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  Donna gave a dry laugh. “Named Rachel Carson.”

  “And being the typical girl, she went for the bad boy?”

  Donna nodded. “Yeah. Dirk was involved in rodeo back then and had a wild streak a country mile wide. What girl can resist that?”

  “Only the ones who have their heads screwed on straight and aren’t bent on self-destruction—unfortunately I speak from experience of the second kind. So what has their old rivalry to do with the present rift?”

  “It didn’t end with high school. Dirk and Rachel were a steady item all through college, but when they graduated, Dirk wasn’t ready to settle down. Rachel had expectations, but out of the blue, Dirk up and enlisted in the Marines. When he left her without a ring or any promises, Rachel turned to Wade. One thing led to another.”

  “So this fierce antagonism is all because Wade stole Dirk’s high school sweetheart?”

  Another silence followed. “It’s a bit more than that but it’s not my place to say more.” Donna shook her head with a look of profound regret. “It all ended very badly, and my boys have never been the same since.” She sighed. “I don’t think things will ever be straight between Wade and Dirk until they each find the right woman. Unfortunately, neither of them has been the least inclined to put himself out to look. Wade’s a good man, Nikki. He’s been through a lot and deserves a good woman.” She eyed Nikki meaningfully. “A nice Southern girl might suit him real well.”

  “It could never work,” Nikki said.

  “Why not?”

  “Because I’m not right for him at all. He needs someone more like—”

  “Allison?” Donna supplied and shook her head. “No, sugar. She’s not the one for Wade. I said he deserves a good woman.”

  “You don’t care for her?” Nikki asked, still trying to wrap her mind around what she’d just heard.

  Donna rolled her eyes. “I didn’t raise my sons to fall for such a shallow and self-serving type. She might have designs on Wade, but if you ask me, she’s just become a habit with him. It’s never been serious. Now, you on the other hand, are another case altogether. He really likes you.”

  “Why would you think that?” Nikki protested. “He doesn’t even know me.”

  Donna gave her a sly grin. “He must know you well enough to think his mama would approve. Else he wouldn’t have brought you out here.”

  “It’s not like that at all! You’re reading way too much into this. I lost my ID. I had nowhere to go. He just took pity on me.”

  “Pity? You think that’s all it is, do you?”

  “Yes, I do. Besides, what makes you think I’m interested in your son? No offense, but he’s simply not my type at all!”

  Donna laughed outright. “You just keep telling yourself that, sugar—especially when he comes hightailin’ it to Sheridan in a few hours looking for you.”

  * * *

  Wade and Dirk arrived back at the ranch—dirty, dog-tired, and empty-handed, although they’d at least come to a truce of sorts after finding the animals—or at least the animal carcasses. The carnage, presumably by wolves, would have to be reported to Wildlife Services, and the BLM would need to be notified about the band of mustangs they’d discovered, but he’d leave all that for Dirk to deal with. Right now, Wade only had only one thing on his mind—Nikki.

  He’d pushed the hell out of Skoal in haste to get back to the cabin and was still furious that she had ridden off alone. Only Redman’s presence in the corral gave him any sense of relief. Thank God she’d found her way back safe and sound.

  “Wade!” Allie rushed out to greet him the minute he’d dismounted. “So glad you’re back. We have to talk. I have big news.”

  “It’ll have to wait,” he said, struggling to keep the scowl from his face and the apprehension out of his voice. “Where’s Nikki?”

  “Nikki?” Allie blinked. “Oh, she went back to Sheridan.”

  “Sheridan?” he repeated. She was gone again? “How? She doesn’t have a car…or even a license for that matter.”

  “Your mother drove her.” Allie gave a dismissive wave. “She said she needed to take care of some urgent business. Speaking of which, we have a new offer. The buyer’s come up another two hundred thousand!”

  “The Broncos player?” Dirk asked.

  “Yes,” she replied. “He’s really hot to have the place as a hunting retreat and even says he doesn’t care anything about the livestock. You’re free to sell it off and keep all the money!”

