“The kind who needs stability. You deserve someone who wants to become a permanent part of your life, and I’m not that guy.”
“Luke, I don’t know what my life is going to be yet. You made me do some serious thinking today. I was shocked by your assumption that I’d want a fling, but—”
“I know you were, and I feel pretty rotten about that.”
“Yes, but you see, when it comes right down to it…” She placed both hands on his chest so she could feel his heart beating and know for sure that it was racing as fast as hers. This wasn’t a cold, calculated decision, after all. It was being made in the heat of the moment, and she was ready to dive headfirst into the flames.
She looked into his beautiful eyes. “I do want a fling with you, Luke.” Heat sizzled through her as she plunged into the fire. “In fact, I can’t think of anything I want more.”
LUKE WAS SUDDENLY so short of breath that he was a little scared he might black out. That wouldn’t be cool in front of this woman who’d said she wanted to have sex with him. But he couldn’t kiss her until he stopped struggling to fill his lungs with air.
The corners of her beautiful mouth tipped up. “Apparently you didn’t expect me to say that.”
“No.” He dragged in a breath. “That’s a fact. I definitely did not.”
“I’ve never had this kind of effect on a man before.” She gazed up at him as amusement turned to concern. “Are you going to be all right?”
“I’m going to be terrific.” There. That statement sounded normal. Finally trusting himself to wrap her in his arms, he nudged his hat back with his thumb and pulled her close. Damn, that felt good. “We’re going to be terrific.”
“I’ll have to leave that up to you.” Her eyes caught the sparkle from the bar’s neon bucking bronco. “If you’ve spent your adult life playing the field, then I guarantee you have more experience than I do.”
“Maybe.” He aligned his body with hers. They fit so perfectly it was a little scary for a guy who didn’t believe in perfect fits. But he’d figured that she’d be soft and pliable, warm and willing. His cock responded quickly. He’d have to remember they were standing on the corner of the town’s only intersection. “But I can recognize natural talent when I see it.”
Her smile widened. “You think I have a natural talent for sex?”
“I know you do, at least for kissing, which usually tells me a lot about a woman.” Keeping one arm firmly around her narrow waist, he slid his free hand up through her silky blond hair. No ponytail tonight.
“We only kissed once.”
“True.” He cradled the back of her head. “I should gather more information before I come to any firm conclusions.”
She rocked against him. “Feels like you’ve already come to a very firm conclusion.”
“See, that’s what I’m talking about.” Cupping her bottom, he snuggled her in tight. “A natural talent. And, lady, sassy comments and sexy moves like that will get you anything you want from me.”
“Anything?”
“Sky’s the limit.” He lowered his head and brushed his mouth over hers. So delicious. But he dared not get involved in the kind of kiss he wanted, the kind that would make him forget where he was.
She clutched his shoulders and joined in his little game of butterfly kisses. “I’ve already told you what I want.”
“In general terms, yes.” The feathery touch of her lips could drive him crazy if it went on too long without some way to release the tension. “But we have to work out the details.”
“We can’t do anything here.”
He chuckled. “No, obviously not.” Although with the blood pumping hot in his veins, he’d already fantasized about coaxing her into the shadows behind the building. “We’re standing in front of the most popular spot in town.”
“I mean not here, as in not in Shoshone.”
He nibbled her full lower lip. “You want to drive to Jackson?” He hoped not. He wouldn’t be able to swing very many trips to Jackson and still handle his assigned work on the ranch. But with a hot woman in his arms, he was ready to do whatever it took to have her.
“No, nothing that drastic.” She placed tiny kisses at the corners of his mouth. “I was referring to my campsite as being the most discreet choice.”
“It’s perfect, except you’re not there.” And he wanted her now, tonight. Moments ago he’d given up all hope of a relationship, but her unexpected decision and these flirty kisses had flipped the switch on his libido and destroyed his patience. He outlined her mouth with the tip of his tongue.
Her breathing had changed, signaling that she was getting as worked up as he was. “I will be there.”
“When?” His fingers flexed against her bottom.
“Tomorrow.”
He groaned. “That’s forever.”
“I can’t hike out there in the dark.”
“I know. But I—whoops, somebody’s coming.” He released her and stepped back. With luck, whoever it was would simply call a greeting and pass on by. Then he glanced over and realized that wasn’t going to happen. Thank God for the shadows that should keep his aroused condition from being too obvious.
Emmett walked toward them. “Hi there, Naomi.” He touched the brim of his hat. “Nice to see you.”
“Hi, Emmett. It’s good to see you, too. You don’t usually come into town midweek.”
“I wanted to treat Luke. He showed up in the nick of time and put on a roping demonstration that saved what was fast becoming a disaster.”
“Ah, you would have worked it out.” Luke pulled the brim of his hat back down and hoped Emmett hadn’t noticed how he’d shoved it back, which was typical for a cowboy who’d been kissing a woman.
“I’m not so sure.” Emmett glanced at Naomi. “Take my word for it. We had a snarled-up mess, but five minutes after Luke showed up and started twirling a rope, the kids were mesmerized. They hadn’t seen the possibilities of roping until then. Pete and I aren’t that fancy. This boy has hidden talents.”
“Talent, singular,” Luke said. “Trick roping. That’s my only hidden talent.”
Naomi glanced at him. “Oh, I doubt that.”
“Anyway,” Emmett said. “I didn’t mean to break up your conversation, Luke, but your food’s getting cold. Naomi, why don’t you join us? We have an extra chair. Have you had dinner?”
“Yes, thanks. I ate at the diner before I came over. But I don’t want to keep you two from your meal. Let’s go in.”
“Excellent. You can fill me in on how the eagle project’s going.”
“I’d love to. That platform you and Jack built is working out beautifully.”
Luke followed them in. As Emmett asked more questions about the eagles, Luke quietly ground a centimeter off his back molars. He hadn’t been sure when Emmett first showed up, but he was now. The foreman was deliberately interfering in what he saw as a problem situation between Luke and Naomi.
No doubt Emmett saw Luke as the aggressor and Naomi as the sweet local girl about to be seduced by a guy who would leave her in the lurch. It wasn’t like that, of course.