Page 32 of Choosing the Montana Cowboy

Natalie sat onSam’s porch swing later that night, enjoying the warmth of his quilted blanket while he made them coffee. They’d lost track of time inside, lounging beneath the covers after successfully—and satisfyingly—scratching the itch that’d plagued them both since day one. Now she sat in a happy state of bliss, her body sore in all sorts of delicious places.

Save a horse, ride a cowboy, indeed.

Sam emerged from the house and offered her one of two mugs as he took a seat beside her. “You doin’ all right?”

“That would be the understatement of the century.” She offered him a flirting grin. “And thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I’ve got creamer inside if you need some.”

She took a careful sip. “Nah, black is fine. And I meant for everything, coffee included.”

“Feel like I should be thanking you. This is the first time I’ve been able to think straight in days.” He studied her for a moment then shook his head. “Never been gobsmacked like that before. If we hadn’t done this, I might not have been able to function come Monday.”

Natalie laughed softly. “Not sure why. I mean, I’m just the klutz who dumped fruit punch all over you.”

“You’re a beautiful woman, Natalie, never forget that. But there’s more to it than that. What you do to me…” He shook his head. “I can’t explain it.”

She took another sip of her coffee, struggling to put into words the draw she felt toward him, too. He was a force that had to be reckoned with, like they were two giant magnets buzzing with an unspoken need to connect. Rather than muddle through that explanation, she simply replied, “Yeah, you have the same effect on me.”

“Sleeping with the enemy. My family might disown me.”

“I’m not the enemy.” She jabbed him in the rib cage. “And why do I have the feeling that your grandfather would give you props, not disown you?”

Sam laughed. “Oh, there would be high fives from him, for sure. But don’t worry, I won’t tell.”

“Thanks, I’d rather keep this our little secret. It’s not something I do often. Or ever, actually.”

“What, have sex? I’m game to continue remedying that.”

Fire consumed her cheeks. “No, I meant showing up on strangers’ doorsteps and—”

“Luring them into bed. Like a pro, I might add.” He took a sip of his coffee. “But, hey, it’s your story. You tell it like you want to.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but Sam offered her a wink. Relief washed over Natalie. He wasn’t judging. He was just being… Sam. Sexy and contrary, all rolled into one.

“Also, I’m not a stranger,” he added. “You were our dinner guest Wednesday, remember? And you stopped by here just last night.”

“How could I forget?” She arched a brow, and he grinned. Her last trip here had ended in a surprise kiss that’d left her rattled and unsatisfied.

But not anymore.

A cool breeze stirred the air around them. The coffee in her cup jumped as a shiver rattled through her. “Where is that cold air coming from?”

“Copper Mountain.” Sam pulled her closer, and she covered him with some of the blanket. “Guess you don’t have these temperature fluctuations back in Indiana, huh?”

“No. If it’s hot and humid in the daytime, it’s probably like that at night, too, just a few degrees cooler. Not a big deal as long as the AC keeps working.” She looked out over his front lawn, its grass mown short for a distance then giving way to taller, wilder mixes. “I heard some people in town talking about a mountain lion sighting. Were they just trying to get my goat?”

“No, they’re around.” He took a sip of his coffee, nonplussed. “They don’t tend to come up by the buildings, though. Now, bears, on the other hand, can be a nuisance.”

“Bears?” Natalie shrank against him. “I don’t think I want to see any bears while I’m here.”

“You won’t much this time of year, but we still keep doors and garbage cans locked tight to deter them from wandering closer. And the dogs—they aren’t fond of the dogs.”

Natalie took a sip of coffee to hide her grimace. She wasn’t fond of big dogs, either.

“The thing to remember is that the wild animals were here long before we were,” Sam continued. “It’s the people who are intruding on their land in Big Sky country. We just have to learn to coexist.”

Or run and hide really well.“I’ll be honest, this is the first I’ve been anywhere near Yellowstone. All I’ve ever seen of Montana was on TV.”

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