  “How generous considering it’s my fucking stock,” Dirk scoffed. “Tell him no deal.”

  Allie’s jaw dropped. “What? Why?”

  Dirk shrugged. “I don’t like the Broncos.”

  “You are joking, right?” She cast a pleading look to Wade. “Please tell me he’s jerking my chain.”

  Wade shrugged. “No can do. He probably means it.”

  Allie recoiled. “But there are two others who have a say in this. Right, Wade? You’ll accept the deal, won’t you?” She added in a frosty undertone. “I busted my ass to put this back together. You won’t get another shot at this. I can promise you that!”

  “Then you’ll just have to work on my father until I get back.”

  “Get back?” Allie repeated dumbly. “What are you saying?”

  “That I don’t have time to discuss this right now.”

  “Look, Wade. I flew all the way from Denver for this!” she hissed.

  “I’m sorry for your trouble, but the world doesn’t turn on your command, Allie. I’ve got personal business to see to. We’ll talk about this when I return.”

  Wade handed his horse off to his brother. “Take care of Skoal, will you?”

  Dirk’s scowl transformed to a smirk. “Sure thing, li’l bro. It’s no skin off my nose if you’re back to thinking with your prick.”

  Chapter 12

  Nikki checked into the Moriah Motel, a twelve-room lodge on Main Street in Sheridan. The motel had wireless Internet and cable TV, and was only half a mile from the funeral home—a double blessing, given her lack of transportation. Although she’d have to deal with Wade eventually, the more distance she could keep between them in the meantime, the better.

  After unpacking a few things, Nikki’s stomach sounded a loud protest against two days of neglect. She’d only seen one restaurant when they drove through town, but it too was within walking distance. Hating to eat alone, and even worse, to become a subject of local speculation, Nikki called the Prospector Café to place a takeout order—a large burger with the works, beer-battered onion rings, a shake, and a slab of chocolate cake. Only a humongous caloric overload could even begin to soothe her hurt.

  After hanging up the phone, she undressed for a much needed shower. She was in her bra and panties and had just turned on the tap when a knock sounded on the door. She froze with her heart in her throat. Wade? It was what she most wanted and most dreaded all at the same time.

  Don’t be ridiculous, Nikki. Regardless of what his mother had said, he’d never come to Sheridan with Allie waiting for him at the ranch. Still, she peered through the peephole. Shit! It was him, leaning on the doorjamb, hat pulled down over his eyes, and looking like sin incarnate.

  “Open the door, Nikki,” he said in a low voice. “We need to talk.”

  Leaving the chain on, she flipped the dead bolt and opened only a crack. “Go away, Wade. There’s nothing to say.”

  “The hell there isn’t!” he growled. “You left with some harebrained notions. We need to settle this. Now. C’mon. Open the door… Please.” He sounded angry and frustrated, but it was his pleading look that did her in.

  “All right,” she sighed. “Just give me a minute, I’m not dressed.”

  “Don’t go to any trouble on my behalf.”

  She closed the door on a snort and pulled out the least provocative thing she owned�
�an oversized Georgia Bulldogs T-shirt. The frown on his face when she opened the door almost made her laugh. It also told her she’d made the right choice.

  “Your ugly alma mater wasn’t quite what I’d hoped for.”

  “Speak your piece, Wade. My shower and dinner are waiting.”

  He doffed his hat and raked his hair. “Why’d you leave me like that?”

  “Like what?” she asked, feigning indifference.

  “Just slinking off like you did. I told you when I left with Dirk that we needed to talk about some things.”

  “Things? What things? We spent a night together. It was a mistake, but it’s done. I just want to move past it now.”

  “Damn it! If you’re put off because of Allie, I told you—it’s just business.”

  “So you keep saying, but I got quite another impression.”

  “All right,” he groaned. “I won’t say there was never anything between us, because there was. Past tense. But it wasn’t serious and it pretty much ended on this last trip of mine to Denver. If she insinuated anything different, she was just blowing smoke up your pretty ass.”

