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She replies, "I thought I had the directions right. Sam said to drive straight up to the barn, but he didn't say there wasn't any driveway. Do you know of a towing company I can call? I'm not familiar with this area…"
I hold up my hands. "It's all right, just put your car in neutral and we'll get 'er out."
She watches with interest as I phone one of the other ranch hands and tell him to bring the farm truck and a tow rope.
I hang up and assess the situation. There are about two feet of mud between me and the driver seat. "Listen, it could be a while before my guy can get to the farm truck and get over here, so just come with me and I'll take you to the barn that Sam was talking about using for the wedding."
She goggles at me. "There's more than one barn? I only saw the one."
"Yeah, and it's even got a driveway for the caterers," I say with a smile.
She looks sheepish. "Lemme grab my bag."
She tosses it to me, and I take a step back when the weight of it hits me my chest.
"Whoa, what do you have in this saddlebag? Every horseshoe in the county?"
Ally cocks her head at me and says, "If the bride wants every horseshoe in the county as centerpieces for her wedding, they are for sure in that bag."
I laugh as I hoist it over my shoulder and hold out my hand. "Here, I'll help you out."
Giving me her hand, she pivots toward me, revealing two beautiful legs hampered by a pencil skirt. I can see this is going to be a problem because she can't spread her legs out enough to step across the mud puddle. Her purple suede high heels would never survive a misstep.
"Look," I say, not entirely comfortable with what I'm about to suggest, "May I just lift you out?"
She gapes at me for a second and then reality sinks in. She looks around. "I don't got this, do I?"
"No, ma'am, I'm afraid you don't. But I'll be gentle, I promise."
Chapter Six
Ally
Am I going to let this cowboy put his hands on me?
Yes. Yes, I am.
"Oh. Okay. Yes, I guess that's my only option right now. Or maybe I could just hike this skirt up to my waist, in which case I'll have to ask you to turn around." I whirl my fingers around in the air, my wordless request for him to turn away from me so I can have some privacy.
His laugh pleases me so much I have to laugh as well, just imagining the scenario of having to remove my skirt to span a mud puddle. The sound of his laugh is pure without a shred of mocking.
"What kind of gentleman would I be if I let a lady do that out in public, in front of the animals and everything?"
I look over and see that a couple of cattle dogs and a few chickens have sauntered up to watch the events unfold.
I give in with a resigned smile and lift my eyebrows. "I guess I'm all yours, cowb—oh my gosh!"
I'm not prepared for the way his sure arms lift me out of the car, one arm supporting my lower back and the other under my knees. This is just what he said he'd do. I don't know what else I was expecting, but this move is making me pleasantly light-headed. Perhaps the musky scent of a hard-working man is pushing my buttons, too.
"But now your boots are ruined," I say.
He doesn't reply, only chuckles.
He walks away from my car and I'm not sure where he plans to set me down. I have to admit, I'm also not sure I want him to set me down at all. His arms are like steel cables yet his hold is cozy. I haven't been li
fted like this, well, ever in recent memory.
I used to date someone who liked to come up behind me and give me hugs where he lifted me off the ground with no warning. I hated it, not only because it scared the bejeezus out of me, but also because he often did it while I was in the middle of a conversation and the ensuing laughter from everyone always felt like it was at my expense.
