Which meant Reno got to stay. Annabelle did her best to hide her smile. Shane might have his flaws, but at heart, he was one of the good guys. Between the pony and the little girls who wanted to learn to ride, not to mention caring for his mother’s menagerie and Khatar’s insistence that he was Annabelle’s one true love, Shane didn’t have much say in his life anymore. But instead of trying to get his way, he did what was best for everyone else.
He handed her the reins. She took them and urged Khatar forward. He went easily, walking directly through the gate, into the corral where Shane led them through walking, then trotting.
“Let’s go through the first part of the dance,” he said, motioning to the center of the corral.
She’d given him a few books that described Máa-zib rituals, specifically the Dance of the Horse, and had offered her suggestions for what she and Khatar could do. It was all simple stuff, with a few crossover steps and a couple of turns. Just enough to intrigue the crowd until the final moment when she pretended to cut out the male sacrifice’s heart. She figured that was enough for a big finish.
About an hour later, they were done. Khatar had quickly learned the next steps in his dance. Annabelle realized her main job was to sit on the big guy’s back and let him do his thing.
“I think he might be smarter than me,” she admitted, swinging her leg over the saddle and sliding to the ground.
Shane stepped up close behind her. He put his hands on her waist and guided her down. When she turned, he was standing very close. Close enough that she had to rest her fingertips on his shoulders to steady herself and tilt her head back to gaze into his eyes.
They were almost touching. Almost but not quite and she found herself wanting to move that last inch or two toward him. She wanted body against body, his arms around her, drawing her nearer still until they had no choice but to kiss.
Her gaze dropped to his mouth and she would swear she felt her own lips tingle in anticipation.
Shane sure knew how to kiss. She had a feeling he knew other things, too, and imagined his work-roughened hands against her bare skin. The visual was clear and powerful. Her br**sts started to ache and she felt both restless and unable to move.
Bad idea, she told herself firmly, looking back into his dark eyes where sexual fire tempted. Bad, bad idea. While she liked Shane and respected him, he had relationship issues. He wanted tidy and sensible, she wanted messy. He’d been burned and she’d yet to feel what she would consider fire. Sleeping with him would be dangerous because she didn’t think she could give her body without at least a little of her heart tagging along. And then what? A night of great sex wasn’t worth the pain. Even a night of spectacular sex wasn’t enough, although it and he were a temptation.
A car pulled up next to the stable. At the sound of the engine, Shane drew back and she turned to Khatar. Seconds later doors opened and four young girls came racing toward them.
“We’re here! We’re here!”
“Is that one of the horses we’re going to ride? She’s so pretty.”
“Will I fall?”
“Can we go really fast today?”
The questions came on top of each other as the girls came to a halt in a circle around Shane. He looked harried and trapped, which made Annabelle smile.
“You girls look very ready,” she said, taking in their shiny new cowboy boots and worn jeans. They were adorable. All excited about a new adventure.
“We are,” Mandy told her, the girl’s hair fastened into a braid. “Oh, I brought you this.” She dug into her front pocket and pulled out three worn dollar bills. “I helped my dad clean out the garage over the weekend. I was thinking I would save the money for a new computer game, but then I started thinking about all the kids who want to read and can’t get books. So I’m giving it to you for the bookmobile, instead.”
Annabelle smiled at her. “You’re very generous.” She didn’t really want to take the girl’s money, but knew that learning to give to others was an important lesson. “I’ll use this to buy a book,” she promised. “I have bookplates that say who donated the book. Would you like to come in and sign the bookplate, so everyone who reads the book knows it came from you?”
Mandy nodded vigorously. “That would be fun. Thank you.”
Mandy’s mom walked up. “Hi. I’m Darlene. You must be Shane.”
They shook hands. Darlene turned to Annabelle. “Thanks for organizing this. The girls are really excited about the chance to learn to ride.” She glanced back at Shane. “At the risk of being one of ‘those’ mothers, it’s safe, right?”
