Wild For You

“I don’t know.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Maybe. But I wouldn’t have gone to your place.”

“The inn?”

“You know what? It’s a moot point.” She shifted in her seat, adjusted the air vents again. “Let’s drop it.”

“You opened the door.”

“Yeah, well, now I’m closing it.”

Spencer smiled to himself. He’d finally figured out her strategy. She thought dangling sex and knocking him off balance would give her the upper hand. And damn, she wasn’t completely wrong. “Humor me. I’m curious.”

She huffed out a disgruntled sigh. “Look, I don’t pick up guys in bars, okay? And if I did, I sure as hell wouldn’t let them know where I live. Or go to some strange man’s place. That would be pretty stupid.”

“So, what? You’d prefer to have sex in a car? A hotel?”

“What part of moot point don’t you understand?” Staring at him, she shook her head. “Like I said, circumstances being what they are, it doesn’t matter.”

“Well, I’m never going to let you and your people set foot on the mountain.”

“And I’ll never quit trying to wear you down. Today you get a pass. I intend to honor the condition of my ride-along. But after that...” She shrugged, her lips curving in a cocky smile.

Spencer couldn’t believe he was having this conversation. Or worse, that he wouldn’t let it go. “I’m flat out telling you Moonlight Mountain is off-limits,” he said and caught her smile slip a bit. “So there’s no reason for sex to be off the table.”

“Since I’m confident I can change your mind, sex definitely can’t be part of the equation. It would feel too creepy.” She straightened in her seat and peered up ahead at the buildings starting to become visible. “Is that the Lone Wolf?”

“I think so. I’ve only been out here once before.”

“Looks big.”

“Yep.” He tried not to sound like a sulky ten-year-old. Especially since Erin didn’t seem to give a shit one way or the other about having sex. But in truth, he was used to getting his way. Up until the accident that had changed everything, his life had been golden.

* * *

HE PARKED THE TRUCK close to a structure that Erin guessed was the barn. The ranch in general was a sizable spread with a large stable, what looked to be a second barn, a dozen or more corrals and a building large enough to be a warehouse.

She opened the door and frowned at the soft ground around them. It was a big truck, and she was too high up to just hop out. Climbing in had been easy because she’d had a boost from the curb.

“Here.” Spencer was suddenly standing there offering his hand. When she hesitated, he added, “I won’t bite.”

“No, but will you let me fall on my ass?”

“You don’t need my help for that.”

“Ha. Funny.” Eyeing his boots, she saw they were making a slight depression in the dirt. She took his hand and not for the first time wondered why he didn’t have more calluses.

She stepped down and was instantly glad for his assistance. He didn’t let go until they reached a patch of gravel, and she was sure of her footing.

“I know her,” Erin murmured when she finally looked up and caught sight of a woman standing on the porch of an attractive two-story house set back from everything. “I think that’s Rachel.” Her long, beautiful auburn hair wasn’t easily forgotten. Still, Erin glanced at Spencer for confirmation.

He shrugged. “Could be Matt’s wife. I’ve never met her.” His attention shifted to the second barn. “Here’s Gunderson now.”

Spencer walked toward the man, until they met up and shook hands. They were around the same height, somewhere just over the six-foot mark, though Matt had a huskier build and lighter hair.

Erin trailed behind until Spencer introduced her. Matt’s rough palm felt more like what she expected of a cowboy. She knew from the townspeople that Spencer was new to the area. And damn, she was curious about what he’d been doing before buying Shadow Creek Ranch. If she could get Dusty alone, she bet he would tell her.

“Ah, here comes Rachel,” Matt said, looking toward the house.

“I thought it was her,” Erin said and caught Matt’s confused expression. “We met in town about three months ago. I was here scouting locations for a film.”

“Okay. You must be with that independent film, then,” Matt said, and she nodded. “My buddy Ben Wolf has been providing your production company with some stock.”

“That’s right. I don’t know Ben all that well, but we met when he was still working in Hollywood. He sure has some beautiful horses.”

Matt nodded at Spencer. “How do you figure into all this?”

“I don’t,” he said, putting up both hands. “I just gave the lady a ride.”

Erin grinned. “I’m trying to get him to let us use Moonlight Mountain. The director wants to shoot the last scene of the movie on the west ridge.”

“I can see why. Nice piece of real estate you’ve got there,” Matt said to Spencer. “I’d considered making an offer on it myself, but I think you’d already put down earnest money.”

“Well, damn. I wish you had bought it. Spencer’s playing hard to get.”

“Don’t start,” he warned in a low voice just as Rachel approached.

“Oh, please, I haven’t even begun to get started.” Erin smiled sweetly, heard Matt chuckle, then turned to Rachel.

“Erin, right?”

“Yes, we met at— Oh—” Erin stumbled back a step. Rachel was a hugger. “Okay,” Erin murmured, doing her best to reciprocate but feeling awkward. She kind of patted the other woman’s back and hoped that was enough.

Matt grinned but not without a hint of understanding in his face. “You meet Rachel once, and you’re a friend for life.”

“Not everyone.” Rachel glanced at her husband. “You know who I’m talking about,” she said and turned to Spencer with a smile and her hand out. “Hello. I’m Rachel.”

He shifted the speculative look he was giving Erin, his expression easing as he nodded at Rachel. “Spencer Hunt.” He reached up and yanked off his hat before shaking her hand. “Pleased to meet you, Rachel.”

With raised brows, Rachel looked at her husband.

“Ah, Christ.” Matt rubbed his jaw, the corners of his mouth twitching. “Thanks, Hunt. Yeah, thanks for showing up the rest of us poor slobs with your fancy manners.”

“You can blame my mama for that.” Spencer reset the hat on his head and smiled. A real, honest-to-goodness, genuine smile that seemed to come so naturally.

Wow. Erin hadn’t known he had it in him. “You’ve never removed your hat for me,” she said.

He turned to her with a hint of amusement in his face. “If you were less irritating, maybe I would.”

Matt choked out a laugh. Then something caught his attention, and he excused himself, moving to the side. “Hey, Chuck,” he called to a young man walking toward the corral. “Have you seen Petey?”