Sizzling Summer Nights

by Debbi Rawlins

  “Another thing you should know—I didn’t say anything to her about you. So if she is trying to hook us up, it’s all her doing.” She stared at his thin, high-bridged nose, waiting, knowing he’d heard her. But he kept his eyes on the road.

  Maybe she shouldn’t have brought it up. He’d drop her off at the Sundance and she’d never see him again. The idea was surprisingly disappointing. She was still staring at him when he finally turned to look at her. Hannah pretended she was looking past him at the well-lit service station, the last vestige of civilization before the highway stretched into darkness.

  “Are you waiting for me to say I have a problem with that?” he asked. “Because I don’t.”

  “Which part?”

  “Any of it.”

  Hannah wasn’t sure what to make of that. Obviously he didn’t care about Rachel’s meddling. But did he also mean he was open to hooking up? “Well, neither do I,” she said, her heart pounding as she watched a slow, telling smile curve his mouth.

  After driving for another mile or better, she still couldn’t think of anything more to say. And clearly he didn’t feel the need to contribute. Normally she was fine with silence, but not knowing where they stood was maddening.

  As it was, she couldn’t stop herself from glancing over at him every few seconds. His hand was on the steering wheel, and his T-shirt exposed his muscled arm. The short sleeve clung to his well-defined biceps.

  “Why aren’t you staying with Rachel and Matt?”

  “I had a conflict and couldn’t make it to their wedding, so I just met Matt today. Seems like a great guy. And of course he would be...” Hannah shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I didn’t want to get in the way. A week’s a long time to have a houseguest.”

  “I see your point. Summer is a busy season, though I don’t think Rachel is involved in the day-to-day operation.”

  “No, but she’s at the Sundance every day. The dude ranch keeps her hopping even though she and Jamie split duties.” She saw his brows lower in a frown. “Cole’s wife, the woman who was with us at the Watering Hole. She’s handling reservations, meals, that sort of thing, and Rachel takes guests on trail rides and gives riding lessons so she doesn’t have to pull any of the men away from the cattle side.”

  “That doesn’t sound like much fun for you. Unless you’re going to help with the lessons.”

  Hannah cursed her big mouth. It would’ve been so much easier if he didn’t know about her parents’ ranch. “I don’t ride well enough.”

  Seth glanced over at her. “You grew up on a ranch.”

  “I’m aware,” she said with a forced laugh.

  “Did you use ATVs?”

  It was tempting to lie and say yes, but she wasn’t good with those either. “My dad didn’t like me hanging around while he was working, so I just...” She shrugged. “Read a lot of books. Where’s your ranch in relation to the Sundance?”

  He didn’t seem eager to answer. For God’s sake, it was an idle question. Only meant to change the subject. It wasn’t as if she planned on showing up uninvited.

  “About thirty minutes, give or take,” he said with a faint smile. “Depending on traffic.”

  Hannah grinned. “I saw a truck hauling a horse trailer. I can see how the streets might get congested.”

  Seth briefly took his eyes off the road to look at her. “Assuming Rachel’s going to be busy, what are you doing tomorrow?”

  “Um, nothing, really. I’m going to try to sleep in, a long shot at best.” She wound her fingers together, a nervous habit she thought she’d broken years ago. This wasn’t like her, being hesitant. “You have something in mind?”

  “Oh, quite a few things,” he said, his laugh as deep and gravelly as his voice. “Are you interested in seeing the sights? Not that there’s much around here but you might enjoy a drive to Glacier National Park. After that we could get some dinner.”

  “Not much here? The Rockies are practically in your backyard.” She turned to look out the window. Even in the gathering darkness, she could see the distant snow-topped peaks jutting into the night sky. And, of course, the stars. Hundreds and hundreds, maybe even thousands. She sighed and turned back to Seth. “Yes. I’d love to, thank you.”