He nodded. “The horses we’ll be using are gentle and well trained. I rode them all personally to make sure they’re suitable.”
Mandy gazed up at Khatar. “Is he one of them?”
“No. In fact I’ll be putting him away now.”
“But he’s so pretty.”
“I like how he’s almost shiny in the sun.”
The little girls swarmed around Khatar. Shane lunged for the reins, but the girls were quicker. Not that it mattered. Khatar stood quietly, accepting all the attention. He lowered his head so the little hands could stroke and pat him.
“That’s a horse who loves the ladies,” Annabelle said.
Shane stared. “It’s the dam—um, darnedest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“It looks like you have everything under control,” Darlene said. “I’ll wait in my car. I have a new book and this is a perfect excuse for a little reading time.”
Shane rounded up the girls and herded them toward the waiting horses. “We’re going to start with a few rules on safety,” he said.
Annabelle touched his arm. “I’ll take care of Khatar.”
“Why? I’m sure he’ll take off his own saddle and brush himself, if you ask.”
She laughed. “Bitter because he loves me more?”
“No, but he really is a dangerous horse.”
“I can see that.” She found herself caught up in his dark gaze. “I know you didn’t ask for all this.” She lowered her voice. “The riding lessons and the pony and everything. But thank you for helping the girls.”
He shifted uncomfortably. “Yeah, well, it’s fine. If I can teach a bunch of teenage boys how to rope a calf, I can teach ten-year-old girls how to ride a horse.”
She wanted to point out she wasn’t admiring his skill set so much as his character, but decided not to go there. Where Shane was concerned, she was already in a weakened state. Better that he not know the power he had over her.
* * *LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON Shane found himself in town. He’d finished his chores for the day and had driven into Fool’s Gold without a particular destination in mind. He parked and got out, then stopped on the sidewalk, not sure where to go. Jo’s Bar was off limits. Too many women and not enough sports. Rafe was with Heidi, so he couldn’t hang with his brother.
He wandered through the main part of town, stepping around tourists going in and out of the stores. Morgan’s Books had a big crowd for a signing for Liz Sutton’s latest mystery. He thought about buying a copy for his mom, but didn’t want to wait in the line.
He couldn’t figure out what was wrong. He should find a quiet bar, get a beer and watch a game, then call it a night. Instead, he checked his phone for messages—there weren’t any—then kept walking.
About a mile later, he stopped in front of an unfamiliar house. It was small, with a nice yard and well-tended flowers. He hadn’t been there before, but somewhere he’d picked up the address. He knew who lived there and he was clear on what would happen if he knocked.
He wasn’t indecisive. He knew exactly what he wanted. What kept him from acting was the consequences. Because sex complicated everything. The better the sex, the bigger the complications. Because wanting Annabelle was driving him crazy but having her might be another level of hell.
Still not sure what he was going to do, he stood on the sidewalk and stared. After a couple of minutes her front door opened and Annabelle stepped out onto the porch.
It was light enough for him to see the details. She wore white shorts and a green T-shirt. Her feet were bare, her long red, wavy hair was loose. She looked young and pretty and sexy and he knew then he had to have her. There was no longer a choice.
“One of my neighbors phoned. She said there was a strange man staring at my house and asked if I needed her to call the police.”
He glanced around and saw an old lady peering at him from behind a half-drawn curtain. He waved and she drew back into her house.
“Didn’t mean to frighten you,” he said.
“What did you mean to do?”
“I haven’t figured that out yet.”
* * *
ANNABELLE WATCHED SHANE watching her. He looked good, standing there. Tall and male, his hair still damp from a recent shower. She read the intent in his eyes and knew why he’d come by.
It would be so easy to tell him no. To simply say she was busy and go back inside. He was the kind of man who would accept her polite no. If that was what she wanted.
