As far as Gavin was concerned, getting her into his bed before the dig began would not be interfering with the job she wanted to do.
“Good.” She glanced at her watch. “It’s getting late. I’m sure you need more sleep. However, if you need help with the dishes, then I—”
“No, I don’t need help with the dishes. That’s what dishwashers are for.”
“Do you still want to see where we plan to dig?”
“Yes. I want to know what you have planned on my property and where.”
“No problem.”
“Then I’ll come by the cottage in the morning,” he said, standing, as well. “Come on. I’ll walk you back.”
She shook her head as she put on her sweater. “That’s not necessary.”
“It is for me, Layla. I’ll walk you back.”
She didn’t deny him, maybe she didn’t want to appear ungrateful. She headed for the door and when she reached out to open it, he moved his hand forward, as well. She didn’t seem aware that he’d been standing so close behind her. His fingers closed over hers and his chest was flush against her back.
“I can open the door, Gavin,” she said, glancing over her shoulder, obviously flustered at his nearness. He loomed over her five-foot-three-inch height. He stood so close he could smell her with every breath.
“Your choice.” Releasing his hand from hers he eased back. She opened the door and inhaled the cool Missouri air.
“Nice night, isn’t it?” he asked her. He walked beside her now.
“Yes, it is a nice night.” She glanced over at him again. “Glad to be home?”
A smile touched his lips. “Yes. It’s always good to be home. Time to go from SEAL to rancher.”
“Is it that easy?”
“I’m used to it now. I have good men working for me who make the transition less difficult.”
She nodded. “You love being a SEAL?”
“Yes.”
“I understand your father and grandfather were SEALs.”
Gavin wondered what else his grandmother had told her about their family. “Yes, they were SEALs. So I guess you can say it’s in my blood. What about your folks? Are they college professors like you?”
“No. They’re both neurosurgeons. I didn’t follow in their footsteps. Medicine didn’t interest me.”
He hadn’t asked her to explain, but the fact that she did led him to believe her choice of a career was a sore spot with someone. “You are your own person, Layla.” She was definitely her own woman, he thought further to himself. “Just because following in my father’s and grandfather’s footsteps worked for me, doesn’t mean following family tradition works for everybody.”
She didn’t say anything for a minute. “My parents wanted me to be a mini-them and go to medical school. But I couldn’t. I’m not a healer. I’m a historian.”
“Then you did the right thing by following your heart. When did you decide on archaeology?” Gavin wondered if she noted how in sync their steps were.
“In my junior year of high school.” She paused as if she was remembering. “My history teacher had gone on an excavation in Egypt the summer before and told us about it. I found it fascinating how her team was able to dig up artifacts, how they found history buried beneath the earth’s surface. It made me realize that’s what I wanted to do.”
“Why Jesse James?”
He heard her chuckle and the sound stimulated him in a way he wished it didn’t. “Why not Jesse James?” He heard the amusement in her tone. “I used to watch Westerns with my grandfather whenever I visited him in New Orleans. He was a fan of the outlaw Jesse James. He read a lot of books about him. Watched movies and documentaries. I shared his love and interest. That’s how my research began. And it’s only grown over the years.”
He heard the passion for her subject in her voice. It was there whenever she spoke about her work. She believed in it. If there had been any doubt in his mind before, there wasn’t now. She would risk sleeping with him to prove her work.
She’d be disappointed not to find what she was searching for. But Gavin looked forward to helping her get over the disappointment. He didn’t believe for one minute that James’s loot was buried on this land. It wasn’t. He recalled years ago when he’d been in high school, his father had given some outfit permission to check out the land because there was a chance of finding oil. They’d come up with nothing then, and he was certain Layla and her team would come up with nothing now.
“I guess this is where we need to say good-night.”
They had reached the party house. Her words told him he wouldn’t be invited inside. Maybe that was for the best. He doubted he could keep his hands off of her if they were behind closed doors. And regardless of what she thought, she wouldn’t resist him. Last night’s kiss had proven that. He wasn’t worried about the outcome of the deal between them. Like he’d told her, eventually her body would betray her and she would break. What had happened in his grandmother’s kitchen when their hands touched at the door was a prime example of the intensity of the desire between them.
“So what time do you want us to meet tomorrow?” she asked, reclaiming his attention.
“I need to ride out with Caldwell and my men at the crack of dawn to check on a few things. I’ll be back around ten. Will that time work for you?”
“Yes.”
“Good. We can ride in my truck.”
“Alright. Good night.”
She turned toward the door, intent on opening it quickly and going inside. He was just as determined not to let her get away that easily. Reaching out, he wrapped his arms around her waist and tugged her close to him.
“What do you think you’re doing, Gavin?”
“This.”
Lowering his head, he claimed her mouth in a long, passionate kiss. She didn’t push him away. Instead, she pulled him closer. Emotions he hadn’t expected pushed him to let her know with this kiss just how much he wanted her.
The kiss they’d shared last night had been a game changer. This one sealed their fate.
* * *
Gavin knew at that moment that kissing her would never be enough. What he really wanted to do was sweep her off her feet, open the damn door and head straight to the bedroom. But he couldn’t do that.
He wanted her to admit how much she wanted him, too. He’d give her time; he’d remember their deal. The one he had initiated. The one he intended to end in his favor. There was no way she would leave the Silver Spurs without them making love.
He finally broke off the kiss. As he drew in a deep breath he watched her draw in one, as well. Studying her mouth, he saw her lips were wet and swollen, and he had to fight back the urge to kiss her again.
“Why did you kiss me?” she asked, touching her finger to her lips.
He smiled, tempted to replace her finger with the tip of his tongue. “For the same reason you let me kiss you. I want you and you want me.”
From the look he saw in her eyes, he knew she was angry. Why? Because he’d stated facts when she preferred hiding behind denials?
“I’m going inside now.”
“I’ll see you in the morning around ten.”
She nodded, then quickly opened the door and went inside. When the door closed behind her, Gavin shoved his hands into the