  “Good. You sleep in and I’ll get the men squared away for the day, then we’ll make it happen,” he said. “What was the sigh for?”

  “I still can’t get over the stars. I don’t remember the sky ever looking this spectacular at home.”

  “Are you in a hurry to get to the Sundance?”

  “Not at all,” she said, stifling a yawn. Travel days were always hard, but she wasn’t about to miss out on anything Seth had to offer.

  “Then how about we take a short detour?”

  “I’m game if you are.”

  “In about a mile we’re going to leave the highway. It’ll be bumpy for a while as the road climbs into the foothills, but it’s not too steep. Still game?”

  She kind of wanted him to define not too steep. But come on, did it really matter? “Of course.”

  “So, what is it you do in Dallas?” he asked, as soon as he’d made the turn.

  “Executive recruiter,” she said, grabbing on to the handhold over the door. “I match qualified candidates with the right jobs. It can be interesting. The fun part is getting to learn about how different businesses work.”

  “Do you recruit on behalf of corporations or individuals?”

  “Mostly corporations. Though I also have a list of execs who aren’t looking for jobs actively, but if one comes along that I think would be of interest, I let them know.”

  “Sounds challenging.” Seth slowed down as they arrived at a small clearing, the headlights sweeping clusters of purple and yellow wildflowers.

  He got out of the truck, and while he rummaged around in the back, she popped a breath mint.

  “You want some water?” he asked.

  “Maybe later,” she said, as she slid off the seat. “Isn’t it late for wildflowers?”

  “It’s the altitude. They’re on their way out. Last month you would’ve seen five times as many. I’m getting a blanket. Pick a spot.”

  A shiver raced down her spine. Impressive as the wildflowers were, all she could think was...blanket! She had a good feeling there’d be more making out than stargazing going on. And, boy, was she ready.

  She looked up at the sky. None of the surrounding trees blocked their view of the moon and stars. The clearing was perfect. And, for now, so was the cowboy walking toward her.

  Hannah’s goals had been to visit Rachel and get the hell away from Texas and her father—the man made her so crazy she could forget how to breathe. Vacay sex hadn’t consciously been on the list. But this was a nice bonus. Not only had Rachel vouched for Seth, but Hannah lucking out the first day? Amazing.

  “Is this the spot you want?”

  “Oh, sorry, I’ve been looking up instead of down.”

  All he did was smile at her and her heart beat wildly. Thankfully, he’d brought two bottles of water with him. Her mouth was suddenly dry and she sucked greedily on the mint. Probably looked obscene. She turned away and toed the hard ground. Most of the clearing was covered by tall grass.

  “I think the best we can hope for is no rocks.” Seth nodded to an area where the grass had been flattened. “Deer approved. Shall we try it?”

  He checked for rocks while taking quick glances up at the sky. Hannah did the same thing on the other side. An aspen that had provided the deer with shade blocked a tiny section of stars but the rest of the trees were slender pines.

  “This is fine with me,” she said, and helped him spread the blanket out on the ground. “What? No pillows?”

  Seth chuckled. “You’ve lived in Dallas too long.”

  “And yet, not long en
ough,” she muttered, and saw his curious look. “Family stuff. Moving three states away from my dad would’ve been better.”

  “I get it,” Seth said with a wry smile. “I joined the air force.”

  “Wow. For how long?”

  “Four years.” Crouching, he folded back part of the blanket, avoiding her gaze, and she wondered if he regretted telling her.

  “Should I be doing the same thing on this side?”

  “No, it’s fine,” he said, and flattened more of the grass before smoothing the blanket over it. “Here’s your pillow, princess.”

  Hannah laughed. “I was joking,” she said, then pinned him with a mock glare. “Princess? Ha. Far from it.”

  “Come here.”

  “Don’t you mean, come here, please?” She watched a shadow cross his face and realized a cloud had passed over the moon. It made him look a little dangerous, certainly mysterious and too damn sexy. He could’ve just snapped his fingers and she would’ve scurried over to him.