  “Look, Wade, I appreciate your desire to set things straight, but it truly doesn’t matter to me. I came here to say good-bye to my dead father. That’s it. As soon as I settle things, I’m gone. I don’t want or need any complications.”

  He took a step toward her. “I wasn’t looking for this either, sweetheart, but it’s too late to turn back now. There’s already something between us. I don’t know what it is, or where it’s going any more than you do, but I sure as hell want to ride it out and see.”

  “That’s the difference between us. I don’t. I told you it was a mistake, Wade. Why can’t you get it through your thick skull? I don’t want to continue this. Please just go now. If there’s anything else we need to discuss, I’ll make an appointment at your office on Monday.”

  “Appointment, my ass! I’m not done with you by half, and setting the record straight, darlin’, you haven’t had your fill of me either.”

  Nikki snorted. “There you go again with all that big talk. Is your ego really that inflated? Do you really think you’re so irresistible?”

  He advanced another step with a dangerous look. “You’re wasting your breath if you think to convince me you don’t feel it too.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong.” Another bold-faced lie. Last night was all she’d been able to think about, but that didn’t mean she was fool enough to repeat it.

  He laughed. “You’re a piss-poor liar, Nikki Powell. And if you even draw another breath to protest, I swear I’ll bury my face in that pretty little nectarine of yours until your mind is empty of any thought beyond how fast I can get my prick inside you.”

  Her breathing hitched as her mind filled with visions of his dirty promises.

  As if reading her thoughts, his mouth came down on hers—deep, hot, and devouring, tangling her reason and emotion in knots and sending a ripple of raw lust ripping through her.

  Wade held nothing back. His mouth was everywhere, on her mouth, her neck, nibbling her lobes, breathing nasty words in her ear, and purging her mind of every thought but what he’d just threatened to do. Damn him!

  Powerless to resist, Nikki tumbled headlong into his arms, and into his kiss. Her brain cried out insanity, but he drove her to the brink of it every time he touched her. Her mouth and hands were equally hungry, growing more fevered and frenzied with every searing stroke of his tongue. Breaking apart for breath, Nikki gazed up at him, licking her kiss-swollen lips. “M-my shower is still running.”

  “Is it? Then maybe we should catch it together.”

  His slow, sexy smile sent a gush of liquid heat straight to her core.

  Before she could utter a word of protest, he’d slid his hands under her legs, and lifted her clean off the ground. Taking his cue, Nikki wrapped her legs tightly around him, panting and moaning between deep drugging kisses, as he carried her through the narrow doorway into the bathroom. They devoured one another until they were both gasping for air.

  When Wade set her down, they rapidly shed clothing. Frantic to feel his hot skin under her hands, Nikki went to work on his buttons, ripping his shirt away to map her hands over his strong pecs and sculpted abs. While she fumbled with his belt, he balanced on one foot, toeing off his boots. Then his hands joined hers, tugging frantically at his zipper until he sprang out, big and hard. He kicked out of his jeans and then tore off her bulldog shirt and bra. Her panties followed.

  With his hands firmly anchored on her hips, his hot gazed raked her from head to toe. Nikki shifted under his hungry stare, feeling self-conscious to be completely exposed in broad daylight. In the cabin, they’d made love in near darkness, with only the flickering light of the fire.

  “Hot damn.” A wolfish grin stretched his mouth. “I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a prettier sight.” He kissed her again, long and deep, releasing her only long enough to grab some soap before joining her in the shower.

  * * *

  Stripped of his clothes, Wade followed her into the steamy shower, kissing her again, long, lush, and deep. She was already achingly aroused, but just like last night, Wade seemed to be totally in control. She wondered what it would take to make him come unglued.

  “There’s something I want, Wade.” She was determined to send him over the edge with the same mindless want he so effortlessly wrested from her.

  “Anything darlin.’ Just name it.”

  In response, she pressed her palms against his chest, sending him backward under the shower head, forcing him to shut his eyes against the blast of streaming water. Hands shaking, she took up the bar of soap to begin an eager tactile exploration of his beautiful body. Wasn’t it only a couple of days ago that she’d fantasized about this very thing? All six-feet-plus of his wet, male magnificence? But Wade naked, wet, and highly aroused was so much more than her imagination could ever have conjured.

