Page 3 of The Wrangler

And if he was going to follow her all the way back to Texas? She might as well make it fun.

She boarded her flight, tucking herself into her first-class window seat, and let out a satisfied sigh. Over sixteen hours of luxury service awaited her. A glass of champagne, a plush blanket, and a long, peaceful flight.

Until she remembered him. Keely leaned just enough to peer past the curtain dividing first class from coach. Sure enough, Jesse was there, already settled into an aisle seat, long legs sprawled out in a way that made it obvious he was too big for the cramped space.

A wicked idea struck. She pressed the call button.

Moments later, a flight attendant approached, all polished professionalism. “Miss Malone, is there something I can do for you?”

Keely smiled sweetly. “Actually, yes. That gentleman back there...” she gestured toward Jesse, who seemed wholly unaware of his impending relocation “—he’s my bodyguard, and I’d feel so much safer if he were sitting next to me.”

The flight attendant beamed. “Of course, Miss Malone. We’ll have him moved right away.”

Keely settled back in her seat, waiting. Seconds later, she heard the unmistakable clomp of Jesse’s boots approaching.

Then his voice, deep and unmistakably irritated. “Keely.”

She turned, schooling her face into an expression of pure innocence. “Jesse. Fancy seeing you here.”

His jaw tensed, his hands on his hips. “You know damn well what you just did.”

She gestured to the empty seat beside her. “Why don’t you take a seat? The airline frowns on people standing in the aisle, glowering and intimidating people.”

“So, does that mean you find me intimidating?”

“Not at all. I find you to have many of the same qualities found in Neanderthals.”

Jesse groaned, then dropped into the seat beside her, his sheer size making the luxurious first-class seating space feel smaller.

As soon as he buckled in, he turned his head toward her, his voice low and edged with irritation. “You just can’t help yourself, can you?”

Keely sipped her champagne, pretending to think about it before leaning over. “Hot news flash for you cowboy, I don’t even try.”

Jesse’s fingers drummed on the armrest, his knee brushing against hers. “You think this is a joke?”

“I think you being forced to sit in coach when you could be up here is criminal,” she said breezily. “You should talk to Gavin and Reed about that. I did you a favor.”

His eyes narrowed. “Right. Because you’re so concerned about my comfort.”

“But of course. Why else would I do it?”

He exhaled slowly, like a man counting down from ten before doing something reckless. “Someday, Keely, the right guy is going to come along and jerk a knot in your pretty little tail.”

“You think I have a pretty tail? Why Jesse Bryant, you sweet-talking devil you, that may be the nicest thing you ever said to me.”

He made a growling sound. “You just wanted to mess with me.”

Keely grinned. “True, and here you are.”

Jesse didn’t respond immediately, but she felt the shift in his energy. He was watching her now, really watching her. She wondered if she might have pushed him just a little too far this time. He looked like an irritated bear someone had poked at the wrong time.

Jesse leaned in just enough that she could feel the heat radiating off him, the scent of leather and clean spice wrapping around her like a damn cloak of temptation.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, darlin’,” he murmured, voice like sandpaper and silk all at once.

Her pulse skipped, but she tilted her chin up, refusing to give him the satisfaction of rattling her. “And what are you going to do about it?”

He didn’t answer. Not with words.

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