A temporary tryst with a sexy Texan...no problem, right? Only from USA TODAY bestselling author Charlene Sands.

All it takes is a daring out-of-character ride on a mechanical bull to send Erin Sinclair straight into the arms of one fine-looking cowboy. With Royal, Texas, on edge over the criminal targeting their secrets, she needs to blow off steam.

Dan Hunt is happy to give the ex-nanny the time of her life, but the rich rancher insists he doesn’t do relationships. With Erin leaving Royal in a matter of weeks, why not have a no-strings affair? Even if it feels like it could be the commitment of a lifetime...

The thought of never taking a risk was messing with her head.

With the last sip of her margarita, she spotted a tall, gorgeous beast of a man. He was six foot two if he was an inch, all packed nicely into cowboy duds, boots and hat.

Maybe exactly what she needed was to bring one of these hunky cowboys home tonight. Preferably, that handsome beast making direct eye contact with her.

His incredible eyes never wavered. They stayed on her. And she returned his scrutiny, finding not a flaw on the sharp angles of his face, the set of his chiseled jaw or the deep ocean blue of his eyes.

He made her breath catch. He made her hot.

The silent communication between them was ready to combust.

* * *

The Texan Takes a Wife is part of the series Texas Cattleman’s Club: Blackmail—No secret— or heart—is safe in Royal, Texas…

The Texan Takes a Wife

Charlene Sands

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CHARLENE SANDS is a USA TODAY bestselling author of more than forty romance novels. She writes sensual contemporary romances and stories of the Old West. When not writing, Charlene enjoys sunny Pacific beaches, great coffee, reading books from her favorite authors and spending time with her family. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter, write her at PO Box 4883, West Hills, CA 91308, USA, or sign up for her newsletter for fun blogs and ongoing contests at www.charlenesands.com.

This story is dedicated to the little munchkins in my life who make every holiday wonderful and exciting.

With love to my special girls—Everley, Kyra, Madyson and Lila Dawn.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Extract

Extract

Copyright

One

Some of her friends had bucket lists, things they wanted to do before they kicked it, but Erin Sinclair had a list of Never Do’s and riding a mechanical bull in an arena of highly capable-to-the-bone Texans was one of them. The legless, leather-clad metal bull scared her silly as it jerked around, keeping only the most proficient on its back.

Yet as she sipped her second Cadillac margarita in the Dark Horse Saloon outside the Royal city limits the thought of never doing it, never taking a risk, was messing with her head.

She’d broken from the pack of women she’d come here with, half a dozen welcoming ladies from the Texas Cattleman’s Club who’d befriended her and invited her to a birthday party at the Dark Horse. Now the party was over and all of those women had gone home to their boyfriends or husbands. Erin had neither. It was November and she’d be heading back to her hometown in Seattle the first of the year, without having done anything Texan, anything remotely wild.

“Ready for another, blondie?” the bartender asked, his gaze on the near-empty glass in her hand, yet it was the dubious look in his eyes that brought her five-foot-four frame to attention. “Or maybe you’ve had enough?”

“I haven’t had nearly enough,” she said. “One more.” She offered him a sweet smile. “Thank you.”

The bartender walked away shaking his head and she focused back on the bull that seemed to be calling to her. Was she being an idiot, or was that bull looking straight at her, tempting her to take a chance, teasing her with his grotesque fake horns to come get him?

With the last sip of her margarita at her lips, she spotted a tall, gorgeous beast of a man. He was six foot two if he was an inch, all packed nicely into cowboy duds, boots and hat, his shoulders wide enough to carry that longhorn over his shoulders without breaking a sweat.

Speaking of Never Do’s: in all her twenty-six years, she’d never done a Texan before. She burst into a fit of giggles. Good thing no one around her noticed or she’d really look like an idiot. But the sad fact was, there were also forty-eight other states’ worth of men she hadn’t been with. Her home state of Washington housed her ex, Rex Talbot. Now, he was a piece of work. And she was glad she was staying in Royal, Texas, at least for the holidays. Rex had nearly ruined her reputation in Seattle, but she wasn’t going to dwell. Not tonight.

Maybe exactly what she needed was to bring one of these hunky cowboys home tonight. Preferably, that chunk of handsome beast making direct eye contact with her. He had perfected the art of smolder, had it down to a science and she was loving all the attention and the fact that he’d picked her out of a sea of stunning women.

His incredible eyes never wavered. They stayed on her. And she returned his scrutiny, finding not a flaw on the sharp angle of his face, the set of his chiseled jaw or the deep ocean blue of his eyes.

He made her breath catch. He made her yearn. He made her hot. The silent communication between them was ready to combust.

Sheesh, maybe she shouldn’t have another margarita. She was really thinking outside the box tonight. She turned to the bartender to tell him to forget that last one. She didn’t need it.

And when she turned back around, ready for another round of eye contact with her handsome broad-shouldered Texan, he had disappeared. She searched for him, desperate to find him, scanning the entire saloon with eyes peeled, but it was no use. She’d lost him in the swarm of the crowd. He may have gotten bored and left the saloon.

Disappointed, her stomach clenched. Story of her life.

So much for taking a risk.

But then, there was always the mechanical bull.

Yes, that’s exactly what she’d do. She’d ride the darn thing. Why not? She needed one lasting memory to take back with her to Seattle. One thing she could say she’d conquered while in Texas. The ex-nanny, a woman who also knew her way around a music room filled with children, might just need this bit of excitement to cling to once she left the lone star state.

Ha!

And suddenly, that bull didn’t look so intimidating anymore. Suddenly, the challenge bolstered her courage. She could do this. She could ride that silly-looking contraption. And her bravado didn’t waver while she stood in line to take her turn. It didn’t waver when one rider after another eventually got tossed off. Just a few seconds, was all she was asking. Five. Five seconds on that bull, and she’d be satisfied, and thrilled and proud.

“You can do this,” she muttered under her breath.

And when it was her turn, the arena host whose booming voice rose above the patrons of the saloon announced, “This little lady is Erin from Seattle, and she’s gonna give Destroyer a go.”

She gulped and a crewman helped her up onto the leather back of the bull. “We’ll take it slow,” he said. “Use your thighs as a grip and try to keep yourself centered as the bull begins to move.”

Once he moved back, she took a big breath and nodded to the crewman to start up the robot.

And the bull began to jerk.

* * *

Erin looked up into the dazzling blue eyes of the beast. He was kneeling over her, staring at her face, a frown pulling his very kissable mouth down. Had she slept through her very best fantasy? What was going on? She moved and the cushioned padding at her back rebelled with a squeak. “What the...”

“You took a fall,” he said in a deep baritone voice. With a nod of his head, he gestured to the metal bull.

She realized where she was instantly. And that the crowd circling the arena was watching her. “How long did I ride?”

That brought a smile to his lips. Oh, and it was a killer. “About three seconds.”

She grimaced.

“Your head?” he asked.

When a crewman approached, the beast gave him a glare that would have sent the Hulk cowering away.

“I feel fine,” she answered. She did. She’d been tossed off the bull and landed hard on the padding, but nothing hurt, nothing seemed fuzzy. Anymore.

Except that her handsome beast was at her side, helping her to her feet. She was met with a round of applause and cheers. She chuckled out of sheer embarrassment and then her body tilted, swaying sideways and everybody else seemed to be leaning. “Uh-oh.”

“I’ve got ya,” he said, catching her before she lost her balance and lifting her into his arms. “You need air.”

