Colton Cowboy Jeopardy (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

“He’s the cop, not me.” He read through the file, swearing occasionally under his breath while she fed her son. “These threats need to be on an official record somewhere,” he said at last. “If you’re ready, why don’t I take this to my brother and let him decide what comes next. I visit him often enough at the station that it’s not suspicious.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?” Jarvis echoed. “Just like that?”

“Isn’t it past time?” She sighed. “Hearing Dad’s voice flipped a switch for me. As things stand right now, I lose him either way. By hiding or pushing Regina to do her worst. It’s a huge risk, and it scares the hell out of me, but I’d rather lose him while trying to win, than just roll over.”

Once Silas had a full tummy, he didn’t want to settle down. He kept turning toward Jarvis’s voice as they talked, smiling and babbling and making Mia wish for so many impossible things.

Jarvis had found her while looking for his roots. He didn’t have family in mind for his future. She respected that, she did, but Silas was the next generation and that meant making plans and building up hope for the days and years ahead.

Her internal debate must have translated to Silas. Her son was happy enough but clearly had no intention of going back to sleep. “At least he isn’t screaming this time,” she said. “But it promises to be a long night.”

“We could take him for a drive,” Jarvis suggested.

She glanced over and noticed he was serious. “Where?”

He hitched a shoulder. “Around the back roads. Don’t babies like that kind of thing?”

“They do.” Her foolish heart fluttered. Had Jarvis been reading up on baby care, or did he remember that about Silas in particular? “He fell asleep when I drove to see you after Regina’s party.”

“Then let’s go.”

They took his truck because the car seat bracket was already installed. He drove because he knew both the truck and the area better than she did. That left her free to pop Silas’s pacifier back into his mouth whenever he spit it out.

“Far cry from Selina’s Jag,” he said as they reached the paved road that bordered this side of the ranch. “She let me open it up on this road.”

“How fun for you.”

“It was. I got it to ninety-five before I brought myself back down to earth. Selina giggled like a teenager.”

“I bet. Have you always wanted a sports car?”

“I used to dream of driving a Mercedes,” he said. “That daydream is a rite of passage for business majors.”

“One quick drag at ninety-five cured you?” She studied his handsome profile, wondering what he wasn’t saying.

His lips tilted up on one side. “I wouldn’t say that. The truck is comfortable. It suits me better right now.”

“Well, I’m sure you look just as good driving the truck as you did driving Selina’s car.” She admired his capable hands on the wheel, wished she had the guts to ask him to put those hands on her.

At last Silas fell asleep and they turned back toward the bunkhouse. “Oh, look, a shooting star.” She leaned forward, pointing through the windshield.

He craned his neck and then sat back in the seat, a smile on his face. “Better make a wish.”

She didn’t tell him she already had.

Back on Triple R land, he drove on past the bunkhouse. The tires bumped over the ground, but he kept on going until at last he stopped and cut the truck lights. Looking proud of himself, he rolled down the windows, allowing the cooler night air to flow through the truck.

“What are we doing?” she asked.

“It’s a surprise.” He hopped out of the car and pulled a blanket from behind his seat. “Come on.” That sexy, irrepressible grin flashed. “If Silas wakes up, we’ll drive some more.”

He managed to lower the tailgate in near silence and she gawked while he spread out a blanket over the truck bed. Then he walked back to where she waited and extended a hand.

She placed her palm in his and his fingers curled around her as he assisted her up. Into the truck bed and his strong embrace. His arms banded around her, his fingers locked together at the base of her spine, just above the curve of her backside.

His lips touched hers softly, the urgency building with each heartbeat, each dreamy touch as her lips parted and his tongue twined with hers. A wicked, eager thrill rushed over her, from her scalp to her toes and she moaned against his mouth, wanting so much more than she had a right to ask for.