You were right.” Roxanne held the towel-wrapped ice pack against her knee while Wes drove her truck as carefully as he could along the two-lane highway back to town. “Michael is a force of nature.”

“I take it you didn’t know about the GG Country Store?”

“Not a clue. But he probably didn’t want to bring it up until he’d talked with Bryce and consulted with Greg.”

“Why not? He said it’s been on his mind for a while.”

“Couldn’t have been on his mind for that long. The t-shirts didn’t come in until last week. But to him that could qualify as a while.”

“In other words, he acts quickly on his impulses.”

She sighed. “Looks that way.” And in certain instances, such as when they were both naked, she loved that about him.

“As I’ve said, I can’t help liking the guy, even admiring him. But this latest announcement proves my point. When did the t-shirts come in, exactly?”

“Last Friday morning.”

“And by the following Wednesday, he’s talking to a contractor about expanding the GG to include a gift shop for the shirts plus other memorabilia.”

“That’s fast, all right.” Dashing, too.

“Whereas you typically check out every detail before moving ahead on anything.”

“Usually, yes.” On the face of it, they were incompatible. She couldn’t argue the point. Despite that, she couldn’t wait until they could spend time alone.

Today’s ride had been both a joy and torture. She’d loved being with him but she’d had to forego the warm hugs and hot kisses she yearned for every time she looked at his smiling face.

Hurting her knee had distracted her temporarily from her craving for his embrace. Then he’d walked into the ranch house with Wes and she’d wanted to eat him up with a spoon.

If Wes hadn’t been visiting, she would have heard about the store idea by now. It would have been part of their pillow talk. She missed their conversations. She missed Michael.

“You sure are quiet over there. Is it your knee? I’m going about as slow as—”

“My knee’s okay.” My heart may be in danger but my knee will be fine. “Michael’s announcement about the GG Country Store reminded me that a few days ago, he asked if Dad would be interested in selling his work at the Guzzling Grizzly. I promised to find out, but I didn’t think to bring it up when Dad called this morning.”

“So Michael would put it on the wall with a price tag? I’ve seen that done in restaurants.”

“I thought that’s what he meant, but maybe he was thinking about the gift shop.”

“Or both. I can see the gift shop as a decent venue for some of his smaller pieces, and the bar for some bigger ones.”

“Then I should talk to Dad about it. He could find a new audience down here.”

“I’ll bet he could, too. I hadn’t thought of it but Eagles Nest is a perfect town for selling his art. And he’d have you here to monitor how it’s going.”

“He’d also have to visit when he had to replenish inventory. I’d be all for that.” She smiled. “I think Kendra would, too.”

“Why would she care?”

“They met at the bakery when he came down last month. When I told him where we were riding today, he asked me two different times to say hello for him.”

“Huh.”

“I didn’t think to mention it until after I got hurt. She blushed a little bit. Then she asked how he was doing.”

“Crazy. I don’t remember Dad ever taking an interest in someone. Do you?”

“Nope. I figured Mom was his one and only.”

“That’s what I’ve always thought, too. Oh, well.” He shrugged. “It’s cute, but it’s not like anything’s going to happen with him in Spokane and her down here.”

“Probably not. At least I delivered his message. I—” Michael’s truck parked in front of the bakery ramped up her heart rate and made her lose track of what she’d about to say. “I see Michael made it over here.”

“Right on schedule.”

“Yep.” And ready to carry me upstairs. Yee-haw. “I’m guessing you’re not thrilled about his plan.”

“On the contrary. Once he painted me a picture, I was glad to have him do it. I was also embarrassed because I’ve let myself get out of shape and can’t do it myself. But I’m tickled pink that he’s available.”

“It won’t take long.”

“So he said. And you’ll suffer a lot less.” He pulled into a parking space in front of the apartment door. “But I’m starting a weight training program ASAP. Next time you see me, I’ll be a changed man.”

“I sure hope not. I like you the way you are.”

“You’re my sister. You’re prejudiced. But I’ve let myself get soft and I intend to do something about it.” He turned off the motor and opened his door. “Stay put while I unlock the door. Let Iron Man lift you out of here and leave your stuff. I’ll bring it up.”

