Alyssa followed the two guys out of the room and had a nice view of Beau’s ass as he bent over to give his nephew a horsey ride. It was a very excellent sight to behold. No lusting after the cowboy, Alyssa. He’s your boss, woman. Knock it off, already. What was it with her and this man? She didn’t have this uncontrollable lust with the rest of the good-looking men on the ranch—just Beau. And now that he was treating her with respect and even some admiration she had to admit she was falling for him, a little. She knew it couldn’t, shouldn’t, wouldn’t go anywhere. But she was not going to lie to herself. She fantasized about it going somewhere—more often than she would ever admit.

When they got to Emma’s room she asked, “Does he need a bath before bed?”

Tony slid off Beau’s back to the floor. “No, Emma said she’d given him one earlier when Grandpa K had taken him out in the yard. Apparently, they found some mud.”

She laughed. “Yeah, that would bring bath time on early, wouldn’t it?”

Tony clapped his hands. “Mud, mud, mud. Very dirty mud.”

They both laughed at the boy.

She said, “PJ time and then story.”

“PJ time story, Lyssa.”

She looked at Beau. “Is there a PJ story?”

“I have no idea.”

Tony hopped over to his bookshelf and pulled out a story—and yes, it was about PJs and animals dancing. She laughed. “Alrighty then, PJs first and PJ story second.”

Tony nodded then looked at his uncle. “G’night Moon, Uncle B?”

Beau shook his head. “I think we’re getting scammed here, but yes, I’ll get that book, too.”

They read the stories to Tony and he was asleep before Beau could finish all of his. Alyssa tucked the covers in around him and kissed his forehead. She looked up and saw Beau watching her with the oddest expression. It looked like lust and longing and she didn’t know what else, but she wasn’t going to let it slide this time. “What?”

He shook his head, turned abruptly, and put both books back into the bookshelf. She waited by the door for him to come out and gently closed it almost all the way. Emma had two adjoining rooms—one for Tony and another for herself. She turned to find Beau looking out the dark window like he could see something.

“Beau, what’s wrong?” She walked up next to him and put her hand on his back.

* * *

He turned slowly from the window. “You’re a danger, Alyssa.”

“I’m a danger? How do you figure that?” Alyssa looked at him like he’d lost his mind. And she was right. He’d lost his mind after the first step she’d taken on the ranch.

“You’re a danger to me. You’re too smart. Too beautiful. And too young.”

“Pffft, age is just a number, Beau. You’re only a few years older than I am.”

He shook his head. “No seven years is too big of a span. You’re just barely an adult.”

“I am twenty-two and I know my own mind and heart.” She poked him in the chest. “So, quit being a chicken-shit, cowboy.”

Yeah, she was right about that he was scared to fricken death over his feelings for her. She had another year or two of college to get her master’s degree. She would make a helluva asset with a reproduction specialization. She was already a great vet assistant, but once she got her masters or if she continued on to get her DVM or PhD, she could write her own ticket. So, he refused to let his feelings show. Beau couldn’t, wouldn’t derail her education. He forced his feet to take a step back, out of the danger zone.

Alyssa growled and grabbed him by the front of his shirt and dragged him back to her. She fisted his hair and pulled his mouth down to hers. And he was lost. Lost in the heat. Lost in the taste. Just lost. So, he kissed her back. He kissed her like there was no tomorrow. He kissed her like she wasn’t leaving. He kissed her like she would always be his. But she wouldn’t be his—she was leaving, and there was a tomorrow. So, he broke the kiss and pulled back slowly, out of the heat, away from the taste, to find himself panting. She was panting too. He leaned his forehead on hers. “We can’t. This isn’t meant to be.”

She looked so sad when she asked, “Why? Why isn’t it meant to be, Beau?”

He didn’t get the chance to answer. A cacophony of yelling and stomping boot heels rang out. Drew was hollering at the top of his lungs.

“Beau! Beau! Where the hell are you?”

He sighed and opened the door. “Keep it down, dumbass, you’re going to wake up Tony.”

Drew grimaced. “Oh, sorry, I forgot. But you have to come quick. We think we have a lead on the trappers. We’re going to get up a search party tonight and see if we can round them up. Can you come with us?”

Beau looked back at Alyssa standing where he’d left her, looking so beautiful with swollen lips and high color in her cheeks. Her hair was coming out of its fastenings and she looked love struck. He wanted to stay with her.

She motioned for him to go. “I’ll be fine. I can watch Tony sleep and I’ll call Grandpa K if there are any animal emergencies. You go with Drew. Good luck.”

He turned back to his brother and nodded. “All right, let’s go get them—so none of the other animals get caught in their traps.”

Drew turned and started down the hall. Beau followed him, but when the door snicked closed, he wondered if he’d just made the biggest mistake of his life.