Sawyer brushed a quick kiss across Jill’s cheek. “Don’t let it get to you. We’re not going out tonight or any other night without taking precautions like we have all week.”

The next song was the theme song for the Hatfields and McCoys trailer, and the atmosphere in the bar changed immediately. They didn’t even listen to the words, but seats were pushed back, and people took the floor for a fast dance. Kinsey Brennan paired up with the lanky cowboy who’d jumped the river from over in Oklahoma, but her eyes strayed to the bar, and she winked at Sawyer several times.

A tall brunette grabbed Quaid’s hand, and Jill’s eyes came close to popping right out of her skull. That feller had some moves, and when he spun the woman out and brought her back to his chest, she did one of those wiggles that took her to the floor and slowly brought her back up again. Her eyes never left Quaid’s for a minute. Quaid flashed Jill a brilliant smile that left no doubt he was telling her that she was missing out on a very good thing.

“There’s more ways to kill someone than to shoot them,” Sawyer said when the dance ended and several people headed for the bar.

“And which one are we going to take care of first. Kinsey or Quaid?” Jill pulled up a fresh sheath of red cups and put in the dispenser. “I know I keep saying it, but I’m damn glad that we’ve got each other’s backs in this thing, Sawyer. Because tonight has fueled the feud even more than pork rinds and doggie treats.”

* * *

Like they’d done every night that week, they cleaned up after everyone left, and then Sawyer slipped outside, pistol in his hands. He waited by the truck while Jill locked the bar. Then she settled in and buckled up, and he did the same. Doors locked so there could be no surprises, he tucked the gun away in the console, and they drove home to the bunkhouse.

Jill kicked off her boots at the door and headed straight to the kitchen. “This is crazy, Sawyer. I feel like I’m playing a part in a movie.”

“Is it a drama or a comedy?” He sat down in a kitchen chair and removed his boots and socks, wiggling his toes on the cold floor.

“Little bit of both. I can’t get those songs out of my head.” She headed over to the rug where the kittens were curled up together, asleep in front of the warm stove.

“Me, either.” He wanted her to think about a spring pasture full of wildflowers and baby kittens. To get a picture in her head of something other than haunting music about feuding, fires of hell, and bloodletting.

“Mama says to never wake a sleeping baby, but I want to hold them and tell myself that tonight didn’t happen. The feeling I had was downright crazy in the bar,” she said.

“Mama knows best.” He took her hand in his and pulled her back to the sofa. His gaze went to her lips. He’d had her body against his when they’d slept together, but her lips fascinated him. Touching them made him forget everything around him but Jillian Cleary. It put them into a vacuum without stores, bars, ranches, and especially without feuds.

* * *

Jill’s gaze started at his eyelashes, which totally fascinated her. How could a thick bunch of dark hair be so seductive? Finally she let her eyes travel past his nose and to his lips. The music in her head wasn’t haunting, but it wasn’t upbeat either. It was like the background music to an old gospel hymn, peaceful with the promise of something eternal.

When she got to his slightly parted lips, the chemistry between them reached a brand-new height. His knuckles moved to trace her jawline, and then his hand splayed out, palm resting on her cheek, pinky teasing her ear, the rest holding her neck steady as his lips closed over hers.

Jill cupped his cheeks in her hands and took the first step to deepen the kiss. Desire fanned the fires of arousal until they were both panting. He moved from her lips to her neck, nuzzling, tasting, driving her crazy.

With one tug, all the snaps of his shirt popped open, and she buried her face in the soft black hair covering his bare chest. He groaned, and she shifted her weight until she was sitting in his lap.

It should not happen, but it was going to. Plain and simple. She wanted Sawyer. She needed him, and not even an act of God was going to stop what they’d started.

His hands circled her small waist and slowly made their way up under her shirt, massaging the tension from her muscles as he traveled upward. “You’d best say stop now if you are going to,” he said hoarsely.

“We’d be a hell of a lot more comfortable on your bed, and we wouldn’t wake the children,” she answered.

Thinkbeforeyousayyes, her inner voice said.

No, she argued. Whenyoustarttodissectsomethingandanalyzeyourfindings, it’s already dead. And this feels so right.

He gave her one more chance. “Then you are not saying stop?”

She drew his lips down to hers and answered him with passion.

He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, and she shut the door so the kittens wouldn’t disturb them. She slid down his frame and stood before him, eyes locked with his as she removed his shirt, undid his belt and zipper, and slid his jeans off.

“Commando.” She smiled.

He buried his face in her hair and said, “We call it goin’ cowboy, not commando. That’s for the military guys. Now it’s my turn, darlin’, and I open presents like I talk—real slow.”

His mouth started at her neck and moved down to the tops of her breasts, then suddenly the bra hooks were undone, and he slid both bra and shirt down her arms, covering every inch of her skin with kisses. She pressed her breasts against his chest, and her insides melted into a hot puddle.

Nothing was ever definite, but in that moment, Jill’s soul had found a permanent home. And Sawyer was definitely a part of it. He removed her jeans, bikini underwear, and socks, and walked her backwards to the edge of the bed.

“I need you.” Sawyer reached for a condom and quickly put it on.

“Not as bad as I want you.” She fell onto the bed and pulled him down on top of her. She arched, and he slid inside, his lips never leaving hers. The world disappeared. She and Sawyer were wrapped in a cocoon inside a vacuum. She heard nothing but his hard breath and felt nothing but his body, lips, and hands. She wanted nothing but more and more of what Sawyer delivered.

She tried to hold back, but it wasn’t possible. “Sawyer,” she moaned, and the cocoon unraveled, the vacuum exploded, and he collapsed.

She reached up and cupped his face. “That was amazing.”

His lips found hers once more and he moved to one side, wrapping both arms around her and keeping her near. He pulled the covers over them and whispered, “Stay with me all night, Jill. Don’t leave.”

“My legs wouldn’t let me even if I wanted to,” she said.

Chapter 20

Jill stood under the shower, pulsating water rinsing the shampoo from her hair. For the first time since she’d arrived on Burnt Boot, she didn’t want to get rid of the barroom smell. The smoke and beer mixed together reminded her of the amazing night she’d spent with Sawyer.

She wrapped a towel around her wet hair and slipped her arms into a thick emerald-green terry cloth robe. Shutting her eyes, she went back to the previous night. Now it was time for the awkward moment when they had to say that it was a one-night stand and start dissecting things. Number one: they had to live together, so it was a bad idea. Number two: they had to work together at three different jobs, so it was a bad idea. Number three: neither of them really trusted in lasting relationships, so it was a bad idea.

A phone rang, and she recognized her aunt Polly’s ringtone, so she hurried out of Sawyer’s bedroom. Kittens chased her toes peeking out from the bottom of the robe as she almost dived to the sofa toward her phone and answered it on the fourth ring with a giggle.