Her Two Lovers

“We’re comin’ now, darlin’,” Dale said, glancing sideways at Travis.

But Travis didn’t catch Dale’s eye. His gaze was settled on Jill.

* * *

Both Travis and Dale had stared at her all through dinner. Now, her back turned as she loaded the dishwasher, the heat of their dual gazes still penetrated her like the Wyoming sun on a cloudless summer day.

“Jill?”

She turned at Dale’s voice. “Yeah?”

“Trav has a few things to take care of.”

“Oh, of course.” She cleared her throat and advanced toward the two men, her arm extended to Travis. “It was great to meet you. I’m sure I’ll see you again soon.”

Travis’s husky chuckle eased over her as his large calloused hand enclosed hers. “Soon, yes, I hope. I’ll be back later tonight, if all goes well.” He pulled her toward him and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek, shook Dale’s hand, and then headed out the front door of the ranch house.

Jill stared into Dale’s bronze eyes, puzzled. “What did he mean, ‘if all goes well’?”

Dale took her hand. “Come on. Mabel’ll be here in the morning to clean the kitchen. You know you don’t need to do this.”

“But I don’t mind—”

“I do,” he said, and led her into the living room. He sat down on his rustic leather couch and patted the soft cushion next to him.

She sat, and he gathered her into his arms and kissed her neck.

“You didn’t answer my question. Is Travis staying with you tonight?” Jill’s muscles tensed, she wasn’t sure why, as she waited for his answer. Did she want Travis to stay?

Dale let out a short cough. “No. Not the whole night, anyway. He, uh, has a place not far from here where he hangs his hat when he’s in town.”

“Oh. Well, maybe we’ll see him tomorrow.”

“Nope. While we were grillin’ the steaks, he told me he was leavin’ come sunup for another rodeo gig.”

Jill swallowed, a strange sense of loss nagging at her. She quickly batted it away. So she wouldn’t see Travis again. Dale was the man she loved. He was inside her, a part of her. She breathed in, catching his masculine scent. She’d do anything for Dale Cross.

“Thing is, darlin’,” Dale continued, “Travis was wonderin’…”

“Wondering what?” Why would Travis wonder anything that mattered to her and Dale? A chill slithered across the back of her neck, and her sex responded. Strange.

Dale stood abruptly. “I’ll be right back.”

“Well…okay.” She watched his gorgeous denim-clad ass as he walked back to the kitchen. Magnificent.

He returned a few minutes later with two glasses of lemonade and handed one to her. “I put a shot of bourbon in, the way you like it.”

Jill took a sip of the crisp beverage. “Thanks. Now what’s going on?”

Dale took a long, slow drink of his lemonade. “There’s something I want you to know about me, Jill. Something I want to share with you.”

“Okay.” Nervous ripples skittered across her skin. The thought that Dale had hidden something from her agitated her. She loved him. Would marry him if he asked. And now? She inhaled, bracing herself.

“Travis and I…well…” He stood again and paced to the end of the room and back.

“Dale, for God’s sake, what the hell is going on?”

He gazed into her eyes, his own burning with fire. He cupped her cheeks in his strong hands and leaned down and pressed his lips to hers in a gentle kiss. Jill’s heart leaped into overdrive. She opened to him, let his smooth tongue entwine around hers. What started as gentle soon became passionate and lusty.