leave you to get unpacked. Maybe we'll see each other around."
She smiled but didn't voice the thought that she would like that.
When he disappeared down the hall, she stood listening to the thunk of his boots until they faded. Only then did she sink down onto the bed. She lifted her palm to her forehead to see if she was running a fever, because she was feeling way warmer than the weather could account for.
But she knew it wasn't a fever. It was a blazing hot attraction for a man she'd met not five minutes ago. She'd never experienced such a visceral reaction to a man, but she couldn't have picked a worse time to have it slam into her.
She lay back on the bed, wondering what else could possibly add to the out-of-control maelstrom her life had become.
…
All the way from his home on the Pebble Creek Ranch between Markton and Cody to the Cottonwood the next morning, Callum tried to think of some plausible reason why he would be visiting the ranch again so soon. If he didn't come up with something, there would be no end to the teasing his cousins would shoot his way when they realized the real reason was so he could get another glimpse of Madison Gray.
He still hadn't come up with anything when he parked next to the ranch office in the converted bunkhouse. As he slipped out of his truck, Elly stepped out the front door of the office.
"I wondered how fast you'd be back over here," she said, that expected note of teasing in her voice.
"What, a man can't visit family?"
She snorted. "Don't waste your effort. I've got eyes. I saw how you were looking at Madison yesterday."
"I was just being neighborly."
"Oh, please." She nodded toward the house. "You're out of luck, though. She's still not up. She fell asleep without even eating last night."
"She looked exhausted."
"Not a surprise. She's been through a lot lately." Elly crossed her arms. "Which is why I don't want anyone hurting her."
He met his cousin's gaze. "I'm not planning on it."
"Good. Because, cousin or not, I'll take it out of your hide if you do."
…
Madison dragged herself out of the deep well of sleep. It felt like she was swimming up from the dark bottom of the ocean. She blinked several times, her mind trying to make sense of the light flooding the room. Gradually, reality coalesced in her brain. She was stretched out on the bed, still in the clothes she'd worn the day before. At some point, she'd pulled the comforter over her. Her suitcase still sat beside her, waiting to be unpacked.
She managed to move her head enough to see the clock on the nightstand. It was after eight o'clock. She'd slept for more than twelve hours. Pure and utter exhaustion had finally won the battle.
The sound of voices outside caught her attention, spurred her to slide off the bed and dig for some clean clothes in her suitcase. Never had a hot shower felt so good, easing her aching muscles, ones that felt as if they'd been tensed from the moment she'd received the news of her parents' deaths. The only thing that made her get out of the shower when she did was the persistent growling of her stomach.
When she reached the living room, Jason was parked on the couch in front of the TV, flipping channels. She braced herself for hostility right before she spoke.
"How did you sleep?"
Jason just shrugged.
Madison fought the urge to reprimand him. After all, it only made things worse. Everything she did seemed to make things worse.
"What would you like to do today?"
"Go home."
Madison sighed. "We just got here. Give it a chance. It's beautiful here, don't you think?"
Jason spun toward her, anger in his eyes. "Then you stay out here in the middle of nowhere. Let me go back. I can stay with friends."
"Your friends are part of the reason we're here in the first place."
Jason tossed the remote control on the coffee table and stormed toward the door.
"Where are you going?"
"Out."
She followed, but by the time she reached the door he was already down the steps and making long strides down the driveway. When she opened her mouth to call him back, nothing came out. The hope she'd felt the day before dissolved into utter hopelessness.
"Don't worry, he'll come back when he's hungry."
The deep, sexy voice had Madison turning toward the end of the porch. Callum Cody sat there in a rocking chair, today looking every inch the cowboy in scuffed boots, faded jeans, a blue snap-up shirt and a black cowboy hat.
"I should go after him."
Callum nodded toward Jason's retreating form. "No need. This place is huge. He can walk all day and not leave Cody land."
"He could get a ride on the road."
"Honey, around here anyone picks up a stray kid is going to make darn sure he gets back where he came from."
Something about the absolute surety in his voice eased her worry. But that "honey" he'd uttered and the way it made her heart race—that she didn't know what to do with.
"I heard you got that good night of sleep," he said.
"I can't remember when I last slept that long."
"It's the clean air and clean living out here. We all sleep like babies."
A little laugh slipped out of Madison, surprising her. She'd feared she had forgotten how to laugh. "Now why do I doubt that?" Oh my, was she flirting with him? Had she totally lost her mind?
"I have no idea," he said, all feigned innocence.
She rolled her eyes. "You forget I went to school with a lot of cowboys."
"I feel like I ought to be affronted on behalf of cowboys everywhere."
Again, she laughed a little, then glanced down the driveway. Jason was growing smaller with each passing moment.
"So, what's a city girl do when she comes to the country for the summer?" Callum asked.
Good question. "I really don't know. I guess I didn't think much beyond the actually getting here."
"How about you let a cowboy take you out?"
If possible, her heart sped up even more. As appealing as that sounded, she couldn't allow herself to give in to the temptation. She couldn't handle one more thing, couldn't even think about getting attached to someone else who wouldn't be there in a few weeks.
"Please don't take this the wrong way, but I can't. It's just…not a good idea."
Callum stood and took a few steps in her direction. "Well, at least let me make you breakfast. I make a mean omelette."
As if to betray her, her stomach let loose with an audible growl.
"I guess that's my answer," he said, laughter in his voice. He started past her then stopped so close she swore she could feel the warmth of his body. "And just so you know, I don't agree. I think us going out is a very good idea."
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