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  “On the other hand, I still know damn little about you. There are some things I particularly want to know. I want to know if I can kiss you into agreeing to do what I want. I want to know what happens when you let go,” he said. “I want to know every inch of you—”

  He broke off as his mouth covered hers. She slipped her arms around his neck and held him, returning his kisses wildly, knowing she was speeding toward disaster, yet unable to stop.

  Mike tugged her T-shirt out of her cutoffs, his hands sliding over her and then cupping her breasts. As his thumbs played across her nipples, she trembled, longing shaking her while she returned his kiss. She slipped her hands beneath his T-shirt and ran her fingers down his smooth back.

  Pausing, she gazed up at him. “I’m not going to let you break my heart.”

  “The last thing on earth I’d want to do is hurt you,” he said, kissing her temple, trailing kisses to her ear.

  She caught his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. “Did it ever occur to you that after a year here, you might not want to leave? You’re running risks, too.”

  “I’ll leave. I’m not good daddy or family material. I don’t know anything about babies.”

  “You can learn,” she said, gazing at him and feeling the same clash of irritation and desire she’d had the first day she met him.

  “No, make no mistake, Savannah. I’ll live by what we agreed, and when the year is up, I’m gone.”

  “Let’s go back to our game,” she said, her breathing still faster than usual. She wanted to step right back into his arms, but instead she wriggled away from him. He looked amused and confident, as if he knew the effect he had on her and knew it was only a matter of time until she was in his bed.

  “My family is getting together Saturday to ride. We do this about twice a month. Would you like to join us?” she asked.

  “Sure,” he answered as he leaned over the table to line up a shot.

  “Since your parents once had a ranch in Montana, I assume you ride.”

  “Yep. I haven’t in a long time, but I did as a kid.”

  She fell silent as she watched him, and then concentrated on her game. What was it between them that made her feel so competitive? Whatever it was, it was mutual.

  She shook her head in disgust. “You win,” she said, putting away her cue stick.

  He came around to put his in the rack and then draped his hands on her shoulders. “To the victor go the spoils.”

  “Not on your nellie,” she said.

  “You’re a sore loser, Counselor. If pool does this to you, I’d hate to see you lose a case.”

  “I don’t lose very often.”

  “Let’s go get a cold drink and sit and talk,” he said, lacing his fingers through hers.

  “Mike, I think I might like to hire you.”

  “Oh, darlin’, I’m all yours,” he said playfully, turning to take her into his arms.

  She had to laugh as she pushed against his chest. “To investigate what’s happening at my office,” she said as he released her.

  “That smile has probably done more to win trials for you than all your brilliant arguments,” he said.

  “Don’t be ridiculous, but I’m glad you like my smile.”

  “Oh, yes, I like your smile, your mouth…” he whispered into her ear, blowing lightly and stirring tingles in her.

  “Stop flirting with me!” Savannah said, but she smiled at him.

  “I like to flirt with you and see where it leads.”

  “It’s not leading anywhere tonight. And I want to talk to you about my problems at work.”

  “All right, back to your office.”

  “In the past few months, we’ve lost three clients we’ve had a long time. If it was only one or two, I’d say that was normal. Things always change. But this is three coming very close together.”

  “What reasons do they give you?”

  “One wants a larger firm. One didn’t want to pay as much as we charge, but we charge a pretty standard rate.”

  “I’ll be glad to look into it. I’ll call tomorrow and set an appointment when I can come to your office. Do you have Troy’s approval for this?”

  “I don’t need it, but I’m sure he would approve, although he doesn’t agree with me about why they left.”

  “I had the feeling at our wedding that he wasn’t fond of me.”

  “Troy can be jealous and a little vindictive, and at our wedding, he thought you and I were in love. I think he was piqued—a damaged male ego. Since then, I’ve told him the truth. Now he should be friendly.”

  “We’ll see.”

