He chose a route over to the rock that would minimize the amount of mud he’d get on the boots. In retrospect, he should have worn the pair of rain boots he’d used last night. But they didn’t look as cool as Jack’s cowboy boots, and now that he knew Olivia’s weakness for cowboys, he couldn’t help wanting to fit the image.

  “Just a suggestion,” she said as he approached, “but I would sit on the edge and take off my boots, if I were you. And your socks, too. I think the way to experience this rock is barefoot.”

  “You’re experiencing something?” He agreed there was no point in tracking mud on the weather-polished surface of the rock, which had recently been washed clean by rain, so he sat on the edge and took his boots and socks off, as she’d suggested.

  “Yeah,” she said softly. “I am. I feel…lighter.”

  Swinging around to face her, Wyatt got to his feet. He’d heard the theory that certain rocks transmitted energy, and he couldn’t deny that in the iron-rich red rocks of Utah and Arizona he’d felt something vibrant in the air. Some of his clients wouldn’t hike in those areas. They said the red rock agitated them too much.

  This was different, though. The rock felt cool and soothing under his feet as he walked toward her. A gentle sense of peace flowed through him and he let out his breath in an easy sigh.

  “Look at how it sparkles in the sun.” Olivia pointed to the veins of white quartz running like zebra stripes through the granite.

  As Wyatt’s glance roamed the surface of the rock, the quartz glittered beneath his feet. “That’s kind of pretty.”

  She held out her hand. “Come closer.”

  When he touched her warm skin, something flowed between them, a light current that pulsed through his system, making him aware of his surroundings as if he’d never quite seen them before. The green of the trees seemed richer and the blue of the sky grew more intense.

  He picked up the scent of wildflowers just beginning to bloom and the quiet drone of bees. He was hyperaware of Olivia watching him, her pink lips parted, her blue eyes filled with wonder. He heard her soft breathing and found himself matching that rhythm.

  He didn’t realize that he’d gradually closed the distance between them until she lifted her face to his and all he had to do was lean down for his lips to touch hers in a slow, easy kiss. Nothing in his life had ever been this innocent, this sweet. His breath caught.

  Pictures flitted through his mind—Olivia walking down an aisle strewn with flowers, Olivia laughing on a beach somewhere, Olivia cradling a newborn baby. Lifting his head, he looked into her eyes and saw his future. He opened his mouth to tell her.

  But then, even though the gauzy pictures lingered in his mind, he remembered. If that future was to become reality, he couldn’t go after it. He couldn’t pursue the dreams that tempted him so. He had to let them come to him.

  “Come back to the truck with me.” His voice was rusty with emotion. “I need you.”

  “I need you, too.”

  That was all he had to hear. Swinging her up in his arms, he carried her back across the smooth rock. He stepped into the mud, not caring, and took her to the back of the camper.

  He was forced to set her on her feet in the mud while he opened the back window and let down the tailgate. Then she climbed in and he climbed after her, muddy feet and all. Nothing mattered but the fever in his veins and the hope that if he made this ultimate connection with her, the wispy images that had taunted him as they stood on the rock would gain form and substance, would have a chance to become reality.

  She started taking off her clothes. Thank God she was as eager for this as he was, because undressing her in the cramped quarters would have been a challenge. Although he’d insinuated that he knew how to use his camper as a seduction site, he never had. He’d only slept solo back here.

  Tents were infinitely better for making love, but desperate times called for desperate measures, and she seemed to understand that. Sitting on the quilt covering his double mattress in the back of his truck, she pulled off her T-shirt and unhooked her bra.

  He yanked open his shirt and wrenched it off before sitting on the tailgate to get out of his jeans and his briefs. He stuffed his clothes in a corner after extracting the all-important condom from his pocket. Then he set his borrowed hat on top of the balled-up jeans.

  “You’re not going to wear it?”

