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This was a business situation.
Or at least it had been...until they had started sharing personal stories and whiling away the time together.
Then it had become something else.
Something a lot more...treacherous.
Erin groaned and let out a nervous laugh. “Forget I said that.”
The gentlemanly side of Mac knew he should. Only trouble was, he wasn’t feeling particularly chivalrous right now. He was feeling...turned on. And she was, too, otherwise her mind wouldn’t have gone in the exact same direction his had.
The direction that would land them in each other’s arms.
“Actually,” Mac said gruffly, turning toward her and gathering her closer, “I don’t think I will.”
Then, going on instinct, he slowly lowered his head.
* * *
ERIN HAD KNOWN this kiss was coming. Known it long enough to avoid being alone with him. But she hadn’t.
Instead, she had invited it.
Why?
Because something about him attracted her and made her want to lose herself in him. In this.
And lose herself she did, as she opened her mouth to the inviting pressure of his.
He tasted so good. So dark and male. The strength of his chest pressed against hers. His thighs were rock hard, the rest of him just as impatient for more.
And that, above anything, told Erin she needed to stop this. Now.
Only she couldn’t.
This was the most alive she had felt in a very long time.
And had it not been for a sudden beam of light flashing across their bodies, who knew how long it would have gone on?
* * *
THE LAST THING MAC EXPECTED when he took Erin in his arms was to be busted by the intrusive beam of a flashlight.
But that was what happened as Gavin walked into the kitchen and caught them pressed up against each other in a steamy lip-lock.
Reluctantly, Mac broke off the kiss and lifted his head from hers.
Dropping her hands from his chest, Erin stepped away.
Gavin looked at his sister, his brow lifted in silent inquiry.
She gazed back, angry and defiant. Not to mention embarrassed.
“Everything okay here?” Gavin asked finally, shifting the plastic casing so the flashlight became a lantern.
It was a minute ago, Mac wanted to say.
Figuring this was family business—and he should stay out of it—he remained silent.
“Do you know where the rest of the flashlights are?” Erin asked, her gaze averted from Gavin’s probing look.
His body tense with a disapproval mostly directed at Mac, he nodded. “There are two in the cabinet above the washing machine. The rest are upstairs in the boys’ rooms, next to their beds.”
Erin disappeared into the laundry room, then returned with two flashlights in hand. She handed one to Mac.
“Are all the kids still asleep?” she asked Gavin.
“So far. I even looked in on Nicholas. He’s snoozing away.”
“Well...” Erin inhaled deeply, then turned and looked at Mac. “I’m going to call it a night.”
He nodded. “See you tomorrow.”
After she headed up the stairs, Gavin continued staring at him. “I gather you’ve got something to say?” Mac asked.
“You guessed right.” A muscle worked in his cheek. “My sister’s been through enough. The last thing she needs in her life is another guy who’s not going to be around for the long haul.”
Much as he hated to admit it, Mac knew Gavin had a point.
“It was just a kiss.”
Gavin’s jaw tightened. “Maybe to you. She hasn’t given any guy the time of day since her ex left.”
Mac hadn’t dated in a very long time, either. And he sure as hell hadn’t taken any woman in his arms and kissed her soundly.
He swallowed. “It’s not my intention to hurt your sister.”
Gavin shook his head. “Then I suggest you stick to business, and leave it at that.”
Reluctantly, Mac gave ground. “You’re right. No sense starting something that can’t go anywhere. So maybe it’s best we get down to business.” Mac looked at Gavin, man to man, figuring the sooner he achieved his goals, the better. “Hopefully, you can help me with that.”
* * *
ERIN STARED AT GAVIN just after eight the next morning. She’d been out taking care of the horses. By the time she got back to the house, Mac and his daughter had already left. They’d gotten directions back to town via an alternate route that avoided any flooded crossings. Erin’s boys were upstairs brushing their teeth.
Nicholas had gone on to school.
Erin wasn’t sure how she felt about missing Mac’s departure. Seeing him probably would have been awkward after the sizzling kiss they had shared. Especially since she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it all night. Even when she’d finally closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, she had woken up reliving the emotion of that moment.
She hadn’t felt so aroused in what seemed like forever. Hadn’t even been sure she could feel desire like that again.
Now she knew.
She still had plenty of untapped passion, ready and raring to go. And now Mac Wheeler knew it, too. As did her brother Gavin.
Erin went to the sink to wash her hands. “What did you and Mac talk about last night?” She had heard them conversing long after she had turned in. Their tone had been cordial, matter-of-fact, whereas she had still been in turmoil.
“I told him to stay away from you.”
Erin squirmed. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I was being sarcastic.”
“Noted.”
Erin folded her arms. “What did Mac say?”
“He agreed kissing you was a bad idea.”
Her lips quirked. “Let me guess... And promised not to do it again?”
“We agreed, since he’ll be leaving soon, and you have enough on your plate, that the two of you should stick to business. Which is why we have a family meeting tonight. Adults only, so you’ll need to get a sitter for your boys, and it’d be nice if Mac’s daughter could hang out with them, too.”