  They went to the family room to talk. Each night during the week, after Jessie was asleep, Savannah and Mike talked until the wee hours. And each night they kissed, and Savannah knew that with every hour that passed, she wanted him more than she did the hour before.

  On Friday morning, Mike came through the door of Savannah’s office and her breath caught. She remembered that first day and how her pulse had leaped the moment she’d seen him. And the sparks that ignited that day still had her heart pumping wildly. Today he again wore a navy suit and dark tie, and instantly, she was aware of herself as his dark eyes roamed over her.

  “You’re smiling,” he commented. “Is it in recollection or in satisfaction that you got what you wanted—little Jessie, me, the whole bit?”

  “I don’t have you, but I do have Jessie. And I’m smiling because I remember the chemistry we both felt and too often still feel. Have a seat.”

  “Sure thing, Counselor,” he said, looking amused.

  “You’re remembering, too,” she said, wanting to pat her hair and make sure it was in place, but resisting the impulse. She wore a navy tailored dress that had a V neckline and brass buttons, and now she wished she’d worn something softer, more feminine and appealing.

  “What would you like to know, Mike? I have a list of the clients we’ve lost and as much information about them as I could provide,” she said, handing a list to him.

  A knock at the door interrupted her, and Troy Slocum walked in.

  “Mike, you remember meeting my partner, Troy Slocum,” Savannah said.

  Mike came to his feet and shook hands with the tall blond man, who gazed coldly back at him. “It’s nice to see you again,” Mike said politely, curious about the animosity he saw in Slocum’s eyes.

  As Mike sat down again, Troy dropped into another chair and smoothed his gray suit pants over his knees. He turned to Mike. “I told Savannah that this is a waste of your time. Clients leave firms every day. I really don’t know what she expects to find.”

  “You and I have been over this, Troy,” Savannah said before Mike could answer. “I think we’ve lost too many for it to be coincidence. Let’s see what Mike can find out about them.”

  “If it makes you happy, but I think it’s a waste of time and money. All he’s going to learn is that the companies just wanted a change, maybe in some cases because someone in the company thought they should try another firm. There will probably be as many reasons as there are companies that you’re looking into, but if it keeps you busy and Savannah happy, so be it. It’s a bone your new wife can toss you.”

  “Troy, I’m not tossing him a bone. Stop grousing over the expense. Humor me on this one. I have a funny feeling about it.”

  “Savannah and her feelings. Savannah, we’ve lost clients before, and then they’ve come back to us. Look at the Mars-den Ltd. group. Or V. R. Hunsacker and Associates. They left. They came back. That’ll probably happen with some of these latest clients.”

  “It might, but I still want Mike to look into it,” Savannah said.

  “Well,” Troy returned, “if I can be of any help to you, Mike, please let me know. I’ll do what I can.”

  “Thanks,” Mike replied.

  “I’ve tried, and as much influence as I have on Savannah, I couldn’t change her mind on this one.”

  “Want to go to lunch?” Mike asked Savannah as s
oon as Troy had closed the door behind him.

  “Sure. Let me check on a couple of things and then I’ll be ready.” She left her office.

  Mike looked at Savannah’s list of clients. He had a place to begin and it shouldn’t take long to get some of the information he needed. He half suspected that Troy was right—companies did like change and her clients could have decided to move on. It could be all coincidental. But he would look into it because it would be quick and easy and would satisfy Savannah.

  The next day, they joined her family at her parents’ two-story house.

  The Clays gathered in the family room, ready to ride once everyone had arrived. When the last brother appeared, they all headed toward the kitchen to go outside to the waiting horses.

  Savannah’s father was showing Mike a hunting bow he had made, and they lingered after the others had gone. “You better catch up with them,” Matt said at last. “This family will only wait so long. You enjoy your ride today. Amy and I will enjoy staying here and watching Jessie and the other kids.”

