Page 45 of Wyoming Cowboy Undercover

Yet, he made no move to touch her. He hadn’t all morning, which she realized was because she’d given him the cold shoulder. Nonetheless, it irritated her.

As absurd as it sounded, she wanted to be so irresistible to him that he had no choice but to touch her.

“I never said there’d be a next time.”

His grin fell, his eyes sobering. “I don’t deserve you, Mercy McCoy. You’re too good for me.” He cupped her arm, his grip gentle and firm, as he leaned over and kissed her forehead. “But if you don’t give me a chance to show you what you mean to me, I’ll regret it until the day I die.”

He enveloped her in a gentle hug. Everything about it had her struggling to ignore her bone-deep awareness of him. The feel of his powerful body against hers. The delicious, masculine scent of him. How safe and protected his embrace made her feel.

How right it felt, even though her mind screamed that it was wrong.

Then he let her go and left.

Closing her eyes, she took a steady breath, trying to push aside her complex and unsettling feelings for him. She couldn’t afford to be fooled again. But despite telling herself not to believe him, she did. He’d spoken so fervently, as though the words had been from the heart.

It could’ve been an act. He could be playing you again.

Deep down, she wanted Rocco to be the man she’d thought he was.

Even though last night had been her first time, the depths of affection and consideration he’d showered on her exceeded lust.

He hadn’t had sex with her. He’d made love to her. With every kiss, every touch, she’d felt cherished. Their bodies had reflected everything given, everything shared as they had joined as one. She’d felt his strength and gentleness, for a moment, possibly even his soul.

And that made his betrayal sting like acid, below the skin, down to her blood.

Getting close to her had been his duty. His assignment.

Which reminded her that she had a duty as well. To the commune and all the innocent people who called it home.

Brian came into the office, pulling her from her thoughts, and she knew what she had to do next with staggering clarity.

“Can I get you anything?” he asked. “Coffee? Tea? A magazine?”

“We didn’t eat breakfast. Would you mind getting me something from Delgado’s?”

“Sure. Do you know what you want?”

“Anything vegetarian.” Not that she was hungry.

“They’ve got tasty breakfast burritos. Eggs, beans, avocado—”

“Sounds perfect.”

He picked up the phone and placed the order. “It’ll take twenty minutes. Since it’s under their delivery minimum, I’ll run down the block to pick it up when it’s ready.”

“Thank you. And you know what, I will take a magazine on second thought.”

Brian grabbed a stack from the table near the entrance and set it down on the desk in the office. They all dealt with fitness.

“Is it okay if I had some time to myself, to process my thoughts? Everything that Rocco told me is still quite a shock.”

“Of course. I won’t disturb you until I’ve got your breakfast.” He went to the threshold and stopped. “When you’re feeling up to it, Charlie wants to talk to you about your options here in town. No pressure or anything. Rocco isn’t the only one here for you. Charlie, me and others you haven’t met yet will help you make a transition. We just want you to know that you’re not alone.”

After everything, somehow that was the thing to bring her closest to tears.

“Thank you.”

He left the office, shutting the door behind him.

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