One Unforgettable Night: Wild at Heart / From This Moment On / Her Last Best Fling

Her smile widened. “You think I have a natural talent for sex?”

“I know you do, at least for kissing, which usually tells me a lot about a woman.” Keeping one arm firmly around her narrow waist, he slid his free hand up through her silky blond hair. No ponytail tonight.

“We only kissed once.”

“True.” He cradled the back of her head. “I should gather more information before I come to any firm conclusions.”

She rocked against him. “Feels like you’ve already come to a very firm conclusion.”

“See, that’s what I’m talking about.” Cupping her bottom, he snuggled her in tight. “A natural talent. And, lady, sassy comments and sexy moves like that will get you anything you want from me.”

“Anything?”

“Sky’s the limit.” He lowered his head and brushed his mouth over hers. So delicious. But he dared not get involved in the kind of kiss he wanted, the kind that would make him forget where he was.

She clutched his shoulders and joined in his little game of butterfly kisses. “I’ve already told you what I want.”

“In general terms, yes.” The feathery touch of her lips could drive him crazy if it went on too long without some way to release the tension. “But we have to work out the details.”

“We can’t do anything here.”

He chuckled. “No, obviously not.” Although with the blood pumping hot in his veins, he’d already fantasized about coaxing her into the shadows behind the building. “We’re standing in front of the most popular spot in town.”

“I mean not here, as in not in Shoshone.”

He nibbled her full lower lip. “You want to drive to Jackson?” He hoped not. He wouldn’t be able to swing very many trips to Jackson and still handle his assigned work on the ranch. But with a hot woman in his arms, he was ready to do whatever it took to have her.

“No, nothing that drastic.” She placed tiny kisses at the corners of his mouth. “I was referring to my campsite as being the most discreet choice.”

“It’s perfect, except you’re not there.” And he wanted her now, tonight. Moments ago he’d given up all hope of a relationship, but her unexpected decision and these flirty kisses had flipped the switch on his libido and destroyed his patience. He outlined her mouth with the tip of his tongue.

Her breathing had changed, signaling that she was getting as worked up as he was. “I will be there.”

“When?” His fingers flexed against her bottom.

“Tomorrow.”

He groaned. “That’s forever.”

“I can’t hike out there in the dark.”

“I know. But I—whoops, somebody’s coming.” He released her and stepped back. With luck, whoever it was would simply call a greeting and pass on by. Then he glanced over and realized that wasn’t going to happen. Thank God for the shadows that should keep his aroused condition from being too obvious.

Emmett walked toward them. “Hi there, Naomi.” He touched the brim of his hat. “Nice to see you.”

“Hi, Emmett. It’s good to see you, too. You don’t usually come into town midweek.”

“I wanted to treat Luke. He showed up in the nick of time and put on a roping demonstration that saved what was fast becoming a disaster.”

“Ah, you would have worked it out.” Luke pulled the brim of his hat back down and hoped Emmett hadn’t noticed how he’d shoved it back, which was typical for a cowboy who’d been kissing a woman.

“I’m not so sure.” Emmett glanced at Naomi. “Take my word for it. We had a snarled-up mess, but five minutes after Luke showed up and started twirling a rope, the kids were mesmerized. They hadn’t seen the possibilities of roping until then. Pete and I aren’t that fancy. This boy has hidden talents.”

“Talent, singular,” Luke said. “Trick roping. That’s my only hidden talent.”

Naomi glanced at him. “Oh, I doubt that.”

“Anyway,” Emmett said. “I didn’t mean to break up your conversation, Luke, but your food’s getting cold. Naomi, why don’t you join us? We have an extra chair. Have you had dinner?”

“Yes, thanks. I ate at the diner before I came over. But I don’t want to keep you two from your meal. Let’s go in.”

“Excellent. You can fill me in on how the eagle project’s going.”

“I’d love to. That platform you and Jack built is working out beautifully.”

Luke followed them in. As Emmett asked more questions about the eagles, Luke quietly ground a centimeter off his back molars. He hadn’t been sure when Emmett first showed up, but he was now. The foreman was deliberately interfering in what he saw as a problem situation between Luke and Naomi.

No doubt Emmett saw Luke as the aggressor and Naomi as the sweet local girl about to be seduced by a guy who would leave her in the lurch. It wasn’t like that, of course. Luke had been ready to back off and Naomi had turned the tables on him. But he couldn’t very well explain that to Emmett. A gentleman wouldn’t put the blame on a lady.

The foreman had every reason to misunderstand what was happening. When Luke had been hired on at the Last Chance, he’d warned both Emmett and Jack that he tended to move along after a year or so. They’d both predicted he’d change his mind, that the Last Chance had a way of getting in a person’s blood.

But last month he’d turned down Nash’s offer of employment and had made no secret as to why. He believed in being up front with people, so he could see why Emmett thought Naomi needed someone to step in and keep her heart from being broken.

Luke didn’t want to get crossways with the foreman. He liked and admired the guy, and until now they’d had no real issues between them. But Luke would be damned if he’d allow Emmett to louse up a perfectly acceptable arrangement between two consenting adults.

He thought about his options as he ate the excellent dinner Emmett had bought him and listened to the foreman and Naomi talk about the eagles. Luke even participated in the conversation because he was interested in those birds, too. He was more interested in the woman watching the birds, but he found the eagle study fascinating. He hadn’t been kidding when he’d told Naomi that an eagle’s freedom of movement appealed to him.

“That nest’s not as big as some.” Naomi took a sip of the draft she’d ordered. “It’s only about seven feet across. I’ve seen reports on nests that are ten feet and weigh close to two tons.”

Emmett shook his head in disbelief. “That’s like putting my pickup in the top branches of one of those pines. I had no idea they could be that heavy. I’d—” He stopped talking and glanced at the door. “What do you know? There’s Pam. Excuse me a minute, folks. I need to go over and say hello. Maybe she can join us.” He stood and walked toward the door.

Luke grabbed his chance. He kept his voice low as he looked over at Naomi. “You do realize Emmett’s trying to save you from me, right?”

“I thought he might be.”

“He told me earlier tonight that he thought you wanted a steady guy in your life. That’s why I backed off.”

Naomi sighed. “I’m not surprised he’d say something like that. He’s friends with my parents, and he’s a dad. He probably sees me as being like his daughter, Emily.”

“Ah. Okay, I get that.” Luke thought about the blonde woman who was in training to eventually take over Emmett’s job when he retired. Emily and Naomi had several things in common besides their coloring. They were both only children who had been raised to be independent and fend for themselves without leaning on a man. They both enjoyed testing themselves with physical challenges.

But Emily was now married to Clay Whitaker, who ran the stud operation for the Last Chance. Emmett might figure that Naomi, having similarities to his daughter, also should find herself someone like Clay.

He glanced at her. “Maybe Emmett knows what he’s talking about. Maybe I should just—”

“Don’t you dare back off because Emmett thinks I’m just like his daughter. I’m not.”

The defiant sparks flashing in her blue eyes gladdened his heart. She thought for herself, and that was a quality he admired. “I’m sure you’re not just like anyone.”