  He gazed into the dim light of the camper’s interior. She was stretched out on the quilt, propped up on one elbow, every scrap of clothing gone. His heart thudded wildly in his chest. She was…incredible.

  He had to clear the emotion from his throat before he could speak. “The condom, yes. The hat, no. If I have to wear a Stetson to make an impression on you, then I obviously need some lessons in how to please a woman.”

  “You’re right. It would only get in the way.”

  “Exactly.” Tearing open the condom package, he took care of that chore so he could concentrate all his attention on her. He happened to be down by her feet, so he decided to start there. “You got a little muddy.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “I can fix that.” Using a corner of the quilt, he wiped the mud from her feet. Then he kissed each sparkly toe before moving to her ankles. Such sexy ankles. Lifting each one, he paid homage to it with his mouth and his tongue.

  She moaned and arched against the quilt. “How long…before you get…to the good stuff?”

  “It’s all good stuff.” He traced the curve of each calf with his tongue and angled her leg to reach the backs of her knees.

  “But I want—” She gasped as he kissed the inside of her thighs, drawing ever nearer to his ultimate destination.

  “I know.” He blew softly on her moist curls. Light brown. Now he knew what color her hair really was. “But didn’t you say anticipation made it better?”

  “No fair using that against me.”

  Sliding up the smooth length of her body, he looked into her eyes. “I promise never to use anything against you. That’s not what friends do.”

  “Wyatt.” She cupped his face in both hands. “When we were standing on the rock, did you…was there a feeling of…?” Her uncertain gaze searched his.

  “Don’t analyze it, Olivia.” He didn’t want to scare her away. “Just let me love you.” He kissed her then, thoroughly, with lots of tongue, while he stroked her full, glorious breasts. Instinctively he’d known she’d feel like this, her skin pulsing and warm beneath his fingers as she arched into his caress.

  Her response threatened to end his control and turn him into a rutting beast concerned only with his own satisfaction. He reined in the impulse to abandon the seduction and take her in one satisfying thrust. Lifting his mouth from hers, he began moving down, taking each nipple in his mouth, coaxing her to reward him with soft cries of delight.

  She was a banquet, and he was the honored guest. His heart rate jumped as he kissed his way down the valley between her ribs, paid homage to her navel and settled at last between her thighs. Her intoxicating scent rose to meet him as her breath grew ragged.

  “Wyatt…”

  “I’m here.” He lowered his head. “Right…here.” He touched down, and she cried out in complete abandon. And that was what he was after, total surrender. He used his tongue to pleasure her and wrenched another cry from her lips. And another, and another, until she filled the morning air with her cries and came in a rush of sweet moisture, her body taut and quivering beneath him.

  He’d achieved his initial goal of giving her a climax, but those dreamlike pictures in his mind wouldn’t materialize unless they achieved a more basic connection, soul to soul. Rising above her, he sought her pulsing center and drove home.

  11

  TREMBLING FROM HER ORGASM, Olivia had no breath to ask for what she wanted. She’d come in a shower of pleasure, but an ache remained, one that could only be filled if he would just…yes. He was there. One swift movement of his hips and he was buried deep, joined with her in the way she’d longed for. She hugged him close and wrapped her legs around his, drawing him in tight.

  “Easy.” His breath was warm against her ear. “Don’t hold me too tight or I can’t move.”

  She gulped for air. “I don’t want you to move. I want you right there.”

  He rocked forward. “There?”

  “Yes.” She lifted her hips, pressing her sensitive trigger spot against his body, pressing, squirming, until…the explosion came again, making her buck in his arms and gasp out his name.

  “Ah, Olivia.” His soft chuckle tickled the inside of her ear. “My amazing Olivia. Loosen your hold and we can do that again.”

  Lost in the wonder of her shuddering response, she heard him as if from a distance, but she relaxed her grip, allowing him to move. And move he did, easing away and sliding home in slow, steady strokes.