She stared up at him again, amazed at his strength. From this angle, he was even more appealing. His size, the sexy base of his throat, the scruff on his face and those blue eyes, locked him into a category all his own. He carried her as if she was a handful of marshmallows, instead of a twenty-six-year-old woman. And before they got too far, she pointed toward the bar. “My purse.”

He nodded and changed directions, carrying her over to swoop up her purse off the bar stool with the grace of a panther. He glanced down for a second. “I’m Dan.”

She smiled. What an odd way to meet. But she was not complaining. “I’m Erin. Nice to meet you.”

He grunted a reply.

The contrast of the dimly lit smoke-filled noisy saloon to the cool crisp fall Texas air outside helped to wake her up out of this steamy sort of dream she was in. She didn’t want Dan to put her down, but it was awkward and she didn’t know where to put her arms, so she’d looped them around his neck. Now that they were outside, touched by moonlight and facing the parking lot where it was quieter, the reality of the situation was starting to dawn on her. “I, uh, I’m fine now,” she said. “You can put me down.”

He gave her another glance, nodded and then took great care to allow her to slide down his body. For safety’s sake, she assumed, but oh, the brush of his body with hers sent all the right signals and she shivered.

“Cold?” he asked.

“No,” she answered. “I’m, uh, this is silly. I hardly know you, but...”

She couldn’t finish her thought. Was she about to tell this gorgeous cowboy that just a brush of his body to hers made her tingle from head to toe? No, she couldn’t do that.

“Got it,” he said, and without any discussion at all, he seemed to know. Oh God. How embarrassing. Did women fall at his feet like this all the time?

“So why the bull?” he asked.

“Because it was there,” she answered immediately.

His brows furrowed. He didn’t get her little joke.

She tried to explain, “It’s just that, I’m from Seattle, staying in Texas for the holidays and I wanted to do something Texan. You know,” she added quickly, remembering her thought a while ago about doing him. “I mean we don’t have a lot of mechanical bulls in Washington.”

“I don’t suppose.” Still, the furrow.

“And I... Well, you see my nanny job brought me here. And then a few friends I’d made invited me to a birthday party tonight at the Dark Horse, so I tagged along with them, but they all went home, and I wanted...”

He was a good listener, but he wasn’t adding much to the conversation. And she wasn’t going to babble on anymore. “Never mind.”

Talk about the strong silent type. He was that and so much more.

“You sober enough to drive home?” he asked.

“Oh, uh, yes. I stopped drinking a while ago. I’m feeling fine now, aside from the humiliation.”

He stared at her for what seemed like a minute, his eyes flickering over her mouth and in that heated moment, she wanted nothing more but to lock lips with him, to taste his whisky breath and feel the absolute thrill of kissing him. Almost as if he heard her thoughts, his mouth cocked up and he drew a long breath.

And then he said, “I’ll walk you to your car.”

Disappointment that the stranger who’d just rescued her didn’t want to kiss her into oblivion, she said, “Okay.”

In a few minutes she’d be headed back to her guest cabin at the Flying E, with no job, no prospects, and trying to find a productive way to spend the next month or so. Her job being little Faye’s nanny had ended when her employer Will Brady had found love here in Texas. And apparently, scandal-plagued grade school music teachers were not in hot demand, apparently in Seattle or anywhere else for that matter.

She pointed to her car. “It’s just over there.”

She could dream of a goodbye kiss from the stranger. Or she could give him one herself. It was risky, but she was warming to the idea. Executing it would be a different—

A car came to a screeching halt, right in front of them on the street. Then a loud yelp rang out and something hit the pavement with a thud. And a dog began to whimper. The sound of his pained cries curled her stomach and she glanced at Dan. He didn’t waste a second. He grabbed her hand and took off running toward the downed animal. The car sped off, the driver not even giving the poor animal a glance. Dan was at the dog’s side immediately, kneeling beside him, cradling his head. “You’ll be alright, boy,” he said, whispering confidently near the dog’s face as he began a thorough scan over his body. His big hands were gentle as he probed. He found a few gashes on the dog’s backside where blood was beginning to pool. “You need some patching up, is all.”

“Are you a vet?” she asked, noting the care he took with the animal.

“No, but he needs one. He’s scared, probably in shock. That A-hole just drove off after hitting him.”

Erin couldn’t believe it, either. It was heartless and cold. She wished she could’ve gotten a look at the license plate.

The dog looked to be a mix of collie and German shepherd with big round brown eyes. He watched Dan carefully, giving him blind trust. “Will you stay with him?” Dan asked, sparing her a brief glance. “I have a blanket in my car.”

“Sure, of course.”

Dan rose and Erin took over his position. “You’re gonna be just fine, pretty boy,” she said, carefully stroking the dog just above the eyes. She made massage circles and the dog’s whimpers stopped as his eyes drifted closed. He wore no collar and there was no way to contact his owner, if he even had one. Why had he been wandering out so late at night?

“That’s it, boy. Rest. We’re going to get you all fixed up.”

Dan was back in an instant, and immediately tucked the blanket under the dog, careful not to cause him injury. The blanket was thick enough to absorb the little bit of blood at the wound site. “Bleeding isn’t too bad.”

“That’s good, right?”

He nodded.

“What can I do to help?”

“You mind watching him in the backseat of my SUV? My vet is gonna meet me at my house. It’s closer than his office.”

“Sure,” she said, stroking the dog’s golden coat gently. “Of course I will.”

And once Dan got her situated in the backseat of his car, the big blanketed dog scooted next to her and planted his sweet mug on her lap. Thatta boy. She smiled and continued to massage the dog’s head, just over the eyes and occasionally stroking over his ears.

Dan didn’t say much as he drove, but he kept glancing in the rearview mirror to see how the dog was doing. She was touched by his concern, the kindness in his eyes.

“Pretty nice vet to come out in the middle of the night for this sweet guy,” she said.

Dan nodded, and she didn’t think he’d say anything but seconds later, he admitted, “I do business with him at my ranch. He’s a neighbor.”

So Dan really was a cowboy. “Is it far?”

“Five more minutes.”

And a short time later, Dan pulled into one of the garages of a beautifully appointed two-story estate. It was dark; she couldn’t see more than what the ground lights surrounding the property gave away, but her instincts told her this ranch was massive and successful.

“I’ll set up a bed in the kitchen and then come get him,” Dan said.

Lights flicked on in the garage as he entered his home and Erin waited patiently. The dog was breathing heavily, but other than that, his whimpers from earlier were all gone. Thank goodness. Erin had never owned a dog, but back in her college days she used to walk dogs to pick up extra spending cash, and she’d grown fond of the species, even as she was also picking up their poop. She was sure this big guy would’ve stolen her heart too. He had those kind of eyes that seemed to touch her deep inside.

Once Dan came back, he removed the dog from the backseat, lifting him with as much care as he’d lifted her from the mat after her mechanical bull fiasco. Erin followed him inside to a kitchen a chef would envy. Despite the ivory cabinets, black granite countertops trailing with gold vein, contemporary appliances and stone fireplace, the room looked cozy and lived-in.

Dan set the dog down and stroked him lovingly a few times. Then he grabbed a towel he’d soaked with warm water and began dabbing at the animal’s wounds.

“You came up with that bed really fast,” she said, kneeling beside Dan, curious about this man. “I’m impressed.”

He shrugged. “I sorta rescue animals.”

“You do?”

“Not deliberately.”

“How does that work?”

“If strays come by, they end up staying. One I found stranded by the side of the road, another was left behind after the family moved out of Texas. The cats are all freeloaders. They kept coming around searching for food and I fed them.”

