“She surely blows like a Texas norther, doesn't she?”

“You've got good taste,honey." Daffy winked. "In food and in men."As Daffy walked away, Marilee chuckled. "You realize," she said as she lifted the frosty bottle to her lips and drank, "that Daffy was practically drooling when she looked at you.""She drools over every cowboy that walks through the door.Now if you'd drool"-he touched a finger to her jaw-"my ego would definitely be stroked.""I doubt your ego needs stroking. I'm thinking you have a very high opinion of yourself,rebel."He gave an easy laugh. "Does this mean you're not going to buy into my shy-guy routine?""Not likely.”

“They're playing my favorite song." He swept her into his arms and began to move with her around the floor.The honky-tonk music was something low and bluesy. Marilee looked up into his face. 'I don't recognize this song.What is it?"He gave her that soulful smile. "I don't know.But from now on it's going to be my favorite."She felt her heart stutter.He closed both arms around her, drawing her close.She knew that everyone in the saloon was watching. At the moment, she didn't care. She couldn't think about anything except the press of his body to hers.The feel of those strong, muscled arms around her.The warmth of his thighs molded to hers.The touch of his mouth against her temple,his warm breath feathering her hair."This is nice." His voice vibrated through her, sending a series of delicious tingles along her spine."Yeah." She looked up into his eyes and could feel herself drowning in them.She was melting all over him, with the entire town watching. She could actually feel her heart beginning to drum in her temples.She knew she ought to draw back, but she couldn't.She didn't want the song to end.Or this night.Oh,hell.Just look at her. She was falling for a footloose rebel with a smooth line who'd probably left a trail of broken hearts from Toledo to Timbuktu. The kind of guy she'd made a career of staying as far away from as possible. And here she was. Falling hard. Willingly. Right in front of the entire town.And loving every minute of it.”

“Is that a plane?" Marilee awoke with a start,surprised to find the sun already high.Wyatt shaded the sun from his eyes to scan the sky.As the sound grew louder they both sat up at the same moment."A truck." Wyatt pointed. "Coming from that direction.Probably Jesse and Zane with that flatbed they promised.""Oh,no.Look at me.What was I thinking?" With a cry Marilee grabbed up her discarded clothes and started dressing.When she finished she tossed Wyatt's clothing at him. "Aren't you going to put these on?""Yeah.No rush.""No rush?" She was already climbing into the cockpit of the plane to retrieve her gear.Men, she thought. If they were standing naked in Grand Central Station, they would probably take their sweet time finding something with which to cover themselves.”

“And that unfortunate loss? Was that really an accident,or did you lose deliberately so I wouldn't have to pay the bill?"He shrugged. "My lips are sealed.""I should have known."Once on the open highway he turned on the radio,and they both sang along with Garth as he lamented his papa being a rolling stone.When the song ended,Marilee looked over. "I'll consider that a sermon. According to Garth, a woman would be a fool to lose her heart to a man who'd rather drive a truck than be home with her."Wyatt winked,and in his best imitation of Daffy's smoky voice he said, "Honey, a man may love the open road,but any female with half a brain can figure out how to compete with a truck.Just bat those pretty little red-tipped lashes at any male over the age of twelve, and his brain turns to mush.Next thing you know, instead of revving up his engine, he's on his hands and knees, carrying a toddler on his back around a living room full of toys and baby gear."Though the image was a surprisingly pretty one,Marilee had to wipe tears from her eyes,she was laughing so hard. When she caught her breath she managed to say, "You've got Daffy down so perfectly,you could probably answer the phone at the Fortune Saloon and no one would believe it wasn't her.""She's easy." He chuckled. "I think she's the only female with a voice that's deeper than mine."She looked out the window at the full moon above Treasure Chest Mountain in the distance. "It's a shame to waste such a pretty night.Maybe you ought to pull over and park.We can make out like teenagers.""Not a bad idea." At his arched brow she added, "It would give me a chance to see if I could turn your brain to mush.""Believe it.”

