“Miss!” he shouted, but the woman paid him no heed as she continued edging backward. Zach glanced behind her to the street. Doc Holt drove his Model T toward her at a rapid pace while a wagon full of lumber jostled directly for her from the opposite direction.
“Miss!” he yelled louder, sprinting toward her as she stepped into the street, seemingly oblivious to the world around her.
Zach lunged forward, grabbed her around the waist, and swung around with such force, it knocked them both to the ground, a mere foot away from the wheels of the hulking lumber wagon as it rolled past them.
“Nice catch, Zach!” Ernie Elroy yelled from the wagon seat as he continued on his way. “No wonder you’re so good at baseball.”
Air stirred against Zach’s cheek as the woman beneath him drew in a startled gasp. A soft fragrance enveloped him, a scent of delicate flowers mixed with something rich and sensual. The only word that came to mind to describe the perfume was scrumptious, and that was not a word he’d even known was in his vocabulary.
Time slowed until it nearly stood still as the woman shifted slightly. Zach became acutely aware of how well her curves, so soft and lush, fit against the angles and planes of his body as he held her wrapped in his arms. He could feel the runaway thumping of her heart as it kept time with the wildly beating tempo in his chest.
The young, lovely woman was unlike any he’d ever encountered. He hesitated to end this most unexpected encounter with her, doubting he’d have a second opportunity to be this close to such a fascinating female. Unable to stop himself, he allowed his head to dip closer to her, inhaling again her luscious scent.
“Hi,” he whispered, unsure why he felt the need to speak so quietly, other than to keep from breaking the spell she had seemingly cast over him.
“Hi,” she replied in a hushed tone. The barest hint of a smile kicked up the right corner of her mouth, making him battle the urge to kiss her tempting lips. “Thank you for rescuing me.”
“My pleasure,” he said, reluctantly pushing himself off her, rolling to the side, and rising to his feet. He extended both hands to her and, when she clasped them, pulled her upright. Propriety demanded he immediately turn loose of her fingers, but he couldn’t muster the will to let her go.
