Cathy Thacker - The Texas Lawman's Woman

He lifted his eyebrows and waited for her gaze to meet his. “What’s up?”

“Did you fix my flat tire?” Shelley demanded, indignation flushing her cheeks.

Colt’s eyes twinkled. “Why do I think if I say yes I’ll be shot at dawn?”

“Just answer the question.”

He rubbed the flat of his hand across his newly shaven jaw. “I might know something about that.”

“I told you not to do that.”

“Yeah, I know.” Heat emanating from his big, rugged frame, he shrugged and offered, “But I figured you had enough on your plate right now and took matters into my own hands...”

Shelley hung on to her patience by a thread. “What do I owe you then?”

“Nothing.” He gave her another long, slow once-over before returning his gaze ever so deliberately to her face. “I was being neighborly.”

Finding him too close for comfort, Shelley stepped back, bumping into an end table in the process. “Well, I can’t just accept it without giving you anything in return.”

“Because that would make you beholden to me.”

“Yes.” Shelley propped her hands on her hips. “And I don’t want to be.”

Colt’s expression changed. “You really want to help me out, too?”

Wasn’t that what she had just been saying? “Yes!”

He hooked a hand around her waist and tugged her forward so they were standing toe-to-toe. “Then do me one little favor,” he encouraged softly, his head slanting slowly downward, “and return this.”

Chapter Four

It was, Shelley realized, their first kiss in years. And yet it felt as if no time at all had elapsed. Colt still took command with no effort at all. He still tasted and felt the same, so strong and sure and masculine. He still turned her world upside down.

She had dreamed of this moment forever, even as she had warned herself that it would never happen. And the fact of the matter was, she thought, as she abruptly came to her senses and pushed him away, it shouldn’t be happening now. “Whoa there, Deputy!”

The look Colt gave her reminded her of the way he had always liked to end a fight—with a slow, hot kiss that left her barely able to stand on two feet, never mind recall what they had been disagreeing about.

He grinned at her, the way he had then, too—all lazy, confident male. “And here we were just getting to know each other again,” he teased, reaching out to caress her cheek.

Shelley moved away from him and released an indignant breath. “When it comes to the two of us, someone has to put on the brakes.”

Buddy lifted his head, curious.

“We’re not kids anymore, Shelley,” Colt reminded her.

“That’s right.” She ignored the dark, soulful eyes of his dog, the expression relaying to Shelley that his owner was a good guy.

“And as adults we should both know better,” she snapped, irked to find herself so vulnerable again.

She shouldn’t want Colt. Shouldn’t still be tingling from head to toe....

He gave her a once-over that left her all the more aroused. “You said you forgave me.”

Shelley drew in a long, bracing breath. “I said I wanted us to be friends.”

His blue eyes filled with merriment. “I can be friendly.”

His low sexy tone made her think of kisses that rocked her world. It was all Shelley could do not to groan out loud. “Not that kind of pal.”

“No bed buddies?”

Great, now she was thinking of him naked beneath the sheets. “No bed buddies. And,” she added emphatically, before he could go there, too, “no boyfriend-girlfriend, either.”

He chuckled. “I don’t recall asking you out on a date.”

She slid him a long look. “You did something even worse.”

He folded his arms and rocked back on his heels. “I can’t wait to hear what that might be.”

Shelley harrumphed. “You have inserted yourself in my life.”

He flashed a smile that sent another low, throbbing beat of anticipation rushing through her. “By fixing your tire.”

Shelley swallowed. “And making friends with my son, and having me make peace with Buddy...and heaven only knows what else.”

Hearing his name, Buddy rose and lumbered arthritically over to stand next to Shelley. He looked up, waiting to be petted.

Unable to resist the dog’s dark, liquid eyes, Shelley knelt beside him to stroke his head, taking comfort in Buddy’s soft, silky fur. “We can’t go back, Colt.” Briefly, she buried her face in the dog’s neck, and could have sworn that she almost felt Buddy “hug” her in return.

Colt ambled over. He petted Buddy, too, then took Shelley by the hand and brought her around to face him. “I don’t want to go back.” He stepped closer, his eyes heavy-lidded and sexy.

Shelley hitched in a breath as Buddy moseyed off again. “We can’t pretend we want the same things.”

A low, wry laugh rumbled out of him. “When I was kissing you just now, it felt like we did.”

Shelley flushed. Struggling to hold on to her equilibrium, she said, “Obviously, we’re going to see each other. We live in the same town, on the same street. I’m fine with saying hello and being polite to each other.”

His smile reminded her that he knew things about her that no one else did. Like how she most wanted to be kissed...

“But then you want us to keep right on going,” Colt guessed.

Part of Shelley wanted to spend just one night making love with him, so she’d know what it felt like. The other half knew once would never ever be enough. And that in turn could lead to another breakup, which her heart really couldn’t bear. She sensed, despite his bravado, that another ending would be just as tough on him, if only in regard to his pride.

“Intimacy of any kind just isn’t in the cards for us,” she told him. “Never has been. Never will be.”

* * *

SHELLEY HAD JUST ARRIVED AT THE Sugar Love bakery when the door opened and closed behind her. She turned to see Colt stride in and head straight for her side. “What are you doing here?” Shelley demanded before she could stop herself. Every time she turned around, he was there again!

He grinned at her prickly manner. “Gerry asked me to pick out the groom’s cake. Make sure it wasn’t too girly.”

Shock turned to annoyance. “You could have warned me when we were at your place.” Instead, as always, he left her feeling slightly off-kilter.

He shrugged in all innocence. “I tried, but we were too busy...”

Betty, the pastry chef, quirked a brow at the low note of innuendo in Colt’s voice, prompting Shelley to jump in to lamely finish his sentence. “Talking about everything that happened, and getting caught up on things.”

His hot gaze skimmed her face. “We made a start...that’s for sure.”

No, Shelley thought. “We’re already there.”

Colt just smiled. Tingling everywhere his eyes had touched and everywhere they hadn’t, she turned back to Betty.

“Kendall and Gerry want six round layers, all different flavors,” the baker told them. “They are leaving it to you two to taste and select the cake.”

“How about a plain vanilla one on the bottom?” Shelley suggested, anxious to get this over with.

Looking as if he was enjoying this way too much, Colt offered, “Followed by dark chocolate.”

Which he knew was Shelley’s absolute favorite. Darn the man, he just wouldn’t quit.

Betty offered up individual bites of each. Colt and Shelley simultaneously savored the deep, delicious flavors and voted yes on both. “Maybe a layer of strawberry cake on top of that,” Shelley said, after tasting the next most popular menu item.

“And then carrot raisin,” Colt chimed in.

Shelley wrinkled her nose. “After strawberry?” she echoed, incredulous.