“I think,to add to the festive occasion, we ought to turn on the lights and siren." He turned to Delia. "What do you say?""Oh,heavens,no." She covered her mouth with her hand before giving it a second thought. "Sorry.That was the old Delia. The new Delia says yes.That would be so exciting."Beside her,Marilee said sternly, "The old Marilee says you'll be breaking the law."Wyatt winked. "This old rebel says he doesn't care. A celebration requires some noise."The two exchanged a long look, then broke out into peals of laughter.As they sped along the open highway, lights flashing,siren blasting, Delia found herself laughing along with them in absolute delight. Despite all the heartache,and all the turmoil,she was sharing a ride with Coot's grandson, heading out to Coot's ranch for the first time in over fifty years,and having the time of her life.”

“In case you haven't noticed,rodeos are a serious business.Careless cowboys tend to break bones,or even their skulls,as hard as that may be to believe."She stared down at the hand holding her wrist. Despite his smile,she could feel the strength in his grip. If he wanted to,he could no doubt break her bone with a single snap. But she wasn't concerned with his strength,only with the heat his touch was generating. She felt the tingle of warmth all the way up her arm.It alarmed her more than she cared to admit."My job is to minimize damage to anyone who is actually hurt.""I'm grateful." He sat up so his laughing blue eyes were even with hers. If possible,his were even bluer than the perfect Montana sky above them. "What do you think? Any damage from that fall?"Her instinct was to move back,but his fingers were still around her wrist,holding her close. "I'm beginning to wonder if you were actually tossed from that bull or deliberately fell.""I'd have to be a little bit crazy to deliberately fell.""I'd have to be a little bit crazy to deliberately jump from the back of a raging bull just to get your attention, wouldn't I?""Yeah." She felt the pull of that magnetic smile that had so many of the local females lusting after Wyatt McCord. Now she knew why he'd gained such a reputation in such a short time. "I'm beginning to think maybe you are. In fact,more than a little.A whole lot crazy.""I figured it was the best possible way to get you to actually talk to me. You couldn't ignore me as long as there was even the slightest chance that I might be hurt."There was enough romance in her nature to feel flattered that he'd go to so much trouble to arrange to meet her. At least,she thought,it was original. And just dangerous enough to appeal to a certain wild-and-free spirit that dominated her own life.Then her practical side kicked in, and she felt an irrational sense of annoyance that he'd wasted so much of her time and energy on his weird idea of a joke."Oh,brother." She scrambled to her feet and dusted off her backside."Want me to do that for you?"She paused and shot him a look guaranteed to freeze most men.He merely kept that charming smile in place. "Mind if we start over?" He held out his hand. "Wyatt McCord.""I know who you are.""Okay.I'll handle both introductions. Nice to meet you,Marilee Trainor. Now that we have that out of the way,when do you get off work?""Not until the last bull rider has finished.""Want to grab a bite to eat? When the last rider is done,of course.""Sorry.I'll be heading home.""Why,thanks for the invitation.I'd be happy to join you.We could take along some pizza from one of the vendors."She looked him up and down. "I go home alone.""Sorry to hear that." There was that grin again,doing strange things to her heart. "You're missing out on a really fun evening.""You have a high opinion of yourself, McCord."He chuckled.Without warning he touched a finger to her lips. "Trust me.I'd do my best to turn that pretty little frown into an even prettier smile."Marilee couldn't believe the feelings that collided along her spine. Splinters of fire and ice had her fighting to keep from shivering despite the broiling sun.Because she didn't trust her voice, she merely turned on her heel and walked away from him.It was harder to do than she'd expected. And though she kept her spine rigid and her head high, she swore she could feel the heat of that gaze burning right through her flesh.It sent one more furnace blast rushing through her system. A system already overheated by her encounter with the bold, brash,irritatingly charming Wyatt McCord.”