“Gracious, I’ve never been in love. The doctor and I are friends, nothing more.” Discomfort prickled at her. Doc Potter wanted more, she knew. But she didn’t feel that way for him. Her heart didn’t flutter like a bird’s wing. Her skin didn’t feel hot and cold at the same time. No, not for Doc Potter. Only for the man whose gaze seared hers at this moment.
“Why were you riding with him this afternoon?”
Ruth didn’t reply. She turned to the bureau and wet a cloth in the water from the basin. “Enough of this now. Sit down, and let’s get you cleaned up as best we can.”
She wrung the cloth and turned to Garth, who had sat down in a wooden chair. Her nipples poked through her chemise and she warmed, but didn’t turn away. He saw them, she knew.
She liked that he saw them. God help her, she wanted him to see them. Wanted him to kiss them, nibble them.
She inhaled sharply and touched the wet cloth to Garth’s chiseled cheek. The heat of his skin burned her fingers through the cool cloth. So overheated from fighting the fire all night. She dragged the cloth down his cheek, across his jaw line. Smudges of gray covered the cloth from just one swipe. She rinsed it in the basin and began again.
“I’m sorry the water’s not warmer.”
“Cool is fine. I’ve had all the heat I can stand for a while.”
“Oh, yes, of course. What I meant was, warmer water would cleanse you better. As would a touch of soap. Let me just get a little from the other room. There’s some left from Mary Alice’s bath earlier.”
Ruth turned toward the doorway, but Garth’s soiled hand gripped her forearm. “Please.”
“Please what?”
“Please. Just stay here. With me.”
“Mr. Mackenzie, I’m just going to get the soap—”
“I don’t need any damned soap.” His voice was soft, but stern. “I need you. Here. With me. Please.” Gently he slid his hand to hers, which still held the cloth, and returned both to his stubbled cheek.
Ruth’s hand shook as she slowly trailed the wet cloth over the angles of his face, wiping away the dirt and grime. Twice she rinsed the cloth and returned. She moistened the gilded strands at his hairline and pushed them out of his eyes. When his golden skin was buffed to a shine, she rinsed the cloth again and took his hands into hers.
“Gracious, you’re a sight,” she said.
“So are you. A lovely sight.”
Her cheeks warmed. Did he truly think her lovely? She rubbed the soot from Garth’s strong hands. His fingers were long and thick, with perfect square nails and tiny golden hairs growing from the knuckles. Good, capable hands. Hands that worked from sunup to sundown. Hands that had cupped her cheek, her nape, her breast. Hands that knew how to please a woman.
Ruth’s nipples surged against her chemise, and she let out a shallow breath. “There, that’s better.” She set the cloth next to the basin. In the soft glow of the lamplight, Garth’s male beauty gleamed. Except for one smudge on his chin marring his perfection. “Goodness, I missed a spot.” She grabbed the cloth again and wiped the smear away. He touched his hand to hers, moving with her as she continued to wipe around his jaw line. He pushed her hand downward, and she followed his lead, cleansing his neck and then the upper plane of his chest. Golden hair peeked out where two buttons of his shirt were open.
“Ah, Ruthie”—his hoarse whisper caressed her cheek—“I wish I could bathe proper.”
“I know. You must be very uncomfortable. But this will have to do for tonight.”
“You don’t understand.”
“Of course I do. Being covered in soot can’t be much fun.”
“Hell, dirt don’t bother me,” Garth said. “I’m used to it. But I’m too filthy to hold you.”
“Oh, my.” Her heart fluttered so hard against her breast she thought for certain Garth could see it through her chemise.
“I think I’d give my right arm to make love to you right now, honey. But I’m so darn weary I’d probably fall straight to sleep, and that wouldn’t be any good for you.”
Ruth jerked away. The cloth dropped into Garth’s lap as she backed toward the door that joined the two rooms. Heat consumed her body. Her nipples felt like hard glass marbles, and something burst low in her stomach. Fire rippled between her legs.
She opened her mouth to speak, but no words formed.
Garth stood and edged toward her very slowly. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“Such bold words, Mr. Mackenzie—”