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  “Hi, Leigh,” he said before he grinned at Carilyn and gave her a wonderful kiss that made her feel light as air.

  “Where are you off to?” Leigh asked brightly when Cody and Carilyn parted.

  “Good try.” Cody winked at Leigh before glancing around her living room. “Your place looks great now that you’re back and it’s set to rights. I have to say Mike is a lot easier to get along with since you’ve come home. Especially now that I’ve been living with him since my house was blown to hell.”

  Leigh gave a laugh. “I had a wonderful time in Europe, but I’m happy to be back. I missed him, too.” She smiled at Carilyn. “And I’m so happy to have you here.”

  “Ditto on Carilyn being here,” Cody said with a look at Carilyn that made butterflies dance in her belly. “As far as Mike is concerned, I’ve never seen him like this before,” Cody added. “I think he’s got it for you bad.”

  Leigh grinned. “I like the sound of that.”

  Cody looked at Carilyn. “Ready?”

  She gestured to her new pink suitcase. “Yep.”

  He picked up the suitcase. “See you, Leigh.” He touched the brim of his hat and nodded to her before turning and heading out the front door.

  Carilyn gave Leigh a quick hug. “Have a great time,” Leigh said as she drew away.

  “Thanks.” Carilyn smiled at Leigh and whispered so that Cody couldn’t hear. “Maybe you should plan a surprise trip for you and Mike and show him how it’s done. Sometimes men need a push.”

  Leigh looked thoughtful. “Now there’s an idea.”

  Carilyn said goodbye and Leigh watched them as they climbed into Cody’s truck. Leigh waved as Cody started the truck and pulled away from the curb. Carilyn waved back.

  She turned to Cody. “So where are we going?”

  “I’ll never tell,” he said with a grin and she lightly punched his arm.

  They chatted about his new home—the builders would be starting on it soon. Just days ago, Carilyn had surprised Cody with a new guitar that she’d bought him to replace the one that had been lost in the explosion.

  As for the explosion itself, and everything else bad that had happened, she appreciated that he didn’t bring it all up. She still had nightmares over the bastard who’d nearly killed her. Not a day had gone by since then that thoughts of all that had happened hadn’t flitted through her mind. But she was getting better, one day at a time. Time would heal the wounds as the memories faded and became more and more distant. Eventually, anyway.

  She glanced out the window as he drove. After a while, her eyes widened. “Oh, my gosh. The red rocks are so beautiful.”

  He gave a nod. “Yep.”

  “That’s your surprise!” She gave an excited bounce in her seat. “We’re going to Sedona.”

  With a smile he said, “You’ve guessed right.”

  “I’ve been wanting to go since I arrived in Prescott.” She looked in wonder at the scenery. “This is absolutely incredible.”

  He pulled off the road into a scenic outlook. “We’ll stop so you can take a look.”

  Before she could climb out herself, like always he was there to hold the door open for her. She walked up to the overlook and gazed at the gorgeous rock formations and felt the spiritual pull of the place.

  “It’s amazing.” She looked at him and smiled. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

  After she’d had her fill of the view, at least temporarily, they climbed into the truck and were back on their way. They went through what felt like a dozen roundabouts as they headed through the Village of Oak Creek and into Sedona.

  When they drove into the town, she looked in delight at everything around them. Soon he was pulling up to a rustic bed and breakfast nestled amongst juniper and pine trees. Manicured gardens surrounded the place.

  “It’s beautiful,” Carilyn said in a breathless voice as Cody parked. Once he’d helped her out of his truck, he grabbed her small suitcase and his duffel bag and carried them into the B & B’s lobby.

  Inside there were so many things to look at. Native American artwork decorated the cozy lobby. Cody checked them in and it wasn’t long before they were in their own room with a private patio. The room had a king-sized bed and a jetted tub in the large bathroom that was tiled with red stone.

  “It’s wonderful.” She wrapped her arms around his neck after they looked around the room. “You are amazing.”

  “Get ready, and wear the dress I told you to pack,” he said with a smile.

  She felt almost giddy as she dressed and touched up her makeup. When they headed out, the day was waning and cool shadow lay over the land.

  “It’s wonderful here.” She breathed deeply of the fresh air and stretched her arms wide. “More than this Kansas girl ever expected.” She closed her eyes and let the power of the place soak into her skin, soak into her soul. “I love this place.”

  She opened her eyes and caught him grinning as he watched her and she grinned back.

  They left the B & B and he took her to a lovely restaurant where they were seated in a corner at a table for two and given elegant menus. Cody ordered a bottle of Chardonnay and it arrived before they’d even had a chance to look at their menus.

  After pouring each of them a glass, the server set the bottle down and started to light the candle at the middle of the table. Both Cody and Carilyn held out their hands in a stop gesture and said, “No!”

  The server looked surprised but gave a slight bow and turned away. Cody and Carilyn looked at each other and laughed.

  Carilyn shook her head. “I’ve had enough fire to last me a lifetime.”

  The corner of Cody’s mouth quirked. “I’d say the same, but my career won’t let me get away from it.”

  She studied him. “I don’t think I could go a day without worrying about you every time you went to work.”