  Sliding her hands up and over his broad, muscular shoulders, she worked her way over his chest and torso slowly devouring every rock solid inch of him, until she was lost in lust. With her mouth, she worked her way down his body, noting the tightening in his jaw and compression of his lips as she traced the dark trail of hair leading to his erection. The sight of it, big, hard, and ready, made her insides clench with desire.

  His eyes jerked open wide when she cupped his sac, gently fondling it, loving the weight of him in her hand. He drew a harsh breath when she wrapped her hand around his length, stroking, teasing, and squeezing until the urge to take him into her mouth overwhelmed her.

  * * *

  Wade sucked in a gasp when she gripped his thighs and sank to her knees. Holy shit! He hadn’t expected that move. His hips bucked involuntarily at the sensation of her hot hungry mouth engulfing him to the root. Adding slick, sliding, strokes of her velvety tongue, she fondled his balls with soft, skillful, soap-slicked hands, while working him in and out with long, lush pulls and the sweet, hot suction of her mouth. With a reeling head and weak knees, Wade plastered one hand on the wall behind him and cupped the back of her head with the other. She responded by clutching his ass tighter and taking him deeper.

  Sweet Jesus it was good. So damned good.

  Oh, he’d had plenty of women go down on him, but mostly in reciprocation, or in Allie’s case, as a means of coercion to get something she wanted. He’d never had a lover suck him off so eagerly. Wade gazed down at her just as she stole a look up at him, heedless of the water streaming down her face. Their gazes locked then his leveled on the beautiful, generous mouth that was driving him out of his mind.

  His chest grew tight, his balls contracted. His knees threatened to give way. Shit, if she doesn’t stop soon…like now… He drew a deep, wrenching breath, grinding his teeth against the urge to shoot his load into her mouth. It was almost more than he could bear but it wasn’t h
ow he’d wanted this to play out. Reaching down, he stroked his thumb over her lips, withdrawing himself with a groan and then pulling her back up to her feet. She’d blown more than his cock; she’d blown his effing mind.

  “I didn’t expect that, Nikki.”

  “I know.” She smiled. “But it was what I wanted. We didn’t have to stop, you know.”

  “Yes. We did.”

  He kissed her slow and deep, then took her hands in his, lathering them up, and then bringing them to her breasts. “My turn now,” he said darkly.

  “Your turn?”

  “Yeah. I want you to wash yourself. Touch yourself.”

  With their joined hands, he guided her, soaping, caressing, fondling, and squeezing her breasts. “Don’t stop.” He released her hands, tonguing her ear and sucking her neck. “It turns me on to no end, Nikki. It’s sexy as hell.” Her gaze locked with his, He released her hands to make a more thorough exploration of her body.

  She froze. “Is that really what you want?”

  “Oh, yeah, sweetheart.”

  Her gaze narrowed. “Does this voyeuristic inclination extend to other things?”

  “Like what?” he asked.

  “Like watching me with someone else?”

  “Fuck no!” he retorted. “If one man’s not enough for you, I’m sorry. I’m just not into that shit. I don’t share.”

  She returned a meaningful look. “Neither do I.”

  “Glad we got that straight up front.” He kissed her hands one at a time and brought them back to her own body, sliding them slowly over her hips and belly. “Do this for me, darlin’, and I’m all yours…anything you want.”

  “I’ll hold you to that, Wade,” she replied low and husky.

  Nikki leaned against the shower wall, closing her eyes, and dropping her head back with a sigh. Letting water stream over her, she glided her hands over her breasts, molding and squeezing them together, offering him a visual banquet.

  While she teased her nipples with one hand, she held the bar of soap in the other, guiding it downward over her belly, pausing to circle her navel and then stealing a daring look at him through her wet lashes before her hand continued its descent, plunging at last into her sexy hairless slit. “Is this what you wanted?” Her voice was breathless, her nipples pebbled as she slowly, tauntingly undulated against herself.