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“I see,” he says with knowing eyes, and I know full well he doesn’t believe me.
“Well, I’m beat. I think I’m going to hit the hay.” With that, I turn to begin heading up the stairs. After that first night when we’d agreed that Ranger would stay on to help for a week, I insisted that he move into the spare room across the hall from mine. It was my bedroom before I moved into the master bedroom a few months back. I hadn’t wanted to take over Pa’s old space, but it’d been necessary to have a better view of the farm at night – something I wanted, especially when I felt lonely or scared. I’m a lot less frightened now knowing that Ranger is just a handful of feet away from me each night.
“Man, I’m glad I’m not sleeping on hay anymore,” Ranger laughs from behind me.
“I’m so sorry I made you do that the first night.”Only four nights ago?I’m surprised by little time it’s been, but how I already feel like this man is a part of my regular life. I brush away the immediate sadness of knowing that he might leave any day now. Finally, we reach the second floor landing.
“Well,” I pull myself from the wall and stand slightly closer to Ranger. “Goodnight, Ranger. Sweet dreams.”
The handsome cowboy stands up straighter too, so our bodies are mere inches apart. “Goodnight, Darcy.”
“You’ll make the coffee in the morning?” I ask him.
“You know it. Breakfast after the first chores?” He steps a little closer.
“Uh-huh.” I lean toward him a bit.
“I’ll turn off the lights down here.” Closer still.
“Thank you.” I say softly.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
Ranger steps away to head into his bedroom, but then his leg gives way a bit under him.
“Ranger – are you limping?” I demand.
He turns around with a dimpled smile. “Just a little. My cut is hurtin’ today. I think it’s just rubbing against the jeans is all. They’re a little coarse.” He shrugs.
“But don’t you have a bandage on it?”
“Naw. The one you had on there was just getting kind of dirty, so I haven’t been wrapping it.” He fidgets a little, looking uncertain. “I’m not really sure how to wrap it, actually.”
Immediately, I spring into action. “Goodness! You should have told me. I have a first aid kit in the kitchen with some wraps and disinfectant. How about you sit down on the bed, and I’ll be back to bandage you up.”
“I’d be much obliged.” Ranger nods and heads further into his room.
I call out after him. “Ranger? You need to take your pants off.” He turns around and raises his eyebrows at my forwardness. “So I can clean it properly,” I finish in a straight voice.
“Will do.” He disappears into his bedroom, and I head back down to the kitchen to grab the first aid kit.
You need to take your pants off, what are you a child? Get it together Darcy. And what was that, imagining him kissing you? You’re just a kid. He said so himself.
Armed with a bandage and disinfectant, I cut off the kitchen lights and begin my own short climb up the stairs to Ranger’s room. But I slow down midway, remembering when I’d first bandaged his wound.I wonder if he’ll be wearing something this time.
I blush hard as I gingerly complete the climb, none-too-eager to let him see me once again red-faced with embarrassment.
Outside the cowboy’s door, I knock softly on the frame. He calls out gruffly, “Come in,” and I enter the lamp-lit room. I nearly drop everything in my hands because Ranger is sitting in the bed, shirtless and looking like a god. He’s ripped and bronzed, with bulging muscles speaking of strenuous labor. He has his injured leg poking out from beneath the thin sheet, exposed so I can tend to it.
Pick your mouth up off the floor!I lower my eyes as I approach Ranger.So what if he resembles Superman?
But as I draw near, my eyes bulge because the thin white sheet leaves little to nothing to my overactive imagination. Beneath the nearly transparent bedding, I see the hard ridge that is the outline of his manhood. Unintentionally, I gasp but then attempt to cover the sound with a fake cough.He’s naked! And huge! And aroused!
“Took my pants off, just like you asked.” Ranger smirks while he says this, as if testing me.
“Good, it’ll make this easier,” I mumble. At this point I know I’m the color of a tomato and there’s nothing I can do about it. Quickly and carefully, I lay out the new cloth on the bed next to Ranger, trying to ignore his closeness. But then it’s time to place my hands on his naked body, and my hands shake.
