Page 183 of Ride a Cowboy

“Shit.” She started to rise, but Daniel’s arm tightened.

“Stay a few more minutes,” he mumbled, still half asleep.

“Daniel. Wake up. It’s late. My family will be getting up soon. If they haven’t already.”

His eyes opened, taking in her panicked state. “We overslept.”

Leave it to Daniel to state the obvious. “No shit, Sherlock. I have to get back.” She tried once more to rise, but Daniel’s grip became viselike around her shoulders. Then he lifted the sheet over her, covering her more completely.

“What are you doing? I don’t have time for this. I have to go.”

“No. You don’t.” Daniel’s tone was off, strange.

“Why not?”

“Because your family is already awake.” Her dad’s deep voice filled the small space. Sienna twisted, her gaze taking in what Daniel had already seen, landing on her father filling the doorway to the bedroom.

“Shit,” she whispered.

She tugged the sheet higher, but there was no denying she was naked in Daniel’s bed.

“Put some clothes on,” Dad said. “I’ll be waiting for both of you at the house.” He turned to leave, but then faced them once more, raising a finger. “Ten minutes,” he added. “Be there in ten minutes.”

Sienna wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. Did her dad really think she and Daniel would lounge around in bed and have a quickie?

The door to the RV banged closed, marking her father’s departure.

“Guess that’s what I get for not locking my door at night.”

Sienna tried not to smile at Daniel’s jest. Her dad was pissed. She could tell. But, for some reason, it didn’t matter. She didn’t care. “You realize he’s going to rake us over the coals. I’m afraid the next hour or two aren’t going to be pleasant.”

“Jesus,” Daniel said, rising and throwing on yesterday’s jeans. “You think he’ll rail at us for two hours?”

She lifted one shoulder. “Who knows? I’ve never actually gotten caught having sex before.”

Daniel stared at her. “You mean to tell me in six years you and Josh never?—”

“We were very discreet. And quick. And, well, let’s just say you and I have probably had more sex in the past three months than Josh and I usually did in a year.”

“Jackass,” he muttered.

Sienna giggled, perfectly used to Daniel’s opinion of Josh. She was starting to share it. “It’ll be fine. We’re both adults and there’s no way in hell I’ll let him fire you for this. I’ll recruit my mom and Vivi if I have to. We’ll make him understand.”

Daniel sat on the edge of the bed, pulling on his boots. “We’re consenting adults. Besides I don’t give a shit if he does fire me. I’m not leaving Compton Pass, Sienna. I’m not leaving you.”

Ever since New Year’s, Daniel had worked hard to stake a claim on her heart, but the fact was, he’d owned it for weeks. It was her head that was still waging the battle. No, she was wrong. Even that part of her was finished fighting.

She was in love with Daniel Lennon and, despite her best efforts to remain spontaneous and carefree, her true nature was reappearing—with a vengeance. Plans for the future, their future, were filling up all the cold, lonely spots inside her. She’d never felt so warm.

“You ready?” he asked, reaching out for her.

She nodded and took his hand.

They broke tradition as they returned to her house. Usually, he waited as she snuck in the back door before dawn. Today, they were entering by the front door in broad daylight together.

Doug was standing in the hallway as they entered. His eyes widened when he caught sight of them, both wearing yesterday’s crumpled clothes, their hair messy from sleep.

“Whoa. No wonder Dad’s so mad.”

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