Page 6 of Silver Elite

“I have to,” I answer with a shrug. “You know my uncle. He’s probably pacing the porch right now, waiting up for me.”

As if on cue, I feel a hard poke in my mind. Jim’s signature. He’s asking to link, and I let him.

“It’s late. Come home.”His voice is a rumble.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes.“On my way.”

“Stay for just one dance?” Tana begs.

“I really can’t.”

Truthfully, I would stick around and hang out with Tana for a while if this soldier weren’t glued to my side. Ugh, what is his name? I think it’s Max. Or maybe it’s Mark?

Given what we did earlier, I feel bad asking, so I touch his arm. “Okay, ah…honey…it’s been fun, but I have to go now.”

Tana looks ready to erupt with laughter again.

“Honey?”

“Shut up. I couldn’t remember his name. Is it Max or Mark?”

“His name is Jordan!”

Oh. I was very far off.

“The more important question is—who is the gorgeous jackass staying at the inn?”My heartbeat is still a bit off-kilter from that explosive encounter.

“I know nothing of a gorgeous jackass. I didn’t see anyone other than soldiers checking in today. Or maybe I did see him and just forgot? Was he a soldier?”

“No idea. But trust me, you would remember this face.”

It was a remarkable face. And totally wasted on a jerk like him.

“Eh. If I’m going to be dazzled by a face, it has to belong to a gorgeous woman, otherwise I’m blissfully oblivious.”

“Let me take you home?” Jordan interrupts our silent conversation, his hopeful gaze locked on me.

“I’m good. I’ve got my bike.”

Tana steps away to give us the moment of privacy that Jordan clearly desires.

He cups my face in his hands. “So difficult,” he chides playfully. “At least give me a kiss goodbye.” His thumb sweeps the corner of my jaw as he brings his mouth to mine.

I let him kiss me despite the impatience gathering in my chest.

We break apart at the screams of children.

A second later, pandemonium hits the square. Tana comes running over.

“What in the hellfuck?” I say as the three of us race toward the source of the chaos.

From what I can discern in the darkness, there’s a kid on the ground, but all I see is the frenetic blur of arms flailing and legs kicking. Other children stream away from the clearing, shouting for help.

“It’s that damn white coyote!” Tana curses. “He’s been prowling the woods on the outskirts of the village all week.”

Shit. The same wolf-coyote hybrid has been a menace around the ranch, too. I found one of my heifers dead in the south pasture two mornings ago. I don’t know how that beast made it through the fence.

“He has him!” a little girl screeches at the adults crowding the edge of the grass.

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