"Why?" Kim asked, and he knew from experience that a series of logical questions needed to be answered before the girls were satisfied.
"Because I thought the hogs would crush Miss Hayley."
Clearly this was not enough explanation for his daughters. "But you yelled."
"That happens sometimes when a person…" He searched for words they'd understand.
"Blames themselves for the danger being there in the first place," Hayley finished for him, and Nash swung his gaze up to hers.
"Yeah," he conceded.
"I'm not glass, you know."
She was. She was small and frail, and if he'd thought earlier she could handle ranch life, this just proved him wrong. "Ask Seth about getting stomped by a wild pig. They weigh about 350 pounds."
She was shocked. But she'd never been on a ranch before, nor near so much livestock. There was a lot to learn. Not that she'd be around long enough to learn it. "Then the girls shouldn't be near them, either."
He eyed her.
She arched a brow. "Your gates, the pen—they're pig-stampede-proof, then? You can guarantee it?"
He shook his head, not liking that she'd pointed out something he should have seen before now.
Kim said, "I'm sorry, Daddy."
He looked at the twins. "No, Daddy's sorry, baby. It's not your fault." Although he was covered in mud, he hugged them. "We'll all be extra careful next time."
"We promise," they chimed.
"Go on and get some juice," Hayley said, leaning around Nash. "I'll be along and we can finish the chores." They girls glanced between the adults, then left.
"I want you to go over the details with me ASAP," she said to him. "I think you scared them."
"I know I did."
He looked worried about it and her anger waned. "Go on back to work, Nash. I'll smooth things over." He eyed her. "I'll make you look like a gallant knight, trust me."
Somehow he doubted that now. "Don't go overboard. I have trouble living up to their ideals as it is." He gave her a towel. "You're still dripping." Water sparkled on her hair. He stepped closer, the heat of his body penetrating the thin terry-cloth robe.
She didn't move a muscle. "Don't even think about it."
He smiled tenderly, liking the breathy apprehension in her voice. "Think about what?"
Oh, he did not do "innocent" well, she thought. "Kissing me."
"I wasn't."
"You lie like a rug."
"I was thinking about doing a hell of a lot more than kissing." He bent, tucking a finger under her chin and tipping up her face. His mouth was a fraction from hers. "I'm just apologizing like any real gentleman."
Delicious tremors swept through her, making her in-sides heavy with want. "I already accepted it."
"Not enough." His breath scattered across her lips.
Hayley was tempted—boy was she tempted—but self-preservation and old hurt won out. She pressed a hand to his lips, halting him. His gaze swept to hers.
"Don't. This will lead nowhere except heartache." She was surprised she managed to get the words past her lips with him looking at her like that. "And I've been there."
Nash realized the magnitude of what he was doing and eased back. Hadn't he spent the better part of the day chopping a cord of wood trying to avoid this? She didn't want to be part of his life. She'd made that clear before and she was doing it again now. A temporary wife. A doctor launching her new career. He should heed his own advice and be the wiser.
Nodding mutely, he stepped a few feet away before looking back at her. He thought he saw disappointment in her eyes just then, but he couldn't be sure.
At the soft rap on his office door, Nash muttered a response and kept entering data into the computer.
"Hey. Want some coffee or something stronger?"
His gaze flew to hers, then took in her damp hair and her pajamas and matching robe—dark brown with pink sheep jumping over fences. There was nothing revealing about the robe, yet all he could see was her delectable shape beneath.
Hayley felt it. He looked between the tray and her pajamas as if she were Mata Hari holding a magnum of champagne and about to seduce the secrets of the free world from him.
It thickened the air between them.
"Well?"
He blinked. "Sure."
"Which is it?" She held up a tray with a bottle and glass on one side and a carafe of coffee on the other.
"Coffee."
That figures, Hayley thought. Far be it for him to stop and relax. She never knew anyone who was so driven, yet ignorant of his surroundings, expecting everyone to toe the line as hard as he did. Granted, he had the most at risk. But even she knew when it was time to kick back and sit a spell.