Free Buckhorn Beginnings by Lori Foster Page A

her glass aside and lifted a hand. “Casey!”
    He turned, his look questioning.
    â€œI noticed your shoulders are getting a little red. Have you been out in the sun much lately?”
    â€œUh…” He glanced at his father, then back to Honey. “Yeah, I mean, I’ve been outside, but there hasn’t really been much sun till just a bit ago.”
    â€œI know it’s none of my business, but you should really put on a shirt or something. Or at least some sunscreen. You don’t want to burn.”
    Sawyer frowned at her, then looked at Casey. Sure enough, there was too much color on his son’s wide shoulders and back. Casey looked, too, then grimaced. “I guess it was so cloudy today, I didn’t think about it.”
    She looked prim as she lectured. “You can burn even through the clouds. I guess because I’m so fair, I’m especially conscious of the sun. But I’d hate to see you damage your skin.”
    Casey stared at her, looking totally dumbfounded. Too much sunshine was probably the last thing theaverage fifteen-year-old would have on his mind. “I’ll, uh…I’ll put some sunscreen on. Thanks.”
    Sawyer added, “And a shirt, Case.”
    â€œYeah, okay.” He hurried out before he drew any more attention.
    Sawyer looked at Honey. She was smiling, and she looked so sweet, she took his breath away. He didn’t like her interference with his son, but since she was right this time, he couldn’t very well lecture her on it.
    â€œYou have a wonderful son.”
    He certainly thought so. “Thank you.”
    â€œHe doesn’t really look like you. Does he take after his mother?”
    â€œNo.”
    She looked startled by his abrupt answer, and Sawyer wished he could reach his own ass to kick it. He didn’t want her starting in on questions he didn’t want to answer, but his attitude, if he didn’t temper it, would prompt her to do just that.
    â€œI got your clothes washed. If you’re feeling up to a bath, we can get that taken care of before dinner, then you can change.” Not that he wanted her trussed up in lots of clothes when she looked so enticing wearing what she had on. But he knew it’d be safer for his peace of mind if she at least had panties on.
    Except that he’d already seen the tiny scrap of peach silk she considered underwear, and knowing she wore that might be worse than knowing she was bare, sort of like very sweet icing on a luscious cake.
    Luckily he’d done the laundry while no one elsewas around. He didn’t want his brothers envisioning her in the feminine, sexy underwear. But he knew they would have if they’d seen it. He could barely get the thought out of his mind.
    â€œI’m definitely up for a bath. I feel downright grungy.”
    She looked far from grungy, but he kept that opinion to himself. “We’ll use the hall bath. Morgan’s room opens into it, but he isn’t home yet. I think he’s on a date. And Gabe only uses the shower in the basement.”
    Her eyes widened. “Good grief. How many bathrooms do you have?”
    She looked confused again, and he grinned. “As many as I have brothers, I guess. Little by little we added on as everyone grew up and needed more room.”
    â€œIt’s amazing you all still live together.”
    He lifted one shoulder in a lazy shrug. “My father left us the house, and my mom moved to Florida after Gabe graduated. Morgan stays here in the main house with me and Case, but he’s building his own place on the south end of the property. It should be done by the end of the summer.”
    â€œHow much property do you have?”
    â€œAround fifty acres. Most of it’s unused and heavily treed, just there for privacy, or if any other family decides to build on it. Morgan’ll have his own acreage, but still be close enough, which is the way we all like it. Jordan’s