“Nashville, I’m guessing.”
Sam let out a heavy breath. “Is he an ex, or still in the picture?”
“Definitely an ex. But a serial caller. Wants something from me I’m not willing to give.” And she feared it wasn’t just her money. “I think I scared him off enough to keep him from actually coming to Texas again, but he keeps inventing new things to say to my voicemail in an attempt to persuade me to see him. To give him the money he needs to pay…whoever.”
“How’d you scare him?”
She swallowed hard. Staring into the green irises that glimmered in the moonlight, she said, “He busted down my trailer door in Luckenbach, and I pulled a gun on him. Released the safety. Told him I wouldn’t think twice about shooting him if he dared to make a move, other than back out the door.”
With a nod, Sam said, “Can’t blame you for that. But something tells me there’s more to needing to protect yourself than money and a busted door.”
Sky glanced away, avoiding that hot mess of a statement. “He’ll keep trying to convince me to help him out, but I’m not listening.” Her gaze returned to his. “I’m stronger than that. I can handle this situation.”
Sam stared down at her for several tense moments, then said, “Don’t think you’re all alone. You’re Reese’s best friend. That means Caleb and I are here for you.”
She smiled, her heart melting again. The cowboy did all kinds of sexy things to her. “That’s sweet. And appreciated. I don’t like to lay my troubles at anyone’s feet, though. Or get anyone involved in something that never should have happened in the first place. But I do think it’s kind of you—and Caleb and Reese—to be concerned.”
“You can take care of yourself, I don’t doubt that. And I’m not saying otherwise. Just know you’ve got some backup.”
Her breath caught. Damn, he really was a hero.
Impulsively, she leaned in close and brushed her lips against his. A whisper of a kiss. She said, “I’m not the type to drag anyone into my drama. But I do thank you for being in my corner. You don’t even know me all that we—”
He kissed her, stealing the words from her mouth. Warning signals went off in the back of her head, but Sky couldn’t be bothered with them. The gorgeous cowboy who rescued injured horses pulled her to him and slipped his arms around her waist. Her breasts pressed below the hard ledge of his pectoral muscles. Her lips parted and his tongue delved deep, intensifying the impassioned kiss.
She wound her arms around his neck and held on for dear life. His blazing kiss sent fire roaring through her veins. Oh there was some serious chemistry happening between them! But more than that, Sky felt the scorching effects of his kiss all the way to her toes. And wanted more of the hunky hero.
One of his hands eased over her backside to cup a cheek. He gave a gentle squeeze and then kneaded the flesh, making her burn. All the while, their searing liplock went on and on.
Her fingers threaded through his silky hair, twisting and tangling. A hot flash of desire caused a moan to lodge in her throat. They just kept clinging to each other, kissing as though they couldn’t get enough of one another.
Those wicked tickles along her clit that he so easily incited caused a throbbing in her pussy that made her restless. She wanted to drag Sam’s hand at the small of her back around to the front of her. To encourage him to slip that hand under her skirt and rub her slowly. She wanted him to push his fingers deep inside her and stroke her until she came.
With her chest heaving and her pulse racing, she forced herself to break the kiss and pull in some much-needed oxygen. And to try to get her bearings.
She wasn’t in any sort of position to get all hot ’n heavy like this. And, as she’d contended earlier, she didn’t want to get him tangled up in her current drama.
With her hands splayed over his muscular chest, she said, “You know how to leave a girl breathless.”
He seemed to be in the same state. He stared deep into her eyes and said, “To hell with having my hands full. I’m all kinds of crazy for you.”
Her pulse soared, but her stomach churned.
Reluctantly, she told him, “Guess there’s something you ought to know about me, then. Because that was not just a kiss. That was—”
“The start of something.”
Chapter Four
“Yeah,” Sky said in a quiet voice, her chest still rising and falling quickly. “Makes me a little nervous.”
Sam cocked his head to one side. “How so?”
“Because I need to tell you what happened to me in Nashville. If you’re planning on kissing me like that again, you ought to know.”
He had a bad feeling about this. Reese had alluded to something shady taking place, and he’d seen enough flickers of torment in Sky’s eyes to agree with Reese that there was more to her story than attempted extortion.
Sky was going to tell him something disturbing. Something that wouldn’t sit right with him.