Free The Cowboy's Summer Love by Unknown Page A

make light of the injury and forcing himself not to remember all the death and destruction that engulfed the day he received it.
    “I think it is a big deal,” Tess said, leaning down and impulsively pressing a soft kiss to the scar.
    Travis sucked in a gulp of air, trying to keep himself together. Tess’ lips on his skin were branding him like the iron they used on their cattle. The intensity of her touch began to melt his insides and his blood started zinging through his veins. It was all he could do to keep from taking Tess into his arms and kissing her like he’d dreamed of doing for years.
    “Does that make it better?” she asked, looking at him with heat warming her big brown eyes until they looked like pools of sweet milky chocolate.
    “Almost,” Travis whispered, trailing a hand over her head. He pulled the band from her ponytail and watched her long hair tumble in rich, dark curls around her shoulders. “What would make it all better is if you go swimming with me.”
    “I just can’t, Trav,” Tess said, looking out at the water.
    “Can’t or won’t,” Travis asked, running his hand through her hair and down her back. He rubbed titillating circles across her shoulders, making tingles race up and down her spine. “You’re not a girl to back down from a challenge. So I dare you to get out there and have fun.”
    Tess turned and looked at him. He had yet to issue a dare she wouldn’t accept and win.
    “Did you have to dare me?” she asked in misery. She didn’t want to see the look on Travis’ face when he saw her in a swimsuit. She’d seen the looks of appreciation from the males observing their group at Cady’s trim figure and Lindsay’s lean athletic form. She couldn’t bear the look that would surely cross his face when Travis saw her.
    “Yep. That way I know you’ll get in the water,” Travis said with a devilish smile. “Now, are you going to take off your clothes and get out there or am I going to do it for you?”
    Reaching over, Travis grabbed a handful of Tess’s T-shirt and started tugging it up. A hint of something navy blue teased him from beneath the lifted shirt.
    “Travis, so help me, I will break your hand if you pull even another inch higher,” Tess said, tugging down her shirt with both hands.
    Travis laughed and got to his feet, planting his hands on his hips. “Either you shuck off your clothes and get out there or I’ll drag you in with them on. Your choice, but I’m only going to give you to the count of five. One, two, three…”
    “You are the most insufferable, obstinate, obnoxious idiot,” Tess said as she jumped to her feet, glaring at Travis. “Turn around.”
    Travis turned around but stared at her over his shoulder. “You know I’ve seen it all before, Tessadora. Don’t forget your mom has a picture of you and me and Brice playing in the bathtub.”
    “Yes, but I was three and both of you were two. That certainly doesn’t count. Now turn around and no peeking.” Tess waited until Travis turned his face toward the water then quickly pulled off her shirt and shorts before inhaling a deep breath and walking up beside him. Taking his hand, she tugged him toward the river. “Let’s get this over with.”
    “Not so fast,” Travis said,pulling her to a stop and drinking in the sight of her. She looked like a Hollywood siren from the 1940s with her figure eight shape and glamorous swimsuit.
    All one piece, the dark blue swimsuit was a halter style with a sweetheart neckline and ruched waist that ended in a cute perky skirt teasing the tops of her thighs.
    The style accented her voluptuous form and Travis couldn’t think when he had ever seen anything as beguiling as Tess looked right at that moment. Her cheeks were flushed pink and her hair blew around her face in long dark curls. She stood studying the bright pink polish on her toes with her hands crossed in front of her waist, obviously uncomfortable under his perusal.
    Travis pushed up her chin