Page 58 of Pure Temptation in Cowboy Boots

“I love you,” he said. For the first time in his life the words meant something special, something so real he could almost touch it.

Her eyes were pure flame. “I love you,” she murmured.

Joy surged so intensely through him that at last, he closed his eyes, afraid she’d see his tears of relief. She loved him. Everything would be okay. As her movements grew more uninhibited and her cry of release filled the room, he held her tight and abandoned himself to a soul satisfying climax.

They stayed locked together for many long minutes, Tess’s veiled cheek resting on Mac’s shoulder. He gently stroked her back, unsure what to say next. He really wanted the first words to come from her — something along the lines of I’ve decided not to go to New York. I love you and I want to stay here with you.

They’d honeymoon in New York, he decided. They’d take lots of trips, in fact, to make up for the loss of her big adventure. They’d⁠—

“Yo, Big Mac! Where are you, buddy?” The unmistakable sound of Rhino’s voice came from the direction of the living room.

Tess scrambled from Mac’s lap and ran to the bedroom door. She slammed it and plastered herself across the door frame, her eyes wide.

“Oh, God.” Mac stared at her. He’d completely forgotten he’d promised to meet Rhino and Hammer at the Ore Cart, and that he’d told them where he was headed in the meantime.

“Hey, Mac!” Rhino called again, this time obviously from the hallway. “What’s going on?”

Mac swung into action, jumping from the chair. “We’ll... I’ll be out in a minute!” he called. “Lock that,” he muttered to Tess.

“Why can’t you come out now?” Rhino sounded suspicious.

“Just give me a minute, okay?” When he heard the lock click Mac headed for Tess’s bathroom.

“What’s going on in there, Mac?” Rhino’s tone had changed from suspicious to angry. “Is Tess with you?”

“Yes, I’m with him, Rhino. Go on out to the living room. We’ll be there soon.”

Mac finished quickly in the bathroom. “God, I’m sorry, Tess,” he said as he returned, buttoning his fly on the way.

“It’s not your fault.” She’d taken off her jeweled bra. Topless, she pulled a plain one out of a drawer.

“Yes, it is my fault. I met them when I was driving over here. I told them I was on my way to your house but I’d meet them in a half hour for darts.”

She turned in the act of fastening the front clasp of her bra. “Why would you—” She paused. “You weren’t planning to stay, were you?”

“No.”

Her face grew pale. “You were going to end it, weren’t you?”

“Well, yes, I was, but I⁠—”

“Never mind the long explanation.” Her voice quivered and she turned away from him. “Just get out there and talk to them while I get dressed.”

“Tess, dammit, I⁠—”

“Go! I mean it, Mac!”

A knot formed in the pit of his stomach. “What do you want me to tell them?”

“You might want to start with the truth.” She cleared her throat. “There’s no way we can make up a story they’ll buy at this stage. We got caught, Mac. There isn’t any way we can pretty it up so they’ll like it.”

“The hell there isn’t. We could tell them we’re in love with each other.”

She pulled a T-shirt over her head. “Thanks for the thought, but I’d rather you didn’t.”

Raw as he felt right now, he didn’t have the courage to question her. Maybe she didn’t want anyone to know she’d fallen in love with the guy who was merely doing her a service before she left for New York. And the way she was acting right now, he was pretty sure she would go. Maybe she loved him, as she’d said. But she’d leave him anyway.

Without another word, he unlocked the bedroom door and walked down the hall to face his inquisitors.