Read Cowboy Save Me: By Judith Lee (Tiller Brothers Book 1) for Free Online

know so they could inform the sheriff’s office.
    They shook hands and left.
    Cody took Tammy’s hand, “Let’s go for a walk.” He looked over at his mom, “Go rest, the casserole won’t be done for a little while.”
    When he looked back at Tammy, she could tell by the expression on his face that he didn’t want her to go.
    “Okay.”
    Every time he held her hand, her heart started beating faster and it just felt so incredibly right.  Nobody had ever held her hand like this, so positively and with such absolute confidence.
    They walked down to the corals and watched the new colts prancing around the arena. He told her a little about the ranch operations and how he’d be breaking those horses in soon. He talked about everything but the elephant in the room.
    Finally, Cody turned her toward him, “Tammy I would feel better if you stayed here.  You aren’t being an inconvenience to me or my family.  We like having you here.  If Marcus shows up you can’t hope to stand up to a lunatic like him,” he pleaded.
    She ran a hand through his thick black hair that had fallen over his forehead and looked up into his eyes. He had the most brilliant blue eyes .  I could really fall for you . No No No …where had thought come from?
    “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but you probably need to get on to the next rodeo and I need to get myself together.  I have worked so hard the last three years, to overcome both the mental and physical abuse.  I also took self-defense classes and I learned how to shoot.  I even have a special permit to carry a gun.  I’m so ashamed of how I fell apart this morning.  I have fought too hard to lose it from one phone call.  I have to be strong. Damn I need to get it together. I can’t be dependent on you or anyone for the rest of my life.  You have to understand how important this is to me.”
    “You are strong.  You survived that asshole.  Can’t you just stay for a few days until we have a better idea where he is?” 
    “Cody, I heard your mom crying.  I didn’t mean to eavesdrop but I heard how sad she was that you were retiring from the rodeo.  You can’t do that.  I can see the passion you have for it.”
    He rested his forehead against her forehead and sighed.
    “Darlin’, you have nothing to do with me retiring.  And mom is crying for another reason I can’t get into with you right now.  Truthfully, you would help me by staying at least for a few days or a long as you want.  I wish you would trust me on this.”
    She looked into his eyes and saw pain. She was quiet for a few minutes.
    “Okay Cody, but I have to go work tonight at the Ag booth.  I am in charge of the booth this year.  It means so much to me.  I worked so hard to get my job at the Ag Extension office, and I don’t want to run and hide, and not do my job.  It would just put me back to where I was three years ago.”
    “Then I’ll go with you to make sure you’re safe.”  He rubbed his calloused thumb over the freckles on her cheek bone. She trembled at his touch.
    “Man, we are going to have women crawling all over the booth tonight to get your autograph,” she giggled.
    He pinched her nose and laughed at her as he looked into her eyes.
    Their gazes held, and she couldn’t wait another minute.  She lifted up on her toes and kissed him.  Or maybe he kissed her first, she wasn’t sure.  It started out gentle at first…a new exploration of each other’s soft lips. His lips feathered and caressed her lips.  Their breaths touched and mingled. Her body flared to life. She thought she heard him growl deep in his throat and he pulled her tighter into his embrace.  His lips were so soft, full and possessive.
    He nibbled on her bottom lip then ran his tongue over her trembling lips until she opened her mouth.  Oh God don’t stop. She couldn’t seem to get her breath as he devoured her mouth with his tongue. Their tongues tangled. He wanted to take her deep inside him. He