Quick-Draw Cowboy

Conflicting emotions sent her heart to her throat. His touch set her on fire, but what did he want from her. A kiss? A short fling before he moved on again? Or was this just the routine with a love-’em-and-leave-’em cowboy?

Not that she was actually looking for more. Getting the bakery on its feet and helping Constance adjust to her new life took practically every waking second.

And now there was James Haggard to add to the mix. There was no time for even a temporary romantic escapade in her life.

“I’ll have to take a rain check on the walk. I really should take Constance home. This is well past her bedtime.”

Riley slid his hand from around Dani’s waist and took one of her hands in his. “You’re not afraid of being alone with me, are you?”

“Should I be?”

“I’ll never do anything you don’t want me to do.”

That wasn’t a lot of reassurance. All she had to do was look into his eyes and her willpower would melt like butter on a hot cinnamon bun.

“I’m making you uncomfortable,” he said. “That’s not at all what I intended.”

“It’s not that,” she lied. “But I do need to get home. I have a busy day tomorrow.”

“You have to work on Sunday?”

“My boss is a slave driver.”

“What time do you close the bakery?”

“Three on Sundays. Four every other day. Except Monday. Then we’re closed all day, but this week I may have business in San Antonio.” If by a stroke of luck she could get a sample of James’s DNA.

“Are you always this tough on a guy trying to get to know you better?”

“I have been accused of that before.” More than once.

“I’m not giving up,” Riley said. “What about dinner Monday night, or better yet, why don’t you and Constance come back out to the ranch after you close tomorrow? We can explore the ranch on horseback or in my pickup truck. I need to reintroduce myself to the Double K.”

She wanted to say yes, but her overly cautious nature held her back. Riley Lawrence was a heartache waiting to happen.

“I’ll see. If not, perhaps one afternoon next week if that works for you. Constance doesn’t have school Monday through Wednesday. Teacher workshops.”

“How about both Sunday and a couple of afternoons next week? Every kid needs some time on a ranch.”

“No promises, but I will try.”

“And I’ll keep thinking of you back in that kitchen creating all those delicious pastries. Spreading the creamy fillings. Dripping the caramel sauce. Licking the bowl.”

A traitorous craving rippled through her body, a need so intense she had to fight the urge to wrap herself in his arms the way she had on the dance floor.

A walk with him in the moonlight would most definitely do her in.

“I really have to go now,” she said, suddenly terrified by the strength of her feelings for a man she barely knew.

“Then let me drive you home,” Riley persisted.

“I have my car here.”

“But it’s late. No reason for you and your niece to be out alone on these old country roads this time of night.”

“It’s Winding Creek,” she reminded him. “I don’t think there’s any reason to worry.”

“You drive a hard bargain, Dani Boatman.”

She loved hearing her name on his lips. The name she’d had since birth, but it had never sounded erotic before.

“Dani.”

She turned at Grace’s frantic voice. An armed deputy with a dead serious expression on his face was walking at her side.

“What’s wrong?” Riley asked.

The deputy looked past him and spoke directly to Dani. “There’s been a break-in at your bakery.”

She swallowed hard past a lump in her throat. “Are you sure? Sometimes the wind can set off the alarm system.”

“There has definitely been a break-in and some damage. Deputies are on the scene. I can drive you there if you want.”

“I’ll drive her,” Riley said.

Her first impulse was irritation that he took control, as if she couldn’t handle this. But in truth she had no idea what she’d find when she got to the bakery and she didn’t want to face it alone.

“Is there a problem?” Esther asked, joining them.

“My bakery has been broken into.”

“Oh, mercy me. What is this world coming to? Did you catch the no-account bloke who did it?”

“Not yet,” the deputy said, “but we will.”

“Well, you can’t do it soon enough to suit me. Terrible when a hardworking person can’t even operate a business without someone stealing from her.”

“Right about that,” the deputy agreed.

“Why don’t you just leave Constance here with me for the night?” Esther offered. “No use to drag her into that mess.”

“I can’t ask you to do that. You must be exhausted after all you’ve done today.”

“You didn’t ask. I offered. Besides, Constance isn’t a bit of trouble. I figure she and Jaci will be so tired they’ll fall asleep the second their heads hit the pillows. I’m sure I can find a cotton T-shirt she can sleep in.”

“She should definitely stay,” Grace said. “Pierce and I aren’t leaving for San Antonio until tomorrow morning. I can help with the girls tonight.”

“You’re on your honeymoon.”