Not sure she liked the idea of the two men joining forces, Erin asked, “Why is Mac going to be at our family meeting?”
Gavin filled his travel mug with coffee. “He wants to talk to us all about putting a wind farm on our ranch. He wanted to do it over dinner at one of the restaurants in town, but I said that wasn’t necessary. So we’re going to meet at Travis Anderson’s law office instead.”
Erin blinked. As the oldest, she considered herself the head of the family. And therefore used to calling the shots. “You asked our family attorney to sit in on this?”
“Travis is an expert in energy and property law.”
Erin wasn’t arguing that. She just didn’t see the necessity of any of this, whether Mac Wheeler wanted it or not. “I’m not interested in selling the ranch.”
“Well, the rest of us are, which means you owe us the courtesy of hearing Mac out.”
* * *
ERIN CAUGHT UP WITH MAC early that afternoon, when she saw him coming out of the Wagon Wheel Restaurant with four of the county commissioners.
The two women and two men were deep in conversation with him, and appeared to be listening intently to what he had to say. All were smiling when they shook hands and parted ways. Mac was really making inroads, even in khakis, a button-down oxford-cloth shirt and loafers.
Not wanting to think what he could accomplish if he ever fully assimilated into a bona fide Texan, Erin continued down the sidewalk toward him. She inhaled a jerky breath, trying not to self-combust. Not easy, when all she could seem to do, now that they were within touching distance, was remember their kiss.
She couldn’t help wondering if he was thinking the same thing.
She lifted her chin. “Got a minute?”
He favored her with a half smile. “Actually, you’re just the lady I was hoping to see. I was headed to the store to give you a check for the down payment on the boots.”
Erin glanced across the street. Some roughnecks from Prairie Natural Gas, the company that supplied gas to the power plant, were standing in front of several beat-up trucks, talking and looking their way. Not surprisingly, they seemed as interested in Mac as everyone else in the area was. Probably because their company would expand their business in Laramie County if he failed, and lose ground if he was successful. Aware that none of the men looked familiar, Erin turned back to Mac with a cool smile. “I’d rather talk privately.”
He shrugged, his manner not nearly as businesslike. “You want to sit in my SUV?”
What speculation that would bring! Erin glanced around, assessing the options. “Let’s walk over to the park across the street.” She could pretend she was showing him something.
Mac glanced behind him, and his brow creased with concern. “Have those men been bothering you?”
His protectiveness rankled. “No. Why do you ask?”
He slid a hand beneath her elbow, ready to take care of her, anyway. “You seemed...a little on edge when you were looking at them.”
She let him grasp her arm for a moment, so as not to look like an overreactive idiot to anyone watching, then casually pried herself loose, her skin still tingling from his touch. “I was wondering if they were following you around.”
“Maybe. Then again—” Mac mimicked her Southern drawl as his handsome face took on a Texas-size grin “—maybe we’re all just going to the same places. We’re definitely all bunking at the Laramie Inn, at least since I got back.”
Texas was a friendly place, Laramie County even more hospitable. Yet Erin knew things could get ugly fast when large sums of money were involved, no matter what state you were in. Luckily, Mac looked like he could take of himself, and then some.
She didn’t want to see anyone go after him. And there was his adorable little daughter to consider, too.
“Where is Heather this morning?” Erin had expected to see her with Mac.
“School. She was enrolled in a Montessori program in Philadelphia, so it was easy enough to get her transferred into the one here. Because it’s a self-paced curriculum, she should be able to finish out first grade here in Texas, before we head back to Philly.”
If Erin ever needed another reminder he was leaving again, this was it. Which was another reason she shouldn’t get involved. Last thing she needed was to fall for another man who would leave her in the dust.
“I’m still looking for a furnished house or apartment to rent,” Mac continued as they walked over to the park, “but that’s not so easy. Seems no one wants to rent for one to two months. If you hear of anything...”
Erin nodded. “I’ll put the word out, let you know if anything turns up.”
“There it is. That legendary Texas hospitality again.”
Erin returned his smile. It would be so easy to get lost in that charm. In him.
“So what did you want to discuss with me?” Mac asked.
Erin stopped short of the stone-and-glass monument that contained the framed map of the downtown Laramie historic district as well as directions to other popular tourist destinations in the area. She pretended to show him something. “Why did you kiss me last night?”
He studied the flush in her cheeks. “Do I need a reason, beside the obvious?”
“That’s not an answer,” she said stiffly.
Mac’s blue eyes took on a mischievous gleam. “Okay, then. Why did you kiss me?”
Because, Erin thought, I had been wanting to kiss you all evening, and it seemed like a good idea at the time. And because you make me feel incredibly reckless and alive whenever I’m near you. After years of feeling numb inside, I suddenly want to feel like a woman again. I want to feel desired. And that scares the heck out of me, even as it appears to energize you.
“Did your hitting on me have anything to do with selling me on the wind farm idea?” Because if that was the case...
