Only 03 - Only You

exasperated sound and wished her hat were big enough to cover her flaming face. It didn’t help that she sensed Reno’s silent amusement as clearly as if he had thrown back his head and laughed to the clouds.
    “You’re laughing at me,” she muttered.
    The back of Reno’s fingers smoothed down Eve’s cheek in a gentle caress.
    “No, sugar girl. I’m laughing because you go to my head like straight whiskey,” he said. “I like knowing you’re as aware of me as I am of you. It makes me want to pull you off your horse and take you right here, right now, sitting up and watching you.”
    “Sitting up on a horse?” Eve asked, too startled to be embarrassed. “Is it possible?”
    “Damned if I know. I’m real tempted to find out, though. I’ve been aching for you since about ten minutes after I first had you.”
    Reno pulled lightly on the reins. Darlin’ backed up quickly, removing her rider from temptation.
    “Come on,” he said to Eve. “The shaman and I have a surprise for you.”
    “What?”
    “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?”
    Smiling, Eve reined the dun around to follow Reno. His new ease with her made her happy. He hadn’t been so quick to smile since his sister’s ranch, where he had been able to let down his guard among friends and family.
    That was how he was treating Eve now. As though he trusted her. The heady combination of teasing and frank sensuality kept her senses fully alert, her body quickened in anticipation of the next caress, the next instant of laughter. She couldn’t remember ever having smiled so much in her life.
    Eve was still smiling when her horse came alongside Reno’s. He smiled in return, wondering at the resilience of the girl who was fresh and eager to venture into new country after having barely escaped with her life from the twin hazards of outlawsand a forced exploration of uncharted land.
    Not to mention the hazards of innocence and a gunfighter who had wanted her for so long he was having a hell of a time keeping his hands off her now.
    “Close your eyes,” Reno said huskily.
    Eve gave him a sideways look.
    “Uh-oh. The dark velvet voice again,” she teased. “Is this where you snatch me from the saddle and attempt dubious things while riding a bad-tempered mustang?”
    Reno threw back his head and laughed with delight.
    “Sugar girl, you do tempt a man. But you’re right about Darlin’s disposition. She’d unload both of us into the nearest pile of rocks. So close your eyes and don’t open them until I tell you. You’re safe …for now.”
    Laughing quietly, Eve closed her eyes, knowing that her horse would follow Darlin’ without guidance.
    For a few minutes, all Eve was aware of was the subtle creak of leather, the lazy rhythms of the lineback dun, the warmth of the sun, and the unique smell of sage and evergreen permeating the dry air.
    “Can I peek yet?”
    “Uh-uh.”
    “Sure?” she teased.
    “I sure am.”
    Eve heard the smile in Reno’s voice and wanted to laugh out loud with her own soaring pleasure. She loved the lazy teasing that had grown between them since yesterday. She loved being able to turn around and find Reno watching her with warmth in his eyes instead of anger or raw desire. She loved hearing pleasure in his voice and knowing that hewas enjoying just being with her. She loved…
    Reno.
    “No peeking,” he warned.
    Reno tugged Eve’s hat brim down over her eyes and ran the back of his fingers along her jawline.
    “I wasn’t going to cheat,” she said quietly. “No matter what you think, I’m not a cheater by nature.”
    Reno felt her hurt as though it were his own. Leaning over, he lifted Eve from her horse and settled her sideways across his lap, holding her like a child.
    “Hush. I wasn’t thinking about anything when I pulled on your hat but an excuse to touch you.”
    Eve turned her face in to Reno’s chest, knocking her hat aside. It dangled from its chin strings until he pushed it over her shoulder and stroked her hair.
    “I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he said after a time.
    Eyes still closed, she nodded.
    “Eve?”
    “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I know I shouldn’t be so touchy. But…I am.”
    He tipped up her face and gave her the lightest of kisses. Then his arms tightened around her, holding her close when Darlin’ shied at the shadow of a soaring hawk.
    “Take it easy, knothead,” Reno said.
    “Watch who you’re calling names,” she muttered.
    There was