Only 03 - Only You

thought her a liar and a cheat—was like ice congealing in her soul.
    Surely Reno can’t keep on believing that. The more we’re together, the more he must see that I’m not what he thinks I am.
    As Reno had all through the day, he turned and checked the back trail. At first Eve had thought it was concern that she would cut and run that kept Reno so alert. Gradually she had realized it was something else entirely.
    They were being followed. Eve sensed that at the same instinctive level as she sensed the woman-hunger in Reno whenever he looked at her.
    She wondered if Reno was like her, remembering the two rods touching, clinging, joined by secret currents, shimmering with unknown possibilities. She had never felt anything like it in her life.
    Throughout the long hours on the trail, the memory haunted Eve. Each time it returned, it sent frissons of wonder and excitement through her, undermining her anger at Reno.
    How could she be angry at a man whose very flesh and soul matched hers?
    He felt it as clearly as I did.
    He can’t believe I’m no better than my cheap red dress.
    Surely he understands. He just too mule-stubborn to admit he was wrong about me.
    The thought was as alluring to Eve as the possibility of Spanish gold somewhere ahead in thewilderness, hidden from all other people, waiting to be discovered by whoever was brave or foolish enough to risk the dangerous stone maze.
    “W AIT here.”
    Reno said no more. Nor did he need to.
    Eve reined in her tired mount, took the lead rope of Shaggy One, and watched Reno leave without asking where he was going or why. She simply sat on her horse and waited for his return with a patience that came from exhaustion. Around her, the last colors of the day drained from the sky, leaving twilight behind.
    It was full dark when Reno reappeared as silently as a wraith. The Shaggies and the dun were too busy cropping the scant grass to bother calling a greeting to their trail mate. The blue roan felt the same way about wasting energy on ceremony; as soon as Reno allowed, she fell to grazing with the hunger of a mustang that had grown up rustling its own feed.
    Reno waited for Eve to ask where he had been and why. When she didn’t, his mouth tightened with irritation.
    “Are you going to sulk all night, too?” he asked.
    “Why do you care what a liar, a cheat, and a saloon girl does?” Eve asked wearily.
    She pretended not to hear the word Reno hissed beneath his breath as he dismounted. He began unsaddling Darlin’ with quick, angry motions. After he upended the saddle on the ground to let the fleece dry, he turned to face Eve with his fists on his lean hips.
    “Beats me why women get upset when a man calls them what they are,” he said bluntly.
    Eve was too tired to be polite, much less cautious.
    “I can understand how a rude, blind, stubborn, cold-blooded lecher like you might feel that way,” she said.
    There was a taut, electric silence while she dismounted.
    And then Reno laughed.
    “Sheathe your claws, gata . You’re safe from me tonight.”
    Eve gave him a wary, sideways look.
    “I may be lecherous,” he said dryly, “but I’m not a fool. As long as Slater is on my trail, I’m not going to get caught with my pants undone.”
    Eve told herself she wasn’t disappointed that she would get none of Reno’s disturbing, compelling touch that night—or any night soon. It was better that way.
    Only one thing a man wants from a woman, make no mistake about it. Once you give him that, you better be married, or he’ll go off down the trail and find another foolish girl to spread her legs in the name of love.
    Yet even the echoes of Donna Lyon’s bitter advice couldn’t keep Eve from seeing Reno with his nephew, smiling and gentle, and with his sister. The love in him had been strong enough to touch.
    Eve wanted to touch it. She wanted to make with Reno the home she had always dreamed of, the safe haven from a world that didn’t care whether she lived or died, and the babies no one could take from her arms and send away.
    The realization of how deeply and in how many ways she yearned for Reno frightened Eve. Unlike the Spanish needles, she wasn’t made of iron. They weren’t hurt by the eerie currents that joined them. She doubted that she would be so lucky ifshe gave in to her complex, unexpected hunger for Reno.
    Eve dismounted in a rush. As she stood and flipped the stirrup up over the saddle horn, Reno’s arm went around her waist, pulling her