Carla Cassidy - Guardian Cowboy

He usually just passed out when he drank, but he had suffered a couple of blackouts in the past. Once he’d found himself sleeping in the pasture next to the pond after the other men had insisted they’d put him in his own bed. Another time he’d planted himself in Mac’s room and had sung all the country-western songs he’d ever known. The next day he’d had no memory of it.

“I have all the equipment I need just outside that door,” she said. He knew she was referring to the bar’s kitchen.

She scooted off the bed and Sawyer averted his gaze once again, but not before he caught a glimpse of long, shapely, bare legs beneath her hot-pink nightie.

“I’ll be right back and we can talk about breakfast.” She disappeared through a door he assumed led to a bathroom.

The minute the door closed behind her, he leaped out of bed. He searched frantically on the floor for his jeans and shirt. When he found them, he dressed as quickly as possible. No matter what had happened between them the night before, he wasn’t comfortable being nearly naked in her bed.

He needed to get out...to get away and process the night he couldn’t remember. How did this change things? What were the consequences? It was obvious she was thrilled with whatever had occurred.

You’re the best, Sawyer. You made my whole body sing with pleasure.

Her words echoed in his brain as he pulled on his boots. At least she’d been pleased with his performance, he thought with a touch of pride.

The pride didn’t last long. In truth, he was ashamed. He grabbed his wallet off the nightstand and opened it, frowning as he saw the condom he carried still in place. Oh, crap, they hadn’t even had protected sex.

His mama would be rolling around in her grave knowing that he’d gotten drunk and taken some random woman to bed.

Only, Janis wasn’t exactly random. He’d always found her pleasant and pretty. He’d just never thought of her that way before. Geez, what had he done?

He grabbed his cell phone out of his jeans’ pocket and dialed the number for Clay. Clay had a reputation as a womanizer. He’d know what to do in this situation.

He released a sigh of relief as Clay answered.

“Come get me,” Sawyer said without preamble.

Clay laughed. “What’s the matter, bro? Having a rough morning after?”

“Just come and pick me up behind the bar.”

Sawyer had just pocketed his cell phone when Janis stepped out of the bathroom. He swallowed hard. He’d thought she was in there getting dressed, but the only thing she had done was pull a short, silky robe over the sexy nightie.

“Oh, you’re already dressed,” she said. “So I guess you don’t want breakfast in bed.”

“Uh, no, but thanks anyway. I just called Clay to come and get me. I need to get back to the ranch.”

“I would have taken you home,” she protested. “I can at least make you a cup of coffee before you go.” She smiled at him and motioned to a small table that held one of those fancy coffeemakers that gave up a cup of coffee in seconds. Next to the machine were a couple of cups, a sugar bowl and several little creamers.

“That would be nice,” he agreed and sat on the very edge of the bed. He just hoped she didn’t want to chew over the details about the night before.

As she put the little pod into place, he couldn’t help but notice her sexy long legs. This was a Janis he didn’t know. She was so far removed from the efficient, jeans-clad woman who served him drinks on Saturday nights.

And apparently he’d made love with her last night.

He needed to get out of there and have some time to process everything. It was hard to think with her in the same small room, looking so soft and gorgeous and smelling like fresh flowers.

“Cream or sugar?” she asked once the coffee machine had whooshed the last of the liquid into the cup.

“No, thanks. Black is fine,” he replied as he took the cup from her.

She made herself a cup and sat on the opposite side of the bed. “You know, Sawyer, I’ve had a crush on you for a long time. I’m so glad last night you let me know you felt the same way about me.”

He had? Some of the other guys had teased him about having a crush on Janis, but that was just because he’d mentioned in passing a couple of times that he thought she was pretty.

“Yeah, me, too,” he replied because he didn’t know what else to say.

“So, when will I see you again?”

“Uh, maybe we could have dinner at the café some time,” he replied and then nervously took a sip of coffee.

“The bar is closed tonight, so I’m free.”

Oh, her eyes held almost as much heat as the cup in his hand. “Okay. Then how about I pick you up around six?”

“That would be perfect,” she replied with a smile.

A horn honked from outside and he jumped up so fast from the bed he sloshed some of the coffee onto his fingers. “That will be Clay.”

She took his cup from him and set both his and hers on the little table. Together, they walked over to the door that led outside.

She opened it and then she was in his arms, her face raised for a kiss. He didn’t deny her. He wrapped his arms around her and lowered his mouth to hers. Her lips were invitingly soft and hot. Instantly, a fire of hunger leaped into his veins.

He couldn’t believe that he had no memories of kissing her last night. Before he followed through on his desire to deepen the kiss, he dropped his arms and stepped back. “I’ll see you at six tonight,” he said.

“I’ll be waiting,” she replied.

Sawyer practically ran for Clay’s truck. He got in on the passenger side and turned to the blond-haired driver. “Clay, you’ve got to help me out, man. I guess I did something crazy last night and I don’t remember it and now I’m in way over my head.”

Clay released a dry chuckle. “Welcome to the world of drunk adulting.”

Chapter 2

Janis couldn’t help the bouts of laughter that overtook her throughout the course of the day. Each time she thought of the stunned look on Sawyer’s face when he’d first awakened, she got the giggles.

His copper-colored eyes had radiated a quiet panic as he’d maneuvered the morning conversation in a way for her not to know he had no memory of them having sex.

Of course he had no memory. Absolutely nothing had happened between them. He had slept soundly through the night while sleep had remained elusive for her because she’d been so acutely aware of him next to her in the bed.

His scent had surrounded her and she’d tried to match her breathing to his. She’d wondered what it would really be like to make love with him.

What she’d done to him was wrong on so many levels, but, if given the same opportunity, she would do it again. What if another woman had gotten him to go home with her while he’d been blindly drunk?

It would be easy to lift his wallet or to make him believe he was a baby daddy or to kill him when he was in that kind of condition.

No hint of laughter left her lips as she thought of all the bad things that could happen to him. He was lucky his fellow cowboys babysat him when he passed out. But he was a grown man and shouldn’t have to rely on the kindness of others to see him home safe and sound.

She’d tell him the truth tonight over dinner. She had no idea how he would react. It was possible her little ploy would make him so angry he’d never speak to her again. Hopefully, he’d take it all in good humor and see that the intent behind it was good and she’d meant him no harm.

Still, her heart raced as she dressed for the evening out. Was it beating more frantically because she didn’t know what to expect from him when she told him the truth? Or was the quickened rhythm because she was finally going to spend some quality time with the man she’d had an interest in for so long?