The Cowboy's Way(20)

“I’m not a charity case.” Her anger grew with each passing second when she detected the sympathy in his hazel gaze. She didn’t want anyone feeling sorry for her or thinking that she was incapable of doing things herself. And especially not T. J. Malloy. She wasn’t sure why, but she couldn’t stand him thinking that she was a helpless wimp. “And I certainly don’t need or want your pity.”

“I never said you were a charity case,” he said gently as he rose to his feet. The tone of his voice caused an unfamiliar softening deep inside of her. “But there’s nothing wrong with neighbors helping each other out. It doesn’t mean that I feel sorry for you. I’m just trying to do what I feel is right.”

“You’ve performed your neighborly duty for the past few days,” she said, her heart skipping a beat as he approached. “And I really appreciate your assistance, but...”

Her voice trailed off as he stopped within inches of her. Tipping up her chin with his index finger, he lifted her head until their gazes met. “Heather, I’m really sorry for being a jerk about your horse. But honestly, I’m not an unreasonable man. I swear I would have listened and understood if you’d only explained the situation.”

His deep voice had a soothing effect on her and when he put his arms loosely around her waist and leaned forward, she couldn’t have stopped him if her life depended on it. Brushing her lips with his, the kiss was soft and brief, and wasn’t meant to excite. Unfortunately, she found the caress to be one of the sexiest she could ever remember and she responded by swaying closer to him.

As his mouth settled over hers, his arms tightened around her. Heather tried to remind herself why allowing T.J. to kiss her wasn’t a good idea. But as he traced her lips with his tongue, her eyes drifted shut and she couldn’t think of one single reason to call a halt to the caress.

Without a thought to what she was doing, she raised her arms to his shoulders and tangled her fingers in the soft brown curls at the nape of his neck. Her heart sped up when he coaxed her mouth to open for him. Slipping his tongue inside, he deepened the kiss. As he explored her with tender care, a warmth she hadn’t felt in a very long time began to flow through every part of her. Her knees felt as if they would give way as he lightly stroked her inner recesses.

The sudden sound of thunder rumbling, followed closely by rain pounding on the roof in what could only be described as another Texas gully washer, helped to clear the haze from her obviously foggy brain. She pushed away from him as her senses returned.

“I’m sorry,” he said, releasing her immediately. “I was out of line.”

“No. I mean, yes.” She shook her head as she tried to gather her thoughts. She hurried into the laundry room to escape. “There’s something I have to do.”

Finding the buckets she used when it rained, she placed one under the drip coming from the ceiling between the clothes dryer and the water heater. When she turned around, T.J. was standing in the doorway, watching her.

“A leaky roof was one of the reasons you were so anxious to leave the Dusty Diamond, wasn’t it?” he asked. “You needed to make sure the buckets didn’t overflow.”

She nodded as she placed another one of the pails next to the furnace. “I haven’t had time to make the repairs.”

“When did it start leaking?” he asked, his gaze holding hers as she straightened and turned to face him.

“This past summer.” She shrugged. “One of the really severe storms blew off several shingles and I haven’t had the opportunity to replace them.”

“That was in the spring,” he said, folding his arms across his broad chest.

His stance and the tone of his voice were unmistakably disapproving and it not only erased any lingering traces of warmth she felt from his kiss, but it also reignited her anger. It was easy for him to pass judgment. He wasn’t the one struggling to make ends meet while trying to raise a child alone and find the extra funds needed for the innumerable things around the Circle W in need of repair or replacement. Nor was he the one who would seem vulnerable if he reached out for help.

“Thank you for stopping by to take care of my horses, but you won’t have to bother with helping me again,” she said, brushing past him as she walked into the kitchen to retrieve his jacket. She handed it to him and moved to the back door. “I’m sure you have more important things to do with your time than to take me to task over things that are absolutely none of your business.”

T.J. stared at her for a moment as if he wanted to argue the point. Then he pulled on his coat. “If you need help with anything don’t hesitate to give me a call.”