He chuckled and his breath blew across her earlobe. Shannon shivered and turned in his arms. The man could make a nun come in just one hello. “Hello, cowboy.”
He wore another button-down dress shirt, this one gray, and button-fly jeans. She flicked a finger down his stomach and tapped the oversized belt buckle at his waist. Ah, easy access on both counts. Would he feel the same about her pink T-shirt and short, flowered skirt? Hell, she‟d worn crotchless panties just for him. Somehow, she didn‟t think he‟d complain about that.
He gave a slow, easy grin that melted her to the core. Hmm, if anyone was going to seduce anyone, she wanted to do it to him, but it looked like he was winning. She‟d have to step up her game.
The band kicked into a slower number. Her arms snaked around his neck. “Dance with me.”
If he was surprised at her bold behavior, it didn‟t show in his expression. He caught her around the waist and backed her onto the dance area. With expertise, he led her through the two-step, his hazel gaze burning into hers.
“You look beautiful tonight.”
Despite herself, she blushed. “Thanks. You don‟t look so bad yourself.” Tipping up the brim of his hat with her forefinger, she winked. “Of course, you‟ve got too many clothes on for my tastes.”
His eyes widened. “Jumping right in there, aren‟t you?”
One shoulder lifted. “Why not? Wouldn‟t you say we‟ve wasted enough time?”
He jerked her off the floor, one arm tight around her middle, leaving her legs dangling. “More than enough.” His mouth covered hers, searing, demanding, promising more to come. His tongue swirled over her lips, dueling with hers. His hand flattened against the small of her back, pressing her tighter into his hold.
She pulled back, her chest heaving with ragged breaths. Screw being social, she was ready for some action. “Do we have to stay?”
“Absolutely not. Give me your keys.”
She handed them to him without question. His hand brushed hers, warm and firm. She couldn‟t wait to feel those hands on her later.
“Matthew and Rich will make sure your truck gets back to the ranch.”
Someone plowed into her back, sending her spiraling forward into Dustin. “Hey!”
A drunk cowboy, no taller than five feet, snarled, “Get out of my way.”
Another man, this one twice the shorter guy‟s size, jumped up from the nearest table. “Thas no way to talk to a lady. ‟Pologize.”
Shorty flipped off the bigger man and shoved against his chest, his expression fierce. Gigantor, not taking any flack from the small guy, took a swing, but Shorty ducked underneath his arm, and Gigantor caught Shannon right in the eye with his elbow.
“Sonofabitch!” Stars exploded in her head, and the room swayed. Her hands flew to her face, covering her left eye as she fell back on her ass at Dustin‟s feet.
“Shannon, are you okay?” Dustin helped her stand. “Honey, move your hands. Let me look at the damage.”
She shook her head. “Just take me home.” “You‟ve got a small cut above your eyebrow.” He
pried her hands away and lifted her chin with his fingers. “It‟s already swelling. Oh, baby, you‟re going to have a hell of a black eye.”
A grunt of pain came from behind, indicating the fight was still in full mode. Dustin stepped around her toward Gigantor at the same time as a group of bouncers surrounded the fighting men.
Shannon took his arm. She hung her head and pouted. “Take me home?”
Dustin wrapped his arms around her, shielding her against further assault. His particular scent of woodsy cinnamon filled her senses, shooting her hormones into orbit to compete with the swirling of her head. And dammit, she hadn‟t had a drop to drink.
****
Shannon‟s left eyebrow throbbed but the pain had lessened. At least a small bruise and cut could be covered up with makeup.
Dustin swabbed antiseptic cream on her cut and then covered it with a small bandage. He handed her a bag of peas from his freezer. “Here, this should help numb it for a while.”
He settled on the couch next to her and draped his arm along the back over her shoulders. Heat radiated from his side, warming her. When she‟d asked to go home, she actually meant back to Gran‟s. Instead, he‟d driven her back to the ranch, straight to the main house—his brothers were otherwise occupied and not around to bother them. Did he think his home was where she belonged? Or was that just wishful thinking on her part?
“Thanks.” Gingerly, she pressed the bag to her aching eye and leaned her head back. “I don‟t know why they insist on serving alcohol in bars anyway. Drunk and cowboys don‟t mix well.”
Dustin chuckled and pulled his fingers through her hair. “Even as a kid you were always a magnet for trouble and injury.”
His whiskey-smooth baritone took her back to long conversations, lying on a blanket under the stars. His fingers soothed away any lingering stress. After all she‟d been through in fourteen years…if only she was able to turn back time and accept his offer. Maybe…
Again, she sighed. There was no going back, no fixing what had already happened. They could only move forward.
She pushed up from the cushions and stood. “I‟d better go. It‟s late.” She couldn‟t imagine he‟d feel very amorous, staring at her swollen eye all night.
Clothing rustled and her skin tingled as he rose behind her. His fingers trailed along the back of her arm, leaving goose bumps in their wake. “Shannon…”
She closed her eyes briefly, then turned to face him, gazing into his eyes. “Dustin…”
He stepped closer, and she took an instinctive step back. Move for move, he backed her up until her ass hit the door, his expression amused. Her heart rate kicked up and blood rushed to her face. Why was she so nervous? His large hands cupped her waist, the pads of his thumbs pressing into her stomach, the skin beneath trembling with need. Her body relaxed and swayed toward him, yet she kept a few inches between them.
Dustin bent and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Don‟t go.”