“How many pets do you have?”

“Four dogs, three cats, a string of horses.”

“Is this a horse farm?”

He shook his head. “Cattle ranch.”

“Lots and lots of cattle, I assume.”

His lips quirked up a bit. “Something like that.”

Erin could easily imagine Dan surrounded by animals. He was one of those men that appeared tough on the outside, but she didn’t doubt he was a total softie on the inside. When the dog was hit, Dan went into action mode, seeing to the injured animal’s needs immediately.

Sort of like how he’d come to her rescue with the bull.

A few minutes later, Dan’s neighbor, a man he introduced as Doug Bristol, walked into the kitchen armed with his medical bag. He quickly went to work on the dog, giving him a thorough visual examination along with poking and prodding him gently in a few places. “He’s lucky,” he said after his exam. “He got pretty banged up, but nothing seems broken.”

They watched the vet administer pain meds to the dog and then bandage his wounds. When he’d done all he could for him, Dr. Bristol told Dan to bring him by his office in the morning. “I want to examine him again. What’s his name?”

Dan shrugged, then said, “How about we call him Lucky?”

Dan gave his neighbor a nod. “Lucky.”

“Okay, I’ll see Lucky, then, tomorrow. Nice to meet you, Erin.”

“Thanks for stopping by, Doc,” Dan said, and the two men shook hands.

After seeing his neighbor to the door, Dan walked back into the kitchen and there was stony silence. Now that the dog was sleeping and seemed fine, there was no reason for her stay any longer. Awkward moments passed as both of them stared at each other. “I should go,” she whispered. “You managed two rescues in one night. You must be tired.”

“Not tired, are you?”

She shook her head. She couldn’t believe how easily she’d done that, knowing full well if she’d said she was tired, Dan would’ve driven her back to the Dark Horse to pick up her car. “No, I’m not tired. Kinda keyed up after what happened tonight.”

Perhaps admitting that to Dan was the riskiest thing she’d done all night.

“Yeah, me too. Cup of coffee? Something stronger?”

No more alcohol for her tonight. She wasn’t quite sure if it was the mechanical bull or the two Cadillac margaritas she’d had earlier that landed her flat on her ass at the saloon. “Coffee sounds perfect.”

And the man of few words set about making coffee.

* * *

Erin sipped Dan’s coffee and nibbled on a warm giant chocolate-chip cookie oozing with melted chocolate. Warming the cookies before gobbling them down was her mother’s trick, and tonight Erin put it to the test. A few seconds in the microwave made even a stale cookie speak to the senses.

“Aren’t they good warm?” Erin asked Dan.

He nodded. “Good.”

Instead of Gorgeous Beast, maybe she should call him Caveman. The man seemed to have perfected the art of grunting, nodding and giving one-word answers. But his eyes spoke volumes and right now she was the object of his intense smolder. Not that she was complaining. He was almost as delicious as the cookie that was coating the interior of her mouth with chocolate goodness.

“So how long have you lived here?”

“In Texas? All my life,” he said.

“I’m from Seattle.”

He sipped coffee. “So you said.”

“I did? When?”

“After the bull tossed you off.”

“Oh yeah. That bull thing was a dumb idea.”

He nodded, a smile lifting the corners of his mouth. “Kinda courageous.”

“Really?” She perked up. Had he just complimented her?

“But not real smart.” He tossed the last of his cookie in his mouth.

She rolled her eyes and he laughed, a big hearty he-man sound that did things to her sanity. “I really should go. Would you mind calling me a cab?”

He stood. “I’ll drive you.”

“But you shouldn’t leave Lucky alone.”

Dan gave the sleeping dog a glance. “He’s getting the rest he needs. I doubt he’ll wake up before morning.”

But she suspected it was more than that. Dan was the kind of Texan bred with incredible manners and he wasn’t about to send her off alone in the dead of night. He’d see her safely back to her car. “Only if you’re sure.”

“I’m not sure I want you to leave,” he said quite candidly. “But I am sure about driving you.”

Wow. Not only did he surprise her by speaking in full sentences, but he admitted he wanted her to stay longer. “Thank you. I’ll take you up on that ride.”

Dan nodded, appearing neither relieved nor disappointed.

She really wanted to stay, but her risk-taking skills were momentarily disabled. “You know, I don’t think I ever thanked you for saving my pride and my hide this evening. It was really kind of you.” She reached up and planted a kiss to his scruffy, super sexy cheek.

Just as she was backing away, a strong arm wrapped about her waist, drawing her against the wall of his chest. He was massive, in a very good sort of way, and an image of him shirtless muscled its way into her head.

“I need to thank you too,” he said.

“For?” Trapped against him, her breath hitched. This was different from before when he’d carried her out of the Dark Horse Saloon. This was more intimate. They were alone in Dan’s big ranch house. Two consenting adults.

“Helping with Lucky.” Using his thumb, he tilted her chin up until she met his striking blue eyes. Oh boy. He was going to kiss her and she gave him a nonverbal okay. He took his time, inching closer to her mouth. And he was taking forever. The anticipation was killing her.

Then his mouth came down on hers and her lids lowered. She fell into the delicious, fiery, heaven-help-her, hot, hot kiss. The taste of chocolate and coffee mixed with sheer raw passion. Having his lips on hers blew her away. It was like a force of nature, something powerful and inspiring. She roped her arms around his neck and he circled her waist, connecting them, freeing them to continue whatever this was.

Dan’s mouth became more demanding and little throaty sounds pressed from her lips as she indulged. Their tongues mated and Dan let out a grunt of approval that made her smile inside. Her hands threaded through his dark blond hair, the strands curling up at the collar of his shirt. She stood incredibly close to his rock hard body and it was difficult not to notice the state of his arousal. She found herself in the same situation—wanting.

Wanting to stay.

Wanting more time with him.

Wanting to take a risk with this tall Texan.

And just as those thoughts were cementing in her head, Dan ended the kiss and backed away. “Sorry.” He shrugged. “I got carried away.”

She smiled, missing his lips on her, missing his warmth and heat. “That’s my line. I got carried away. By you, back at the saloon.”

“I didn’t plan on bringing you here.”

“I know. It was just Lucky, I guess.” She giggled at her own joke and even the big man smiled.

“You think so?” He pulled her back into his arms. “’Cause I was feelin’ lucky just a minute ago.”

She stared at his mouth. “It’s been a long time since I felt this lucky,” she said softly. He furrowed his brows again, something he did often. She found that trait incredibly appealing.

“Same here, Erin. Will you stay the night?”

She nodded, murmuring a soft, “Yes.”

Then without another word, Dan took her shaky hand and led her out of the kitchen.

* * *

He liked Erin. If he was being honest, probably too damn much, and it had been a long while since he met a woman who sparked his interest. He’d spotted her at the Dark Horse, and almost instantly there was a connection. And also almost instantly, he knew she didn’t belong in the saloon. When she’d climbed up on that mechanical bull, he figured she was in for the ride of her life. For a few seconds, that is. But as soon as the bull tossed her off, he’d come running to her rescue, shielding her embarrassment, making eye contact with the crowd, daring anyone to laugh as he carried her off.

What was it about him? He rescued animals and damsels in distress, or so it seemed. Bringing her to his cattle ranch at Hunt Acres had never been his plan, but then the dog was hit by a car and all of a sudden, they were here together in the middle of the night and now she was on his bed, reaching for him.

It was damn hard to think straight or at all.