  “Please,” he said.

  She gave a final tug on her side. It wasn’t necessary but it bought her a few seconds to calm down. “Where do you want me?”

  “Right here.” He caught her arm and gently pulled her closer. Once she was directly in front of him, he turned her around and put a hand on her right shoulder. “Now, look up. How’s this view?”

  Hannah felt his heat against her back, felt the steady, gentle presence of his palm cupping her shoulder. “Perfect,” she whispered.

  His warm breath tickled the side of her neck. He pressed his lips against her skin. “You smell good,” he murmured, running his hand down her arm to lightly grip her elbow. With his other hand he swept the hair away from her neck. His breath stirred the loose strands at the side of her face.

  Hannah was too dizzy to think of one damn thing to say. She saw a pair of eerie, yellowish eyes in the trees, low to the ground, before they disappeared. A howl split the night. She stifled a shriek, whirled and threw her arms around Seth’s neck.

  He enfolded her in his strong, muscled arms and held her close. “It’s nowhere near us.”

  “I don’t know why it made me jumpy,” she said, embarrassed but loving the feel of his hard body flush with hers. “I’m used to coyotes.”

  “That was a wolf.”

  Wolf? She didn’t know anything about them. Did they run from humans or put them on the menu? She leaned back and looked up at him. Before she could question whether or not this was a good idea, Seth lowered his head.

  Their lips touched and she was lost in the fog.

  3

  THE TEMPERATURE HAD dropped since the sun went down. But the chilly air wasn’t the reason Hannah pressed herself against his warm body. Enticed by the pleasant muskiness of his skin, by his firm lips moving over hers, she tightened her hold around his neck.

  Seth pulled her closer. The heat of his erection penetrated both layers of their denim jeans. The urge to move her hips was too great to ignore. She swayed a little to the left.

  He froze, all of him, his body, his mouth, the hand that had started rubbing her back. A low groan rumbled deep in his throat. She felt it against her lips, followed by a jolt of excitement that traveled all the way down her spine.

  It didn’t take much for him to tease her lips apart. She readily opened for him and welcomed the thrust of his tongue. He tasted as good as he smelled—200 percent male. A rush of warmth spread through her body and settled into dampness between her thighs. She arched into him and he deepened the kiss.

  Easing her death grip on his neck, she was able to run her fingers through his hair, touch his muscled chest. But the brief time-out was enough to make her wonder what the hell she was doing. She’d just met the man. Kissing was fine, for tonight. They still had tomorrow. Hopefully, she’d see a lot of him the whole week.

  He must’ve sensed her hesitation. He broke the kiss and gave her a questioning look.

  “We’re still standing,” she said in a playful tone.

  “Yes, we are.”

  Despite her rude awakening, Hannah wasn’t anxious to pull away. And, it seemed, neither was Seth.

  Finally he stepped back and expansively spread his hand. “Your blanket and pillow await.”

  “Lucky for you, you left out princess.”

  He grinned. “Why? What would you have done?”

  “It’s more like what I wouldn’t have done.”

  He gave it a moment’s thought. “Ah,” he said, with a solemn nod. “Yeah, lucky I didn’t.”

  Hannah laughed as she lowered herself to the blanket. By plopping down in the center, she couldn’t have made it more obvious that she wanted him to sit next to her.

  After grabbing the water he’d left on the hood, he joined her, stretching out his long legs and passing her a bottle. He sat close enough that their shoulders brushed and tilted his head back to look up at the sky.

  Hannah would’ve been content just to stare at him. But she followed his gaze to the crescent moon hovering over the Rockies. “How many constellations are there? Do you know?”

  “Close to ninety have been recognized.”

  “Do you know all their names?”

  Seth laughed. “That’s a tall order.”

  The air really was too chilly for her short sleeve shirt, and she leaned closer to him. “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “Maybe at my geekiest.”

