Free Champagne & Chaps by Cheyenne McCray

he trailed his finger down her shoulder, wishing he could touch her bare skin.
    “About an hour.” He adjusted his arm, shifting her, so that he could move it and it tingled like needles were poking it as his blood started circulating again. “My arm fell asleep.”
    She grinned. “You made a great pillow.”
    He liked how comfortable she seemed to feel around him, no awkwardness at all between them, even after what he’d said to her. She hadn’t acknowledged it, but it didn’t seem to bother her, either, something he considered a good sign.
    “Unless you want to spend the night, which would be more than fine by me, I need to send you home soon.” He ran his finger down the tip of her nose. “It might rain and I’d prefer you didn’t drive in a thunderstorm.”
    “You and me both.” She kissed him then scooted out of bed and she laughed when he swatted her on her bare butt.
    With a smile, she looked around for her clothing then slipped into her panties and jeans. She sat on one of the chairs at the small table in the kitchenette area and pulled on her socks and shoes.
    Wyatt watched her as he dressed. He couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off of her.
    When they were ready, he turned off the fan, grabbed his cowboy hat, and shut the door to the cabin behind them. He helped her mount the paint horse. Sally stood patiently as Sabrina settled into the saddle. She’d picked up riding fairly quickly and she seemed like a natural as she rode.
    It was now late afternoon. The ride back to the ranch house went by quickly as they laughed and talked. He told her about escapades with his brothers in the valley and she shared a story about some trouble she and her sisters had gotten into when they were young.
    He asked her a few more questions about what she’d gone through with her illness. It didn’t feel uncomfortable at all talking about it. She liked how comfortable he was with her having it and his genuine interest and caring.
    They rode up to the barn and Trent took the horses to brush them down and put them up for the night.
    While Trent took care of the horses, Wyatt checked out the sky and saw that it was darkening on the horizon and he frowned.
    “I don’t like the idea of you driving if a thunderstorm comes up on us fast.” He turned back to Sabrina. “It’s monsoon season, and a good desert monsoon can be pretty damned dangerous.”
    “I’ll be careful.” She smiled, reached up, and kissed him. “Remember, I grew up here in Arizona so I’m familiar with thunderstorms. I’ll leave now and I can outrun it.”
    “You sure you don’t want to stay?” He asked as he glanced at the sky again. Likely the storm was far enough away that she’d be fine, but he hated taking chances. “You can leave in the morning.”
    “I need to leave early to go to Tucson to see my mom tomorrow.” She put her palms on his chest and leaned into him. “I promised her and I don’t want to let her down.”
    He took her by her shoulders and he studied her beautiful face. “I shouldn’t have let you sleep for so long.”
    “Shhhh.” She placed her hand over his mouth. “Stop worrying. I’ll be fine.”
    His frown deepened as they walked to her SUV. “Call me the minute you get out of the mountains.”
    “I will.” She reached for the handle to the door of her vehicle and opened it. She paused as she turned back to him. “I’ll be seeing you soon, right?”
    “Damned sure better believe you’ll be seeing me soon.” He brought her to him in a fierce kiss then reluctantly let her go. “You’d better get going.”
    She climbed up into her SUV and after one last look at him she shut the door behind her. After she put on her seatbelt, she turned on the SUV, put it into reverse and backed away from the house. She shifted into drive, gave him a little wave, and started down the driveway to the cattle guard.
    He knew she was right. She’d be home before the storm hit. But as she drove away, he couldn’t help but