Page 39 of Cowboy Breaking Point

But they needed to cut her some slack. She’d just learned of her boyfriend’s death. A man she loved in her own innocent way.

From the corner of her eye, Dove shot Quaide a look. Of course he didn’t understand her sister. How could anyone unless they knew what they’d been through? All those horrible broken birthdays and holidays they spent in the years following… Well, they clung tight to each other, and that was all he needed to know for now.

Soon, she would share the truth with him.

Or maybe not. Once she and Rain were off to the Wynton Ranch, it was possible that she wouldn’t be seeing Quaide again.

The idea cut like a stinging slash across her heart. She couldn’t look at him without feeling his touch on her skin or tasting his kisses. God, she ached for him to carry her off to his bed again.

A shock rippled down her spine. All those other stolen moments were spent in hotel beds. While they were crazy about each other, it made the act feel less personal.

This time they were in Quaide’s bed. She’d smelled him on the pillowcases. He’d claimed her in his own bed.

And that made all the difference, didn’t it?

He’d brought her into his world.

Heart pattering fast, she peeked at him from underneath her lashes. He stood like a guard, like a sentry the team was named for, waiting for… Well, she wasn’t sure what he was waiting for.

He caught her eye, and a dark glimmer came into his.

When he sliced a glance at the bed, her insides clutched with knowing. Any time there was a bed inches away, that look burned in his eyes.

And her body responded.

What was the matter with her? Her sister was in danger. They were about to run further away from the lives they worked so hard to build for themselves. Yet, she was standing here thinking about tearing off her clothes and offering herself up to her forbidden lover.

“Okay, when you guys look at each other like that, it makes everyone uncomfortable. Why don’t you leave me alone and take care of”—Rain waved her hand at them—“whatever you need to take care of.”

Quaide cocked a brow as if that was the first smart thing he’d ever heard Rain say.

Honestly, it might be.

No, no. What was she thinking?

“You need me to stay with you, Rain. I’m here for you. We’ll sit and look at…sewing patterns from the eighties.”

Rain stretched out on the bed again like a cat. “I’m going to lie here and process what you told me about Dom. You go on, Dovey. I’ll be fine.”

* * * * *

Quaide added fresh grounds to the coffeemaker and then poured bottled water into the machine. When he pressed the button to start it, he took a moment to breathe.

There was a lot of controversy taking place in his mind. Rain had a hit on her, but Dove’s vehicle had been targeted. How could he really say Dove shouldn’t be under protection too?

Lines were blurred between them since the moment he first grabbed her in the parking garage near the FBI office and kissed her. Now they were even more skewed.

Turning from the coffeemaker, he leaned against the old Formica counter and faced Dove.

She leaned against the counter opposite him, her arms folded and her face expressionless.

Emotionless.

The way they had to keep it to hide their office affair from their coworkers. But that didn’t apply anymore, and he didn’t know how to make the leap from forbidden to in the open.

A long heartbeat of silence stretched between them. He curled his hands into fists to keep from walking over and lifting her onto the counter, spreading her legs and sliding between them.

“I see you still grind your own coffee beans and use spring water.” Her gaze traveled over his face and downward to linger on his chest.

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