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Well played, Fate.
As if that damn near kiss in the kitchen wasn’t enough to have him cursing his overactive hormones, now he was faced with the very intimate undergarments Piper slid into after a shower or before bed.
He couldn’t help but imagine peeling that bright blue thong down her long, toned legs.
Who knew Piper kept such a beautiful secret beneath flannel, T’s and well-worn denim?
Ryan rested his hands on the edge of the sink and stared at himself in the mirror. What the hell had he been thinking rubbing her lip like that? He knew she was leery of trusting people. After all, he’d been in her life since she’d punched him in the face in grade school for accusing her of lying about the rodeo. Of course, once he’d finally believed her dad was the Walker Kindred, Piper’s cool status had skyrocketed. They’d been near inseparable since.
So why had he taken such a dumb, careless risk with her?
Ryan sighed, reaching to turn on the faucet to splash some cold water on his face. He’d taken a risk because he’d always wondered what that sometimes smart mouth felt like, tasted like.
Oh, they’d shared pecks on the cheek and countless hugs over the years, but Ryan fantasized about peeling back another layer, finding that hidden sexuality.
He’d been on the road so much, he’d known it wouldn’t be fair to her to start a relationship. She’d lived through enough comings and goings when her parents were married. No way would Piper want to have a part-time boyfriend. But it was hell always coming home between circuit tours, seeing her, hanging out with her and not touching her.
And because they were best friends, once he’d had to hear about the night she’d lost her virginity to some schmuck who hadn’t deserved her, let alone something so sacred.
Ryan splashed his face once more with the refreshing water and used the small white hand towel to dab it dry. With his face buried in the terry cloth, Ryan inhaled her sweet, jasmine scent and groaned.
“Damn.”
He was pathetic. On the circuit he could’ve had damn near any buckle bunny he’d wanted but, despite what the media had portrayed, he truly wasn’t a man-whore. He’d had many lonely a night when he’d wonder about Piper... Wonder what she was doing or who she was with. Wonder if she was falling in love with some local cowboy who only dressed the part but played it safe or if she was cozying up with someone even calmer like a teacher or a banker.
He’d spent much of his time on the road wondering what his best friend was doing back in Royal without him.
And admitting that to even himself was a big step. For years he’d fought the growing attraction, thinking the emotions stemmed from her being the only woman he was that close to with whom he’d never slept.
But Ryan knew different. He knew Piper was special, which meant she deserved someone special who would treat her right and be the man she needed him to be. A man who would stay grounded and give her the stable life she’d always craved.
“You okay?”
Piper tapped on the door and Ryan pushed away from the sink, which he had to grab on to again because quick motions like that weren’t the smartest move to make.
“I’m fine,” he called back. “Be right there.”
After I get my libido and dizziness in check.
He took a deep breath, wincing at the pain in his side from his damn bruised ribs. He opened the door and turned the corner, only to find himself tilting. Or was the hallway moving? Either way, before he could get a hand to the wall, he went down. Flat on his face.
“Damn it.”
Piper came rushing around the corner. “Oh, Ryan. What happened?”
She squatted to take his arm and humiliation set in. Really? Was this necessary? Did he have to be coddled by the woman he’d rather be seducing?
Surely the sight of sexy lingerie hadn’t caused all the blood to rush south.
“This damn concussion made me dizzy,” he told her, coming to his feet. Slowly. “The last time I had a concussion, I was laid up in bed for two days.”
Piper wrapped her delicate arm around his waist and smiled up at him. “And I’m sure you had some cute little buckle bunny keeping you company and playing nurse.”
Ryan laughed as she led him back to the living room and into the recliner. “Nope. Just my partner, Joe, and he complained the entire time.”
Above him, Piper propped her hands on her flared hips and lifted one perfectly arched brow. “I know how those hoochie mamas are. Not only are you a big name, you’re smokin’ hot. You should’ve demanded someone who looked better in a skirt.”
Ryan laughed so hard, he had both hands on his side trying to suppress the pain. “Smokin’ hot? You think it’s wise to call me that after what almost happened in your kitchen?”
