She couldn’t admit that she wasn’t sure what ledgers were, exactly, so she reached for the top button of her blouse.“I’d much rather show you my?—”
“No.”He gripped her hand and closed his eyes.“I can’t believe I’m stopping you from unbuttoning your blouse.I must be out of my mind.”He held her hand tighter and opened his eyes to gaze at her intently.“Jo, this is for your own good.Forget sex.”
“Have you been drinking?”
“Not yet.I may start on Fred’s rotgut after this conversation.Listen, forget everything I said to you out in the corral.Think about your commitment to the ranch.I can help you keep that commitment.Use my services.Please.”He released her hand and stepped away from her.Although a muscle in his jaw twitched as if the effort was costing him, he kept his arms at his sides.
He was magnificent.As much as he wanted her, he’d deny himself in order to help her achieve her goals.“Why are you doing this?”she murmured.
For a moment he looked confused.“Because I—because that’s the best thing for you.”
“But not for you,” she said softly.
“My needs aren’t as important as yours right now.”
She wondered if he knew he was falling in love with her.Just as she was falling in love with him.Their relationship would be short and intense, but at least it would exist.She wasn’t going to squander this chance at a moment of happiness for the possibility of straightening out some dry old ledgers, if she even had ledgers, which she doubted.
She took a long, shaky breath.“I absolutely refuse to allow you to get involved in my financial affairs,” she said.
“Jo, don’t?—”
“But I’m looking forward to our brief but significant love affair.Never mind all that signaling nonsense.I’ll be at the barn at eleven with a blanket.Now go on out to the bunkhouse before Emmy Lou begins to wonder what we’re doing in here so long with the door closed.”
He shook his head, but his ragged breathing indicated he was greatly tempted by her offer in spite of his noble intentions.“You’re making a mistake.Please reconsider.”
She shook her head.“You don’t have to show up at the barn, though, if it would compromise your principles.”
His laugh was dry as he gazed at her with fire in his eyes.“Sweetheart, I’m not that strong.I’ll be there.”
ChapterNineteen
Quinn didn’t intend to give up the idea of helping Jo create a workable financial plan before he left.But obviously the straightforward approach wasn’t going to work.He’d have to be more devious.
He walked into the bunkhouse to find Benny and Fred playing a game of what Quinn used to call War when he was a kid.It was a simple game, the kind Benny could probably understand, and Quinn thought it was decent of Fred to play it with him.
Fred glanced up.“Hey, Quinn.”
“Hey, Fred.”
“Hi, Mr.Hastings,” Benny said before returning his attention to the game.
Quinn decided not to correct Benny about his name.Instead he faked a huge yawn.Yawns were supposed to be contagious.“Aren’t you guys tired?”
Benny yawned, right on cue.“Guess so.You tired, Fred?”
“Nope.”He glanced at Quinn.“Go on to bed if you want.We’ll be quiet.”
“Okay, believe I will.”
“I’m going to bed, too,” Benny said.
Fred shrugged.“Okay.I’ll play solitaire.”
One down and one to go, Quinn thought as he sat on the bunk assigned to him and pulled off his borrowed boots.The bunkhouse reminded Quinn of the cabin he’d been assigned to at Camp Washogee twenty years ago.He experienced no nostalgia — for a kid who hated wiggly things, summer camp had been a nightmare.
The metal beds looked exactly the same as the ones at camp.There were four of them lined up against opposing walls, two on a side.A scarred dresser topped by a mirror was against the end wall between the beds.
A table and four captain’s chairs took up most of the opposite end of the bunkhouse, and a door in the far wall opened into a small bathroom.Nails driven into the walls held jackets, hats, a rope or two and a bridle Fred was repairing in his spare time.