He lowered onto the bed, taking her into his arms and kissed her again, careful not to crush her small frame. She was sweet and sexy and willing. Was he the risk she’d decided to take tonight too? He had to make certain this was what she wanted, had to give her a way out. “Are you sure, Erin?”

Her pretty blue-green eyes darkened. It was heady stuff seeing her nod and murmur, “Yes, I’m sure.” Then she chewed her lower lip and added, “Aren’t you?”

Her question caught him off guard. He nearly laughed, but held back. Didn’t she know how much he wanted this? He’d picked her out of a crowd at the Dark Horse, hadn’t been able to take his eyes off the sweet blonde in tight jeans and a gold blouse the exact shade of her pretty hair. A woman who’d appeared completely out of her element. She’d intrigued him from the get-go.

Now she was in his bed. “Absolutely.”

Relieved, her expression softened.

“You didn’t really doubt that, did you?”

She smiled, a stunner that made his body go completely rigid. He was through talking and ready to give Erin a much better ride than she’d had on that bull.

* * *

Erin was taking a risk, making a memory she’d bring back to Seattle when her time in Texas was up. She wasn’t going to dwell. She wasn’t going to admonish herself. She was all in. Dan’s size thrilled her. He towered over her, all brawn and muscle, solid and sure, yet his touch was tender. She placed incredible trust in this man already. She loved his hands on her, his fingertips caressing her face as he kissed her. She responded to him carnally, soft murmurs of approval and pleasure parting her lips.

Dan kissed a path down her throat, his hot breath searing the slope of her breasts. In just a second, he had her blouse unbuttoned and his mouth moved over her, teasing her nipples to rosy points. She moaned, relishing the laps of his tongue on her skin. Her bra disappeared magically, Dan’s talent making her head spin. She loved this feeling of being loose, unbridled and unaware of anything but the man spreading heat and excitement through her body.

Her zipper was down, her jeans pulled off and Dan was there, cupping her panties in his large palm. The warmth seared through her, the pressure unbelievably perfect. He lay beside her on the bed, making her dreams come true. And just then, she stopped, a coherent thought pressing through the pleasure. His shirt was still on. He was fully clothed and that just wasn’t fair. She needed to touch him, to make him lose all thought the way he was doing to her. She needed her hands on him and pulled at the snaps of his shirt. They opened easily, and with his help wrestled him out of his shirt.

Oh wow. His shoulders, squared and broad, were massive in size. There was just so much of him to touch and she didn’t hesitate. She laid her palms on him and his eyes shuttered closed. “Sweetness,” he rasped.

She explored eagerly, sinking her hands over his taut muscles, the ripped cords of his skin and lower still until she met with the fine hairs below his torso.

His erection pulsed against her.

“Dan,” she murmured, and pressed over the bulge.

“Hang on, woman.” He gritted.

Instantly, she was on her back again, his one hand tying her wrists above her head, while the other worked her panties down her legs. When he touched her folds, her eyes squeezed shut and her hips arched. The strokes of his fingers were like music, each one bringing her to sighs and moans and desperate whimpers. He played her sweetly and then the strokes came stronger, harder and her breaths hitched higher and higher.

She was ready. So ready.

She cried out, her release overpowering. And Dan was there, kissing her, stroking her hair and making it all so much better. She came down slowly and dared to look in his eyes.

They were dazzling, gleaming and hungry.

“That was a beautiful thing,” he whispered.

She had to agree.

She’d poked the bear and he wouldn’t be denied.

Thank goodness.

He kicked off his boots and she reached for his belt buckle. He was all too willing to help her divest him of his clothes.

Naked now, Dan’s raw power excited her all over again. His beauty lay in his solid strength, his massive frame, the tenderness in how he made love and as she gazed below his waist for the first time, she took a big gulp of air.

Dan caught her eyeing him and concern wrinkled the corners of his eyes. He said so much in his expression and she heard him loud and clear in the nonverbal way he seemed to like to communicate. Relieving him of any worry, she rained kisses on him again and tucked her body under him.

Her explanation went a long way in making him understand and he wasted no time in searching through his jeans to pluck out a condom. Then he rose onto his knees, this beautiful man towering above her and the image seared her brain, not to ever be forgotten. Ready now, she pulled him down and dipped her tongue into his mouth. It was heady to be the aggressor, to show him how much she wanted him, to hear him groan and whisper her name.

Dan took over from there and she followed his lead as he feather-touched her breasts until she was ready to scream, nudged her legs apart, grabbed on to her hips and guided himself home.

Two

Erin opened her eyes thirty minutes later and found herself alone in Dan’s king-size bed. Her entire body was one sweetly serene sigh. If only she could bottle that feeling and keep it close, she’d be satisfied forever. It was truly luck and her clumsy attempt at the bull that brought her here, to Dan. She smiled and rolled over and came face-to-face with a gray-and-white fur-ball of fluff. “Hello,” she said to the cat sitting in a regal pose on the nightstand beside the bed. “Who are you?”

The cat blinked several times.

She chuckled. “A big talker, I see. Just like your owner. So where do you suppose he is?”

She didn’t wait for the cat’s reply. She grabbed Dan’s shirt from the floor, laced her arms through the sleeves and fastened a few snaps.

She rose to check out her appearance in the mirror and was happy she didn’t find a bad case of bed head. Considering how often Dan had run his hands through her hair, she took it as a good sign and strode out of the room. As she made her way down the hallway, she was met with a cocker spaniel mix of some sort with short stubby legs who was doing his best to keep up with her. The dog was much too animated for this time of night. As she reached the top of the stairs, she looked into the soulful eyes of a friendly black Lab. Friendly, she assumed, because his tail had started wagging as soon as he spotted her.

“You’re a pretty one,” she said, giving the dog a pat on the head. Then she made her way down the stairs with her entourage following behind.

She entered the kitchen and found Lucky sound asleep on his cozy bed. He was just as they’d left him, dozing calmly, and it did her heart good to see him resting. Then her gaze drifted to the other end of the room, where she noticed Dan by the counter, filling a bowl of fresh water for the dog. His concern for Lucky was touching and incredibly sweet, but nothing, and she meant nothing, compared to how her breath caught at the sight of him.

The dim kitchen light illuminated his very tanned, very bare chest, the dip of his low-slung black jeans and the sharp, almost too rugged planes on his face. Handsome to a fault, she thought. She wrapped her arms around her middle, suddenly a bit shy. “Hi.”

He strode over to her, his eyes narrowed on the shirt she wore that touched her midthigh. His brows lifted in an approving way. “Hi.”

Then his hands came to her waist and he gave a little tug, drawing her closer, and kissed her softly on the lips. Her shyness disappeared and she smiled. “Checking on Lucky?”

“Yep.”

“How’s he doing?”

“Seems fine,” he answered, never taking his eyes off her. “I like you in my shirt.”

“Oh, um, I hope you don’t mind.”

“Hell no, I don’t mind.” He dipped his head to meet her eyes and gave her waist a squeeze. “Everything okay?”

“Mmm, everything’s fine,” she assured him. “I met some of your friends.” She pointed to the two dogs sniffing around Lucky’s bed. The cat began rubbing her cheek up against the edge of the bed tentatively, wary of the sleeping animal she had yet to meet.

“That small cocker spaniel lapping around is Buggy. This big guy is Rio,” and just as he offered that, the black Labrador sat down beside him and nuzzled Dan’s leg.

“What about the cat?” she asked.

“That’d be Juliet.”

“Juliet?”

“Yep, Romeo is probably sawing logs right now with the others.”

