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“My turn,” she murmured. “You let me.”

Beauty. He was in so much trouble.

His hands went to her hips on instinct, ready to take over and set the pace, make sure she got everything she needed. Jodie shook her head, and he let go. It turned out to be harder than carrying her down a mountain. Mac had spent most of his life being the one who took the weight. Lying still under her while she moved took everything he had. She rode him with a rhythm all her own, slowly and then faster, head tipped back and eyes closed, the light from the bedside lamp golden across her skin.

Mac sat up and wrapped his arms around her. She gasped at the new angle and clutched his shoulders. He bent his head and drew her nipple into his mouth. When he felt her start to tremble, he slid one hand down between them and circled with his thumb.

“Mac…oh. Oh.”

“I’ve got you, baby.”

She tightened around him, her face buried against his neck, crying his name into his skin. That was the end of Mac’s patience. He held her hips and drove up into her, once, twice, and followed her over with a groan he muffled against her shoulder.

For a long time, neither of them moved.

Eventually, Mac slipped out and removed the condom. He took her down to the mattress with him, where she lay across his chest like she’d been poured there. The fan turned overhead, cooling their sweat. Her heartbeat thudded against his ribs and gradually slowed.

“Well,” she said finally, voice muffled against his skin. “That was worth waiting for.”

“Yeah?”

“Oh yeah.” She settled her cheek over his heart. Within a few minutes, her breathing went soft and even.

Mac stared up at the ceiling fan and let the cool air wash over him. He ran his fingers slowly through her hair. Jodie shifted against him in her sleep, and Mac held her a little tighter, reached over to turn off the light, and closed his eyes.

TEN

Jodie grinned as she watched out the window of Mac’s Ram. They were four hours into a five-hour drive on their way to the town of Craig for a community meeting and to meet everyone in person ahead of the roundup in September. The Rockies had fallen behind them, replaced by long stretches of road and increasingly open, hilly country. The farther west they went, the more the landscape seemed to spread itself out. Sagebrush and dry grass covered the land. The only thing marring the desolate beauty was a huge sky turned a paler blue with distant smoke from wildfires raging across the West and north into Canada. The drought seemed inescapable.

She tried not to think about it, focusing instead on her next task. Every mile brought them closer to horses she had been staring at on a computer screen for years. They were on their way to Sand Wash for a community meeting ahead of the BLM roundup. Her group, along with local ranchers, residents, and BLM reps, would be discussing the upcoming plans and voicing concerns.

Her stomach fluttered.

Mac reached over and squeezed her hand. “Nervous?”

“Excited.”

The smile she gave him must not have been convincing, because he said, “That wasn’t the question.”

God, he knew her so well. It had only been two weeks since their date at Lavender. Mac had stayed the weekend—and Jodie hadn’t even needed to lock him in her bedroom. Not only that, but he’d spent the night two more times, between assignments. They’d practiced at the range together and made regular visits to the rec center, where Stephanie practically fell over herself to make sure Jodie had the best locker, free snacks and water from the vending machine, and any class she attended on the house.

“You’re right, that wasn’t the question. And yes, I am nervous, too.”

“It’s okay to admit being nervous, babe. A lot is changing fast.” He glanced at her. “On every front.”

She nodded and smiled back. She and Mac weren’t quite on the down-low at work, but they weren’t doing any PDAs either. They sneaked kisses and touches, but since Watchdog was a hotbed of gossip, they were pretty sure everyone knew anyway. And if they didn’t, then going to Sand Wash together would give it away.

Not to mention, Sandra was going to be at the meeting, too, and that girl could gossip with the best of them.

“I’m not nervous about us, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

“That’s good to hear. And I didn’t think you were.”

His relieved smile said otherwise.

Mac moved his hand on her thigh. They were listening to Mac’s favorite musician—Corb Lund—and he was rapidly becoming Jodie’s favorite too. She had pretty much memorized his Agricultural Tragic album, and they’d just sung along to “Dance With Your Spurs On.”

Everything felt good. Really good. Jodie couldn’t remember when she’d been so happy. Mac was easy to be with. It wasn’t that he was predictable. He was…dependable, something Jodie had always wanted.