  He reached across the table and put his hand over hers. He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb in slow circles. “You don’t need to worry about me, Carilyn.”

  “But I do.” She looked down at their hands before meeting his gaze again. “After everything, I feel even more like I’d worry every time you’d leave for the fire station.” She turned her hand up and they linked fingers. “But at the same time I’m so proud of you for doing something that saves lives. What you do truly matters.”

  He raised her hand and brushed his lips over the back of it, causing her to give a little shiver.

  She studied him before she said, “I booked a flight back to Kansas on Wednesday.”

  He went still but his hand gripped hers tighter. “You’re leaving?”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  “Carilyn,” he said with urgency, “I can’t imagine life without you.”

  With a sly smile, she said, “Well I have to go back. I need to pack up my apartment if I’m going to move to Prescott.”

  Cody let out his breath in a whoosh and his face split into a grin. “Thank Heaven, because it wouldn’t be so easy to sell my property and follow you to Kansas.”

  Her eyes widened. “You’d do that for me?”

  “Hell yes.” He took both her hands in his and held them tightly. “I love you so damned much, Carilyn. I don’t want to ever live without you. I won’t live without you.”

  “I love you, too, Cody.” She gripped his hands just as tightly. “I can’t imagine not having you in my life.”

  When he leaned forward, she met him halfway and they kissed. It was sweet and wonderful, and she couldn’t remember ever being so happy in all her life.

  He released one of her hands, picked up his glass of wine, and raised it. “Here’s to us and a future filled with new possibilities.”

  She smiled and raised her own glass. “To us,” she said softly and clinked her glass against his, excited for the future and everything to come.

  # # #

  ***

  Excerpt… Crazy For You

  Cheyenne McCray

  The afternoon was growin
g long as she reached a stock tank, not too far from a small thicket of oak and mesquite trees. She dismounted and let Poca drink from the tank.

  Ella felt a prickling along her spine and looked around to see a horse and rider approaching. Clint. A strange combination of irritation and pleasure traveled up and down her spine. Irritation that he had followed her, and pleasure that he was there. Then irritation at her pleasure.

  Frowning, she turned her attention to Poca, ignoring Clint. Out of the corner of her eye she watched him dismount Charger when they reached the tank and then lead his horse to the water. She noticed a blanket rolled up on the back of Charger’s saddle.

  She glanced at him. “What are you doing out here?”

  “Checking up on you.” He said the words casually.

  She scowled at him. “What right do you have—?”

  In the next moment he gripped her upper arms so tightly that she caught her breath in surprise. The look in his brown eyes caused her heart to pound and she dropped Poca’s reins to brace her palms on Clint’s chest, ready to push him away.

  He had never looked as handsome as he did that moment, his expression so intense that she felt as if she might be consumed by the need she felt emanating from him. A raw, powerful need that she shared with every part of her being.

  She swallowed as flutters traveled through her belly. “Let me go, Clint.”

  His expression turned serious, but he didn’t let her go. “I have one question for you. Whether or not I let you go depends on the answer to that question.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “And that would be?”

  “What’s your relationship with Johnny Parker?” he said slowly.

  Confused by his question, she blinked. “We’re good friends. Why?”

  “That’s all I needed to hear.” He dragged her up against him and his mouth came down hard on hers.

  Completely caught off guard, she let out a startled gasp, but he swallowed it with his kiss. It was powerful and demanding as he slipped his tongue into her mouth and he gripped her ass in his big hands. His cock was hard as he held her tightly to him.

  The thought of struggling came to a quick death as she fell into the kiss. She gave a soft moan as he ground his erection against her belly and she felt an answering tingle between her thighs. Not just a tingle but a full on explosion of need and desire. She thought about the night he had touched her and brought her to orgasm and she gave a soft moan.

  She grew lightheaded, as if she needed more oxygen. When he drew away she stared up into his eyes. “I need to finish checking the fence line.” The words came out in a husky whisper, as if she wasn’t sure about herself, not at all like she’d intended.

  “You need to stay right here.” He moved his lips to her ear. “With me.”

  A shiver traveled down her spine. “No.” She swallowed. “I need to—”

  He took her mouth hard again and she felt every bit of resolve slipping. How many times had she dreamed of his kisses? And now that she was a grown woman, here she was, in his arms.

  Her whole body felt like soft clay, as if he could mold her, shape her, make her a work of art with his touches and kisses. He groaned deep and low in his throat and she shivered again as he moved his palms from her ass to her waist and back again. His hands felt sure and strong, and she felt a sense of possessiveness running through him, as if she belonged to no other.

  No, he was just trying to change her mind and she couldn’t allow him to get away with that.

  She shoved at him hard, breaking the kiss, severing the fire that had made her feel connected to him in ways she couldn’t have imagined. “That’s enough.”

  “I’m just getting started.” He caught her up in his embrace so that his arm was beneath her ass and she was halfway over his shoulder.

  She struggled in his arms. “Put me down, Clint.” He was so strong that she could barely move.

  He held on to her with one arm and with his other he unbuckled two straps holding the rolled up blanket on the back of Charger’s saddle.