“You have quite a family here.”

“I suppose I’m the Pied Piper of stray animals.”

“And of stray women?”

Dan blinked. “No, never have gathered stray women, Erin. I don’t think of you that way.”

She set her palms flat on his chest and his gasp filled the silent room. “I’m very glad about that.”

“Are you?” His eyes flickered and moved over her body lazily, as if physically touching her again, as if thinking of new ways to please her.

Goodness, she was asking for trouble.

He bunched the material of her shirt in his hand and slowly tugged her closer. “I like you touching me,” he rasped, his voice deep and low.

She gulped down a big noisy breath. Her body immediately transformed from sated and relaxed to crazy tingling bouts of tremors. She moved her hands on him, her fingertips grazing over his pecs, and her breathing sped up.

He let her shirt drop and reached up to cup her face in his hands, his eyes two dark pools of deep blue. “You want this?”

He didn’t have to say it, again. She knew what he was asking. “Yes. I want you. Do y—”

“Just for the record, sweetness,” he interrupted. “The answer is hell yes.”

She barely had time to smile before his mouth came down on hers and she was being lifted off her feet, his big hands holding her cheeks from behind. Automatically her legs came around his waist and she clung on to him. Her core pressed against the rigid length of his erection. The impact had her moaning and Dan too was affected. A guttural groan coming from somewhere deep in his gut, sounded in her ears. They were lost in each other, mouths wet and hot and devouring.

He strode forward until her back was against the wall. “Like this?” he asked.

“I’ve never... Yes.”

He crushed another kiss to her mouth and as soon as she opened to take a much-needed breath, he dipped his tongue inside and a hot spiraling fire erupted, melting her bones. Sensation after sensation ripped through her body. She was so ready for him, she could hardly stand it. It was amazing how much she craved being with Dan. He couldn’t have done anything more, said anything better to her, than he wanted her again and again and again.

An awkward second passed as Dan maneuvered his jeans down and sheathed himself and then, he was nudging her entrance, his large hands driving her body closer, into him, until he was there again. Thrusting into her, silky hot tension grew stronger and stronger. He fit her and she fit him and it was the very best. She matched his pace, absorbing the bulk and feel of him as he gave her his heat.

She opened her eyes to see the gritty determination on his face, the carnal lust that belied his tender lovemaking from before. She relished each move, each explosive thrust of their joining. His hair was slicked back, curling at his nape, his eyes nearly closed, his mouth grinding out curse words she could barely hear, words that normally would shock her, but now only served to heighten her pleasure.

Her body seized tight, sensitized by each potent thrust. Each calculated move shot her closer and closer to the brink. “Dan,” she called out.

“I’m right here, sweetness.” He gritted out the words. “Don’t hold back.”

And it was the pleasured pain in his voice and not the words themselves that caused her to shatter, pulsing out a release so strong her body began to tremble. Dan held her tight and joined her, squeezing out every last ounce of power he possessed.

They stayed joined for a long moment, clinging to each other, holding on to something that would never be equaled. At least it was the case for her.

And finally, once their breathing slowed and their bodies cooled, Dan whispered, “Let’s go to bed.” He kissed her lightly on the mouth and carried her up the stairs.

* * *

Erin woke up before dawn. She’d gotten very little sleep during the night and as the big man beside her rolled over to spoon her, she smiled at his light snoring. She could stay in his arms all day, naked as she was, and drift peacefully in and out of sleep. But she wouldn’t be the woman he couldn’t get rid of in the morning. She knew how these things worked. She’d stay through morning coffee and then take off. Dan obviously had a ranch to run, and she had...well, she didn’t have her job as nanny anymore, since Will Brady had fallen deeply in love and little Faye soon would have a loving stepmother in Amberley Holbrook. She couldn’t fault them their new future.

She’d been hired in Seattle and when Will was summoned to Royal to find Maverick—the creep who’d been harming good upstanding members of the Texas Cattleman’s Club by spreading their secrets and blackmailing them via the internet—Erin had taken the trip with him to help out with Faye. Caring for the baby had been a blessing and being her nanny had helped Erin heal, or at the very least distracted her from the pain of Rex’s betrayal. Sweet, busy little Faye had kept Erin on her toes. In the very best way.

Erin didn’t know too much regarding the facts in the case Will was working on, but this Maverick guy seemed to be wrecking people’s lives. Will’s help here in Texas had been essential.

Her boss had been generous in paying her salary until the end of the year so she could stay on at the guest quarters of the Flying E Ranch until the time she’d have to return to her studio apartment in Seattle. And recently, her thoughtful employer had had a keyboard delivered to the cabin too, so Erin could continue playing music when she felt like it. Up until this point, she hadn’t the heart to play again.

She was hoping the scandal with Rex Talbot that nearly ruined her reputation would’ve blown over by now and she had vowed to never put herself in such a vulnerable position again.

And if that meant saying goodbye this morning to Dan she-didn’t-even-know-his-last-name, she’d do it. If he was interested in her, he’d have to make the first move.

Erin gently unclamped Dan’s arm from about her waist and slowly sat up in bed. Last night, Dan had been adept in popping each of the snaps on the shirt she wore, insisting they both sleep in the buff, promising her he’d keep her warm. She had no doubt he would and sure enough all during the night he’d kept her cradled in the heat of his big beautiful body.

Giving the sleeping man another glance, she sighed and plucked up her clothes from the floor and then tiptoed into the master bathroom to shower.

She was sore in all the right places and the warm spray eased some of the aches. She hadn’t had such a vigorous night of sex in forever. Once she was cleaned up and dressed in her street clothes, she ambled down the hallway with Buggy and another little runt of a dog—this one looked more like a poodle mix than anything else—following behind. She entered the kitchen, finding Lucky awake. She went to him and crouched down. “Hey, boy. How’re you doing this morning?”

The dog’s tail began to wag. Relieved he was looking much better, she stroked his coat a few times and the dog’s wet tongue came out to lap at her hand. Sweet. Lucky was truly lucky he’d been rescued and taken care of by Dan.

After petting the dog, she set about making coffee. She’d watched Dan last night and was pretty sure where to find things in the massive kitchen. Seemed everything about Dan was large. She grinned, thinking oh, how much that really was true.

The dogs huddled around her feet as she measured out the coffee. And when she turned to grab two mugs, she jumped and gasped. A middle-aged woman, dressed in black and wearing a white apron, entered the kitchen.

“Good morning,” the woman said, giving Erin a pleasant smile.

She was obviously Dan’s housekeeper. Oh Lord. Had she been in the house last night? Had she heard them going at it in the kitchen in the middle of the night? Heat rose up Erin’s neck and her cheeks burned. “Hello. I’m, uh, Erin.”

“Erin, glad to meet you. I’m Darla White. What would you like for breakfast? Dan always eats eggs, bacon and toast. If you’d like anything else, I’m happy to make it for you.”

“Oh, no, thanks. Coffee is just fine. I, uh, got it started.”

Mortified, Erin wanted to fall into a sinkhole.

The woman didn’t take exception to her. She went about her business, pulling out frying pans, getting eggs out of the fridge. Was she used to having strange women show up in Dan’s kitchen? Or was she just unusually tactful?

Dan walked into the kitchen then, his hair wet and combed back and the scent of freshly showered man and musky shampoo wafted in the air. He hadn’t bothered to shave and the facial scruff today was darker, more pirate-like, sending chills up and down Erin’s body. “Mornin’,” he said.

