Quinn focused on making sweet love to Kendra. And when they were both well and truly sated, he remembered to set his phone alarm before they went to sleep. She had a trail ride in the morning.

Spending the night hadn’t been part of his dating pattern over the years, but it was the most natural thing in the world with Kendra. He treasured being allowed to hold her as she drifted off to sleep in his arms. Enjoying this pleasure a few nights out of every month would be meager rations, but that might be all they could manage, at least for now. Better than nothing, right?

The next morning, he showered in the bathroom down the hall again. After the usual feeding routine, he and Kendra grabbed a quick breakfast. Then he helped her pack lunches for the trail riders.

Getting the horses tacked up was an all-hands-on-deck situation and Quinn assisted there, too. Zane was available for the ride, so Cody didn’t have to be pressed into service.

Quinn’s involvement gave him a greater appreciation for the trail riding operation and the work involved for Kendra. She hadn’t slept a whole lot last night, but she was a trouper. She’d been perky and smiling as she’d waved goodbye.

After he saw them off, he climbed into her truck and drove to Dillon. And damn it all, he missed her. He didn’t like her going off in one direction and him in another. He’d done it yesterday, so what was wrong with him today?

He was getting in deeper, that’s what. He’d better watch out. If she sensed it, she might send him packing, no matter how much she liked him.

Road construction on the way to Dillon turned what should have been a relatively short trip into a much longer one. He hadn’t expected crews to be out on a Saturday. Maybe they were taking advantage of the good weather to get the repairs done before the summer tourist season was in full swing.

In any case, he was late getting to Dillon and the old cowboy with the fuel tank was a talker. Quinn bought the tank, which was exactly what he needed, and stayed for lunch because the guy clearly wanted the company.

It was the least Quinn could do for a fellow Harley owner who’d come up with the right part for his bike. And a spare helmet. Quinn bought that, too.

Lunch lasted a while, though, and Quinn didn’t get back to the ranch until late afternoon. He had several reasons to install the new tank immediately and only one to postpone the job until tomorrow. Postponing would give him one more night with Kendra.

If he wanted to get this craving under control, he’d be wise to finish the repair now and leave in the morning. He parked the truck up by the house, pulled out his phone and texted Faith that he’d be starting the repair in about fifteen minutes if she was able to meet him at the barn.

Then he hopped down from the cab and headed for the ranch house. He was way too eager to see Kendra, but by leaving tomorrow, he could start to put this arrangement into perspective.

They’d be long-distance lovers and he’d better be grateful for that because she wasn’t offering anything more. If he couldn’t be satisfied with that scenario, he had the option of rejecting it. No one was forcing him to accept her terms.

But when he walked into the house and she came out of the kitchen looking flushed and happy, he was willing to accept any terms she dictated. “Hey, there.”

She came straight into his arms and hugged him tight. “Hey, there.”

“Where is everybody?”

“We just finished feeding and Zane’s gone home to Mandy. Cody’s up in the A-frame looking at baby stuff with Faith.”

“Then maybe she won’t want to come down and help me with the bike. I ended up coming back later than I expected.”

“You found a fuel tank?”

“Afraid so.”

“No, no, that’s a good thing.” She gazed up at him. “Probably a very good thing. I missed you today.”

His heart turned over. “I missed you, too.”

“But we need to be grownups about this. Missing each other when we’re apart is the price we pay for keeping our lives stable.”

Holding her warm body brought him stability, too, and he sure did like doing that. “If I install the tank now and all goes well, I can leave in the morning.”

She took a deep breath. “Then you should aim for that.”

“Anything going on tonight?”

“Not a thing but hanging with you. I’m warming up some stew for our dinner.”

He’d considering taking her out, but if she’d already started something, he’d selfishly rather keep her all to himself tonight. “That sounds great, but unless you’re starving, I’d like to fix the bike and take you for a short ride. I picked up an extra helmet and a pair of gloves today.”

“I’d love that.”

“Then I’ll change into my old smelly clothes and get ‘er done.” Giving her a quick kiss, he let her go and walked quickly back to her bedroom. The house was starting to feel like home. That might not be so good, either.

When he returned to the living room, she was in the kitchen so he just called out to her rather than going in there. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

She didn’t come out. “Great! See you then.”

Yeah, this was becoming way too familiar and domestic. He’d take her for a ride on his bike, make love to her again tonight, and leave for Spokane tomorrow. Might as well get used to the leaving part. That was the way it had to be.

The rumble of a motorcycle alerted Kendra that Quinn had pulled up outside. Moments later he walked through the door. “Fuel tank’s perfect.”

“Good. Did Faith come down to help you?”

He smiled. “Sure did. She’s quite a mechanic. And she wants a bike like mine.”

“Then I predict someday she’ll have one. Ready to go?”

“Give me five minutes to change out of these clothes. I don’t want you hanging onto me when I smell of gas.”

“Want some help?”

He laughed. “I’ll take a rain check. See you in a few.” His long strides carried him quickly down the hall to her bedroom.

His footsteps on the wood floor, his voice, his laughter, his touch—she’d miss all of it when he drove away in the morning. Chances were good he wouldn’t be back for another four or five weeks. Weeks. But she’d help set the parameters, so she’d jolly well better be able to handle them.

Well, she would, that’s all. He couldn’t come more often without piling extra work on his son and she’d made the choice not to visit him in Spokane.

It wasn’t ideal, but it was that or nothing. In any case, anticipating future sadness and ignoring current pleasures made no sense. When Quinn started back down the hall, she unhooked her denim jacket from the coat tree. “I assume I’ll need this.”

“You will, although I’ll block the wind so it shouldn’t be as cold for you.”

