“Tennessee,” she said.
“Really. I used to live in Tennessee.”
She didn’t believe him, of course. If she’d said Alabama or Texas or Virginia, he’d have told her he used to live there. “Is that so?”
“Yep. Years ago.” J.B. let his gaze travel leisurely from her face to her neck and then let it rest on her large breasts that even the loose-fitting purple blouse couldn’t disguise. “How about a dance?”
“No, thanks.”
“I promise I don’t bite.”
She glared at him suspiciously. He burst into laughter, then slapped the top of the table with his big hand. Donna jumped from the unexpected action. Their gazes met and held for an infinite moment. Her breath caught in her throat.
“What’s the matter, J.B.?” a young cowpoke sitting at the next table called to him. “Don’t tell me you’ve finally met a gal you can’t sweet talk into the sack.”
All the men at the young man’s table exchanged a few crude comments, then laughed heartily. J.B. scowled at the baby-faced cowpoke.
“Maybe you’re not her type.” The man rose from his chair and walked over to Donna’s side. “Is that it, honey bunch? You like your men younger and sweeter than ole’ J.B.? If that’s the case, then I’m your man.”
“Leave the lady alone, Woody,” J.B. warned.
“I ain’t going nowhere until the lady tells me to.” Woody leaned over, right in Donna’s face, and placed a sweaty hand on her shoulder. “Why don’t you join me and my friends? J.B.’s got enough women already. He don’t need one more.”
“Please.” Donna wanted to scream and run away. She’d never been so embarrassed in her life.
“Honey bunch, I’d be more than glad to please you,” Woody said.
Donna looked to Jake for help, her eyes pleading with him. “Please, go away and leave me alone. I—I’m J.B.’s date.”
The moment she spoke the words, she wished them back. Why on earth had she committed herself to J.B.? She could have gotten herself out of this awkward situation some other way.
“You heard the lady,” J.B. said. “She’s mine.”
Woody hesitated for a moment, but when J.B. stood, his big body towering over the smaller man, Woody grinned and stepped away from Donna. “Sure thing. I know better than to try to take something you done put your brand on.”
Woody disappeared. The only thing Donna saw was J.B.’s long, lean legs, his broad shoulders and his smoldering dark eyes devouring her. He held out his hand.
“Let’s dance,” he said.
Reacting purely on feminine instinct, Donna rose, put her hand in his and allowed him to lead her over to the dance floor. The moment he took her into his arms, she knew she was lost. Lost to the most overwhelming sexual attraction she had ever felt in her life. Lost to the seductive look in J.B.’s eyes, the alluring heat of his hard body and the her own long-suppressed desire.
How was it possible that she could want a man she’d met only a few minutes ago? The thought was insane. She was insane! But crazy or not, she wanted J.B. Wanted him in a way she’d never wanted another man. It was as if some wanton woman had taken possession of her body.
He pulled her closer as they began to sway to the music’s beat. His hold was undemanding and yet undeniably possessive. She didn’t resist when he cupped her hip in one hand and slipped the fingers of his other hand around her neck.
“Lady, you’re the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.” He mouthed the low, breathy words against her ear.
She knew she was attractive, but she’d never thought of herself as sexy. Feminine, yes. Sexy, no. Big breasts alone didn’t make a woman sexy, especially if she avoided displaying that particular asset to full advantage. She was a lady, and ladies weren’t supposed to be sexy. Most of the men she’d dated since Edward’s death had considered her an ice queen. A few had even told her she was frigid.
“J.B., I—I don’t... I’ve never.. ”
He lowered his head. She saw his mouth coming toward hers and knew what he was going to do. She could have stopped him. But she didn’t.
He kissed her. Hard and hot and hungry. Skyrockets exploded inside her. Everything female about her reacted to all that was so very male about him.
This couldn’t be happening. Not to her. Not to Donna Deirdre Fields. She’d never been publicly affectionate with a man. She had always considered public displays of emotion quite vulgar. But here she was, kissing a stranger, in a seedy bar, in a one-horse town, in the wilds of New Mexico. And she was enjoying it. No. More than enjoying. She was loving it.
He ended the kiss abruptly. She gazed up at him, knowing full well he could see the desire in her eyes. “We’d better stop, unless we want to put on a real show for the folks.”
She nodded, then when he urged her head down onto his chest, she complied and cuddled against him. While their intimately entwined bodies moved slowly in a sensual dance, Donna listened to the thundering beat of J.B.’s heart.
One song ended and another began. Time stood still. She wasn’t sure how long they danced. Had no idea what time it was. Didn’t even know exactly when Joanie and Big John had left the dance floor, ordered steaks and eaten dinner. Everything and everyone outside the realm of J.B.’s embrace disappeared.
“I want you, sugar,” he whispered. “I want you bad.”
“I know.” She felt his large, pulsating sex against her body as they danced.
“I’m staying in town for the weekend.” He pressed his shaft against her mound. “I’ve got a room over at the Crescent Motel. Stay with me tonight.”
“I—” It had been on the tip of her tongue to say no. To tell him that she wasn’t the kind of woman who would spend a night at a motel with a man she barely knew. “It would be just for the night. After that, we’ll never see each other again. Do you understand?”
“Just sex, sugar, that’s all I want. Isn’t that all you want?” He caressed her buttock, then cupped it.
Moisture flooded her body in preparation. She’d never ached so badly to have a man inside her. This hunger was unlike anything she’d ever known. “Yes, sex is all I want.”
“Then let’s go.” He stopped, grabbed her hand and led her off the dance floor. “We need to tell your friend you’re leaving with me.”
They paused momentarily at Joanie and Big John’s table. The couple glanced up and smiled.
“We’re heading out,” J.B. said.
“Joanie, I, er, I’ll see you in the morning.”
Joanie’s big blue eyes rounded into surprised saucers. “Oh! Uh... Yeah. Sure.” Joanie smiled. “Have a good time.”
In that one split second, Donna almost backed out. Almost. She knew what she was doing was crazy. The craziest thing she’d ever done in her life. But something inside her urged her on, encouraging her to sample forbidden fruit. To take a wild ride on an untamed stallion.
One
The baby in her arms whimpered. Donna lifted Susan and Hank’s son to her shoulder and crooned comforting, nonsensical words into the infant’s ear. Sighing, she stretched her back, which ached unbearably. A symptom of late pregnancy and the fact that she had been on her feet too long today. But this was such a special event. A wedding. Susan Williams, one of her best friends, had married