Despite the effect he had on her, she wanted to bop him over the head for not warning her that aside from his menagerie, they hadn’t been alone last night.

Dan scoped out the scene and arched a brow at Erin’s state of embarrassment. “Darla, I’d like you to meet, Erin. Erin, this is Darla. She lives in the guesthouse on the property with her husband, Ted. Ted is foreman on the ranch.”

Darla did her best to hide a smile, yet the silent communication going on between the two didn’t fool her. And Dan’s expression was bordering a grin. The rat. He’d known all along what she’d been thinking, but he’d also been quick to relieve her embarrassment.

Erin’s cheeks began to cool as she sat quietly at the kitchen table while the housekeeper served the coffee. Dan walked over to the dog’s bed in the corner of the room, crouched down and gave the animal a once-over. Lucky was already terribly in love. As Dan gave his head a pat, the dog scooted closer, licking Dan’s hand, arm and face. Dan ate it up, displaying a killer smile. “Hey, boy, looks like you filled your belly a bit.”

The water in his bowl was almost gone too. And when Dan straightened his body and stood, Lucky was right there, curling his body around his legs. He shot Erin a quick look. “Excuse me. I’ve got to take him out to deal with nature.”

“Of course.”

Dan walked out the back door leading to a beautifully sculptured garden. Lucky had limped behind him to relieve himself in the tall grass and then follow Dan back inside the house. As he took his seat facing her, Lucky camped out beside Dan at the table. Maybe they should’ve named him Shadow.

Dan seemed totally at ease, while Erin was at a loss, wondering if they should discuss what had happened between them. She didn’t know what to make of a one-night stand. She’d never done anything like this before. The few men she’d been with sexually she’d dated and had a relationship with. She’d never gone home with a guy she’d picked up in a bar.

Well, that wasn’t exactly how it had happened with Dan. There were extenuating circumstances that had brought her to Dan’s ranch. But that didn’t diminish the fact they barely knew anything about each other. They’d had carnal sex last night, and emotions shouldn’t get in the way. But Erin truly liked Dan. Sheesh, after last night, how could she not?

Darla served the food and then disappeared into another room of the house.

“Have some breakfast, Erin,” Dan said. “You should eat.”

“I’m not much of a breakfast person. Coffee and toast is fine.”

She made a production of lathering butter on her toast and then stared at it on her plate. Dan was so not a talker, so where did that leave her? She didn’t want to be the cliché woman clinging to a man. She didn’t want to ask, where did they go from here?

Dan sipped coffee and then cleared his throat. “I’ll drive you to your car after breakfast.”

“That’s not necessary. I called a cab.”

“Already?” He seemed truly surprised.

“Yes, a bit earlier this morning. The ranch is quite a ways out. I figured it might take a while for a taxi to get here.”

Dan pursed his lips and leaned in, bracing his folded arms on the table. “I like you, Erin.”

“I like you too, Dan.”

“I, uh, don’t want to be a jerk about this because last night was incredible, but I don’t do long-term commitments and I don’t think you’re the kind of woman—”

“I get it. You don’t have to say anything more.” Oh man. He was about to hit her with the I’m-not-good-with-relationships speech. She didn’t want to hear it. She knew the drill. But somehow she was gravely hurt and disappointed because, for her, last night had been about more than sex. It had been about relating to another human being. It had been about opening up and, yes, taking a risk. But Dan had laid down the rules. And she wasn’t going to break a one of them. “Last night was amazing but that’s where we’ll leave it. Okay, Dan?”

He blinked a few times. For a second, he seemed uncertain and that was a small triumph.

“Yep,” he said finally.

She took a bite of her toast and prayed the taxi wouldn’t take too long to arrive.

* * *

Dan hated putting Erin in a cab. It seemed so impersonal. So doggone harsh. But she’d insisted and in the end, he’d thought maybe it was better that way. He gave her an awkward kiss and stood on the porch at Hunt Acres, surrounded by Rio, Buggy, Juliet and the rest, watching the yellow car drive off his property.

Once she was gone, he was struck by a deep sense of loss. Had he made a colossal mistake letting her go? Not even asking for her phone number.

“Fool,” he said. She must think him an entitled rich bastard for sending her off that way. Hell, he would agree. Thirty-one years old and he was still pushing people away. Or rather, he pushed women away. He wasn’t one to get caught up in a relationship that would eventually go awry. He liked his life the way it was. Risk-free. With no chance of getting injured. With no chance of being abandoned. Again.

Erin seemed different. Special. She was the first woman in a long time that he’d truly liked. It wasn’t wise liking her so much. Dan was a loner and he wanted to keep his life simple. It was the standard he lived by these days. Don’t get too close, don’t allow anyone in. He kept his scars hidden, where they belonged. His dogs and cats filled the void that could otherwise consume him. And so he’d made up his mind after an incredible night together, that’s where it had to end. He wasn’t going to get involved with her. They’d met by chance, not by design.

Yet the look in her aquamarine eyes as she’d climbed into the back of that taxi popped into his head and hinted at disappointment and regret, hidden by a healthy dose of pride.

Dan strode into his study and sat at his desk. His computer counted some thirty-odd emails for him to go through. Hunt and Company, the family business that supplied beef to restaurants nationwide and ran its own chain of steak houses, chunked out a big portion of his life and he had a heavy workload to get through today. He opened the first email, narrowing his eyes, trying to make heads or tails of the message on the screen. The words didn’t make a lick of sense because his mind was elsewhere.

“Is she gone?” Darla’s voice broke into his scattered thoughts.

Grateful for the intrusion, he mentally thanked her for saving him from twenty-nine more daunting emails. Swiveling around in his chair, he faced his housekeeper. These days, she tended to keep more than his house, and some part of him appreciated that. “Yes. Erin is gone.”

“You didn’t drive her?”

Dan shook his head. “She was stubborn about it.”

“She out-stubborned you?” Her voice reached a pitch of incredibility. It was not a compliment.

A chuckle rose from his throat, but with a hefty dose of guilt too. He hadn’t fought Erin hard enough on that battle. “Yeah, guess so.”

“Too bad. I liked her.”

“You liked her?” Dan’s brows gathered. “Is that some secret woman perception thing? You only just met her, how do you know you liked her?”

“Because, you liked her.” She sighed and gave her head a shake. She was twenty years his senior and at times took to mothering him. “And let’s face it, this house has been lacking female attention for a long time. Erin was very nice. She colored up redder than a greenhouse tomato when I walked into the room. That says something about a gal.”

Dan noticed too and he’d tried to remedy her discomfort. “She helped me with the dog last night.”

“I have no doubt.” His housekeeper’s smile was a little too bright.

“Hey Darla, give a guy a break, okay?”

She laughed. “I’m only saying you’re gonna die an old lonely man if you don’t step up your game.”

“I don’t have game.”

“I’m beginning to think that’s true, Dan. A pity.”

She whirled out of the room as fast as she’d entered, and Dan turned back to his computer and stared at the screen. “Ah, hell.” He was in no mood for work this morning.

He planted his feet, lifted from his seat and left the study, taking Darla White’s words along with him.

* * *

Lucky’s prognosis was good. Doc Bristol’s exam determined the dog had no internal damage and Dan was given a dose of antibiotics to administer for a week. The dog should heal in time, with no residual problems. It was good news and Dan returned to the house by early afternoon.

He set to work in the study, reluctantly getting back to answering emails, checking over his accounts with the Cattleman’s Club to make sure everything was set for the next few months of inventory. His company’s steaks were a big draw at the club.

