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“Don’t worry! Don’t worry,” Cole said. “He’s light. He won’t sink.”
“What is this, quicksand or something?”
“No, no, just mud. Stay where you are. I’m coming.”
“What are you going to do?” He was already missing his pants. She snickered again at the thought. This was both hilarious and super scary. Clutching the blanket close to her, she threw the end of it at him. He grabbed it and wrapped the heavy wool around his legs before he started to climb his way out. Water drained from his chest and arms as he struggled to get to her side.
Once he reached her, he took her hand. It practically swallowed hers in its immensity, and then taking a deep breath, he made sure that the blanket was tucked in place before he turned to her. She let out a hysterical giggle. The man looked like a mud-caked Pict warrior in a kilt.
This was going to get interesting.
His beautiful eyes ran over her to figure out her predicament. The next instant, Cole’s hands went under her arms and he tugged her up. She gasped at his strength, throwing her flailing arms around his neck. The mud surrendered her leg with a pop.
She was completely barefoot. “My boots! My boots.” She tried to reach them.
“I’ve got it.” He set her near the reeds where the plants gave her firm ground. He clawed around the mud, prying out one boot. A loud sucking noise followed his movements.
Where was the other one?
She inched closer and the slippery mud did the rest. It carried her down the small incline. She careened forward, falling face first into the cold mud. She lifted her head from the watery sludge. Her hair dripped with it.
By now, Cole was laughing so hard that he was having trouble keeping his own balance. He landed on one knee and lent her his hand. “Let’s try to get out of this together. You ready?”
She nodded, concentrating with all her might to find some footing that wouldn’t suck her under or make her slip. “Walk on your tiptoes,” he said. “Don’t plant your feet on the ground. That way you won’t get stuck.”
Eva tried to do it like he said. She reached for her final boot, but she lost her balance again and fell back into the mud. “Okay… you’re okay.” Cole’s reassurances were lost in more of his amusement. “I’ve got you.” His hands found her and she let out a surprised breath when he scooped her easily up into his arms.
She was pretty positive that they both resembled mud wrestlers at this point.
Eva searched for her boots again, this time catching sight of those overalls. “There!” She pointed. They’d drifted up at the edge of the reeds. “You’re in luck! You don’t have to wear a kilt.”
He hadn’t stopped snickering since she’d done a face plant in the mud, and he didn’t quit now. Setting her back in the reeds, he snatched at the overalls. “Turn around,” he said.
Eva covered her face. The blanket landed against her, and she caught it. When he finally gave her permission to use her eyes again, she burst out into laughter. If she ever did behold a redneck from the deepest parts of the Ozarks, there he was with one strap of his bib overalls stretched over those filthy muscular shoulders. The rough beginnings of a beard shadowed his strong jaw. The only thing missing was a piece of straw sticking from his mouth.
Also strangely attractive.
Not a surprise, since he was a Slade.
For not the first time, Eva wished that she’d brought her phone, so that she could capture this embarrassing scene with her camera. She shifted and sank deeper in the mud. Yeah, probably a good thing she didn’t—her phone would’ve been ruined in all this mud.
Cole watched her with a laughing expression. Her heart lurched at the brilliance of his blue eyes, made especially vibrant with that black mud dripping from his face and hair. His mouth curved. It was the most expressive thing about him, and he didn’t have to say a thing for her to know that he was getting ready to rescue her again.
Her attention was riveted on that mouth as he came closer. She remembered how electrifying his lips had felt against hers.
Uh, wait. Huh?
She stilled, trying to check herself. Eva shouldn’t be thinking about West’s brother this way. He was just becoming really dear to her after all their adventures together—that was all… like a brother.
A brother! Yes.
His hand wrapped around her arm. She noticed the lines of veins running up through his forearms as he tucked her against his chest. He helped her through the reeds. “Getting back should be interesting,” he muttered against the top of her head.
Her cheeks flooded with warmth. She’d forgotten about that little complication. West had dropped her off without a backward glance, but she’d noticed Cole only had his horse with him. Together, they struggled out of the broken pathway created by Dopey.
Lizardman let out an overjoyed yelp when they cleared the reeds and were back on firm ground. The puppy hopped up against Eva’s legs, almost overturning her again.
“Lizardman!” Cole shouted out. “Sit!”