“I can’t wait. I’ve never ridden on a motorcycle before.”

He came to an abrupt halt. “Never?”

“It’s a small town. Growing up I didn’t know anybody who had one. It’s still a small town and I still don’t know anybody with a motorcycle. Except you.”

“I had no idea I had a virgin biker on my hands.”

“Is that a problem?”

“On the contrary. It’s a privilege and a responsibility.”

She grinned. “It’s getting deep in here.”

“I’m serious. If I do this right and you have a positive experience, there’s a chance you’ll become a champion of the sport. If I screw it up, you’ll tell your friends that you never want to get on that damned machine again and you might convince them not to try it, either.”

“So much pressure!”

“No worries.” He smiled and grabbed his jacket off the coat tree. “I’m not going to screw it up. You’ll love it. You have all the makings of a biker chick.”

“How do you figure?”

“You’re gutsy.”

“Thank you.”

“You love being outdoors.”

“Yep.”

“And you have a great ass.”

She laughed. “Thanks. I’m so ready to plant my great ass on your bike so you can take my gutsy, outdoorsy self for a ride.”

His gray eyes twinkled. “Right this way.”

She walked out the door ahead of him and gave a little twitch to her hips.

“Did I mention sexy as hell?”

“No.”

“Add it to the list.” He took her hand and laced his fingers through hers as they started down the flagstone walkway. His bike sat at the end of it, gleaming in the light from the porch.

“What about the dirt road? Will that be tough on Cassandra?”

“She’s used to it. My ranch road’s dirt, too.”

The road she’d never drive on. The ranch she’d never see. He’d learned so much about her by staying here. She wouldn’t get that chance. Her choices were starting to feel like bars caging her in.

“Ever worn a motorcycle helmet?”

“Nope.”

“Then I’ll help you put it on.” He unhooked one of the two secured to the bike. “The guy who had the fuel tank just broke up with his girlfriend and she didn’t want her helmet or her gloves. If they fit you, I’ll leave it all here for the next time I ride my bike down.”

“Weren’t you taking a chance, buying a helmet without me there?”

“A little. But after making love to you I know the shape of your head.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Not at all. Tilt your head toward me. That’s good.”

“While we made love, you were measuring me for a helmet?”

He chuckled. “No, ma’am. I was having the time of my life. But the info registered, anyway. Whenever I cradled your head in my hands. I just naturally—”

“Is this a motorcycle geek thing?”

“Probably.” He crouched down and fastened the chin strap. “How does it feel?”

“Like I’m ready to rocket into space.”

“Are you uncomfortable? Are your ears squished?”

“I’m perfectly comfortable. I just feel like Buzz Lightyear.”

“You don’t look like Buzz Lightyear.”

“What do I look like?”

“A Harley biker chick.” He strapped on his helmet and handed her the gloves. Then he gave her a quick course in the art of being a passenger on a motorcycle. “The best thing is to hold tight to me and follow the movements of my body.”

“Oh, baby.”

“No, really. If you do that you’ll be safer and—”

“More turned on?”

“I have no control over that.”

“Me, either. Fire her up.”

He laughed and shook his head. “I have a feeling this will be a very memorable ride.” Straddling the bike, he started the motor and motioned her to climb on.

Adrenaline pumping, she settled behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed herself firmly against his strong back.

His voice rose above the grumble of the engine. “All set?”

“Let her rip!”

He took off slowly and she tightened her hold. She’d underestimated the erotic potential of riding behind a virile motorcycle man. Quinn Sawyer on a red 1983 Harley…booya.

He took the dirt road at a leisurely pace, allowing her to look up at the stars. Spectacular. Two minutes into this ride and she was already a fan. She breathed in the earthy tang of spring grass mingled with the now-familiar scent of Quinn. She could identify him blindfolded.

During his instructions, he’d explained that if she looked over his left shoulder, she could keep her body aligned with his. She didn’t need to do that. Instinctively she moved when he moved.

When he reached the paved two-lane, he picked up speed. The air rushed past and her heart raced in time with the spinning wheels. Glorious! As he took each curve, she dipped and swayed with him as if they were dancing.

The road was nearly deserted. A couple of trucks passed them on their way into town. Most people were settled in for the evening, leaving this stretch of road for her first-ever magical motorcycle ride.

On the outskirts of town, Quinn slowed and executed a gradual U-turn. Homeward bound. She didn’t want the ride to end and yet she couldn’t wait to tell him how much she’d loved it.

He’d brightened her life in so many ways and this was icing on the cake. No wonder he’d bought this bike and thank goodness he’d chosen to ride it down here. Had Trevor been psychic when he’d imagined her perfect man coming into town on a motorcycle?

Like before, Quinn took it easy on the ranch road. Not as smooth a ride as the highway provided, but she had time to appreciate her surroundings more. Her beautiful ranch. How ironic that the place she loved was one of the reasons she couldn’t be with the man she….

Oh, hell. Damn it, no! Please don’t let it be... But it was. Dear God, she loved him. Horrible news. The worst. The sharp pain started in her gut and moved into every cell in her body. What had she done?

When she loved, she didn’t mess around. She didn’t make logical compromises—a little time together, a lot of time apart. The distance separating her from her beloved morphed into miles of barbed wire, endless stretches of parched desert, a rocky terrain filled with broken glass.

As a young bride, she’d barely survived Ian’s tours of duty. She’d struggled to frame them as a noble sacrifice because he was serving his country. Hadn’t worked. Missing him had become a visceral, gnawing ache that filled every waking moment and spread misery through her dreams. Torture.

She would never sentence herself to that kind of half-life again.