Two in the Saddle. Vicki Lewis Thompson

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СКАЧАТЬ a forever man seemed like a distant and unreachable goal, and in the meantime she could allow herself to enjoy…no, it was too risky. But the fact that she was even wondering what it would be like to have an affair with Travis meant that he’d breached her defenses.

      “I’m far from arrogant,” he said, subtly caressing her back. “I can’t afford to be when you have all the power.”

      “Ha. You’re a world-class flirt, Travis. I can’t even play in your league.”

      “You’re selling yourself short. When I saw you come down the aisle of the church in that dynamite dress, my knees almost gave out. I’m a desperate man, Gwen, begging you to soften your heart.”

      She was getting soft, all right. Soft in the head, heart, everywhere. Outrageous though his compliments were, they were having an effect. Soon she’d be putty in his hands. “I don’t want to be another notch on your belt,” she said.

      He smiled, slow and sexy, his eyes alight with banked passion. “Then let me be a notch in yours.”

      3

      TRAVIS PRIDED HIMSELF on his ability to handle a room full of women and make each one of them feel special, but this reception was taxing his powers. And to be truthful, his heart wasn’t in the effort. Flattering as it was to have all these ladies asking him to dance, he would have preferred a quiet little bar, a jukebox and Gwen in his arms.

      He wasn’t happy about the fact that she was out on the floor nearly as often as he was, and that she seemed to be having such a good time. Damn it, she wanted him. He’d seen it in her eyes when they’d shared that one frustrating dance, and he’d hoped for another dance with her once Elizabeth was tucked into the little bassinet Sebastian had set up in a corner. No telling where another dance might lead, considering the look in her eyes following the first one. He was eager to stoke the fire he’d started.

      Instead he’d been besieged by the female population of Huerfano. He’d danced with nearly every woman in the room, and he’d been offered enough pieces of wedding cake to open his own bakery. Apparently his stint with Lizzie at the altar combined with his wedding toast had made him a very popular guy. Ordinarily he would have loved it, but tonight he was in a strange, one-woman kind of mood.

      He was so busy that he barely had time to get himself a fresh beer. Finally he excused himself from Donna, the kindergarten teacher, and headed for the bar.

      “Hey, Romeo.” Sebastian caught his arm as he was heading back into the fray, a cold long-neck in one hand. “Got a minute?” He glanced at Travis’s beer. “I’ll buy you a drink.”

      Travis grinned, turned back to the bartender and lifted his bottle. “Get another one of these for the bridegroom, would you? The poor guy needs to live it up while he still has the chance.”

      “Yeah, I’ve got it tough,” Sebastian said as he took the offered beer. “Not every guy could handle being married to a goddess, but fortunately I’m up to the job. Come on, let’s get some air.”

      “I can see right off that my speech gave you a swelled head.” Travis followed Sebastian outside. The air was cold, but it felt good after all the exercise he’d been getting on the dance floor. “Keep it up and I’ll be obliged to round up a few guys to toss you in the horse trough.”

      “You think I’ve got a swelled head?” Sebastian leaned against the fender of the caterer’s truck and unfastened the top button of his tux shirt. The string tie had been abandoned long ago. “After all the attention you’ve been getting tonight, it’ll take three men and a boy to cram your hat on in the morning.” He lifted his beer toward Travis and smiled. “Here’s to one hell of a wedding.”

      Travis clinked his bottle to Sebastian’s. “A great party for a great reason.” He took a long swallow.

      Sebastian sipped his beer and looked up at the night sky. “Full moon.”

      “I ordered it special.”

      Sebastian laughed. “Funny thing is, I believe you.”

      “Hey, I can do anything I set my mind to.”

      “Uh, huh. Evans, you really should work on that lack of confidence problem.”

      “I know what I know.”

      “Okay, you’re amazing. But listen, I’ve been going over this honeymoon trip again, and I really think I ought to hire somebody to help you with Elizabeth while Matty and I are in Denver. We don’t leave until noon, so I’m sure I could find somebody if I started calling around in the morning.”

      Travis stiffened. “You don’t trust me with her.”

      “Sure I do. Well, maybe I didn’t at first, but you’ve got the basics down. I’m worried about what you’ll do if something goes wrong, though. We’d be at least three hours getting home, assuming we even got the message right away, and—”

      “You are such an old granny, Daniels. I swear. I can handle it. If it’s major I’ll go to Doc Harrison. If it’s minor, I’ll go to Gwen.” He’d just now thought of that, but the idea appealed to him. Not that he wanted any emergency to crop up concerning Lizzie. But the combination of him and the baby seemed to melt women’s hearts. It might have a thawing effect on Gwen, too. Yeah, he just might have to consult Gwen on some baby-care question.

      “What’s up with you and Gwen, anyway?”

      “What do you mean?” Travis took another swig of his beer, so he’d look cool and casual as he answered the question.

      “I thought you two were like oil and water, but you were blending together pretty good during that dance earlier tonight.”

      “I think she’s figured out I don’t have horns and a forked tail, after all.”

      Sebastian gazed at him. “You do anything to hurt that woman, and Matty’ll be the one with the pitchfork, aiming it straight at your sorry ass.”

      Travis blew out a breath. “Why does everybody think I’m out to break women’s hearts?”

      “It couldn’t be on account of all the women you’ve left in tears, now could it?”

      “Look, I’ve told each and every one of them I’m not in for the long haul. Is it my fault they won’t listen?”

      Sebastian took a drink of his beer and glanced up at the moon. “I told Matty I couldn’t get serious, either, because of the baby and thinking I’d have to ask Jessica to marry me. That didn’t stop Matty from getting hurt.” He glanced back at Travis. “You can’t order a woman not to fall in love with you.”

      Travis shifted uncomfortably under Sebastian’s scrutiny. “I don’t want Gwen to fall in love with me. I just—”

      “Yeah, I know what you just. That dress she’s wearing would make a monk leave his order.”

      Travis grinned. “Or revive a corpse at a wake.”

      Sebastian chuckled. “Or replace Viagra.”

      “I’m only human.”

      “I СКАЧАТЬ