Jag looked at her clothes. With sleeves that reached past her elbows and a dress that dipped below her knees, she was hardly outfitted for cowboy country. “Did you bring anything suitable?”

She crinkled her nose and looked herself over. “What do you consider suitable?”

“Come on, I’ll show you.” He captured her hand in his, and she stiffened slightly. Was she having second thoughts? He hoped not, because she obviously needed this vacation. He’d heard both sides of the phone conversation, and seen how crushed she looked as her mother pushed her around like she was nothing more than a pawn in a game of chess, and it was all he could do not to punch something. She didn’t deserve to be treated like that. Even if nothing more developed between them, he was glad he invited her, because she needed to let off some steam. Jag turned to her. “Alix,” he whispered in a soft voice. “Nothing will happen here unless you want it to, and besides, you already told me you were playing for the other team. Let’s just enjoy the day. And like I said, tomorrow if you want to leave, you can. Okay?”

“Okay,” she said, and as she exhaled, he watched her visibly relax.

“Your luggage has been brought to your room. Let’s go see if you have something you’ll be comfortable riding in. If you don’t, we can run into town and get you something.”

She opened her mouth like she wanted to say something more and then shut it again. Instead of pressing, Jag led her into the lodge. A few minutes later, he stood near her door while she rooted through her suitcase. She pulled out a pair of knee-length shorts and a white, long-sleeved blouse, then disappeared into the bathroom. She came back a few minutes later and held her arms wide.

Her eyes were hopeful as she smiled up at him. “This should work.”

Jag touched the sleeve on her blouse. Despite the air-conditioned room, her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink.

His gaze panned her face, and he breathed in the sweet, clean smell of her skin before settling on her big blue eyes. He dipped his head and asked, “Do you love this shirt? Is it a favorite?”

She shook her head. “It’s a shirt.”

He gripped the sleeve, and with one quick tug, ripped it from the seam. A gasp sounded in Alix’s throat as the fabric gave way, and her eyes widened.

“This will be much cooler,” he explained.

She nodded, and after he ripped the other sleeve free, he stood back to admire the beautiful body she always went to great pains to cover.

He walked to the bed, grabbed his Stetson, and put it back on his head. “You’ll need a hat.”

“I have one.” Excitement lit her face as she riffled through her suitcase and pulled out a wide-brimmed sun hat that could shade the entire ranch. “See!”

“Good.” Jag bit back a grin as his gaze panned her pale skin. Did she ever go outdoors?

He took the hat from her and placed it on her head, but it caught on her ponytail. She reached around, and instead of releasing it and letting her curls fall down her back, she tightened it and stuck her hair under her hat. Too bad. He wanted to see it loose. Wanted her to relax.

As a private investigator, it was his job to understand people, and sweet Alix was desperate for freedom—from her family, her duties, and her conservative self. Her needs and sexuality bubbled beneath the surface. She was drowning in it, and if she didn’t release it soon, let it break free, it would damn well suffocate her.

The lack of conviction in her voice when she insisted on returning home said she wanted to stay. The way she flushed when he moved close suggested he was part of the reason. She wanted to play, and he wanted to be her favorite toy. And those photos she took in the back room of the studio where she worked… Yeah, he knew all about her naughty hobby. All she needed was the right playground to help her open up to him, and he knew just the place.

He grabbed her hand, need propelling him into action. “Come on, let’s go.”

Thirty minutes later, after saddling a horse for Alix and giving her a quick lesson on riding, he hopped on his stallion and guided her toward the horse trails. He shot her a glance and could tell she was nervous but trying to hide it.

“You’re a natural,” he said in a bid to relax her.

“And you’re a liar.”

Jag laughed, and it brought a smile to her pretty face. “Come on.” He snapped his reins and set his horse into a trot. He kept a careful eye on her as he led her along the river. The overgrown trees fringing the path provided an overhead canopy and offered them some much-needed shade. They entered a clearing, and Jag nodded to one of the ranch hands as a group of guests looking for a bona fide Old West experience pitched their tents and prepared for a night under the stars.

“Hey, Colt,” Jag said, thinking about the time he’d helped his buddy out on one of his weekend excursions. Christ, that was a night to remember: too much drink, too many women, and a morning he could’ve done without. But Colt was a good guy who taught Jag a few things about being a cowboy and made sure the guests left satisfied, especially the female ones who were here for a real Western experience with an authentic cowboy.

While Jag enjoyed his bachelorhood, and the ladies, he was damn tired of waking up with a random girl in his bed. Casual sex had lost its appeal, and he wanted more, needed more, which was why he’d invited Alix here for the week. He might not come from her circle, but he’d always been attracted to her. Back in the day, they chatted when he was setting up the equipment for her meeting or taking it down. Things had always been so easy between them, and despite hanging out with a group of stuck-up girls who wouldn’t dare give him the time of day, she’d always been kind to him, always so grateful when he helped her. Did they have a future together, or was he trying to rekindle something that existed only in his mind?

His glance roamed to her ring finger, taking in the circular indent. When he and his buddies, Coop and Mac, all co-owners of the ranch, had tasked his junior investigator with finding the three women from their past that they’d regretted letting go, the first report that came back said Alix was engaged. Jag had immediately pulled back. He’d be damned if he was going to home in on another man’s woman, no matter how much he thought about her over the years.

But when his investigator went on to further report that her fiancé was cheating on her, it had changed the game plan, and he had gone ahead and sent the invitation.

Even though he hadn’t known her as an adult, his protective instinct had kicked in. She didn’t deserve that type of treatment. She was a kind, hardworking soul, always had been. The fact that she didn’t wear her engagement ring and swore off men clued him in that she’d discovered the bastard was cheating.

He fisted his hands. While he’d like to beat the shit out of the guy for hurting her, he was glad she’d found out who he really was before going through with the wedding. And it gave Jag the opportunity to show her how a woman should really be treated, inside the bedroom and out. Where things went from there, time would only tell.

“Jag,” Colt greeted in return before sticking a blade of grass between his teeth.

Alix slowed her mare beside him, and Colt arched a curious brow, intrigue brewing in his eyes as he turned his attention to her.

“Is your little lady here looking for an authentic Old West experience?” He gave Jag a wink, no doubt thinking back to the women the two had shared on that wild weekend. “’Cause you know, I’m just the guy who can give it to her.”

Alix’s eyes widened, her glance going back and forth between Colt and Jag. She was a smart girl. No doubt she caught Colt’s sexual innuendos. “I—uh—no—”

“Alix, this is Colt. Stay away from him. He’s trouble,” he teased as he met Colt’s glance. “And for the record, any experience she wants, I can give to her.”