He groaned with pleasure so she wouldn't stop soothing him.
She thought he had fallen asleep. His face was turned toward the doorway. He looked peaceful to her, and ruggedly handsome. His hair had fallen down to cover his forehead. There was a day's growth of a beard, a shadow really, and she was suddenly filled with curiosity to know what it felt like. She felt safe enough because he was sound asleep and wouldn't know how brazen she was being. She touched his forehead first, then grew a little bolder. She noticed a bruise on the side of his temple and slowly circled it with the tips of her fingers. His skin was smooth and warm to her touch.
She grew bolder and traced the profile of his perfectly formed nose and cheekbone. She trailed her fingers down the side of his face to his neck. The bristles from his growth tickled her. She wanted to touch his mouth, gave into her urge almost immediately, and slowly explored it just as fleetingly with her fingertips.
There wasn't anything about the man she didn't like, she realized. He really was as beautiful to her on the outside as he was on the inside, where it mattered most. In his heart.
She leaned closer and kissed his forehead. She couldn't believe how audacious she was being. She was usually very reserved, sometimes even shy around men, but tonight… with Harrison.
She let out a little sigh and kissed the side of his cheek. Then she straightened up and began to massage his shoulders once again. She didn't want to stop touching him. What was the matter with her? She could feel herself physically reacting to Harrison, but because of her inexperience, she didn't have the faintest idea what she should do about it.
Stop, she supposed. She didn't stop though, because she liked the way his skin felt under her fingertips. He was warm and muscular. Her stomach tingled and quivered like she was filled with butterflies.
And when she thought about kissing him again…
'What are you doing in here with a half-naked man? Don't you have any sense at all, Mary Rose?'
Cole made the criticism from the doorway and walked over to the side of the bed.
'Keep your voice down,' she whispered. 'He's asleep. I left the door open so it would be proper for me to be in here. Besides, he may be half naked, but he's also harmless. I won't take advantage of him. I promise.'
She didn't think it was a good idea to mention she'd already taken advantage. Cole wouldn't understand her curiosity. How could he when she couldn't?
'Don't talk like that. It isn't ladylike. I never thought you'd take advantage of him. You wouldn't know how.'
'I should though, shouldn't I? Don't you think it's about time you explained a few facts to me?'
'Later, Mary Rose. We'll talk about all that later.'
'You always say that,' she whispered. 'Never mind. I've figured it all out on my own.'
Cole wanted to change the topic to a less delicate one. He squatted down next to Harrison so he could get a closer look at his face, then stood up again.
'I can't tell if he's breathing. Is he?'
'Of course he is.'
'He looks dead.'
'He isn't,' she assured her brother. 'At least not yet. When are you and Douglas going to let up on him?'
'We're teaching him what he needs to know if he's going to take up ranching.'
'You're killing him.'
He smiled over how incensed she'd sounded. 'No, we aren't. Harrison 's tougher than he looks.'
She let out an inelegant snort. 'No, he's softer than he looks,' she corrected. 'Has he gotten any better at breaking in the horses yet?'
Cole sighed. ' Douglas keeps telling me he has. I can't see any improvement though. Harrison 's a touch loco, Mary Rose.'
'Why do you think that?'
'He talks to the mustangs. Douglas says he lays it all out for them, then gets up in the saddle and expects them to understand and cooperate. He never raises his voice either, and the only time he curses is after he's finished for the day. You better come on back to the house. It's late.'
Cole started to leave, then changed his mind. 'By the way, Catherine Morrison's father told Douglas that Catherine wants him to ask Harrison if he would like to court her.'
Mary Rose was astonished. And furious. She hid her reaction from her brother and applied herself to the task of soothing Harrison 's muscles.
'That's ridiculous,' she said. 'The Morrisons don't even know Harrison.'
'They're going to invite him for Sunday supper,' Cole told her.
'He can't go.'
'Why can't he?'
'He's going to be busy.'
'Travis sure isn't going to like hearing about Harrison getting an invitation. Your brother's kind of partial to Catherine.'
'I can't imagine why. I don't like her at all.'
'Why not?'
'She's uppity and a flirt,' Mary Rose said. 'She's brazen too.'
'I never noticed.'
'You're a man. Of course you never noticed. Men never notice such things. Besides, she never flirts with you. She's afraid of you.'
Cole grinned. 'It makes you kind of mad, doesn't it?'
'What makes me mad?'
'Some other woman taking an interest in Harrison.'
'I am not angry.'
If Harrison hadn't been pretending to be asleep, he would have disagreed. The gentle massage she'd been giving him had turned into a pounding. He didn't know how much longer he was going to be able to put up with the beating.
'Someone has to look out for Harrison. He's very naive, you know.'
'You don't say.'
'He's overly trusting too.'
'Is that right?'
'I'm serious, Cole, so you can quit smiling like that. Harrison is a kind, gentle man. Surely you've noticed.'
'I can't say I have,' Cole replied.
'All of us should be watching out for him. He's our responsibility.'
'Exactly what is it you think Catherine's going to do? Bite him?'
'I wouldn't put it past her,' Mary Rose said. She knew she was being unreasonable. She didn't care. 'I realize I'm being uncharitable, but I do believe Catherine can turn into a viper. I think you should tell the Morrisons Harrison isn't interested.'
Cole rolled his eyes heavenward. 'Harrison and I are going to town tomorrow to pick up a couple of harnesses. He can tell Morrisons yes or no about Sunday supper when he's invited. The decision is his to make, Mary Rose.'
'I'm going to town with you.'
Harrison had taken all the pounding he was going to. He opened his eyes just as Cole turned around and walked out the door.
'You can stop beating on me now,' he said.
She jumped a foot when he spoke to her. 'You're awake.'
He didn't think it was necessary to agree.
'Do your shoulders feel better?'
The sting in his muscles was actually worse because of her overly enthusiastic pounding.
'Yes, thank you.'
She recapped the bottle, put it on the floor next to her, and stood up.