Piper shrugged. “You’ve seen yourself, Ryan. Don’t deny it. I can admit when I think someone is sexy and there’s nothing wrong with stating the truth. As for what didn’t happen in the kitchen, I already told you, it was just adrenaline.”
Ryan held her gaze, waiting on her to look away because they both knew she was lying. Adrenaline had nothing to do with the near kiss. A kiss he could practically taste.
“Stay right there,” she ordered. “I’ll bring you a tray with your food on it. Do you need another pain pill?”
“I’m good,” he said, shaking his head. “I’ll tell you if I want one later.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t try to be macho. If it hurts, no one has to know you needed something to take the edge off.”
Ryan leaned his head back against the cushiony chair and laughed. He knew exactly what would take the edge off. Unfortunately he feared she’d give him a black eye if he mentioned it.
“Whatever that smirk is, I know your mind has wandered into the gutter.” Piper bent down, pointing in his face. “Don’t think I don’t know how your dirty little brain works.”
Grinning at her, he shrugged. “And that’s why you’re my best friend. You know and you still love me for it.”
Piper rolled her eyes and went back into the kitchen. Ryan didn’t even try to look away from those swinging hips. The woman was going to be the death of him.
Unless he actually got her into bed. Because if that day ever came, Ryan knew they’d set each other on fire with all this chemistry suddenly simmering between them.
Four
Okay, so sleeping naked wasn’t an option, but damn it was hot in here. Ryan had gone all the way down to his black boxer briefs, put the large box fan blowing right toward the bed and he’d kicked off all the covers. Even the ceiling fan on high wasn’t helping.
Of course, it wasn’t just the heat that was bothering him; it was the damn woman who insisted on pampering him. While he loved a little bedside manner now and again, he’d prefer it with a little more petting and kissing and a hell of a lot more naked skin than his nurse had showed.
Ryan tried to get comfortable, but his damn side was killing him and that embarrassing fall he’d taken earlier in the hallway hadn’t helped. But he wasn’t about to mention that to Piper. She’d rush him back to the E.R. for more X-rays. Surely she had some over-the-counter pain meds. Maybe that and an ice pack would help.
If she only knew half the injuries he’d had over the years, she wouldn’t be so worried about a few bruised ribs and a concussion.
He glanced at the bedside clock. Nearly midnight and he hadn’t heard anything in the house for a while. More than likely Piper was sleeping in something satiny, sans sheets and blankets to stay cool, with all that silky red hair spread across her pillow.
When she tapped on his door, Ryan jerked up in bed. Damn ribs had him wincing and clutching at the sheet like a baby. Obviously she wasn’t resting.
“Come on in.”
He had no idea what he expected her to be wearing when she stepped in, but booty shorts and a skimpy tank both in the color of a pale blue was not it. Would he have welcomed her in had he known she was wearing so little? Hell, yeah. Even if he didn’t have permission to touch, he would look and capture mental picture after mental picture to use for future fantasies.
How pathetic could he be? In his defense, he usually only saw her in that ugly work uniform or denim and boots. Though he did admire her in a nice pair of fitted jeans and those sexy cowgirl boots she wore. Now if he could just get her to wear them with a little skirt or something to show off those long legs. And her pajamas did cover more than a bathing suit, but still...
“I brought you an ice pack and some ibuprofen.”
With all his fantasizing, he hadn’t even noticed she carried a bottle of water and ice pack in one hand and three pills in the other.
“I assumed you wouldn’t come ask for anything.” She set the water on the bedside table and handed him the pills. “So here they are and we can pretend you’re still macho and repel pain, but humor me, take the pills and use the ice pack.”
Ryan laughed, popped the pills into his mouth and took a long swig of water. He needed it to replace the saliva that had all dried up when his best friend and her smokin’ hot body had sauntered in.
“To be honest, I was just thinking of getting something for the pain.”
“Let me look at your ribs,” she told him, easing down on the side of the bed. “I’ll try not to poke too much.”
While most women who wanted to get up in his business tended to tick him off, he found Piper’s gentle hands and caring nature sexy and appealing. She was certainly no buckle bunny with blatant sexual advances. Piper wasn’t a woman who needed to throw herself at a man to gain attention, nor did she need a man to complete her.