He forced himself to sit there until his work was done. Well, almost done. By four o’clock, he’d had enough of numbers and computer screens. He was restless, antsy. He didn’t want to get into his head about why that was. He only knew he had to get outside.

The front door slammed shut behind him as he exited the house and fresh brisk November air hit him. He loved the fall, when the summer air cooled and the humidity vanished. Ah, a man could really breathe again. He stood on the veranda of the house, his sanctuary, and filled his lungs. He’d gotten used to the smells around him, until beeves and earth and leather all seemed to blend into one solid Hunt Acres scent. It tended to calm him down, to keep him leveled.

He strode down the stairs and followed the path to the corral. His mares, all three of them, trotted over as soon as they spotted him, hanging their heads over the top of the fence. “Hey, girls.” He gave each one attention, stroking their manes and patting their shiny coats.

“How’s your day going?” Ted asked, coming out of the stable, holding a handful of carrots.

“Hey, Ted. Fine. Just fine.”

Ted handed him half the bunch of carrots and he gave two of his mares a treat, while Ted fed the other horse. All three mares chomped eagerly and waited for more.

“I hear you brought someone home with you last night.”

Dan stilled. It wasn’t anybody’s damn business and it was uncanny how fiercely he wanted to protect Erin from any scrutiny. “You hear that from your wife?”

“Nope, not Darla. I saw the dog with my own eyes this mornin’. What happened this time, and is he stayin’?”

Dan choked back his relief. He should’ve known Ted would be more discreet. Even if he had seen Erin, he wouldn’t have said anything. “Hit and run. I witnessed it and brought him to Doc Bristol. He’s stayin’ unless someone comes to claim him.”

“Does the dog have a name?”

“Lucky.”

“Fittin’. Him gettin’ hit in front of you might’ve saved his life, that’s for damn sure,” Ted said, slapping him once on the back. “You never could resist a body in need.”

Dan smiled at Ted’s comment because it was so true.

And a little while later, he suited up in a pair of new denim jeans and a solid royal blue shirt. With his belly full thanks to Darla’s fried chicken dinner, Dan gunned the engine in his four-wheel drive SUV and headed off the ranch. He knew where he was going and he told himself it was only to see if anyone at the Dark Horse was missing a half shepherd, half collie mix.

And once he arrived, he scanned the parking lot, finding clusters of people milling about by their cars, but no one looked familiar. No one was asking about a lost dog. A damn chuckle rose from his throat. He was such a fool. He’d blown it big-time and now was hoping to see Erin again. To find her, and then to do what? Hell, he didn’t know.

He continued on until he was inside the saloon, standing at the bar. “Scotch. Double. Straight up,” he told the bartender. The barkeep set a tumbler down in front of him and poured from a bottle two inches high. Dan took a healthy sip.

“Have you seen anybody come in here looking for their dog? Medium-sized collie-shepherd mix?” Dan asked the barkeep.

The guy shook his head. “Can’t say as I have.”

Just as well, Dan thought. He was growing fond of Lucky. He turned his back to the bar to look out into the crowded dance floor. A leggy brunette came out of nowhere and batted her eyes at him. She was put together, wearing a low-cut eye-popping blouse.

“Are you looking for your dog?” she asked.

“Something like that. I found a dog.”

“Oh, um. Well, I can help you ask around if you’d like.”

“No, thanks.” He sipped his Scotch. “I’m good.”

“I think so too,” she said. Her eyes gleamed darkly, a flicker in them that would have most men paying the check and escorting her home. She leaned in closer. “I’m Yvonne.”

Yep, ripe for the pickin’, his buddies would say, but Dan wasn’t interested.

“Yvonne, I was just about to call it a night. Thanks for the offer, but no thanks.”

Her eyes snapped in surprise. “Sure,” she said, her chin up as she pivoted on her three-inch heels and walked away.

Dan turned back to the bar and polished off his drink.

“Oh, man,” the barkeep said.

Dan gave him a look. “What?”

“You’re looking for that chick who rode the bull last night? You, uh, helped her out, right?”

Dan didn’t respond.

The bartender shook his head. “She doesn’t come in here. She’s not a regular. Doubtful she’ll be back. You can always tell, you know. This place didn’t suit her, if you ask me.”

“I didn’t.”

“There’s always the internet. Look her up.”

“What?”

The bartender grinned as if he knew all the truths in the world. What a dumbass. But Dan had to agree. Erin didn’t fit in a place like the Dark Horse.

He was wasting his time. She wouldn’t be back.

Three

“Thanks for inviting me to lunch, Chelsea,” Erin said as she sat across from Chelsea Hunt in Royal’s number one new resort, The Bellamy. “This place is amazing.”

Erin didn’t know Chelsea well, but she’d heard that Chelsea had been the latest of Maverick’s victims. She’d been secretly photographed in the TCC locker room and those images had emerged on a popular internet site causing quite a splash. It had been a bold move on Maverick’s part, to hack a hacker, Chelsea being the CTO of Hunt and Company. Her friendship with Max St. Cloud and Will Brady culminated in their being tasked to investigate the crimes. Erin’s heart went out to Chelsea. It must have been so awful being violated like that.

“Yeah, I thought the two of us could use a break and I’ve heard The Glass House has incredible food.”

The entire resort was something out of a modern tech dream and this restaurant, made of more windows than walls, looked out upon beautiful lush greenery mingled with colorful fall flowers. Inside the restaurant, everything from the napkin rings to the delicate chandeliers over each table was made of the finest handblown glass.

She and Chelsea had bonded one day over tall lemonades while playing with little Faye Brady on the Flying E Ranch. Erin missed her little eleven-month-old charge.

She was out of a job, too. With a ton of time on her hands and no prospects. Will had insisted on keeping her on his payroll until the end of the year and so she figured why not go to a five-star resort and splurge a little?

The little buggy voice in her head hollered, Remember the last time you splurged?

She’d splurged alright, on adventure at the Dark Horse Saloon and ended up having a one-night stand with a man that had topped her list as a forever kind of guy. A guy who took great care with animals. A man who didn’t say much, but allowed his actions to speak volumes. A man who had treated her with the utmost respect.

Dan.

She sighed. It had been two weeks since their night together. And though she felt the loss of him all the way down to her bones, she didn’t plan on splurging like that anytime soon. She’d stick to splurges like hot fudge sundaes at the Royal diner, or fifty-dollar lunches at a swanky resort.

Opening the menu, she glanced at all the choices. “Wow. I can’t decide. It all sounds delish.”

“If you like seafood, I recommend the scallops in lobster sauce.”

The thought of it made her stomach clench. “I’m not really a fish person.”

She was, sometimes, but today a meal doused in all that sauce didn’t sound appealing. “I think I’ll stick to something basic, like chicken.”

They ordered their meals and sipped iced tea through colorful straws. While they were chatting, she caught Chelsea sighing and staring out the window a few times.

“And so the cat howled at the moon and the dog turned green.”

Chelsea turned to face her, shaking off whatever it was in her head. “What? I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.”

She smiled. “You went somewhere.”

“Yeah, I did. Forgive me.”

“It’s okay. I think I know what it’s about.”

Chelsea stared into her eyes for a second and then shook her head. “I still can’t believe some creep actually snapped nude photos of me in the club’s locker room and posted them on Skinterest of all places. I’m no wilting willow, but I’m floored by his or her audacity. This Maverick has been causing havoc at TCC for months now and we’re no closer to finding out who it is than the day it all began.”

