The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [1]
Casey came to a skidding, sloshing halt beside him, sending waves to lap at Sawyer’s waist. His gaze was narrowed with concern on the woman’s face. “Gabe offered to bring you your bag, but I told him I’d call him back if you needed it.” He spoke in a whisper, as if afraid of disturbing her. “We’re taking her to the house with us, aren’t we?”
“Looks like.” If she didn’t come to on the way to the house, he’d get her over to the hospital. But that was a good hour away, and most people in Buckhorn chose him over the hospital anyway, unless the situation was truly severe. And even then, it was generally his call.
He’d decide what to do after he determined the extent of her injuries. But first things first; he needed to get her out of the car and away from the debilitating effects of the cold water and hot sun.
Luckily, they weren’t that far away from the house. He owned fifty acres, thick with trees and scrub bushes and wildflowers. The lake, long and narrow like a river, bordered the back of his property for a long stretch of shore. The ten acres surrounding the house and abutting the lake were kept mowed, and though it couldn’t be called an actual road, there was a worn dirt path where they often brought the truck to the cove to fish or swim. Today they’d driven down to make repairs to a worn fence.
A crooked smile tipped up one side of his mouth. Thanks to the lady, the repairs to the fence were now more necessary than ever.
Sawyer carefully slid one arm beneath her legs, the other behind the small of her back. Her head tipped toward him, landing softly on his bare, sweaty shoulder. Her hair was a deep honey blond with lighter sun streaks framing her face. It smelled of sunshine and woman, and he instinctively breathed in the scent, letting it fill his lungs. Her hair was long enough to drag across the car seat as he lifted her out. “Grab her keys and purse, then get the shirt I left by the fence.” He needed to cover her, and not only to counter the chill of the lake water.
He was almost ashamed to admit it, even to himself, but he’d noticed right off that her white T-shirt was all but transparent with the dousing she’d taken. And she wasn’t wearing a bra.
He easily shook that observation from his mind.
Even with her clothes soaked, the woman weighed next to nothing, but still it was an effort to climb the small embankment out of the lake without jarring her further. She’d lost one thin sandal in the wreck, and now the other fell off with a small splash. The mud squished beneath Sawyer’s boots, making for unsure footing. Casey scrambled out ahead, then caught at Sawyer’s elbow, helping to steady him. Once they were all on the grassy embankment, Casey ran off to follow the rest of his instructions, but was back in a flash with the shirt, which he helped Sawyer arrange around her shoulders. Sawyer kept her pressed close to his chest, preserving her privacy and saving his son from major embarrassment.
“You want me to drive?” Walking backward, Casey managed to keep his gaze on the woman and avoid tripping.
“Yeah, but slowly. No unnecessary bumps, okay?” Casey was still learning the rudiments of changing gears, and he used any excuse to get behind the wheel.
“No problem, I’ll just…” His voice trailed off as the woman stirred, lifting one limp hand to her forehead.
Sawyer stopped, holding her securely in his arms. He stared down at her face, waiting for her to regain complete awareness, strangely anticipating her reaction. “Easy now.”
Her lashes were thick and dark brown tipped with gold and they fluttered for a moment before her eyes slowly opened—and locked on his. Deep, deep blue, staring