“Morning, Carl,” Avery called out after she left the barn.

He climbed down from his truck and she tried not to dwell on the fact that he moved slow. His shoulders hunched over and more and more often he argued rather than discuss her decisions. She had no issue with him coming in late and leaving early. But his recent weight loss worried her. Any and all suggestions that he go to a doctor for a check-up had been met with a stern refusal. The only thing that hadn’t changed about him was the pencil thin mustache he’d worn for as long as she’d known him.

“Get yourself a new truck?”

“No. It, uh.” She slid her hands into the back pockets of her jeans.

“Well, who’s is it then?” he demanded.

“Mine.”

Carl’s eyes narrowed over her shoulder. She didn’t need to see that Daniel had arrived behind her. Her body all but quivered, much like a mare in heat.

“And just who are you?”

“Daniel Sawyer.” He stepped around her and extended his hand. “I’m a guest of Avery’s.”

“Guest?” Carl snorted. “Is that some fancy way of saying you’re sleeping with her?”

“Carl.” Embarrassment had no more words of protest escaping. Carl had always been plain spoken, but never before had she heard him be so blunt or crass. Her concern for his health, mental and physical, stepped up a notch

“No, sir,” Daniel said, his voice calm, even as he prevented Carl from pulling his hand free. “And while I understand you’re looking out for her, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t speak of her that way.”

“I didn’t mean to say nothing bad.” He nodded at Avery. “Just, like you said, looking out for her now that her daddy and momma’s gone.”

Daniel released Carl’s hand. “I’m also willing to do some work while I’m here. In fact, Avery and I were just mucking out the stalls.”

She started to explain about the leak they’d discovered, only to stop when Daniel shook his head at her.

“Where’s Randy?” Carl asked, glancing around.

“Called in sick.” Avery pressed a hand to her miserable stomach at the reminder of the secrets she kept. “C’mon, Carl, I saw enough mornings where you and daddy were dragging ground after you’d been up half the night drinking, so I know you haven’t forgotten what it’s like to be young and stupid.”

Carl chuckled as he scratched his chin. “Your momma never liked it much when I got your daddy drinking. Guess I couldn’t blame her since that was when they were first married.” He looked off into the distance. “Neither one of us liked to have her upset,” he added in a tone that combined affection, loss and regret. It wasn’t the first time Avery suspected Carl had been in love with her mother. He cleared his throat. “Then Esther and I got together and well, neither one of us had time for such foolishness.”

“No time now for sure,” Avery said, deliberately pitching her voice bright. “Let’s get all we can out of Daniel before sore muscles have him reconsidering his willingness to help.”

“I’ll finish up the mucking,” Carl said. “You two can go repair that fence you planned for you and Randy to work on today.”

“That can wait so we can help you out.”

Carl scowled at her. “Listen here, young lady, I know I can’t work like I once did, but I can still shovel horse shit and hay. You need help stringing up that fence.” He jerked his chin at Daniel. “This one looks like he can help you out, and I know you want to be done before Cole gets home. So, go on now.” With a wave of his hand, he disappeared into the barn.

Behind her, Daniel chuckled. “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were trying to avoid me.” When she stubbornly said nothing, she felt him step up behind her, felt the whisper of his breath on her neck. “I need to stay close, Avery, if I’m going to protect you.”

She lightly jabbed her elbow backward, only to come up against the steel wall of his stomach. “That doesn’t mean you have to breathe down my neck.”

“Would you rather I do this?” Before she could guess, or evade, his lips were warm and soft on her tender skin. He made a humming sound low in his throat that forced her to lock her knees so she didn’t sag to the ground. “It’s certainly what I want to do.” His lips touched her skin again. “At least to start.”

“Do you try to seduce everyone you protect?”

Again he chuckled, his breath fanning over her heated skin in a way that had amusement being the last thing on her mind. “Since you’re my first, I guess I have to answer yes.”

Somehow she found the will to step away, to face him, to layer determination into her voice. “There’s the problem, Daniel. I’ve already been one of many. I won’t do that again. Now, let me show you where the fencing material is.” Before he could ask for any further explanation, she walked away.

Daniel didn’t press for clarification of her comment, didn’t flirt or touch her in any way other than what was necessary for the work. The physical demands of the job didn’t allow for much conversation beyond instructions and explanations. Of course, most men didn’t find a bossy, sweaty and dirty woman all that attractive in the first place. Add in that she was a single mother and she pretty much counted on spending the rest of her life alone.