  “Oh, please. You were never a geek.”

  He smiled at her, then frowned when he caught her shivering. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he pulled her against his side. “I might have a long-sleeved shirt in the truck,” he said, brushing the hair away from her face. “Or we don’t have to sit out here at all.”

  “No, I like it here,” she said quickly. “Unless it’s too cool for you.”

  “Not with you snuggled up to me like this, it isn’t.”

  “Feels perfect to me.” Weird, very weird, in fact, and yet perfect.

  Sitting like this was something she associated with boyfriends. Cuddling and holding hands felt intimate to her, and often uncomfortable. Of course she’d gone out with a few guys she liked over the years. Shane was strictly a friend. Trevor and Steve were more like sex buddies with no expectations on either side. True intimacy had never played a part in any of her relationships. Yet sitting here with Seth felt perfectly normal. Safe, even. Pleasant. And how did that make sense?

  “I think I’ll go look for that shirt,” he said, removing his arm from her shoulders.

  “Look, if you’re cold we’ll go. No problem.”

  “Not for me. You’re the one shivering.”

  “Was I?” She heard another howl and jumped. “Still far away, right?”

  “Right,” he said, and started to get to his feet, but she caught his arm.

  “I’m not cold.”

  “Okay. But let’s try this instead.” He resettled on the blanket, this time behind her. “How about you sit here,” he said, patting the spot between his spread legs.

  Her pulse fluttered. “That doesn’t look comfortable for you.”

  “Sure it is.” He drew up his bent knees so she could shift into place.

  She refused to check if his erection had subsided. Surely it must have or he wouldn’t have made the offer. Still, she hesitated to lean back, until his coaxing won her over. Her shoulders met his chest, but she managed to leave some room behind her butt to avoid contact.

  “Better?” he asked, wrapping his arms around her. “You’re stiff. Relax. I’m not going to bite.”

  “Any chance you have a can of wolf repellent in your truck?”

  Seth chuckled. “Is that what’s got you tense?” His mouth was near her right ear; his warm breath glided over her skin at the side of her neck. “T
he wolves aren’t going to bother us,” he murmured.

  Oh, God, his body was so warm, chasing away the chill air. His encircling arms were strong and made her feel ridiculously safe. So safe she found her butt snuggled up against his...his crotch. Anatomically, no other body part was possible. And his arms made it all the way around her drawn-up knees. Yet his hold remained loose. She didn’t feel the urge to break free just to make sure she could.

  He’d told her to relax. She was practically lounging back as if he was the most comfy chair in the world. His heart was beating a bit fast, and so was hers.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “I’d feel a whole lot better if I thought you were more comfortable.”

  “Are you kidding? What could be better than this?”

  “Um...” Hannah laughed. “Nothing.”

  “Besides that,” he said, and kissed her neck.

  She felt a jerky movement against her backside and she bit down on her lip. “Ouch!”

  He brought his head up. “Did I hurt you?”

  “It was me. I bit my lip.”

  “Let’s see.”

  “It’s okay. I’ll live.”

  He cupped her chin and turned her face toward him. “You have pretty lips.”

  “What?” Hannah giggled.

  “Soft, too,” he said, drawing his thumb over them. He bent his head as if he were about to kiss her, but it wasn’t easy, the way they were sitting.

  Their mouths merely brushed.

  Hannah sighed, completely ready to give up warmth for more kissing. But Seth didn’t seem to be of the same mind. He just smiled and settled back.

  “Hey, look at that,” she said, pointing to the western sky. “Are those stars in the shape of a W, or is it my imagination?”

  “That’s Cassiopeia,” he said, without enthusiasm.

  “Not your favorite, huh?”

  “I wouldn’t kick her out of bed,” he said, and grinned when Hannah twisted around to give him a look. “We see Cassiopeia all year long from here. Now, if it was October or November, the bottom of the W would point to Andromeda.”

  “What about that one?”