But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t try like hell to get her attention. This was new territory for him, but after seeing passion flare in her eyes in the kitchen earlier, he was confident in his quest.
Piper Kindred had been independent since she’d bopped him in the eye in the third grade and as the years had moved on, he’d respected her more and more.
But now his feelings were growing beyond respect, beyond friendship. And now that he’d retired from the circuit and was closer to opening his own rodeo school, the thought of settling down appealed to him more and more. Piper appealed to him more and more. He’d have to be damn sure he wanted to cross over that friendship line and take her along for the ride.
As she slid her hands over the tattoos covering his torso and side, Ryan resisted the urge to reach out and move a wayward curl that had slid down over her eye. Instead he allowed his gaze to journey down to the vee of her cami. The thin material did nothing to hide the outline of her nipples. And those dainty straps could be snapped off with one expert flick of his fingers.
“There’s still some swelling,” she murmured. “But the ibuprofen and the ice will help with that.”
She glanced up at him, and he was totally busted for looking at her chest.
“Are you serious?” she joked with a smile. “You’re checking out my boobs?”
Ryan shrugged. “You put them out there.”
Piper rolled her eyes. “I sleep in this, you moron. Besides, you’ve seen way better racks on the hoochie mamas that chase you all over the circuit. There’s not a lot here to see.”
“Listen, I’m a guy,” he countered. “You should be worried if you’d walked in here like that and I didn’t stare. Boobs are boobs and we want to see them all.”
“Yes, I know. Any hint of skin around the chest area and you guys instantly quit blinking and your mouths fall open.”
Grinning, Ryan took the ice pack she held out. “We only do that with attractive women.”
“Oh, please.” She laughed. “Besides, Ryan, we’re best friends. I’m like one of the guys.”
“Not from where I’m standing. You’re all woman.”
With no effort on his part, his tone had changed. His voice had deepened, his smile had faded. Yeah, he wasn’t kidding about her not being just one of the guys. Yes, she’d grown up around cowboys and now worked with mostly men, but she was far from a guy and all that silk and lace hanging to dry in her guest bath proved his point.
“You’ve seen me in a swimsuit,” she reminded him, her voice softer. “It’s not a big deal.”
He couldn’t stop his eyes from roaming over her bare skin and that valley between her breasts. When he met her gaze again, he didn’t see desire as he’d hoped, he saw uncertainty.
“You must’ve really hit your head,” she joked. “You’ve never talked like this before or looked at me like...like...”
“Like what?” he murmured.
“Like you want me.”
“I know exactly what I’m saying and what I want, Piper.” He purposely let his eyes drop to her mouth as he slid his hand up and over her bare shoulder. “You know how special you are in my life and how much I value our friendship.”
“Then why are you looking at me like you want to kiss me?” she whispered.
“Because I do.”
She didn’t back away, but her body froze beneath his touch. The dead last thing he wanted to do was to scare her or to make her uncomfortable. Unfortunately he’d managed to do both.
His plan of seduction needed a bit more work. He wasn’t used to being the one chasing. If he didn’t botch it, this could be interesting.
Ryan dropped his arm and eased back into his propped-up pillows. “Thanks for the pills and the ice.”
Her brows pulled together. “So you get all worked up and then...nothing?”
Shrugging, Ryan grinned. “I’ve been worked up before, Red. Now get out of here before I take what I really want.”
Deep green eyes widened, but she just nodded as she came to her feet. “Good night, Ryan. I’ll be in periodically to check on you.”
He swallowed, afraid that if he opened his mouth, he’d beg her to stay, to crawl beneath the sheets with him and see just how far they could push their friendship.
But in the end he watched her go, and waited for the door to click shut before he groaned out his frustration.
Thank God his injuries weren’t worse. There was no way he could stay here long term and not want to try his hand at playing house with his very sexy, very intriguing best friend.
And he’d been scared that retirement would be boring.
* * *
Mercy. Someone had beaten him with a two-by-four...or his car had flipped and pinned him. Either way, Ryan nearly whimpered when he crawled—yes, crawled—out of bed the next morning.
