Kickin' Up Dust: Operation Cowboy, Book 1 by Em Petrova Page B

family or for me? But two vets came out of a door and waved for her and Brodie to follow. Standing on wobbly legs, she sucked in a deep breath in preparation for the worst possible news.
    Brodie rested his hand on her spine and led her to the door. His warmth spread through her, and she relaxed a bit. Whatever happened, she had him by her.
    * * * * *
    Brodie tucked Danica under his arm and handed her a wad of tissues. Her tears were unstoppable now that they’d been told Crow had soft tissue injuries that would heal in time, as well as some cracked ribs, and one had punctured his lung.
    She took the whole handful of tissues and pressed them all to her nose at once. His heart surged with protectiveness and fondness as he led her into the waiting room again while they prepped Crow for surgery.
    Wydell and Boyd stood as soon as they appeared. Looking anxious, Wydell held out two cups of coffee and Boyd offered a waxed bag that probably contained donuts. Brodie’s stomach turned.
    “Just the coffee for me. Thanks.” He took his, and Danica juggled her tissues to accept her cup. Once Brodie had her seated, Boyd passed her the bag of donuts with a soft word.
    She blinked at him through tear-wet lashes. “Thank you.” She took out one of the glazed donuts and bit into it, sniffling as she chewed.
    Seeing her eat heartened him. She’d always had a great appetite, because hell, she worked as hard as a cowboy. Watching her made him think of those women he’d taken out between tours. He’d spend a fortune on a nice meal, and they’d pick at the food.
    Brodie filled in his friends on Crow’s health. They discussed going back into town to start work on one of the lots, but that meant leaving Brodie and Danica without wheels. It was decided they could all take a day off.
    Danica lifted the bag in offering to Brodie. “Are you going to eat this?”
    “Nah.” He rested a hand on his sickly stomach. “You go on.”
    She withdrew the second donut and bit off a huge bite. “I stress eat. I shouldn’t, but they taste so good. And I only had coffee this morning. My parents…” She clamped off the sentence.
    Brodie knew things weren’t great at the Popes’ place. And Danica was alone to deal with her parents’ grief as well as her own, on top of running the ranch. He eased his arm around her shoulders and drew her close to him. Even with the chair arms between them, he was able to feel her soft curves and body heat. Right now, he’d like to curl around her. Spoon her and sleep.
    She leaned her head against his and polished off her donut. When she licked each delectable fingertip, he had to straighten away from her. Either that or haul her into his lap and ravish her.
    Boyd picked up a women’s magazine and started reading the latest dish on celebrities. Wydell got into one of his snorting laugh fits, and Danica soon joined them with giggles.
    “Are you okay?” she asked, nudging Brodie with her elbow.
    “There’s not enough caffeine in the world to stop my head from aching.”
    “We could walk down the street to the drugstore.” Her eyes, so close and serious, sent a brand new wave of need though him. This had nothing to do with hormones—she was a beautiful sweetheart of a woman, and he wanted to get closer to her.
    He nodded. Standing, he reached for her hand. She gave it to him, clasping fingers. His friends looked pointedly at their joined hands and said they’d wait for news on Crow. Later Brodie would need to end the rumors that would be flying about him and Danica, but right now he didn’t have the energy.
    Besides, her hand felt too good in his.
    Outside, the sunlight pierced his skull, and he couldn’t bite off his groan in time.
    “Serves you right. Why’d you get so drunk?”
    He couldn’t tell her she was the reason. That he’d gone out of his goddamn mind seeing her leave with that schoolteacher, knowing they were going to spend the rest of the evening together. Only whiskey had been able to