“Thanks.” She’d relish every minute of Michael’s gallant gesture. She’d turned down his offer because it had seemed like a lot of trouble and he’d had to leave work, but secretly she’d loved the idea of being cradled against his hard body while he carried her up those stairs.

Moments later, Michael opened her door. “Hi, there.”

“Hi.” She glanced down at him and her blood ran hot. “Thanks for doing this.”

He lowered his voice. “Think I’d pass up the chance?”

She leaned toward him. “So this is a clever plot to get your hands on me?”

“This is what you call a dual-purpose plan.” He glanced at her sweatpants. “Kendra’s?”

“She loaned them to me. They’re too short but you can’t tell because I pulled my boots over them.”

“Bless that woman.”

“No kidding.”

“Door’s unlocked.” Wes appeared behind Michael. “And I ran up and opened the apartment door so you can go straight in.”

“Good deal.” He slid one hand under her knees and the other behind her back. “Grab me around the neck and hold on tight.”

“Will do.” She wrapped her arm around his neck and shivered with delight.

“Cold?”

She met his gaze. “Nope.”

Heat flared in his eyes. “Watch your head.”

She ducked as he tightened his grip and lifted her out. He shifted her in his arms until she was nestled against his broad chest.

“You okay?”

“Sure am.” Her voice quivered. She hoped Wes hadn’t noticed.

“Then let’s get ‘er done.” He backed away and started toward the apartment door, which stood partly open.

When he stepped up on the sidewalk, the jostling hurt her knee, but she didn’t care. He was the most exciting man she’d ever known and he’d lifted her out of the truck as if she weighed no more than a feather.

“We don’t have much time.” He kept this voice to a murmur. “But I want to apologize.”

“For what?”

“Not telling you my ideas for the gift shop. I should have, but nothing was set and I—”

“You had no reason to tell me.” She snuggled against him. “My only involvement is sizing the logo to fit the various items.”

He shouldered his way through the door. “Not true. You’re the soul of this project. If you hadn’t created the logo, none of it would have been possible.”

Her heart warmed. “You’re giving me too much credit.”

“Absolutely not.” As he started up the stairs, his boots landed hard on the wood. “Man,” he called out loud enough that Wes could hear. “Your sister’s heavier than she looks. I thought this would be a piece of cake but maybe not.”

Wes laughed. “I’m counting on you, Murphy.”

“I’ll manage.” He clomped up a couple more steps. “Better keep back, though. I may have to unexpectedly pause for a break. Don’t want you running into me.”

“I’ll just stay down here and give you plenty of room.”

“Thanks!” Michael repositioned her so he could put his mouth close to her ear. “When’s he leaving?”

“Don’t know.”

“We need to talk.”

“I’ll text you when—”

“Not just talk. I’m a lit fuse.”

She gulped. “Me, too.”

“Good to know.” His voice was low and urgent. “You seem so calm.”

“Not calm.” Her heart pounded.

“Your time with him is important. But, God, I want you.” He nipped her ear.

Her earlobe tingled and she trembled with desire. “I want you, too.”

He topped the stairs and raised his voice. “And we’re here. I need to know where—”

“The couch,” she said.

“Hey, sis, wouldn’t you rather be on the bed so you can sleep?”

Michael grimaced.

She took her cue. As ramped up as they both were, the bedroom had too many erotic overtones. “I’m not sleepy, Wes. On the couch is fine.”

“Okay, then,” Wes said.

Michael carried her through the open apartment door. “I don’t want to let you go.”

“I don’t want you to.”

“Great job, Murphy.” Wes walked into the apartment. “I really appreciate this.”

“Me, too, Michael. Thank you so much.”

“No problem. Glad to do it.” He laid her gently on the couch and took off his hat.

When he casually used it to cover his fly, she somehow managed to keep from laughing. It wasn’t funny. The poor guy was likely in pain.

But he didn’t seem to mind. His green eyes sparkled as he gave her a quick wink. “I hope you’re feeling better soon. Let me know if you need anything.”

You. I need you. He might be the worst guy in the world for her. Wes seemed inclined to think so. But she wasn’t ready to give him up. Not yet.