Then, she suggested they stop and have the lunch she’d brought along. “If you want, we can drive the truck just over that ridge and clean up in the pond,” Avery suggested, pressing a fist at the small of her back, while arching to work out some of the kinks. “There’s a tree we can park under for shade.” She glanced up at the sky. “Not going to have warm days like this much longer.”

“Sounds good.”

They left the fencing materials and tools behind, climbed into the truck and Avery directed him to the spot. “This is why Bennett wants my land,” she said as Daniel parked the truck on the edge of the pond. “He claims he needs the water for his cattle.”

“You don’t believe him?”

“Oh, I believe he wants the pond for his cattle. I also believe he simply wants it because it’s mine and he’s not used to people telling him no.”

“Sounds like you two have history.”

“He didn’t like it in high school when I turned him down for the prom and went with Walker Grant instead.”

“And you think this has something to do with you not going to a high school dance with him?”

“Not really. I can’t imagine he’s given me more than a passing thought since then.” She shook her head. “But, I don’t want to ignore anything that might help put an end to this.”

“Where’s this Walker Grant?”

“In the Army the last I heard.” She opened the door. “I’m going to clean up a little.” She stepped out, turned to the back seat. “Crap.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I keep forgetting this isn’t my truck. I keep a couple of old towels in the back for times like this.” She lifted her hands. “The sun will just have to do.”

“Wait.”

He rounded the truck, his arms already crossed and reaching for the hem of his T-shirt. She knew she should tell him no, to stop him before he lifted the hem. But, God help her, she kept silent.

And enjoyed every inch of skin as it was exposed.

Tan skin, a small whorl of hair circling his navel, abs ridged with hard muscle. Then, oh God, then there was the ink. Flying across his left ribs was an eagle with wings spread protectively over the ragged edges of an American flag. Lifting her gaze along with the hem of his shirt, she discovered his nipples were dark brown and hardened by the cool air. She saw the edges of another tattoo, held her breath as he whipped the shirt over his head.

This one, in black ink alone, was a detailed image of a snarling lion that began on his chest plate with the mane flowing up and over his shoulder. Avery wet her lips with the tip of her tongue. Never before had she found a tattoo so appealing. And here was a man with two, intricate, colorful designs on his skin that fascinated her. She wanted to ask about the designs he’d chosen, ask about the time and pain it had taken to achieve so much ink. Yet she thought both images revealed much about the man.

She wanted to trace every line and detail. With her tongue.

Her chest rising in quick, shallow breaths, she realized Daniel simply stood there, waiting while she looked her fill. She lifted her eyes to his. This man, at this unsettled time in her life, made her hungry for what she’d never known, for what she’d come to believe she’d never experience. He would leave once this situation had been resolved. And still she couldn’t stop wanting him. Even knowing a part of her would be forever changed.

“You’re beautiful, Daniel,” she whispered.

If she moved, if he did, she knew what would happen. The attraction, the heated desire, pulsed between them like a living being. Desire demanded action, pleaded for joining, begged for release.

“Not here,” she said.

The words were whispered as well, and escaped without conscious thought or editing. Avery lifted her chin a little, let her gaze bore into his. She’d sleep with Daniel, if he’d have her. She’d ignore the risk of inadequacy and disappointment – on his side. She had no doubt he’d give her more than she’d ever known was possible. But she wouldn’t let it happen here in a rushed rutting. If this would be all she could have of him she wouldn’t be denied the chance to luxuriate in the sensations, in the glory of being with such a man.

He walked to her, like the predatory lion marking his skin. Her nostrils flared at his scent, her legs trembled with the thought of being locked around him. Her center throbbed as it flooded with the wetness that she wanted him to discover when he touched her, to taste when he kissed her, to drench the hard thrust of his aroused dick when he slid inside of her.

“Not here,” he agreed, his words a coarse abrasion to her sensitized nerves.

“At least not the first time,” she said, emboldened enough to offer a slight smile. A flicker of a shadow clouded his eyes.

“Avery, I can’t promise . . .” She covered his mouth with her fingers.

“I know I’m not like the women you’re usually with. I don’t need promises, Daniel. I just need you.” She drew in a shaky breath. “The only request I make is while we’re together, you’re not with anyone else.”

“I don’t want anyone else.” His teeth captured the tip of her finger, bit down slightly.

“Daniel,” she chastised and pulled her hand away. “My dirty hands are what got us to this point.”

