wasn’t going to argue with that. Halfway back to his truck, the first fat raindrops began to fall. She picked up her pace, but when she looked back over her shoulder at the approaching storm she managed to twist her ankle and break the heel of one of her blue-and-white Mary Janes.
Liam was at her side almost quicker than she could steady herself on her other foot. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I think so.” She lifted her leg out to the side to check out the damage. “More than I can say for my poor shoe, though.”
“At least you didn’t break your ankle. It’s just a shoe.”
“A shoe that cost me a hundred dollars,” she mumbled under her breath.
Something changed in the air, and it had nothing to do with the storm. When she met Liam’s eyes, his expression had hardened. Gone was the hint of laughter and open friendliness, replaced by tight lines and a distance that hadn’t been there before.
The rainfall upped its tempo a bit, and Liam let out a long sigh. Before she could ask what was wrong, her feet flew out from under her as he scooped her up in his arms and started walking toward his truck like some knight in shining armor.
Or cowboy in a tan Stetson.
Chapter Two
India’s skin blazed so hot that she was surprised Liam didn’t drop her. But he didn’t seem to notice her out-of-control embarrassment and maintained his strong hold on her as if she weighed next to nothing. Despite the rain, his feet never slipped. The short distance to his truck seemed to take aeons to cross, and yet at the same time a part of her felt it was over much too soon when he set her on her feet. She didn’t even have time to take a breath before he pulled open the passenger door so she could escape the rain.
She scrambled inside just as the sky truly opened up. Liam had to be soaked before he even reached the front of the truck. He was nothing more than a vague blur as she watched him through the torrents of rain. By the time he dived into the driver’s seat, he looked as if he’d taken a plunge in the lake. India’s gaze traveled to where his blue button-up shirt was plastered to his chest and his jeans molded to what looked like a pair of powerful thighs.
Liam pulled off his drenched Stetson and tossed it onto the seat between them. As it landed, his gaze met hers and held for what had to be the longest second in human history.
She jerked her gaze away before she had time to think about what that might reveal—that she’d been ogling the mighty fine contours of his body.
“Been a while since I’ve seen a rain this hard,” Liam said.
Thankful for something to think about other than what Liam Parrish hid beneath his plastered-to-his-skin clothing, India forced herself to focus on the rain hammering against the truck’s windshield. Drought had become a dusty way of life in Texas lately, so they sorely needed the rain. Still, she would have been a lot happier if it had waited until they’d gotten back to her store. There, she wouldn’t have to be trapped in a confined area with a man who seemed to fill most of the space available.
She leaned forward. “This keeps up and the arena will become a pool, and we’ll have to switch from a rodeo to swimming races.”
Liam laughed a little, and that unexpected response allowed India to take her first full breath since he’d picked her up. She ventured a quick glance at him and noticed the tightness in his expression from before had faded. She didn’t know why it mattered so much to her, but she experienced a great sense of relief. She didn’t like people being angry with her, and for some reason Liam Parrish had been, if only for a few brief moments.
The rain continued to pour down as if trying to make up for a year’s worth of drought in one afternoon, and India searched desperately for something to talk about. They’d already covered all the particulars of the site, at least until she could touch base with Verona and Blake at the tourism bureau. His job, that was it. Men loved talking about their jobs, right?
“So, have you been running a rodeo company for long?” She kept her eyes averted, afraid they would return to those tantalizing muscles.
“Just a couple of years. I was riding the circuit before that. Still ride some when I get to missing it too much.”
“Bulls?” Even she knew that was the event all the adrenaline-junkie cowboys liked.
“Broncs. I’m not crazy enough to get on a bull.”
This time, it was her turn to laugh. “A smart man. Well, at least somewhat. Not sure how wise it is to get on any animal whose sole goal is to buck you off its back.”
“You might be right about that, but the world’s got to have at least a few crazy people to keep things interesting.”
From her brief time with Liam Parrish, she could safely say he could keep things interesting without ever going anywhere near an animal.
She clamped a mental lid on her thoughts. Damn, was this rain ever going to stop?
“What about you?” he asked. “You own the clothing store?”
“Yes. A dream come true, you might say. Perhaps not as adventurous as riding animals with attitude, but I like it.”
“I don’t know. There’s something to be said for dealing with creatures who don’t talk back.”
As they fell into silence again, India noticed the rain was lessening in intensity. By the time a few more seconds ticked by, the worst of the storm had passed and she could see beyond the windshield again.
When Liam started the truck’s engine, India wondered if he was as anxious to get out of their awkward situation as she was. After all, she’d bet it wasn’t every day that he swept a potential business associate up into his arms. The image of him even attempting that with some big, burly cowboy had her stifling a giggle.
“Something funny?”
“No, nothing.” She was saved from further questioning by her ringing phone. She pulled it from her purse and noted it was Verona. “Hey.”
“Hey yourself, sweetie. Have you met with Mr. Parrish yet?”
“Yes, actually we’re heading back to the shop now.”
“Oh, good. Can you swing by the tourism office? Blake talked to the board, and we think we can iron out the details this afternoon if Mr. Parrish is agreeable.”
India glanced over at Liam, noting how his long fingers wrapped around the steering wheel as he drove back into the edge of downtown. “Hang on a second,” she said to Verona then lowered the phone.
Liam looked her way for a moment as he made a turn. “Problem?”
“The head of the tourism bureau wants to meet with you while you’re here, but now probably isn’t a good time.” She gestured toward his wet clothing.
He nodded toward the back of the cab. “I always travel with an extra set of clothes if you’ve got somewhere I can change.”
She smiled at that. “I own a clothing store. I bet we can scrounge up a dressing room.”
When
