Honor Bound

Ainsley actually felt tongue-tied. She’d known her share of handsome cowboys, but there was something about this one. Not to mention he’d saved her life yesterday, but then she’d embarrassed herself in front of him last night.

“If you’re thinking I’m a walking disaster who needs looking after—”

“I would never think that about you. Anyway, you said you were putting the new Ainsley Hamilton to rest, so there shouldn’t be much saving to be done, darn it.”

She couldn’t help but weaken. He was doing his best to joke away last night and make her less self-conscious. She appreciated that more than he could know. Sawyer Nash was one of only a few people in the world who’d seen her at her worst. And naked, too, she reminded herself with a silent groan.

“Sure, tag along, if you want to.” She ducked her head, hating how juvenile she sounded. It reminded her of the first boy who’d ever asked her out, a high school freshman when she’d been an eighth-grader.

“Great,” Sawyer said. “I’ll get my horse some water before we go,” he said and left her in the cool shadow of the barn as he led his horse over to the water trough.

Ainsley stopped to watch him go. For a moment, he was silhouetted against the daylight. His broad shoulders sculpted in relief. She shook her head at her wayward thoughts and tugged on her horse’s reins to get the mare moving again, telling herself she hadn’t noticed Sawyer’s slim hips or his long legs or how he filled out his Wranglers. It was just like eighth grade all over again, except...except that more daring, carefree Ainsley Hamilton was fighting to get out again.

CHAPTER SEVEN (#ue9eba98d-f31f-50e8-b60f-de4516fe0cc0)

SAWYER RODE NEXT to Ainsley, debating telling her who he was and why he’d shown up the way he had. But just minutes ago she’d made it clear that she didn’t like the idea of him riding along because he thought she needed saving.

But damn if she didn’t need saving. That note he’d found on her door had been nagging at him all morning. Her secret admirer was more than a little obsessed with her. Following her from town to town meant he had some means of support rather than a regular job. It also showed how determined he was. A sane man didn’t follow a woman around like that unless...

He looked over at Ainsley. He could see that she was at home in a saddle. There was something so strong and self-assured about her, not to mention beautiful and smart and funny, he thought, remembering this morning when she’d been hiding under the covers. He smiled to himself. He could see where a man might become infatuated with Ainsley Hamilton.

She glanced over at him and smiled as if content with the silence between them. He felt the same way. It was another remarkable fall day. A clear brilliant blue sky hung over the pine-covered mountains. Patches of golden-leafed aspens rustled in the breeze, and an occasional hawk would sweep past overhead, casting a winged shadow over them before disappearing behind a rocky bluff.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she said, looking out at the Western landscape as they rode along.

“Beautiful,” he said, his gaze on her.

She glanced over at him as if she’d felt his stare on her and knew he wasn’t talking about the country. Her smile was warmer than the sun on his back.

They found several locations that Ainsley thought might suit Gunderson.

“I think that’s enough options,” she said.

“One of the kitchen girls told me about a hot spring up this way,” Sawyer said, not wanting their time together to end just yet. “I’m not sure it would make a location for the commercial, but if you want to see it...”

Ainsley glanced at her watch. He could tell that she was torn. The old Ainsley who always did what was right and prudent needed to get back to Gunderson with her latest ideas. The new Ainsley?

“Are you trying to lead me astray, Mr. Nash?” she asked when she looked up and saw the way he was studying her.

He grinned. “Is it working?”

Again she hesitated. “I suppose we better check it out.”

They rode in silence a short way up a narrow valley until they came to a rock formation set against the mountain. Sawyer could feel Ainsley’s excitement. He assumed it was because this would be a beautiful place for the commercial shoot since the canyon had fallen through, so to speak.

He dismounted, tying his horse to a pine tree, and started to reach for Ainsley, when she swung a leg over her saddle horn and slid down next to him. Feeling like a kid, he took her hand, excited to see the spring.

It was better than he could have imagined. Steam rose from an oval pool of clear water surrounded by large boulders.

“Why didn’t I know about this?” Ainsley demanded of herself.

“I overheard one of the girls who work in the kitchen talking about it. They are planning to ride up here tonight with some boys they know.” He looked up at Montana’s big blue sky overhead. “I bet it is beautiful at night.”

Ainsley was still looking guilty that she hadn’t been aware of it. As if being the location scout, she should know everything about the entire state. She finally looked over at him. “What are you doing?”

He removed his coat, then began unbuttoning his shirt. “Going skinny-dipping.”

“You wouldn’t.”

He laughed as he stripped off his shirt. “You were all for it last night.”

“That was different. I was—”

“The new Ainsley Hamilton, the adventurous, the woman who was bound and determined to do everything she’d missed out on.”

She lifted her chin as he reached to unsnap his jeans. “If you think you can tempt me to—”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. I don’t mind going in alone.”

She opened her mouth, then snapped it shut. “You think I won’t do it.”

Sawyer cocked his head at her. The buttons on his jeans popped out one after another. As he began to shrug out of the denim, she turned her back. He smiled to himself as he stopped to watch her toss aside her jacket, then slowly unbutton her shirt.

He stepped into the warm pool. It quickly became deep. He sank into it, relishing the heat. “It’s perfect!” he called to her. She had taken off everything but her bra and panties. He could see she was about to chicken out. “You won’t want to ride back in wet underwear. I’ve already seen you naked, but I’ll turn around if you like. I can be a perfect gentleman. If that’s what you want.” His words were apparently sufficient.

“I’m not as big a prude as everyone thinks I am,” she called to him without turning in his direction.

He saw her unhook her bra, and he turned around as promised. He heard her enter the water a few moments later. He felt small ripples move against him. “Is it safe to turn around now?”

“I guess so,” she said. She was neck deep in the water. Had the water been clearer he might have been able to see her below the surface. But he didn’t need the view. He’d never forget what she looked like after last night in the moonlight.

He stayed where he was, sensing that’s the way she wanted it. But he was smiling to himself. He was damned proud of whichever Ainsley Hamilton was sharing the pool with him. He admired a woman who accepted a challenge, especially for something out of her comfort zone.

“Have dinner with me tonight.”

* * *

SARAH HURRIED DOWN the hospital hallway, reaching Russell’s hospital room as the doctor came out. “How is he?”

He recognized her from all her other visits and like most people in the county, knew that she had been Russell’s fiancé not all that long ago.

“It is nothing short of a miracle,” the doctor said, closing the door behind him. “He’s still a little confused. We’ll need to run more tests, but it appears he will have a full recovery.”

She breathed a sigh of relief that brought tears to her eyes again. “Thank you. Can I see him?”

“Just keep your visit short.”

Sarah took a deep breath and pushed the door open. The first time she’d come to see Russell was right after his attack. He’d been so badly beaten that he hadn’t been expected to live. The doctor had worried that he would have brain damage. So it really was a miracle.