Joanna Wayne - Genuine Cowboy

“Then they’re not a romantic item?”.

“Man, Sean. Where did you get an idea like that? She’s our age. She has a kid, probably a husband as well.”.

“There is no husband. And what did you expect me to think? I show up, and she’s here in her pajamas.”.

“In her pajamas, huh? That must have spiced up the knife removal routine.”.

“I was defending, not groping.”.

“Whatever. But don’t read any more into this than is actually there. Eve said she was passing through. No reason not to believe her.”.

“Then she didn’t mention that she was in any kind of trouble?”.

“No, but now that you mention it, Dad seemed anxious about not getting to talk to her.”.

“Did he say why?”.

“No. He’s been pretty much incoherent all night, first from the coronary trauma and then from the meds.”.

“Okay. We’ll talk more when I see you.”.

“I’m dead tired. Do you mind if we put off our reunion until morning? Collette and I will come down and cook you, Eve and the boy an old-time ranch breakfast.”

“Sounds like a winner. I guess I can round up some linens and a pillow around this place?”

“Take your old room. The beds are made.”

“And occupied.”

“Then avoid temptation and find another room.”

“There is no temptation involved.”

“Then just make yourself at home. And, Sean, I’m really glad you’re here. It will mean a lot to Dad.”

Sean doubted that. He said a quick goodbye.

Once he’d finished the beer, he checked the rest of the fridge’s contents. Choices weren’t bad.

He found bread in the pantry and made himself a ham and cheese sandwich, then poured a tall glass of milk to wash it down. Halfway through the meal, he heard the soft patter of footsteps in the hallway.

He looked up as Eve joined him in the kitchen. She’d pulled a pale blue robe over her pajamas. That did nothing to hide the fact that she was a damned attractive woman.

She looked around the kitchen, her gaze focusing on the sandwich fixings he’d left on the counter.

“Help yourself,” he said. “Bread’s fresh and the ham is good. There’s plenty of beer, or milk if you’re a purist.”

“I’m not opposed to cold beer, but a glass of milk sounds better tonight.”

“Something to soothe the savage beast.”

A blush flushed her cheeks. “I’m not ordinarily so savage. I’m a city girl. I guess I let the isolation get to me.”

“Looked like a little more than that to me.”.

“Look, Sean, I’m really sorry about the knife incident, but can we just forget about it now?”.

“Subject closed.” For the time being. “There’s hot chocolate mix in the pantry.”.

She nodded. “That sounds even better. Can I make a cup for you? “.

“Sure. Why not?”.

She turned back to face him, and her straight, shiny brown locks seductively bounced around the bottom of her chin. Much too seductively.

He finished off his sandwich and wiped his mouth on the paper towel he’d been using as a napkin, just as she started to the table with two steaming mugs of cocoa in hand.

“Sorry, but I didn’t find marshmallows,” she said.

“I suspect Troy is not a marshmallow kind of guy,” Sean said. “But then, you evidently know him much better than I do.”.

She stared into her cup for a moment and then lifted her eyes to meet his. Hers were the color of warm cognac, vibrant even in the fluorescent light from the overhead fixture.

“I was Troy’s prison psychiatrist for a couple of years.”.

“Dylan told me. He called while you were calming your son.”.

“Collette called me as well. She explained everything. I’m truly sorry for intruding on your homecoming.”

“Actually, I’m more the intruder. You were the invited guest.”.

“It’s your home.”.

“ Was my home. When I was thirteen. I’ve hung my hat in a lot of places since then.”.

“Nonetheless, Joey and I will clear out of your way in the morning.”.

“Don’t leave on my account. It’s a big house, and I don’t plan to be here long.”.

Her shoulders squared. “You should. You owe it to your father to get to know the man he is today.”.

He bristled a bit at the preachy tone, especially when she had no idea what she was talking about. “Do you always offer your opinion to people you’ve just met?”.

“No,” she admitted. “I seldom give advice at all anymore.”.

Her shoulders and voice fell as if he’d sucker punched her. It gave him no pleasure. “It’s okay,” he said. “My dad and I have issues.”.

She merely nodded, leaving lots of questions in his mind about just what his father had told her about him and his brothers. Had Troy played her, fed her what he thought she’d like to hear in order to make an impression on her? Or had she just dug around in his mind and come up with her own conclusions?.

She finished her hot chocolate, stood and carried her empty cup to the sink. Once she rinsed it, she turned back to him. “Again, I’m sorry for the knife incident, and I wish you and Troy the best.”.

He watched her walk away, her slim hips swaying just enough to make her exit interesting. He thought again of the way her body had felt pressed against his. For a minute back there, he’d had the crazy urge to kiss her.

The urge surfaced again, and he wondered what she’d do if he followed her to the bedroom door and kissed her good-night.

Probably come at him with a knife while he slept.

He’d leave well enough alone before he became as lust-craved as Laci Cahill. With one big difference. He wasn’t married—and had no intention of ever playing the matrimony game.

EVE PULLED THE COVERS about Joey and leaned close, letting her lips brush his forehead. Asleep, innocence was etched into his youthful face. If only she could give him that simple purity of joy back again, instead of dragging him back into the ominous threat of peril.

Trepidation played havoc with her breathing as she backed away from Joey’s bed. What if that had been Orson at the door tonight? What if he’d been the man who’d pinned her to the wall with his brute strength? The truth shuddered through her.

There would have been no way she could have protected Joey.

But it hadn’t been Orson Bastion. It had been Sean Ledger, whose hard, unrelenting strength held her captive. Yet, the minute she’d realized he wasn’t dangerous, it had been attraction, not fear, she’d felt at his hands.

Eve slipped out of her robe, draped it across the one chair in the room and then dropped to the twin bed opposite Joey’s. She slid beneath the crisp sheets and pulled the quilt over her as confusing thoughts tumbled through her mind.

The dread that had chilled her before Sean’s arrival had disappeared. The rambling old house no longer made her uneasy. If anything, she felt protected. Sean made the difference.

Yet, she couldn’t start relying on him. Tomorrow might bring anything. Tonight she needed to get some sleep.

Her eyelids grew heavy, and she turned over to stare out the window and into the darkness, and the scatter of stars that studded the sky.

Her mind flashed back to Sean and a rush of heat crept inside her.

Surely not desire, she told herself. Not in this situation. If she felt anything at all for Sean, the attraction stemmed from pure relief that he wasn’t Orson Bastion.

If he had been, she’d be dead.

But Orson was still on the loose.

SOMEONE WAS IN THE HOUSE. Eve could hear him breathing, smell the odors of sweat and cheap aftershave, see his shadow coming nearer.

She clutched the knife and felt the sear of pain and hot, sticky blood gushing into her hand. When she looked down she saw that the handle was missing and the blade had sliced into her palm.