“Oh, no.” He stepped closer, drew her against him, let his hands mold to her butt. “We started heading here the minute you walked into Hank’s office.” His hands roamed up to slip under her shirt and press against her bare skin. “Besides, if you knew how much sand and dirt I’ve eaten while in the desert you’d know your hands are fine the way they are.” He leaned down to nuzzle at her neck. “Just like the rest of you.”

Already on shaky ground, Avery struggled to resist the temptation to drag him back to the truck. Only his comment about sand reminded her of where he’d been, how short a time he’d been in her life, and before long he’d be gone. No, she wouldn’t regret her choice to be with him. She just wouldn’t act on it now.

“Maybe,” she said, drawing away. “Right now I’ll settle for eating some of the lunch I packed.”

“Hey,” he called as she started for the pond to wash up. “You forgot the shirt.”

She started to yell back and say never mind, that the sun would dry her hands. Only that would mean he’d have no excuse to leave the shirt off. The sun reflected off something, blinding her for an instant, encouraging her to turn around. Daniel had just bent over to pick up his shirt.

It felt as if some bug buzzed by her. Then she heard the delayed echo of sound. Anyone who lived in the country had no trouble identifying the sound of a hunting rifle.

“Daniel,” she screamed as she saw the thin line of blood bloom on his back.

“Behind the truck,” he yelled when she ran toward him. “Damn it, Avery.” He changed his own direction, headed toward her when another shot rang out, this one spitting up ground to her left. “Not in a straight line,” he shouted, putting his own words to action as he weaved from one angle to another. When he had her within reach, he scooped her up, threw her over his shoulder and pivoted toward the truck.

“No,” she argued. “Put me down. You can’t.”

She nearly lost the meager contents of her stomach when her hand slipped on the warm blood on his back. Daniel never paused, never slowed his steps. Hell, she realized when he set her down behind the truck, he wasn’t even breathing hard. On the other hand, her chest hurt from the effort to push a breath past her speeding heartbeat. Still, she scrambled, ripping the shirt from his hand and moving to his back. She pressed the cloth to his wound as he whipped the gun from the holster he wore at small of his back.

“Damn it, Daniel.” She followed his movement, trying to keep the shirt pressed against the wound as he moved along the length of the truck, as he rose far enough over the hood so he could take a shot. Even though there’d been no more shots at them.

“What the hell were you thinking?” he demanded, squatting down behind the truck, grabbing her arms in his iron-hard grip.

Tears came then along with the trembling, she couldn’t stop either. “They shot you.”

“They were aiming for you.” He jerked her against his chest, holding her tight and secure enough that her body calmed. “You idiot,” he whispered into her hair. “Why didn’t you follow orders?”

“I couldn’t leave you alone.”

“Avery, I’m a trained soldier who’s seen more than his share of battle.”

He paused as if weighing his words. He didn’t move, didn’t lessen his hold on her in any way. She felt him putting distance between them just the same. Whatever intimacy had passed between them before the shooting, she feared was now lost. Slowly, she eased out of his hold. To give him credit, he met and held her gaze. Gone was the teasing they’d shared. Missing was the heated promise of passion.

“And I’ve been hired to protect you. Not the other way around.”

“We need to get home so I can treat the wound on your back.” Ignoring the hurt of rejection, she stood only to hiss out a breath when he grabbed her arm and jerked her down. She plopped onto her butt.

“Wait until I’ve secured the perimeter.”

“I don’t suppose it will do any good to mention that if you get yourself shot, I’m here all alone.”

“If the piss-poor shots before didn’t hit either one of us, I think we’re both safe. Stay here.” Without another word, he darted around the back of the truck.

Avery lowered her forehead to her upraised knees and used the alone time to gather her composure. She had no idea how much time passed when she caught Daniel’s scent before he knelt down beside her.

“I saw a few tracks but there’s no one around. Still I think we should get back to the house.” He paused, skimmed a finger down her arm. “Are you okay?”

“Just dandy.” She kept her head lowered. “Nothing I like more than being shot at on a sunny afternoon.” Temper fired through her as she stood suddenly and faced the direction where the shots had fired. “You can’t chase me off my own damn property,” she yelled.

“And I’m not going to let them chase me from my home,” she told Daniel when she turned back to face him. “You do whatever you want. I’m going to clean up, eat some lunch and finish repairing this fence.” Before he could stop her, she walked off, heading for the pond and a splash of cool water.