  It occurred to her then exactly what he planned to do with that blanket. She tried to get away but he carried her to the thicket of oak and mesquite trees. He unfurled the blanket on the ground with his free arm, at the base of a group of rocks that were beneath the trees.

  He turned and twisted her in the air and she let out a surprised cry as he sat on one of the big rocks. In the next moment she found herself laying facedown, over his knees, her arms pinned behind her back, her hair hanging over her face.

  “You deserve a spanking for being so damned difficult,” he growled.

  A spanking? Hell no. “Let me go, Clint. Or I swear you’ll regret it.”

  “Be still.” He held her wrists in one hand then swatted her hard with his other.

  The sting caused her to cry out and her eyes watered. “Don’t!” Again he swatted her and again she cried out. “Stop it!”

  To her shock, she felt a tingling between her thighs as he spanked her. She didn’t know how it could be, but with every swat she pictured him thrusting inside her. Her breasts ached and her nipples were hard nubs. She wriggled and felt his rigid cock against her body.

  He paused and rubbed her ass with his palm. “Will that make you be quiet and listen?”

  “You’re a big bully.” She realized her breathing had quickened and a thrill had coiled deep in her belly. “I’ll never be quiet with that kind of treatment.”

  “Is that so?” He swatted her again, harder this time, and she felt a greater tingling between her thighs. “I think you like it.”

  “Never.” The more she fought him, the more turned on she was getting.

  He moved his fingers between her thighs and she caught her breath. He had to feel her heat and maybe even how damp she was through her jeans.

  Her head spun, her hair flying around her face, as he swept her up and held her to him. Automatically she wrapped her arms around his neck and her thighs around his waist and held on.

  He laid her on her back on the blanket. She started to scramble away but he grabbed her leg and pulled her to him. She tried to kick free but he was on her, pinning her legs between his thighs and holding her wrists above her head as his big body pressed her to the makeshift bed.

  She was pinned so securely that there was no struggling now. Before she could utter another word, he kissed her hard. At first she refused him, but she melted and gave in to the kiss and answered back with the same intensity he showed her.

  He kept her arms above her head with one hand and pushed up her T-shirt with his other. She gasped as he moved his mouth to her cloth-covered nipple.

  His mouth was hot and wet, his tongue teasing, and he lightly scraped her nipple with his teeth. She gave in completely and barely realized he had let her arms go as he moved his mouth to her other breast.

  He rose and tugged her T-shirt up, yanked it over her head, and laid it over the rock he’d been sitting on. He reached beneath her and unfastened her bra and pulled it away from her. The air was cool on her nipples and she felt an amazing sense of wickedness at being bare outside on the range.

  After he tossed the bra aside to land on top of the blouse on the rock, he moved over her and braced one hand to the side of her head.

  “Are you going to be good?” His expression was dark and intent as he reached between them and unfastened her belt. “You know what I’ll do if you aren’t.”

  She swallowed. She could fight him and she knew he’d catch her and punish her all over again. That thought sent another thrill through her and she was tempted to struggle just to be manhandled by him. But at the same time she didn’t want to fight him anymore. She wanted whatever he would give her.

  He brushed his lips over hers. “Are you going to fight me?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  His smile was slow and sensual and he eased down her body. He knelt at the foot of the blanket and watched her as he took one of her boots in his hands and slipped it off before setting it
aside. He took off the other boot before removing her socks and stuffing them into the boots.

  He moved closer again and pulled her belt out of the loops and unbuttoned her jeans. As soon as her zipper was down, he tugged off her jeans and stripped them away, leaving her only in her black panties. It only took a moment for him to slip those off, too. He put her panties and jeans on top of her other clothing.

  He tugged at her nipple. “I want to eat you up like you ate that ice cream in Scottsdale. It was so damn hot watching you.”

  She swallowed, feeling suddenly shy and nervous. She started to put her arms over her breasts but he stopped her by catching her wrists in one hand.

  “Oh, no you don’t.” He shook his head. “I want to see you.”

  He released her then tossed his Stetson onto her clothing before unbuttoning his western work shirt, all the while keeping his gaze fixed on her. The air felt cool on her body and her nipples were impossibly tight. She swallowed as she watched him remove his clothing, piece by piece, from his boots and socks to his belt.

  ***

  Excerpt… Tying You Down

  Cheyenne McCray

  Butterflies traveled through Jo’s belly as she and Tate headed back to her house. What was she doing, inviting him over for dinner? It was one thing to go out with him, another to have him over for dinner.

  She let them into the house. It was a large home that she’d fallen in love with when she moved back to the town. She set her purse on the table in the foyer and he set his ball cap there, too, before she led him to the kitchen.

  Hair had escaped her braid and she pushed it out of her face as she turned to face him. “What sounds good?”

  He hitched his shoulder up against the archway into the kitchen and hooked his thumbs in the front pockets of his Wranglers. His T-shirt was pulled taut against his muscular chest and his hair was mussed from being under the ball cap. “Anything easy.”

  She rummaged around in the pantry and pulled out a package of angel hair pasta and a jar of three-cheese spaghetti sauce. “How about spaghetti? That’s fast.”