He’d been thrown from a horse countless times. But normally he’d soaked in a tub of hot water and have a nice rub-down after to help ease the pain that would inevitably set in.
But asking Piper for a rub-down last night would’ve only ended one way...with all their clothes off.
Padding down the hallway toward the kitchen, Ryan rounded the corner. At the small kitchen table, Piper sat with papers spread around her and her hand holding her forehead up while her other hand scribbled something. A tall oscillating fan sat in the corner, rotating back and forth to stir the air.
“Piper?”
She jerked, dropped the pencil and sent it rolling off onto the tile. “Ryan? You okay? I didn’t expect you up this early.”
Her eyes ventured down his body, heating him even more. Okay, if she didn’t keep her eyes up, she was really going to get a sight. He was barely holding it together as it was, considering she sat there in that damn flimsy pale blue tank. The outline of her nipples mocked him just as it had last night.
“I couldn’t sleep, but I’m usually up early anyway.”
“I know you cowboys are notorious for being early risers, but I was hoping you’d rest a bit more.”
Piper came to her feet and damn that silky outfit looked just as sexy this morning—more so since it was all rumpled against her body...not to mention how sexy that satin looked lying against dewy skin. Yeah, the heat was taking its toll and he was reaping the benefits.
The curves of her perfectly shaped bottom taunted him. Ryan flexed his hands at his sides and called on his every last ounce of willpower.
She bent to retrieve the pencil and the top gaped just enough to give him even more to fantasize about. He looked away because, God help him, if he kept looking at her he was going to forget she was doing a good deed for him and totally swipe those damn papers off her table and lay her down and...
“Are you in a lot of pain?” she asked.
“Yeah.” His tone sounded like sandpaper, but he couldn’t even get enough saliva to swallow. “All over.”
She tossed the pencil onto her pile of papers and moved across the room to open a small cabinet. She removed a bottle and popped the lid, shaking out three pills.
“Let me get you some water.” She handed him the medicine and pulled a bottle of water from the fridge. “You probably need to keep some ice on those ribs, too.”
While she busied herself getting his ice pack, he watched her turn into a paramedic right in front of his eyes. She was always putting others’ needs first and it was apparent he’d interrupted something she was working on.
“What are all the papers?” he asked, nodded to the mess on the table.
Piper moved to his bare side and gently applied the pack. “Oh, it’s nothing. Just the glamorous spreadsheets my life has been condensed to.”
“What the hell do you need a spreadsheet for?” he asked, walking over to take a glance.
“I like organization,” she explained. “I can’t focus on my renovations and the budget if I don’t have it laid out right in front of me.”
Ryan fingered through a few sheets before he turned back to her. “I’ve told you I will gladly foot the bill for someone to come in and finish this. You don’t have to drag out the process of fixing up your house.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, Piper lifted her chin. “Are we seriously going to get into that again? I know you have a concussion, but surely you recall me not only saying no to your first offer, but hell no.”
Ryan propped his hands on his hips, a little more than pleased when Piper’s eyes drifted down. She quickly brought them back up to meet his gaze, but she’d looked enough to puff up his ego where she was concerned. Yes, he’d planted the seed and now he just needed to keep her sexual curiosity up.
“Listen, Red...” he started. “I know you have this stubborn pride, but I can afford to help. Why won’t you let me? Pay me back as needed. That’s fine if that’s how you want it. But for heaven’s sake, at least let me send someone to fix the air-conditioning.”
Before I die from watching sweat trickle down that tempting valley between your breasts.
“I told you it will be installed in a couple of days.”
“I can have someone out here today.”
Piper rolled her eyes. “Quit steamrolling my life.”
“‘Steamrolling’?” he repeated. “I’m trying to make you more comfortable.”
“Really? Comfortable? Is that what you call it when you undress me with your eyes like you did last night and then admit you want to kiss me?”
Ryan raked a hand through his bed-head and sighed. “Piper—”
“Seriously, Ryan.” She cut him off. “I want to chalk this up to your concussion, but I need to know what’s going through that head of yours.”
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