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Her kiss blocked the rest of his words Her hands tugged at his belt buckle He helped her, then paused to roll away, drop his jeans and briefs, and fu in his wallet It took aher

Lying back, she opened her arh her , and the shame that never went away; but it vanished as he held her close Her hand felt his arousal, like velvet-cloaked steel, and suddenly she was no longer afraid Her legs parted She waited for him

“Lie still, Rose” He surprised her by s She gasped at the sudden, intih her body Her womb pulsed and contracted She cried out Never in her life had she known that anything could feel like this

With a low chuckle, he slid forward and entered her in one ss wrapped around his hips as he pushed deeper, heightening the waves of ecstasy that his nited It washeaven

Afterward, he held her gently, kissing her face, her eyes, her throat “You know I mustn’t stay,” he whispered

“I know But hold er You make me feel safe, Tanner, for the first time in my life”

He left her, after checking to make sure the door was locked and that her pistol was loaded and handy “I’ll see you soon,” he said “Be careful”

“I’ll be fine,” she said “Thanks to you, Jasper and Bull have becoood care of me, and probably drive me crazy”

“Good for them” After a final kiss he crossed the creek and walked back to the pickup he’d left at the edge of the trees There was no sign that Garn Prescott had co Since he was far fro the pastures and the entrances and exits to the ranch Maybe tonight he’d find a clue to thecattle

CHAPTER TWELVE

TANNER HEADED THE TRUCK BACK THE WAY HE HAD COME IT WAS still too early for cattle-rustling activity He would go back to the bunkhouse and put in a call to his brother, then lay out a plan for the rest of the night

Rose would be safe in her sturdy trailer, he told himself Still, he planned to circle back that way later just toon his mind He’d lost his loved ones because he’d taken their safety for granted He was probably being overcautious, but Rose had beco had been sweet and healing—though he could never be completely healed from the loss of his family

Was he falling in love with her?

Falling, at least But love was a word Tanner didn’t use lightly He and Annie had been childhood sweethearts They’d known each other all their lives That was love Feisty, sensual little Rose had coo She fascinated him She’d filled his dreams with erotic fantasies—fantasies that had becoht

But love?