There were a hundred reasons not to give in. At least a dozen scenarios that would result in having her heart broken, her life disrupted and her living with regret for a long time to come. But she also knew that Shane had a good heart. And if she never took a chance with another guy, especially one who made her knees weak from his kindness and from raw desire, where would she be? Stuck in the same rut.
The man was her personal fantasy. Was one night really so bad? So dangerous? Surely she was strong enough to understand what was happening and deal with the consequences.
She turned and walked back into the house, leaving the door open behind her. Once she’d crossed the threshold, she had a quick decision to make. She doubted there would be much idle chit-chat once he followed.
She paused in her living room, then decided there was no reason to be subtle.
She walked down the short hallway to her bedroom. It was still light out and the afternoon was warm. She pulled the shades closed, flipped on the air conditioner, then turned to pull down the covers on her bed. Only she never got that far.
Shane stood behind her. He put his hands on her shoulders, then turned her toward him. She went easily, willingly. Their gazes locked for a single heartbeat, then he was pulling her close or she was surging forward. She wasn’t sure which and it really didn’t matter. Not when he kissed her.
His lips were firm yet gentle, taking and offering equally. Anticipation sweetened the moment as she kissed him back, moving her mouth against his. His arms came around her, holding her tight. Safe.
She rose on tiptoe, wanting to press herself against him. He was all hard muscles and warm body.
He kept the kiss chaste, then drifted to her cheek, then her jaw. He nibbled his way down her neck, exciting her with each contact of lips and teeth. Goose bumps broke out on her skin as heat began to pour through her.
He reached her collarbone, then retraced his steps, finding the sensitive skin behind her ear. He nipped the lobe and then licked that spot, before returning his attention to her mouth.
She parted the second she felt him kiss her again. He swept his tongue inside, circling, tracing, teasing. She met him stroke for stroke, feeling her stomach clench and wanting so much more than just a kiss.
As if he’d read her mind, he began to move his hands up and down her back. They slipped under her T-shirt and she felt strong fingers against her spine. He paused at the curve of her hips, then slid down until he cupped her butt.
Both hands squeezed gently. She sank into him, letting her br**sts nestle against his chest, her tummy pressed against his erection.
She pressed her fingers into his shoulders, hanging on as her legs trembled slightly. Wanting made her insides melt and swell. She knew that whatever happened later, there was no way she could have resisted Shane. Not after that first kiss. That first touch. She was practically quivering with need and he’d barely gotten to first base.
He drew back from their kiss and stared into her eyes.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured.
Sex talk, she thought. Not that it wasn’t nice. “I have freckles.”
His mouth turned up in a slow smile. “I look forward to discovering them. One by one.”
She shivered. “Me, too.”
He wrapped both arms around her waist and lifted. She shrieked as her feet came off the ground, then hung on tightly to his neck.
He held her securely, still smiling that sexy smile. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his waist, bringing her center in direct contact with his arousal. Hard to soft. Aggressive to yielding. He shifted his hands to her butt, holding her in place. Their eyes locked, she rocked against him.
Her breath caught. His escaped with a hiss. Heat flared in his eyes. She rocked again, pushing harder, wishing there weren’t the layers of clothes. Wanting to be na**d with him touching her everywhere. Wanting him inside of her, riding her harder, faster, until she had no choice but to surrender and be taken.
“Shane,” she breathed.
He was already on the move.
Still holding her, he crossed the distance to the bed in two easy steps. He lowered her to the mattress. The second she was sitting, he released her and jerked up her T-shirt. She raised her arms, wanting to help him undress her. The shirt went flying.
Her bra followed, then he was easing her onto her back. His mouth found hers in a deep kiss even as his hands settled on her curves.
He rubbed every inch of her br**sts before taking her tight ni**les between his fingers. The tandem ministrations made it difficult to concentrate on anything but how good he made her feel. He kissed her over and over before breaking away and bending down to take her left nipple in his mouth.