LITMIR.BIZ

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fall.”

      “You were unloaded.”

      “I made the whistle. That’s what counts.”

      She welcomed the excuse to touch his head again. “This counts.”

      “That’s what I’ve heard,” he said, grinning. “I know it draws sharks, but I didn’t realize blood was a chick magnet.”

      She laughed. “Hardly.”

      “Hardly attracted?”

      “Hardly a chick.”

      “You’re right. My bad.” He flashed that infectious grin again. “You like ‘filly bait’ any better?”

      “Give it up, cowboy. I like you, okay? No bloodshed necessary. Extra points for not calling me a mother hen.”

      Trace guided her to the corner booth they’d claimed at the Mane and Tail Tavern, one of Sheridan’s quieter nightspots. Rodeo cowboys preferred Bob’s Place and rodeo fans followed rodeo cowboys. His hand on the small of her back was their only contact point, but she felt him covering her back, head to heels.

      “I like you, too,” he said as she took herself from him, only to slide around the vinyl curve of the seat and meet him at the back of the booth. “So let’s get this out on the table. I’m not a kid. I’m not sure I ever was. I was raised by my stepfather, and he was younger than my mother. Still is if she’s alive.”

      “You don’t know?”

      “I like to think she isn’t.” He toyed with his watered-down whiskey, spreading its sweat ring in an ever-widening circle. “I made up a story about how she was trying to get back to us when she got hit by a train. That’s the only reason we never heard from her again.” He sipped his drink before eyeing her. “How’s that for bloodthirsty? Do I lose points?”

      “She just disappeared?”

      “She told us she was gonna look for a better place for us. I knew she wasn’t coming back. Logan had adopted us first thing after he married her. He told her he wasn’t goin’ anywhere, and for a while he thought she’d come back.” He smiled wistfully. “He was so damn young.” His eyes suddenly gleamed. “But he was a good father, and he will be again. He just remarried. Took him a while, but, hell, when that man makes up his mind, he doesn’t waste any time. I hope this one works out better for him.”

      “Is this one older, too?”

      “Older than Logan?” He shook his head. “She’s probably not much older than me. Funny. I don’t remember ever running into her, but turns out she didn’t live too far away. Two different worlds, I guess. Small, side by side and different.”

      “Where are they?”

      “South Dakota. Logan—my dad—he’s Sioux. Lakota Sioux.”

      “You’re not?”

      “In name only. He offered his name when he adopted us, and we jumped on it. Who wouldn’t? Wolf Track.” He punctuated a tight-lipped growl with a fisted gesture. “Powerful name.”

      “So he’s your true father.”

      “Oh, yeah. Taught me everything I know about horses. Not everything he knows, but everything I know.”

      “Is he a rodeo cowboy, too?”

      “No. He’s smarter than that. Logan’s a tribal councilman, and he’s also a horse trainer. He wrote a book about it and everything.”

      “You did a wonderful job with Bit-o-Honey. I can’t believe he’s the same horse.” Skyler lifted her shoulder. “Of course, Mike’s still the same rider.”

      “It’s a good hobby for a rancher.”

      “He told you he was a rancher?”

      Trace nodded.

      “Good to know,” she said offhandedly. “He tells me he’s a calf roper.”

      “He’s young. He can still be a lot of things.”

      “He’d better decide which is the hobby pretty soon, or the choice won’t be there for him.”

      “What time is it?” Trace slid his hand over the back of hers and turned her wrist for a peek at her watch. “Almost tomorrow. Big day tomorrow.”

      “Bigger than today? You won your go-round today. What’s happening tomorrow?”

      His fingers skimmed her palm. “Our first kiss.”

      “Really?”

      “Yeah. First thing.” He winked at her. “So tell me when it’s midnight.”

      “I’m nobody’s timekeeper, Trace. Trying not to be.” She gave her head a quick shake as she echoed her admonishment to him. “Give it up, Skyler.”

      “We’re talking past each other here. Look at me.” He waited for her full attention, which she granted. “Right here, right now, you and me. One kiss to start the day. It’s my birthday.”

      “Oh.” She smiled. “Well, that’s different.”

      “I’m different. Give me a day to prove it.”

      “Why?”

      “Because …” He glanced at her watch. “It’s midnight.”

      “Happy birthday.” She tipped her head and leaned close to bestow a friendly kiss.

      He slid his arm around her and met her halfway, raising the ante on her gift by making it interactive, taking her breath away. Her kiss became theirs as she slid her arm around him and smoothed the back of his shirt with her eager hand. She felt trembly inside when he lifted his head and looked at her with a twinkle in his eyes that said gotcha.

      “Spend the day with me,” he entreated, and she had to glance away from those glittering eyes to keep from jumping all over the suggestion.

      “What’s holding you back?” He raised an eyebrow. “Tell me, and I’ll get it out of your way.”

      “I have things to do at home.”

      “I’ll help you. Give me one day and I’ll give one back.” She hesitated, and he laughed. He knew he had her, but he offered, “Two. I’ll trade you two days for one, and I’m a damn good hand.”

      “Now, that’s tempting.” A crazy idea was taking shape in her head. Lately they’d been popping up like soap bubbles. Crazy notions pushing for bubble-headed moves. She’d made one or two, just to get herself off dead center, and she was about to make another one.

      She smiled. “What can I get out of you on those days?”

      “What do you need?”

      “Mostly horse sense.”

      “Well, then, I’m mostly your man.”

      “I own horses, condition them, ride them, school them. I’m a natural, really. And I’ve had some spirited horses.” She leaned into her story, trusting him with the girlish enthusiasm that was generally reserved for her horses. “So I thought, why shouldn’t I be able to turn a mustang into a mild-mannered saddle horse? We could learn from each other. Wouldn’t that be interesting?”

      “For me?”

      “For me. I entered a training competition. But I might have bitten off more than I can chew.” She lowered her gaze to his smirking lips. She could still taste them. “How are your teeth?”

      “I’m not missing any, but you’ll have to take the deal before I let you count ‘em.”

      She laughed. She liked this man. She truly did. “After two days, can I have an option to hire?”

      “Nope.” He leaned back, challenging her with a playful

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