Page 13 of The Unbuttoned Ranger (Texas Heat: The Heart of a Texas Ranger #1)

“ Dinner was delicious,” Bradley rubbed his stomach. “ Best chili I ever had.”

CaDee felt warmth in her cheeks. She liked Sharp ’ s father. He had a kindness about him that made her feel welcome.

“ I thought you said I made the best chili?” Sharp said with a grin.

“ You do too, son.” Bradley leaned in and whispered conspiratorially to CaDee, “ Yours is better.”

“ I heard that.” Sharp shook his head. “ Pa, can you make it home okay? I ’ m going to stay back and help do dishes.”

“ You don ’ t have to do that,” CaDee blurted.

Although dinner had been pleasant with friendly conversation between her, Sharp, Bradley and Piper she ’ d decided she needed to keep some distance.

The way she felt when she was near Sharp, like they were growing a friendship and an attraction, made her body spiral, something she hadn ’ t experienced in years.

“ Girl, when someone volunteers to help clean you don ’ t turn that down,” Piper said with a wink. “ Come on, Bradley, I ’ ll walk you out. Carsen, how about you help me with the goats?”

Alone with Sharp, CaDee began gathering the dishes from the table and he joined her. They carried the dirty dishes into the kitchen, and she set her armload on the counter, then turned to him. “ I want to apologize for my behavior yesterday.”

“ I agree. It was cruel of you to hose me down when I was only trying to help.” His smile made him look younger.

She liked that he was making light of the situation.

“ I ’ m sorry for speaking out of turn.” She turned on the water in the sink and squirted a few drops of detergent in.

“ For a long time it has only been Carsen and me. I realize that I ’ ve become a helicopter parent and I ’ m working on loosening the reins. ”

“ How about I wash and you dry?”

“ Sure.” She hadn't washed dishes with anyone in a long time. Dante, raised in a traditional home where his mother handled chores and his father worked, had always expected his wife to follow that model .

“ And just for the record, I don ’ t know what a helicopter mom is, but it must be something amazing because you ’ re a damn good mom. Anyone can tell that just by looking at Carsen.”

“ Thank you.”

They settled into a comfortable silence. He washed and she dried. Music still played from the antique radio sitting in the window. CaDee couldn ’ t remember a time when she felt so relaxed. At peace. This wasn’t a life of luxury, but it made her feel accomplished.

When the last dish was dried and put away, a song came on and she turned up the volume.

“ I love this song. I had my first slow dance to this one at the middle school spring formal.” She leaned a hip against the counter and reminisced.

“ His name was Cooper and I had a big crush on him. He moved schools the next year and I never saw him again. I don ’ t know what happened or where he is in life, but every time I hear this song, I remember how many times he stepped on my toes. ” She laughed.

Sharp laid out his hand. “ I think I can manage to not step on your toes, at least not more than once or twice.”

She stared at his palm for a moment but every rejection that came to mind disappeared.

Laying her hand into his, she stepped into his arms. He smelled nice.

Sandalwood and a trace of leather. His callused knuckles scraped against her skin leaving an awareness that shocked her.

The soft melody of the song made her sink deeper against him, giving in to the desire to be held.

It had been a long time since she ’ d had strong arms wrapped around her.

Laying her cheek against his chest, she focused on how good his hands felt.

Without thinking, she roved her hands down to his waist, sliding her fingers along the smooth leather of his belt.

She heard the sharp intake of his breath and the slow exhale.

His hold tightened and she became aware of how hard his body became.

Lifting her chin, she met Sharp ’ s powerful gaze. How had he become so important in such a short amount of time?

“ You okay?” he asked.

“ I ’ m very well. You?”

“ I haven ’ t stepped on your toes so I ’ m doing good.” Emotion sparked in his eyes.

His head dipped and she closed her eyes, waiting for his lips to touch hers…

“ Mommy!” Carsen ’ s voice broke through the hypnotic cloud of the dance.

CaDee separated herself from Sharp and once she pulled herself out of the magnetic clutch, she realized Carsen ’ s knee was bleeding. She quickly went into action and dampened a paper towel. She knelt to gently dab away the blood and dirt while Piper stood nearby.

“What happened?” CaDee asked.

“I fell, but I’m okay,” Carsen said bravely.

“I’ll get him bandaged,” Piper said, taking Carsen’s hand. “You two finish up—I’ve done this before.”

CaDee nearly intervened but stopped herself, trusting Piper. She turned to Sharp with a laugh. “Thanks for not stepping on my toes. You’re a better dancer than Cooper-what’s-his-name.”

“That made my day,” he replied, chuckling. “I should head out.”

Though she wished he’d stay, she couldn’t bring herself to ask. Asking meant she’d have to be vulnerable.

“Thanks for dinner. It was delicious,” he took a step toward the door.

“I’m sorry my chili’s better than yours,” she teased.

“If I had to lose, I’m glad it’s to you.”

She walked him to the door, and they stood there a moment as if they didn’t know how to end the evening.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said.

“Bright and early.”

She closed the door behind him and leaned against the doorframe, gathering her wandering feelings.