Free Song of the Meadowlark (Intertwined Book 1) by Sherri Wilson Johnson Page B

Help! I can’t swim; I’m drowning!”
    Cora jumped into the pool to save him without hesitation. There was no time to think. As she reached Rex, he almost drowned her, along with himself. She finally got him calmed down. Then Rex burst into laughter. Cora stared at him with her jaw dropped. She’d been conned. She shoved him away and swam to the shallow end of the pool.
    “Cora, come on, lighten up. I just wanted you to come in and swim with me.”
    “Well, that wasn’t funny. I really thought you were drowning. What if that had been Susie? What if I’d thought she was joking? It isn’t funny!” Cora’s head spun from the adrenaline rushing through her veins.
    Rex swam over to Cora. “Hey, I’m sorry. Are you okay? I didn’t mean to frighten you like that. I was only playing.” Rex’s face was now inches away.
    Cora stared into Rex’s eyes—black as midnight, intense, and spellbinding. “I’m fine, but I can’t believe you did that. You know, I should drown you right now. Then you’d learn your lesson.” Cora pushed Rex away again, playfully this time.
    “Come here.” Rex gently pulled Cora back.
    For a moment, neither spoke. Cora couldn’t help feeling tingly around him. He was so mesmeric and even more terrific-looking wet than dry. Even though she’d been mad at him a lot lately, her opinion had definitely changed since first seeing him at Ms. Lottie’s. He’d do anything to protect Susie, and he was a hard-working man. Plus, he looked great after working on the ranch, all dusty and smelling like the horses.
    “What?” Cora felt herself slipping into Rex’s arms.
    “I said I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.” Rex pulled her closer.
    “I hope not.” Their eyes locked, and Rex’s hold on her tightened. Her heart throbbed. She could feel it coming... “No.” She pushed away from Rex.
    “What is it?” Rex asked. “What’s wrong?”
    “Rex, you’re my boss…and you have a girlfriend .” Whom he’d been with in this very pool. What was he, some kind of Don Juan?
    “Cora. You think too much. Veronica isn’t my steady girlfriend. Besides, I’m not your boss.” Rex came after Cora.
    Cora reached the side of the pool and lifted herself out of it before Rex could catch her. “You are my boss.” She turned around toward Rex and then pattered across the deck.
    Rex climbed out of the pool after Cora. “I’m Susie’s father. You’re her nanny. But my father employs you. Not me.”
    Cora sat in her lounge chair, and Rex sat in the one beside her. Their knees touched.
    “So I’m not your employee...but you do have a girlfriend. Anyway, I don’t care if you think you’re not steady. Veronica obviously thinks you are. She doesn’t like me. I know she doesn’t want me around.” Cora towel-dried her hair.
    “She doesn’t matter right now. I want you around. You’re great with Susie.”
    “Thanks.” Cora gazed into Rex’s chocolate eyes. She loved chocolate. She looked away before she lost herself in them. A hot breeze wafted across them.
    “Why won’t you look at me?” Rex pulled on the corner of her towel.
    “It isn’t you. I can’t get close to anyone right now. It’s too soon. I’m still sorting out Clark’s death.”
    “He’s been gone a year, Cora.” A bull snorted in the pasture.
    “Yeah, well, he’s been gone, but not dead. And I guess I don’t get over things as quickly as you seem to. I can’t just find someone, hop into bed with him, and forget all my troubles.” Cora shot daggers at Rex with her eyes.
    “Ooh, that hurt. Is that what you think I’m doing? Do you think you’re my next conquest?” He huffed and ran his fingers through his dripping hair. “You’re wrong, you know. I told you how I feel about Patricia. But you can’t go to the grave with them. You have to move on.”
    “That’s what I’m trying to do. But I can’t do it the way you do. I couldn’t leave my child for someone else to raise while I was out playing around with