  “Yes, sir,” Mike answered. When he stepped into the hall, he saw Savannah talking to her brother, Andy. He hurried toward them, but they disappeared into the kitchen. When he was just outside the doorway, he heard them say his name.

  “Give Mike Bluebonnet,” Andy said.

  “I’m doing no such thing. You two just want to see him bucked off. He gets Jester.”

  “Aw, give him Bluebonnet, Savannah. He’s tough.” Mike recognized Lucius’s voice.

  “You ride your horse and I’ll ride my horse and we’ll give Mike Jester. End of discussion.”

  When Mike entered the kitchen, the subject was instantly changed.

  “We’re ready,” Lucius said, his eyes twinkling. “The horses are saddled and ready to go.”

  As they walked to the waiting horses, Mike put his arm around Savannah’s shoulders and pulled her close.

  “How long since you’ve ridden?” she asked.

  “A very long time.”

  “You take Jester and you’ll be fine.”

  “I wasn’t worried about it.” Savannah smiled at him and turned to wave to her folks, who stood on the back steps holding Jessie, while half-a-dozen grandchildren played in the yard.

  When they reached the horses, the men mounted. “Mike, take Bluebonnet over there,” Lucius said.

  “No, take Jester,” Savannah countered, grabbing the reins of a big bay gelding and leading it back to Mike. While Mike took the reins from her and swung into the saddle, the men and their wives headed out.

  Mike urged Jester into a walk as Savannah mounted her sorrel mare.

  The late-April sunshine was warm, and Mike suspected that by noon it would be sweltering, but the ride would be over by then and they’d all be ensconced in the air-conditioned house.

  Mike noticed that the others had stopped, waiting for him and Savannah to catch up.

  “Mike!” Savannah’s father came charging across the backyard.

  At the same time, Mike felt Jester tense, and then the horse exploded into the air and landed stiff-legged to leap up again as if he had springs for legs.

  Mike tightened his legs and gritted his teeth, aware of Savannah’s father yelling and her brothers and Savannah doubled over with laughter.

  Mike didn’t know how long he could hang on, but he was determined to stick like a burr. The wild laughter changed to shouts of encouragement.

  “Ride ’em cowboy!” Cheers went up from her brothers until finally Jester stopped bucking and was still, snorting and pawing the earth. Applause went up from the onlookers, and Savannah’s father stood nearby with his hands on his hips. He shook his head in disgust and turned to head back to the house.

  The others rode away while Savannah urged her mount forward toward Mike. Her eyes sparkled and a smile hovered on her lips. “You’ve kept your talents hidden. You must have done the rodeo circuit. My brothers were impressed.”

  “You wanted to see me land on my rear and get a mouthful of dirt.”

  “No!” she answered with wide-eyed innocence. “I knew you’d be able to ride Jester.”

  Mike looked past her. The riders were disappearing beyond a grove of trees. He swung out of the saddle and looped the reins around the nearby fence, then reached out to take the reins to her horse. “Get down, Savannah.”

  Seven

  “O h, no! Don’t tell me you’re a sore loser.”

  He reached up and lifted her off her horse, standing her on her feet in front of him. She knew she had played an ornery trick on him, but that tension was still there between them, and an urge to get the best of him plagued her constantly. Instead, he had ridden Jester like a pro, and now the fire in his eyes made her heart lurch.

  They stood between the two horses, blocked from the view of the other riders and the house.

  “I could’ve broken my neck,” he said in a tone that made her realize he wasn’t angry at all. Her trick had had the opposite effect. His dark eyes were filled with passion, and she didn’t know if it was from the adrenaline rush he’d just had or if he was determined to get back at her in a way that suited him.

  “Not true,” she protested swiftly. “You grew up on a ranch. I knew you’d know how to ride.”

  “You’re not talking your way out of this one, darlin’,” he drawled.

  “Mike—”

  “Play with fire and you know what happens. After that little trick you played on me, I deserve to get what I want this morning.” He pulled her close and his mouth came down hard on hers in a kiss that took her breath and made her heart pound violently.

