Big Sky Seduction

Faith came in seconds later, obviously having overheard the entire thing. She looked Gloria up and down, shook her head and said, “You are in trouble, girl.”

“No. I’m not.”

Giving her another sweeping gaze, Faith’s expression said different. “You want him. I can tell.”

“No, I don’t. Now, let’s—”

“When’s the last time you had sex?”

“None of your business.”

“Three months ago. Daisy’s wedding.”

Gloria sputtered. “How’d you know?”

“Because you’ve been weird ever since.”

Straightening herself, Gloria said, “Whatever. Now help me—”

“How about before that? Before the stupid cowboy from Wyoming?”

“Again, none of your business.”

“Greg.” Faith moved over to the bed, squatted down and began to shove, a smug expression lighting her face. “Boring, predictable, accountant Greg, right?”

“Why did I hire you, again?” Gloria tugged while Faith shoved and the heavy bed inched across the floor.

“Because I have an eye for detail.” She tapped her temple. “And an amazing memory.”

“Quiet and keep pushing.”

“Didn’t you two break up, like, a year ago? Or was it two?”

“Something like that.” The bed was moving at the speed of a glacier and Gloria grunted. “How about you focus your energy on pushing instead of talking?”

Ignoring her, Faith said, “Why’d you break up again?”

“He was transferred.”

“Oh, I thought it had to do with the fact he only knew one position—missionary, in the dark, no talking.”

Gloria stood, giving up any pretense of moving the bed. “Look. Enough about my private life, okay? We’ve got work to do.”

“I’ll stop as soon as you tell my why you aren’t accepting the stupid cowboy’s offer for hot sex. Because, no offense, but, you need it.”

“What does that mean?” Hands on her hips, Gloria glared at her employee.

“You’re wound really tight right now. A smokin’ hot sex session with a cowboy sounds divine.” Faith gasped and put a hand to her mouth. “I bet he has rope, too, doesn’t he?” She shut her eyes and rocked back and forth, like she was imagining bondage shit behind those closed lids.

Leaning against the bed, Gloria sighed. “Enough.”

“Why?”

“I lose control when I’m around him, okay? Are you satisfied now?”

Faith hugged herself. “Sounds delicious.”

“No. Not delicious. The way I lose it is not a good thing.” That wasn’t completely true; a flash from three months ago stole her breath, in a good way. Dillon holding her legs wide while he moved inside of her... Gloria recalled feeling complete and utter abandon at that moment. However, following close on the heels of that memory was the overwhelming sensation of not being able to breathe. Of feeling constricted. Weighed down. Ears ringing, cotton balls filling her throat, heart pounding.

Panic.

It would not happen again.

* * *

DILLON JOINED HIS cousin Jamie in the locker room of the private boxing club he and his twin brother, Colin, ran. The club was frequented by Chicago’s elite athletes and every time Dillon came to town he stopped in to go a round with one of his cousins. The three of them had been fistfighting for fun since they were kids, spending the summers together at his family ranch in Montana.

Funny how even as an adult, there was nothing like a good fight to take the edge off. Though that wasn’t the only reason he was here. He had an appointment with Jamie who was an expert in family law.

“So,” Jamie asked as he stepped out of the shower, a towel wrapped around his waist. “Gloria said no?”

“Nah. She’s playing hard to get.” Dillon unwrapped the tape from his hands.

“You really don’t understand women, do you, Dill?”

“Are you kidding? Women are like ornery bulls and this one is doing her damnedest to make me think she wants to buck me off. But what she really wants is for me to figure out a way to ride her.”

“You did not.”

“Did not what?”

“Just compare Gloria to a bull.”

“I like bulls.”

Jamie rubbed a towel over his wet hair. “An ornery bull.”

“The ornery ones are the best kind.”

Laughing, Jamie said, “No wonder you can’t get a date.”

Dillon rolled the used tape into a ball and tossed it into the trash can across the room. “Oh, I can get a date.”

“Not with Gloria. If she’s decided she doesn’t like you, she doesn’t like you.”

“Except that she does like me.”

“Right.”