LAST STAND
THE COWBOY’S HOMECOMING
BOOK 2 OF 3
After his stint in the army, Traynor Paxton hadn’t found a reason to land anywhere long enough to put down roots. It didn’t matter. Everywhere he traveled there was always a willing woman who understood that his affection lasted only until the morning light. Haunted by things he’d seen and done, he never expected to find a job he actually liked—or a woman he just might be falling in love with.
Sara McKinley had been on the run when she’d landed in the quaint little town of Conifer, Wyoming. She’d found a decent job in a local bakery and made a new life for herself. She was content. At least until she laid eyes on the new sexy-as-sin sheriff. Something about the big man made her want… more.
When her past finally catches up to her, will it tear them apart or will they take their last stand together?
“Let’s get you out of those clothes.” Not exactly the scenario in which he saw himself saying those words to her, he thought as she stood obediently. Luckily, she’d worn a button-up shirt so he wouldn’t have too much of a problem getting it over her arm. The bandages would have to be changed tomorrow and he had a feeling she’d put up more of a fight once the drugs wore off. Undoing the final button, he sucked in a breath as he spread the sides apart and pulled the soft material gently over her injured arm. He tried not to stare at the abundant amount of flesh showing above the lacy cups of her purple bra, but, damn it, he was just a man.
A very aroused man who wanted the woman before him more than he wanted his next breath. As he pulled the zipper of her jeans down to reveal the matching panties, he couldn’t stop the torturous groan that rose to his throat. The sound echoed in the small room and suddenly Sara pulled away from him, her hands out in a defensive posture.
“Don’t hurt me.”
Stunned, it took Tray a minute to realize that her reaction was one of fear. Immediately on the heels of that revelation came the recognition that someone, at some point, had put their hands on Sara in a hurtful way. His mouth thinned. If he could get his hands on the bastard…
“Don’t worry, honey,” he soothed, his hands reaching for her, “I’m not going to hurt you. Trust me.” When her hands lowered, he could still see a trace of fear in her brown eyes along with the fogginess caused by the pain medication. Quickly, he sat her back down and removed her sneakers before tugging the jeans down her legs. With a patience he was far from feeling, he eased the knitted shirt over her head, standing her once more to smooth the soft cotton over her beautiful thighs. He knew she’d be more comfortable out of her bra, but there was no way in hell he could remove that and stay sane. Once he had her under the covers, he took a deep breath, willing both his libido and his anger to settle down. Although she probably wouldn’t remember any of this later, still, he promised himself, one day he was going to learn exactly what had happened to Sara.