Page 71 of Texas Kissing

He must have caught my expression because he said, “I don’t know what it’s like in the big city. But Texas girls learn to shoot and ride and make fires just the same as the men. ‘Least, they do if they’ve got a dad like mine.”

“You’ve got a sister?”

He nodded. “Just the one.” He grinned. “I guess that has something to do with it—my dad raised her just like the boys. What about you? Your family still in New York?”

Shit.Now it was more difficult to dodge the questions because he thought I didn’t have any more secrets. I nodded quickly. “Yeah. I’ve, uh...sort of losttouch.” Then, because that sounded suspicious, I added, “I miss them, actually. I wish I saw more of them but...you know how it is.”There.That was good. I held out my hand. “Can I have a turn with the axe?”

We worked together, stopping only to watch the sun go down and turn the lake to gold, just as the name promised. Chopping the wood and building the fire was strangely therapeutic—very different to the painstaking work I normally did. And the payoff was huge. As night fell, we cuddled up in front of our very own crackling fire, the smell of wood smoke in our noses. I tried to remember the last time I’d seen actual flames and not the sterile glow of light bulbs and computer screens.

We ate chili and drank our way through the one luxury Bull had brought with us—a very good bottle of red wine. When the meal was over and we lay back on our bedrolls under the stars, my head slightly buzzing from the alcohol.

“I can see the stars, reflected in your eyes,” said Bull.

He snuggled up beside me and I nestled my head into his shoulder. Underneath that huge Texas sky, I felt tiny. Insignificant. But not lonely.

Not anymore.

I pressed the whole side of my body against his, from head to toe. I was convinced I’d made the right decision, back in his pick up. Bull never needed to know about my past. Tomorrow, Calahan would go home. And then we’d be safe.

57

Antonio

I stalkedout of Lucky Pete’s, shoving the photo of Tessa back into my pocket. The guys there remembered her—she’d ridden the mechanical bull a little while ago, they said. And now she was fucking some cowboynamedBull. No one knew where she lived, but they knew all about him. He was some sort of rodeo rider, a local hero.

I fingered the gun I had stashed under my jacket. Part of me really hoped he’d get in the way. I’d enjoy seeing Tessa’s face when I offed her boyfriend.

Christ,but it was hot. I ran a finger around my collar. I’d already taken my tie off and still it was unbearable. Who the fuck would want to live in a desert?

I tried the ranch first, but it was all closed up for the night. Then I tried Bull’s trailer but there was no one home.

Well, fine. I knew they were here. I could wait it out.

I found a motel to stay in—the Stallion Inn,cowboy-themed like every other thing in the fucking state. I grimaced. I was sick of cowboys already.

It was when I was getting a soda from the machine that I saw him going into his room.Calahan.One of the FBI pricks who’d been hounding Erico for years.Shit!No way was that a coincidence. Tessa must be talking to him.

I ducked back into the shadows so that he didn’t see me. Then I hurried to my room, called Erico, and told him to send me some men.

58

Bull

Lily was still asleep, but I’d gotten up early to make her breakfast. I had bacon sizzling on a skillet over the fire and coffee brewing in a metal jug.

The real reason I’d risen early, though, was because I couldn’t sleep.

I couldn’t lose her. I’d never felt this way about anyone. What if, when we got back to town, she ran again?

I was scared of saying the wrong thing and driving her away. I was scared ofnotsaying anything and losing her because she didn’t know how I felt.

I rubbed my hand over my face and went over to Caliope. I needed to practice this. And if I was going to practice on a horse, I figured it should be the female.

“Hey,” I said softly. I glanced over at Lily, but she was still fast asleep. “You and I need to talk.”

Caliope blinked at me expectantly.

“Look. I know I’m not much good at stuff like this.” I scratched the back of my neck. My stomach felt likea nest of rattlesnakes. “But I gotta tell you how I feel.”

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