  She moved with him, surrendering to his rhythm, loving the sweet feel of his cock caressing her so intimately. Lovely. Not mind-bending like before, but if this was good for him, then she’d— Oh…he shifted, came in from a slightly different angle.

  She moaned as he made contact with a spot deeper, more elusive. He sought out that spot again, and yet again. A coil of tension wound within her.

  “Tell me.” His voice was a low growl. “Is that good?”

  She began to pant. “Yes.”

  “How good?” He moved faster.

  “Very…very…oh…Wyatt…”

  “This time will be for both of us.” His breathing roughened. “Come for me, Olivia. I can’t hold off much longer.”

  She rose to meet him, glorying in the power of each stroke. “Don’t wait,” she murmured. “Take what you need. Take it!”

  With a bellow of satisfaction he pushed deep, and that was all she needed to be hurled over the edge with him. Her spasms blended with his as they clung to each other in the whirlwind they’d created…together.

  Gradually his tense muscles relaxed as he settled against her. She welcomed the feel of his warm chest covering her, although he kept the pressure light, not giving her his full weight. She wasn’t surprised that he’d be considerate when he was in bed with a woman. He was that kind of guy.

  Stroking his back, she listened to his breathing as it evened out and her thoughts returned to her experience on the rock. Standing there with him had felt so…so right. If the rock was supposed to give a person mental clarity, then the message she received had been crystal clear. Wyatt was good for her.

  She wasn’t about to base her whole future on a feeling she’d experienced standing on a piece of quartz and granite, but for that one moment, she’d been convinced Wyatt was the one. Probably just a hormonal reaction.

  But something she did know for sure—he was incredible in the sack. She hoped they’d find time for more of this particular activity. Once Jack and the rest of the guys came home, though, that might be tricky.

  Outside the truck a bird gave a little concert, trilling and warbling like crazy. “I feel like that bird,” she murmured.

  “No, you don’t.” He caressed her bare shoulder. “A bird has feathers.”

  “I meant I feel like that inside.”

  “That’s not true, either. I’ve been inside, and you’re smooth, and warm and very wet, but no feathers.”

  “You’re ridiculous.” She pinched his butt.

  “Ow.”

  “I’m trying to tell you I feel happy.”

  “Good.” He nuzzled the side of her neck. “Me too.”

  “But we probably should head back. I don’t want anyone to get worried and come looking for us.”

  “Good point.” Wyatt propped himself up on one elbow and gazed down at her.

  She smiled. “But I wouldn’t mind doing this again sometime.”

  “Excellent.” He dropped a quick kiss on her mouth. “I’ll get dressed outside and leave the camper to you.” His gray eyes glowed with warmth. “See you in a few minutes.” Easing away from her, he left the truck.

  She took a deep breath. Wow. What a great guy. She sure hoped things worked out with Jack, because she wouldn’t mind having Wyatt make that move to Jackson Hole.

  On the way back to the ranch Olivia got a little more background on Wyatt’s life when he was a kid growing up in San Francisco. He spent way more time describing his friends from high school and college than he did talking about his family. She could understand. Between having a mother like Diana and dealing with her recent divorce from his father, Wyatt would probably like to avoid discussing his family.

  When they walked back into the ranch house they met Sarah coming from the wing where her bedroom was located.

  “You’re just in time for lunch!” She beamed at them as if they were cherished guests. “That hat looks terrific on you, Wyatt.”

  “I appreciate the loan, but I should give it back to you—”

  “Not yet. Keep it until you get one of your own. Anyway, to catch you up on the doings, Pam’s gone back to the B and B, but the girls all decided to stick around here for the rest of the day because we don’t see as much of each other as we used to now that everyone has her own place. Come on back and have some lunch.”

  Olivia felt a pang of uneasiness. “You’re sweet to invite us, Sarah, but it seems like this is family time.”

  “Don’t be silly. You’re like family. Come on down to the dining room with me.”