Erin sympathized with her. She hadn’t had nude photos displayed to the world, but she had been involved in a scandal in Seattle, and she knew how violated she’d felt when it all came down. She softened her voice. “Will shared some of that with me. Gosh, I’m so sorry. For a while, didn’t they think they’d found the jerk doing this?”

“Yeah, there was some evidence pointing to Adam Haskell, even though the man hadn’t any keen knowledge of computers, certainly not enough to cyber attack the residents of Royal. But it became obvious after Mr. Haskell died in a car crash that it wasn’t him. Evidence had been planted in his car, making him a victim of Maverick too.”

“Poor man.”

“Yes, that’s why I seem so distracted today. Those photos that surfaced are proof that the cyberbully is alive and well, and who knows what else he’ll do.”

“Chelsea, I’ve got nothing but time on my hands right now. I would love to pitch in and help in any way I can to help you find this guy. I’m not as tech oriented as you or Will, but I can come at it from a fresh perspective. Maybe find something hiding in plain sight.”

“I think that’s a great idea. I’ve been splitting my time between the investigation and working at the family business. I could really use the extra help. But are you sure?”

“Believe me, I’m sure. I know a little of what you’re going through. That feeling of being betrayed and the helplessness that settles around your heart.”

“Oh, wow, Erin. Sounds like you’ve had man trouble. Recently?”

Well, Chelsea was perceptive. And Erin wasn’t going to hold back any longer. She didn’t really have anyone here in Texas to talk to, and Chelsea had already shared so much with her. Fair was fair. Besides, Erin could use a friend and her inner voice was telling her she could trust Chelsea Hunt. “Yes, back in Seattle. It was an awful situation. I was involved with a man named Rex Talbot. Have you heard of him?”

“Vaguely, but I don’t know much other than he runs a megacorporation. He keeps a low profile.”

“Yes, well, when I met him, it was at a private school’s music program. I’m a musical director and teacher by profession and initially I thought he was the father of one of the students. He was charming and lovely. My interest in him had nothing to do with money. It was the furthest thing from my mind, and I truly liked him. After our first date, he confessed that he was the school’s anonymous benefactor. I was over the moon thinking I’d met such a kind and generous man. He told me he wasn’t married and had no children and I had no reason not to believe him. He wasn’t over-the-top, we did low-key things that didn’t warrant any sort of glamorous news. I fell for him and we had an intimate relationship for months.”

“And don’t tell me, then his wife showed up?”

“Yes. Cliché, isn’t it? I never thought it would happen to me. I was blinded by his charm and had no clue he was lying to me. But his wife, who had been out of the country the entire time, returned with a vengeance and found out about our relationship. As low-key as Rex was, his wife, a socialite from birth, made all kinds of noise in the local school district, thinking nothing about scandalizing my good name, blaming me, of course, for homewrecking. It was humiliating and the situation brought the school undue negative attention.”

“Oh, wow. I’m so sorry, Erin.”

“Thanks. But if there was a silver lining, it was that the school administration was wonderful, sticking up for me and defending my reputation. They asked me not to resign my position, but at that time, I was distraught and embarrassed for myself as well as the school. I appreciated their support more than they’ll ever know, but I just couldn’t stay on.

“The worst of it was that Rex didn’t stick up for me. He crawled back to his wife and threw me under the proverbial bus. My judgment was way off and I made a big mistake.”

“Honey, don’t you dare put the blame on yourself. He lied to you. He led you on. He was a jerk. That’s a fact.”

A chuckle escaped her mouth and she grinned. “You’re right. I am so over Rex Talbot now. I figure the two of them deserve each other.”

“For sure,” Chelsea said. “I take it Will’s job offer came at a good time for you?”

“It did. I needed change. Will’s a good friend who went through a terrible loss when his wife died. We were both at loose ends, and so because he believed in me, he hired me as Faye’s nanny. Oh, I loved taking care of that little doll. When Will’s job brought him here to Royal, I came along as her nanny.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad we’ve met. And if you’re available to help with the investigation, I’m actually going to the club’s main office tonight. My big brother was supposed to meet me, but something came up and he had to cancel. I plan on diving into some files. If you’re free, you could help me. I know it’s short notice and—”

“Of course. I would love to. What time?”

“Can you meet me at nine?”

“I’ll be there.”

* * *

That evening with a renewed sense of purpose, Erin entered the main entrance of the Texas Cattleman’s Club, and showed her guest pass to the attendant at the front desk. It was late at night and the place, normally bustling with both men and women, now that the club allowed both sexes in equally, was nearly empty but for a few people walking out of the facility as she was walking in.

She strode past the dining area and secondary lobby, and walked down a long corridor of offices until she came to the door at the end of the hallway marked Texas Cattleman’s Club and underneath, Staff Only.

She was ten minutes early and anxious to get started. She didn’t mind the wait. This was the most exciting thing going on in her life since her ride on that bull and her encore ride—showing much more endurance with cowboy Dan—later that night.

She’d giggle and think it funny, but it wasn’t a laughing matter. Not only did she miss the cowboy, not being able to get him off her mind, she’d also missed her period two days ago and she was normally right on schedule, month after month. Stress could mess up a woman’s schedule, and it had only been two days, after all. She filled her lungs and steadied her breathing.

At least she could assist Chelsea in finding the sleaze who’d posted those pictures of her. Erin was glad she’d asked for her help. She’d been just about ready to throw in the towel and scurry back to her studio apartment in Seattle with her tail between her legs, as discouraging as that notion was.

On habit, she pulled out her cell and studied her phone messages, checking to see if Chelsea had texted. Then she heard the definite sound of footsteps on the floor, getting louder and heading her way.

She dumped her phone back into her purse and turned to face Chelsea.

Only, it wasn’t Chelsea, it was a big tall handsome beast of a man, wearing a black Stetson, jeans and a tails-out white shirt. The sleeves were rolled up, hugging his biceps to distraction.

She blinked.

“Erin?”

The low timbre of his voice did crazy things to her, reminding her how he’d whispered her name over and over while making love to her.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

His eyes were so blue, so amazingly bright right now, she wanted to throw her arms around him, but she also wanted to thrash his hide for not pursuing her, even a little.

“I’m, uh, meeting a friend,” she said. “What are you...?” Then it dawned on her like some insanely wicked twist that maybe this wasn’t a coincidence. Oh no. “You’re not Chelsea’s brother, are you?” she squeaked.

“You know my sister?”

Erin’s eyes blinked shut. She couldn’t believe this. She leaned her back against the door so it could hold her upright, rather than having her limbs crumble to the floor. She managed a nod.

“How?”

She opened her eyes. “We have mutual friends.”

Dan moved in on her, his presence surrounding her like a fortress, his lime scent reaching her nostrils. He wasn’t smiling, but his eyes blazed with some sort of relief. He put his hand up to touch her face, but then let his arm drop down before making contact. His gaze stayed on her and she didn’t know which emotion to cling to, which emotion to believe: the one that wanted to invite Dan to touch her, because oh how she craved it; or the one that poured acid into her stomach, warning her not to go near him again.

“I went back to the Dark Horse the next night looking for you,” he confessed.

“You don’t have to say that.”

“I say very little, but what I say means something.” He spoke with enough authority to sway any nonbelievers.

She stared into his eyes, captivated by the honesty she saw in them. “Why?”

“Why?” He smiled then, an apologetic smile that touched something deep in her heart. “I wanted to see you again.”

“Because?”

She wasn’t letting him off the hook that easily. Even if she had to pry the words out of his mouth, she wanted to know what he was feeling.

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