Cowboy Unwrapped

“We will!” Amethyst turned and waved, and they all waved back. She waited until they’d gone through the pasture gate and were far enough away that no one could hear before she spoke. Even then she kept her voice down. “Just so you know, we can’t have sex on this sleigh ride.”

He chuckled. “Is that so?” He kept his eyes on the path ahead. “Why not?”

She forced herself to resist that sexy chuckle. And the way his gloved hands on the reins reminded her of how he’d touched her last summer. “I’m not going right home afterward. Phil suggested I stay for the Christmas Eve celebration.”

“That’s great, but what does it have to do with anything?”

“If we have sex, I’ll get all rumpled and kissed-looking. I’ll have no way to repair the damage. When I walk back into the ranch house, everyone in your family will know what we’ve been doing.”

“And you’d be embarrassed. I get that.”

She sighed in relief. “Good. Because otherwise I’d want to.”

“That’s nice to hear.”

“But I like the sleigh ride. I’ve never had one before. Cozy.”

“Mmm.”

“Thank you for going to so much trouble.”

“You’re welcome.” He drove the sleigh in silence for a little while. “What if I told you we could have sex and you wouldn’t end up all ‘rumpled and kissed-looking’? Would you want to?”

“How could you manage that?” Her body began to hum.

“Trust me when I say I could. I learned early how to cover my tracks.”

Her heartbeat accelerated. “I see.”

“Kissing is fantastic, especially with you, but it’s not a requirement for what I have in mind.”

“I suppose not.” Moisture dampened her panties.

“Well?” He glanced at her. Although his hat cast a shadow over his green eyes, the heat shimmering there was unmistakable.

She swallowed. “I think I’d be a fool to say no.”

5 (#ufcc001ab-7ea1-5b22-93af-8c71063a0220)

JAKE HAD BEEN hard as an ax handle ever since they’d gone through the pasture gate and escaped the watchful eyes of his family. He hadn’t expected Amethyst to lay down a no-sex rule, but once she’d explained her reasons, he’d understood. Then he’d set to work figuring a way around the issue.

Not kissing her as a warm-up would seem strange, but he’d forgo that if it meant he’d be able to make the connection his body had ached for since she’d driven away from Jackson Hole. He’d considered asking someone else out. After all, he hadn’t known whether he’d ever have that experience again with Amethyst, which made celibacy ridiculous.

But that red-hot memory had seared itself into his brain and he couldn’t imagine taking another woman to bed until he knew for sure Amethyst was lost to him. Turned out she wasn’t the least bit lost. She was right beside him and as eager for him as he was for her.

Fortunately smoke alarms hadn’t been the only thing he’d picked up during his quick trip to town. After discovering that she was willing to make time for him, he’d added a quick trip to the drugstore. He’d tucked a condom in his jeans’ pocket this morning to make sure he didn’t forget.