After he helped clean up the kitchen, he cornered her, bringing his body in line with hers, pressing her against the wall. “I do believe I was promised dessert with this lunch.”
“If you’ll give me a sec, I’ll—”
“I know what I want. And I can’t think of anything sweeter than your lips.” He connected their mouths in a kiss so hot she wondered if she had blisters on her tongue after he released her.
Then he kissed the side of her neck, one hand gripping her short hair, the other curled around her hip.
Her eyes closed and she stopped second guessing why her body went haywire at Gavin’s slightest touch. Her bones seemed to melt as his mouth tasted her skin and his thumb feathered across her belly above the waistband of her jeans.
“This is going to be dangerous,” he murmured against her throat. “Now that we’ve started this, I don’t know how I’ll keep my hands off you.”
“I don’t want you to keep your hands off me.” She slid her palms up his chest. “But we need to talk about it before Sierra gets here.”
That gave Gavin’s amorous attention pause.
Regretfully they both backed off.
“There’s not much to talk about. We’ve kissed. I plan on kissing you a whole lot more. Will those kisses happen in front of my daughter? No. What happens between us isn’t anyone else’s business until we make it so.”
“Agreed.”
He crooked his finger at her and grinned. “So why’re you standing so far away from me?”
“Because I heard a car come up the driveway.”
“How is your hearing that good?”
“I’ve lived in the country forever and I am attuned to every nuance and change around me.” She paused. “Or Sadie barked.”
Gavin laughed softly. “I’ll admit you were right. Being outside fixed my crappy state of mind. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She drained her water. “I’m heading back out.”
“If this is your busiest time of year, why don’t you hire seasonal help?”
Don’t bristle. It’s a legitimate question—one your friends ask you too. “Because it’s expensive. And like your issues with your employees, I have the same problem. For them it’s just a job. For me, it’s my livelihood. What I earn in a three month period has to sustain me for the rest of the year. I’d rather be tired for a few weeks and know I did it right than trust someone else at this critical point and pay for it the rest of the year.”
Gavin looked as if he wanted to say something but thought better of it.
Good. Gavin might be a whiz at running his business, but she didn’t need his unsolicited advice on how to run hers. “I’d better head out and see who’s here.”
“You don’t have set hours?”
“No nine to five for ranchers.”
Chapter Ten
“Dad, Marin is here,” Sierra yelled up the stairs.
“Don’t forget I’m going to Quinn and Libby’s for dinner.”
“I know.”
“You’re still spending the night at Marin’s?”
“Yes. God. You’ve already talked to her parents about it.” How embarrassing. Who did stuff like that? “Can I go now?”
“Yes. But—”
Before she bounded out the door she vaguely heard him say her midnight curfew still applied and she had to clean her room tomorrow. She hopped into Marin’s Chevy Blazer and threw her duffel bag in the backseat. “Thanks for picking me up.” She could not wait until she could drive and didn’t have to beg for rides.
“No problem. So you ready for your first Tri-County football game championship?”
“I guess. How is it different from any other high school football game?”
“There’s tailgating. And cowboys fighting. It’s awesome.” Marin cranked the radio and belted out the words to some annoying country ditty. Then she looked over at Sierra. “I just love this song, don’t you?”
“I’m not really a fan of country music.”
Marin gasped. “Oh, Arizona, I’m gonna love getting you countrified.” She scrutinized Sierra’s outfit. “What’s up with the parka?”
“It’s freakin’ cold here.” Sierra paused, unsure. “Truth: do I look ridiculous?”
“Ah, yeah. It won’t be that cold out tonight, so leave it in the truck. Plus what you’re wearing is cute!”
Cute, but she’d freeze her ass off. She should’ve stashed a hoodie in her duffel bag. “Did you finish the English assignment?”
“Yep. I plan to write the report Sunday night. But we’re not talking about homework tonight. We’re gonna get wild.”
Wild? Right. Wild for Marin meant using ketchup and ranch dressing on her fries. Not that Sierra didn’t like her; she liked Marin a lot. They had fun together.
“So…you’ve been here for almost a whole quarter. You got your eye on any guy at school?”
Boone West’s face popped into her mind. He was so unbelievably hot. Those smoky eyes. That hank of hair that fell just a little too far down his forehead. Sigh. That sweet and devilish smile. Not to mention his rocking body.
“Ah hah! I recognize that dreamy look,” Marin accused. “Come on. Spill it. Who?”
Sierra’s thing for Boone wasn’t up for discussion. Not only because she didn’t have a chance with him, but she’d die if Boone ever found out she was crushing on him. She hadn’t told Marin about fixing lunch for Boone or how pervy she’d acted, peeking out the window, watching him work those muscles. “I saw this guy at the C-Mart the other day,” she lied. “He was older. A total cowboy. He flirted with me a little and left before I asked his name.”
“Shame. I’d like to know who he was so I could tell you all about him. Or tell you to avoid him.”
That was another problem she’d discovered living in Sundance. Everybody seemed to know everybody else’s business. “Maybe I’ll get lucky and see him tonight.”
“Cool. So it’s your turn. Ask me who’s been flirting with me nonstop since the last FFA meeting.”
“Who?”
“Mitch Michaels!”
Sierra turned down the radio. “Seriously, Marin? You’re just telling me this now?”
Marin bounced in her seat and squealed, “Yes! I mean, I don’t know if it’ll come to anything, but we’re on the same sales team, selling raffle tickets for the quilt fundraiser.”