Page 22 of The Cowboy’s Secret Lover

He left the room and Faith realized that she was smiling like a fool. She tried to stop but couldn’t. In truth, she didn’t want to. Being with Kurt felt good, right, and well—natural. She didn’t know what her feelings would mean tomorrow, but for now, Faith was just happy to be in Kurt’s company.

Aware that she was laying on the sofa in just her top and bra, she found her underwear on the floor and stepped into her panties. Kurt returned to the room. He had donned a pair of boxer shorts. Faith took him in from the top of head, with his mussed, dark hair—to the tips of his toes.

His shoulders were broad. His pecs were well defined. The muscles in his arms were large. A sprinkling a dark hair covered his chest before narrowing into a line and diving into his waistband. His shorts hung low at his hips, that formed a V.

Yet, there was more to his physicality than a perfect male form. His body was a road map to the life he had lived. A scar on his shoulder, just a thin line, told of a long-ago injury. Another scar on his leg spoke of surgery. His knuckles were bruised and scraped from today’s fall. His knee was swollen, and he moved with a definite limp.

She wanted to ask why he’d walked into the arena night after night. She knew why he’d returned to the rodeo. He was trying to save his daughter’s life.

Faith found his dedication and caring to be the most attractive features of all.

She moved to him and wound her arms around his neck.

“I’m glad we found each other again,” she said.

“Where were we?” Pulling her closer, he leaned in for another kiss.

Kurt placed his lips on hers and Faith’s inner muscles tightened.

The sound of a ringing an old-time phone filled the room. Breaking away from the kiss, Kurt dropped his gaze to the floor. His phone was in the back pocket of his jeans. The screen glowed with the incoming call.

“You can take that if you want,” said Faith.

“You crazy? I’ve got what I want in my arms. Aside from you, nothing else matters.” The noise stopped. “See?”

The phone began to ring a second time. She pulled away from the kiss. “It might be important. You should check.”

“See, that’s the difference between a nurse and a bull rider. You get a call and think it’s an emergency. To me, it’s just a nuisance.”

The ringing stopped.

And immediately started again.

“Well, hell,” said Kurt. Lifting his pants from the floor, her removed the phone and swiped the call open. “Yeah?” he asked. “What do you want?”

The volume had been turned up on the phone. Despite the fact that he held it to his ear, Faith could hear what was being said on the other end of the call.

“Kurt?” It was a woman. She was breathless. “Is this Kurt?”

“Yeah. Who’s this?”

“Kurt, this is Camilla Diaz, from Dwight’s. I’m so sorry to tell you this, but Erin’s in the hospital.”

Kurt’s tanned face turned pale. “What? What happened?”

“She was waiting tables and just collapsed. We called the ambulance and the paramedics took her away. I wish I could tell you more, but I don’t know anything. I’m on my way to the hospital now. I’ll call once I get there.”

“I’m right behind you,” said Kurt. He ended the call and pressed the phone into his bare chest.

Faith placed a hand on his arm. She wanted to say something comforting, but she’d seen the medical reports. She knew that Erin’s medical condition was dire. What she didn’t know was what they would find at the hospital. Because there was another thing that Faith knew as well—she wasn’t going to make Kurt face this latest challenge alone.

* * *

As if an ironband had been slipped around his chest, Kurt couldn’t draw a breath. He was inside his body and watching the scene unfold at the same time. Somehow, he knew that he was in shock. The room grew dim and he could hear nothing beyond his own racing pulse and Camilla Diaz’s words. She was waiting tables and just collapsed. We called the ambulance and the paramedics took her away. I wish I could tell you more, but I don’t know anything. I’m on my way to the hospital now. I’ll call once I get there.

“Kurt? Kurt? Are you okay?” It was Faith. She had her hand on his arm. He turned to her. Lines of worry creased her brow. “We need to go,” she said.

He could still taste her kisses from minutes ago, why did it seem like years had passed since they’d just made love?