Small Town Girl Read Online Free Page A

you all right? Caleb, are you okay?” She was suddenly aware she had used his first name.
    He held up his forearm. A red blotch was forming where the pipe had burned him.
    Lauren took over. “You’re burned,” she said, reaching out and taking his wrist in her small hand. “Come upstairs. We have to look at that.” She led him by the hand, and he obediently followed. Her heart was beating hard in her chest. She was embarrassed. Embarrassed that her inexplicable attraction to this man had caused him to be hurt. Embarrassed at how much of a fool she must seem to him now. And yet, she was aware of his immediate capitulation. He was following her up the stairs, like some powerful animal struggling to keep his innate wildness under control for her sake. She shook the thoughts from her mind to tend to the business at hand.
    Once they were back in the kitchen, she pulled one of the old chairs away from the table. “Sit down,” she ordered. He seemed rather amused, but he sat and watched her as she went to the sink and ran a clean dishtowel under the cold water. She rung it out, then crossed the room back to the table. She pulled out another chair and placed it facing him. She sat down and gently took his arm. Suddenly, she was all business. She pressed the cold compress to the burn. He flinched.
    “I’m so sorry if I’m hurting you, but we have to get cold water on that burn.” She leaned forward, forgetting about the buttons on her shirt. She was intent on her task until she looked up instinctively to judge his pain threshold, and saw his gaze. Caleb’s eyes had traveled to the round swell of her breasts, tipped toward him, encased in a snowy white lace bra. Lauren could feel the heat of a blush pushing its way up her neck, flushing her cheeks. “Here,” she said hurriedly, straightening in the chair. “Hold this on it for a while. I’ll wet another cloth. There might be some ice left in the freezer. I’ll look.” She stood quickly and opened the freezer compartment of the old refrigerator. Thank goodness there was ice in the blue plastic trays.
    Lauren was agitated, blaming herself for the mishap. She popped the ice cubes out of one of the trays and wrapped them in the damp dishcloth, holding it out to him. “Thanks,” he said with a smile.
    “Does it feel better?” she asked. Suddenly, reality set in, and she thought of the possibility of getting sued. You never knew about these locals, be they attractive or not. Her Mercedes was parked in the yard. If they thought they could get something out of a wealthy New Yorker, anything might happen. She decided to make an effort to tone down the attitude. At least try to be nice.
    “I’m fine, thanks.” He gingerly held the cold towel to his burn. Lauren found herself watching the muscles in his arms ripple as he applied the compress, ministering to himself. Under the T-shirt, she could see his chest knit with muscle. Again, he reminded her of some kind of wild animal struggling with the pain. Lauren had an unbidden impulse to reach out, to stroke him, to comfort him. She fought the feeling by turning back toward the refrigerator and nervously opening the door. There was no denying it. He had a magnetism that pulled her in.
    “I don’t have much in here. I’m only here for a couple of days. I just brought the basics with me. Would you like some iced tea or water?”
    “No, thanks,” he said. He looked around. “Are you here alone? Is your husband with you?”
    “I’m not married.”
    “Then what’s that rock on your finger?” He pointed to the two carat diamond solitaire nestled in its platinum setting, surrounded by more baguette cut diamonds.
    “I’m engaged,” explained Lauren.
    “What’s he do for a living? Bet he’s not a plumber!” Caleb flashed white teeth in a broad smile.
    Lauren smiled in spite of herself. “No, he’s not a plumber. He’s a businessman in New York. He has a tech company, does international tech trade.”
    “Like