  “Olivia’s right,” Wyatt said. “You deserve some privacy with your daughters-in-law and your grandkids. Besides, we both have things to do and we might as well get them accomplished. I need to go back over to the Bunk and Grub to pick up my stuff, and on the way I can pull Olivia’s Jeep out of the ditch.”

  “Good plan.” Olivia appreciated him coming up with a reason to leave.

  “Well, I suppose you will have to do those things eventually, so you might as well get them out of the way now, before the men come back.”

  “Exactly,” Wyatt said.

  “But I’m inviting you for dinner tonight, Olivia. We’ll have a big celebration for the guys coming home from their successful trip. You can either drive yourself or have Wyatt bring you, whatever makes sense. But I’ve so enjoyed having you here. You fit right in, like you’re one of my girls.”

  For one embarrassing moment Olivia thought she might burst into tears. She’d missed the mothering she’d received from the women at A Cut Above more than she’d realized. She cleared the unexpected emotion from her throat. “Thank you,” she said. “I’d like that.”

  “Good. It’s settled, then. What did you think of the sacred site, by the way?”

  Olivia’s cheeks grew warm. “Fascinating,” she said. “Absolutely fascinating.”

  Sarah gazed at them with a knowing smile. “I thought you’d like it out there.”

  “It was great.” Wyatt’s tone was nonchalant, as if all they’d done was take a drive to see the sights. “Thanks for giving us directions.”

  “You’re welcome. Well, I’m sure Mary Lou wonders where I am, so I’d better get back to the kitchen. See you both later. Make sure you get here before dark. That road desperately needs grading after the rain, but you’ll find it easier if you can see the ruts.”

  “Will do,” Wyatt said.

  Once Sarah was gone, Olivia turned to him. “Nicely handled.”

  He grinned at her. “You, on the other hand, turned the color of a stop sign.”

  She groaned. “I know. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I think Sarah knows something is going on between us. After all, she’s raised three boys, so it’s not like she doesn’t understand. If she disapproved, we’d know it right away.”

  “I guess so.” She glanced at him. “That hat really does look good on you.”

  “Maybe so, but I doubt I’ll be wearing it again. A Stetson doesn’t go with hiking shorts and a T-shirt, which is what I’ll have on once I’ve picked up my clothes from the Bunk and Grub.”

  “I’m guessing you don’t want Jack to come home and find you wearing his old clothes.”

  “Good guess. Or his hat.”

  “Then let’s get on with that program. I’ll run upstairs and grab my totes.” As she hurried up the stairs, she couldn’t help feeling a little sad that she wouldn’t be sleeping here tonight. But she had a perfectly fine house that she liked, even if it didn’t have the ambiance of the ranch house.

  She hadn’t realized until staying overnight that part of that ambience was the scent of varnished logs permeated with wood smoke, overlaid with the aroma of leather and lemon oil furniture polish. The house not only looked like it belonged on a ranch, it smelled as if it did.

  She quickly gathered her bags and made sure she hadn’t left anything in the bathroom. Maybe Sarah would decide to have another night of beauty at the end of the summer, after the teenagers had left. Olivia hoped so. She’d like to be invited back.

  But as she reached the top of the stairs and gazed down at the man waiting for her, she realized that he’d been a big part of the reason she’d loved staying here. She couldn’t imagine this place without Wyatt, and yet his continued presence on the ranch wasn’t assured. She hoped he wouldn’t turn into a bone of contention between Sarah, who wanted him here, and Jack, who hadn’t acted as if he did.

  Wyatt was right to insist on changing into his own clothes before Jack came home. Sarah might not think anything of it, but if Jack already considered Wyatt an interloper, seeing him in his clothes would make everything worse. Wyatt did look great in them, though. Just looking at him made her hot.

  He watched her come down the stairs, a gleam in his eyes that suggested he was having similar thoughts. “Ready?”

  She laughed softly. “For what?”

  “You’re a bad girl, Olivia.”