LITMIR.BIZ

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it felt like more.” Releasing her, he stepped back, shaking his head. “But I’m not that much of a fool…I hope.”

      Bri didn’t know whether to feel insulted or flattered. She felt confused. Who wouldn’t be when a man called himself a fool for kissing her? Numb, she allowed him to lead her into the house.

      From then on he was all business—except for the occasional brush of his arm or his hand against her. Bri had reached a point in her life where she believed there were no accidents. She knew his touches were deliberate.

      But why? That was the question nagging at her tired and befuddled mind. Nevertheless, she and Tanner went through their gear, deciding, along with the occasional suggestion from Hawk and nose nudge from Boyo, what they should take.

      Bri was relieved to learn they were taking a pack animal, which allowed her to take a few items more than the absolute essentials. One of those items was a bag of dark chocolate Hershey’s Kisses she had stashed in an inner pocket of her backpack.

      “You can’t have any,” she murmured to the curious dog sniffing at the pack. She ruffled his wiry coat, lowering her head to whisper, “They can make you very sick, and that would make me very, very sad.”

      The gear packed and ready for an early departure, Bri had excused herself and gone to her room, Boyo at her side. Once in the room, the dog again stretched out on the foot of the bed. Yawning, Bri curled under the plump comforter, as the night had grown much cooler.

      Though it had been a long day, she couldn’t go to sleep. Her mind was restless, repeating the same thoughts over and over.

      Could she handle Tanner Wolfe?

      Did she want to?

      Damned straight, she wanted to.

      Tanner couldn’t sleep. Even with his eyes squeezed shut, an image of Brianna shimmered before him, teasing his mind, tormenting his libido. That kiss, that blazing, scorching kiss. Would he ever get the memory of it out of his mind, his senses?

      “Damn,” he muttered, tossing aside the comforter to allow the chill night air to cool his overheated body. “Stop reacting like a damn fool nineteen-year-old kid,” he grumbled, shifting position. “You’ve got a job to do. Get your mind off the woman and onto controlling your imagination and your hormones. There’s a lot of money at stake here…if she even pays you more than the original ten thousand posted.”

      That last animal-like growl silenced him. Money?

      He hadn’t really given a thought to the money since explaining his situation to Hawk. When had the money become secondary? Secondary? Tanner’s now-overactive mind repeated. Secondary to what?

      “Brianna.” He whispered her name like a prayer. Brianna. Her name echoed inside his head like a mantra. She was the most unlikely woman. A gun-toting librarian. A woman of privilege who knew how to shoot and ride and track. Not at all the type he normally consorted with, he reminded himself, let alone fell for.

      Jesus. When had she become so important to him? Not simply her safety but her, the woman? The woman he wanted more than he had ever wanted any woman before.

      In that instant he knew without a doubt he would spend the rest of his life hunting down that killer, if necessary. Not for the money, Tanner thought, deciding then and there not to accept any, but for Brianna, for her peace of mind.

      He would do it even at the loss of his own peace of mind…not to mention his sanity.

      Tanner knew Brianna would not be there when he returned to Durango. He knew, as well, that she would never want to see him again.

      Still, he ached for her, ached to be with her in the most intimate way a man could be with a woman. Tanner pulled the comforter around his body, which was both shivering and burning for Brianna.

      Damn. What was the matter with him?

      Tanner snorted. As if he didn’t know. Still, he wouldn’t admit it, not even to himself.

      Six

      A light tap and a murmured “Brianna” woke Bri. Frowning, her eyes barely open, she wondered why Hawk and not Tanner had come to wake her.

      “I’m awake,” she muttered, raking her fingers through sleep-tangled hair. Other than a small night-light plugged into a wall socket, the room was dark, and she reached to the nightstand to switch on the light.

      “Coffee’s fresh and hot.”

      “Give me a couple of minutes.” Yawning, she tossed the cover back, grinning as Boyo lifted his large head, alert and apparently ready for anything.

      “Hi, fella,” she said, ruffling his hair. “Go back to sleep, you don’t have to get up yet.”

      Obviously Boyo wasn’t about to do any such thing as go to sleep. After stretching his legs, he jumped from the bed and padded to the door, waiting patiently until Bri opened it for him.

      The hallway was well lighted, as was the living room beyond. Smiling, she wondered if Hawk had turned on every light in the house. That is, until she opened the bathroom door.

      The bright sunlight filling the room jolted her like a shock. What the heck time was it? she asked herself, frowning as she entered the room. Hadn’t Tanner said he wanted to get an early start?

      Puzzled, she nevertheless took a quick shower and ran back to the bedroom to look at the clock she hadn’t bothered to glance at before. The digital numbers flashed 8:45. Stunned, she pulled the heavy blackout drapes over the sheers aside, staring in disbelief at the blaze of sunlight pouring through the window.

      Suspicion tickling the back of her mind, Bri quickly dressed, braided her hair and left the room, following the aroma of fresh coffee.

      Hawk stood by the stove. Boyo had his nose buried in his food bowl. There was no sign of Tanner or the gear he had set by the door last night.

      The tickle of suspicion expanded into certainty. “Where’s Tanner?” Her voice was cold, her stance stiff, her eyes narrowed.

      “He’s gone…left about five,” he answered, warm compassion meeting her icy stare.

      “Gone?” she repeated, voice rising an octave. “He left without me? That son of a—”

      “Now, Brianna,” Hawk cut her off in a soft, calming tone. “Come have a cup of coffee and some breakfast and I’ll explain everything to you.”

      Annoyance curdled her tone. “Don’t speak to me as if I were a child, Hawk.”

      “I’m not,” he said, still soothingly calm. “I’m speaking to you as if you were an intelligent, mature adult. Now, please, come and sit down.”

      Still stiff with outrage at the deceiving rat Tanner, she nevertheless moved into the kitchen and sat down at the table. What else could she do? Rant and rave? She could do that sitting down over coffee.

      Mere moments after her bottom hit the chair seat, Hawk set a plate of bacon, scrambled eggs and toast in front of her, followed by a steaming mug of coffee.

      She sat there looking at the food, only sipping her coffee. She was way too angry to eat.

      “I know you’re angry,” Hawk said, taking a seat across from her, “and I suppose you have every right to be. But not eating isn’t going to solve a thing. Tell you what—you eat a little something, and I’ll explain Tanner’s reasons for leaving without you.”

      “I already know his so-called reasons. He doesn’t want me, any woman or anyone else hunting with him…the rat.” Her voice dropped to a deeper, arrogant tone, mimicking Tanner’s. “‘Like it or not, I hunt alone.” ’

      “Yep, that’s Tanner,” Hawk agreed, surprising her. “Well, now that we agree on that, suppose you attack your breakfast.”

      Bri rolled her eyes. She drew a breath to tell him what to do with his breakfast, but

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