Whirlwind Reunion by Debra Cowan Read Free Book Online

small amount of cornstarch and water into one of the bowls, he found himself staring at her slender, strong hands, remembering when they had been on him for reasons that had nothing to do with medicine or newfangled ideas. A time when he had looked at her with the same ignorant adoration as he’d seen in the Donnelly kid’s eyes.
    â€œDoes Andrew work for you every day?”
    â€œMost days after school and sometimes on Saturday if I need him.”
    â€œThe boy’s smitten with you and you’re encouraging him.”
    â€œI am not,” she dismissed, mixing a different amount of water and cornstarch in another bowl.
    â€œIf you don’t make it real clear that you’re only his friend, he won’t stop.”
    Rather than reply, she dipped the cloth into one of the bowls then wrung it out.
    â€œYou say jump and he says how high.”
    She sighed. “He wants to learn about medicine.”
    â€œMaybe about anatomy.” Matt’s gaze slid over her. “ Your anatomy.”
    â€œHe’s fourteen, Matt.”
    â€œSo was I, at one time. I know what I’m talking about. I remember…things.”
    She flushed and he recalled how she had turned that pretty shade of pinky-peach all over the first time he’d gotten her naked. Despite his injury, his body tightened and he pushed the image away.
    Being here with her in the shadows, teased by the scent of primroses, made it hard to remember how cold-blooded she had been.
    When she moved to stand over him, he eased down to his stomach. She spread more honey on his wounds then picked up one of the bowls. “This is the paste. It may be cold.”
    Her touch was gentle, but he still flinched.
    As she worked, she said quietly, “Russ said you’d been beaten up a couple of months ago, maybe by these same men.
    â€ He grunted.
    â€œYou’ve been chasing them for a while?”
    He didn’t know why she cared, but her interest—and her enticing scent—distracted him from the pain.
    â€œBeen after them about eight months. With everything fenced now, it’s harder for them to steal the cattle, but they still manage to do it and rebrand them.”
    â€œIs the Triple B the only ranch to suffer?”
    â€œNo,” he said in a grainy voice. “The Ross place, Riley’s, too. Also a new ranch started by a Mr. Julius from Chicago. And several places from here up through the Panhandle.”
    â€œNow, I’ll place the cloth over your wounds. It will need a few minutes to set up.”
    He nodded. Her questions hadn’t been personal, but that didn’t stop Matt wanting to ask her some that were. Starting with why had she returned? Was she planning to stay? Had she left a man in Philadelphia the way she’d left Matt?
    But he kept his mouth shut.
    As she cleaned up the supplies, he told himself to close his eyes, but he couldn’t stop looking at her. The dark sweep of her lashes, the velvet of her skin, the lush curve of her breasts. He remembered the sweet taste of her against his tongue.
    Hell, he wished he could pass out. He was more aware of everything than he wanted to be—the pain in his back, Annalise, the emptiness he felt just being in the same room with her.
    â€œI think it’s ready.” It took a few minutes for her to slowly peel off the cloth. When she finished, she laid it carefully on top of the glass-fronted cabinet, saying excitedly, “I think it’s going to work.”
    â€œReally?” He had thought the idea was half-baked. “Let me see.”
    â€œHold your horses. I want it to set up a bit. While it’s doing that, I’ll clean off any remaining paste.”
    She gingerly wiped his back. As she spread a little more honey on his wounds, he turned his head away from her.
    His thoughts about her were entirely too soft. He didn’t want to feel anything soft for her. He wanted to ignore her, but as she began to bandage