  His tongue touched and stroked and taunted, stirring desire into white heat, causing her to tremble in his arms and forget where they were or what had happened.

  Consumed by his kiss and aching for more, she pressed against him and wrapped her arms around his neck. While she wound her fingers in his hair, her world tipped crazily.

  Finally he released her, and they stood staring at each other, gasping for breath. “I’ll finish what I’ve started when we’re home tonight,” he said in a husky voice that strummed her raw nerves.

  They continued to look at each other as if both were reluctant to end the spell woven by his kiss. She wanted to fling herself back into his arms, and she knew he felt the same way.

  He caught her chin in his fingers. “You and I are like fire and dynamite—a volatile combination. I ought to be angry, but all I want to do is kiss you until all that fire in you is mine.”

  “Well, I didn’t get the reaction from you I expected,” she said, barely aware of her words because her pulse still thrummed and she tingled from head to toe, wanting him and knowing she had stirred up a world of trouble with her prank.

  “There’s another horse saddled for you to ride,” she said. She caught the reins of both horses to lead them back to the corral. A black horse stood saddled and waiting, and Savannah motioned toward it. “There’s your horse.”

  “So what’s this one going to do? Another bucking contest?”

  “Believe me, the pranks are over. He’s docile.”

  Mike looked amused as he swung into the saddle and urged his horse beside hers, but Savannah was in a turmoil now, too conscious of his promise to continue when they were home alone tonight what he had started with his passionate kiss.

  “My brothers will be so impressed with you. They’ll be nicer to you now.”

  “You and your brothers set me up this morning with that talk about which horse I should ride. You knew I’d overhear you.”

  “Sorry, Mike. I couldn’t resist trying to shake you up a bit.”

  “And I intend to shake you up in return. You asked for it, Savannah,” he said in a voice like a caress.

  Later, as Mike rode behind her, he watched her trim derriere and thought about the morning’s kiss. He intended to keep his promise to her. She had pushed him this morning, and he was going to push back tonight. Only it wasn’t exactly pushes between them, but rather a simme
ring clash that had desire as its bedrock.

  When they had caught up with her family, all of them congratulated him on staying on Jester’s back. To Mike’s amusement, some of the animosity he had sensed around her brothers was gone.

  “Good job. I’ll take you to lunch one day this week,” her youngest brother, Jacob, said. “We had a bet on whether you’d stick on Jester or not, and I won, so you get a free lunch.”

  “Thanks, give me a call,” Mike answered easily, giving Savannah a look.

  Back home, Savannah’s father gave her a lecture, then turned to Mike to congratulate him on his ride. Here, too, Mike sensed a thawing of her father’s attitude toward him, although he knew the thawing had started when he had danced with Savannah at the wedding reception and they had looked like two people in love.

  Maybe her family thought he would fall in love with her and stay. Fortunately, at least Savannah didn’t expect that. He watched her as they packed the car to go home, thinking she seemed too earnest about life to be into practical jokes. He suspected she would think twice before involving him in another one.

  It was almost ten o’clock that night before she put Jessie down. As soon as she did, she called to Mike, who was in the family room.

  “Good night, Mike. It’s been a long day, and I’ll see you in the morning.”

  He heard her bedroom door close. It was clear she was avoiding being alone with him, but he wouldn’t forget what he had said this morning. His time would come. If not tonight, then soon. Very soon…

  The next few days were too busy for Savannah and Mike to have any moments with only the two of them.

  Friday afternoon, his cell phone rang as he was coming out of a client’s office. When he answered, he heard Savannah’s voice.

  “Mike, I need your help.”

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, thinking only Jessie could cause the panic he heard in Savannah’s voice.

  “Constance’s father had a heart attack and she has to leave this afternoon as soon as we can get home to relieve her. I’m tied up here at the courthouse.”