Montana Cowboy

“It won’t be the first time I’ve tripped over my feet.” She sat up and a shadow tumbled over her. A tall, broad-shouldered shadow. Her breathing hitched when she squinted up at Luke, who offered his hand.

“Let’s get you up and see the damage.” His fingers wrapped around hers. “You weren’t kidding about being a klutz. I didn’t believe you.”

“I can be a hazard to myself.” She found herself rising through the air and on her feet, breathless from the ascent. Maybe, just maybe, she had to admit, it may have something to do with the man. His callused palm, his touch, the snap of feeling that went way too deep.

“You’re bleeding.” Luke released her.

The zing faded predictably. When he knelt down to inspect her knee she had to face facts. She could no longer blame her reaction to him on low blood sugar. Didn’t that spell trouble?

“Doesn’t look too bad. Mostly just grass burn. You’ve scraped a few layers off.” Luke gazed up at her, his head tilted back, exposing the whirl of a cowlick at his crown. “What we need is a Band-Aid.”

“I’m tough. I don’t need a bandage.” Her voice sounded thick to her own ears and a little breathless. A bandage might up the chance of Luke touching her again. What she didn’t want was to prove her hypothesis. That this man affected her in ways she wasn’t ready for. It would be best to deny it, if she could. “What I need is to score the winning point. We’re almost there.”

“Yeah!” agreed Colbie, one arm around the ball, balanced on her hip. “As long as Honor’s okay, let’s do it. You men are toast.”

“Hold up one minute.” Not to be rushed, Luke held up one hand. Only then did Honor notice his Aunt Dorrie hurrying over with a box clutched in one hand.

“I saw you go down, dear.” She bustled up, panting a little. “This was all I could find on short notice. Do you need an antibacterial cream?”

“Thank you.” It was hard not to like Luke’s family. “It’s just a scratch, so I should be fine.”

“Good. I wouldn’t want this to put a kink in your date. There’s nothing like a wedding date.” Dorrie’s eyes sparkled, she handed Luke the box and patted Honor’s cheek. Kind, thoughtful, completely lovable. “So glad you’re here.”

Definitely impossible not to like.

“This won’t hurt a bit.” With a crackle, Luke freed a Band-Aid from its wrapper and knelt before her. She knew both teams watched, that everything had come to a standstill the moment Luke had rushed to her side of the net. That didn’t stop her heart from wobbling dangerously as the big, tough Montana cowboy applied the bandage to her knee with care. At the warm brush of his fingertips against her kneecap, the zing returned so strong, dizziness rushed through her head.

There’s only one solution, she thought. Stop with the touching.

“There.” Luke rose up to his six-foot-plus height, shading her from the sun. Light danced around him, burnishing gold highlights into his sandy hair. Irresistible.

Whoops, where had that thought come from? It was a big mistake. She needed a friend. But the way he was looking at her with more than concern and a lot of caring totally panicked her. What were his expectations? What was he hoping for?

Worse, what if he’d been hoping for more than friendship with her?

“Guess I’ll get back to my side,” he said, backing away, taking his shadow with him. The sun tumbled over her, too bright suddenly for her eyes.

I wish I was ready to believe again, she thought as Colby’s hand settled on her shoulder. To put faith in love.

“Sure you’re okay?” she asked, as if she was wondering about more than the skinned knee.

“I’m great.” She cleared her throat and wished she didn’t feel a twinge of emotion. “Let’s finish this.”

“As victors,” Colbie agreed with an understanding smile. She seemed to notice everything that had gone on and didn’t judge. Just cared.

Yes, she absolutely wished she was ready for a relationship that was more than friendship. Judging by the panic racing through her veins, she wasn’t even close.

“Let’s go!” Luke’s cousin Aubrey called as she caught the ball, stepping back to serve.

“C’mon, we can do this!” Lucy cheered. “Three more points.”

“Two after this,” Aubrey said as she served, sending the ball streaking over the net. The opposing team dove, but failed to set it. It whammed against the ground, cheers went up, but all Honor could see was Luke. His rugged stance and the remembered caring she’d seen.

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