Chapter 6

Everyone knew he, like his brothers, was required to stay for one week. The others had made it plain when they got to Red Creek the week was all they'd commit to. She figured Killian was probably just looking for some female companionship to pass the time. She still couldn't believe she'd accepted his dinner invitation. Since she'd come back to Red Creek, trailing the disaster her personal life had become, she'd refused to date any of the men in town who kept asking her. No more relationships. Been there, done that, had the tee shirt to prove it. Seemingly, her judgment where men were concerned was seriously flawed.

But the minute she'd clapped eyes on him at Heart Starter, every female hormone stood up and saluted while all her girl parts began planning a celebration. She was tempted for the first time since she'd run home to Red Creek, pulling the tatters of her life around her. She wanted to think it was because she'd been on sexual hiatus for a long time while she sorted out her life. She ignored the internal warning he was big trouble for her. The impact he made on her evidently froze all her brain cells. Maybe she was overdue for a fling. And if he was leaving, not staying here, she didn't have to worry about the messy aftermath.

Right. You just keep saying that.

If she was honest with herself, though, it really had to do with the appeal surrounding Killian like a cloud of electricity. His black shirt and jeans had emphasized his lean, rangy yet muscular body and made his eyes as dark as ebony. The square jaw and high cheekbones framed a face accented by thick brows and lashes. There was a tiny scar at one corner of his mouth and another faint one running down his left cheekbone. She knew via the grapevine he worked on a ranch outside the town where he lived in Montana. Had he gotten them there, or was he a brawler, wearing his badges of war?

Whatever the answer, her palms itched to smooth over the hard wall of his chest and the taut muscles of his ass. His ass? Holy crap! Where was her mind? She might be a sensuous creature-if she remembered that was-but she didn't have those kinds of random thoughts about men. Certainly not one she'd met for five minutes.

She took one last check in the bathroom mirror, fluffed her hair slightly, and decided this was as good as it was going to get. She was crazy. She should have worn her least-flattering clothes and made herself dull as dishwater. But she was so ready for something new in her life. If it was only for one week, so be it. And Killian Walker was exactly what she needed. She just had to convince him.

Instead, she'd changed into a new pair of skinny jeans with rhinestone studs, a deep-purple tank, and a gauzy white blouse over it, tied at the waist. Sandals with medium heels and dangly earrings completed the outfit. She wanted to knock his socks off, so when he left, he'd carry a good memory of her with him. Excitement coursed through her as she thought about the evening ahead and all the possibilities.

She heard the sound of booted feet on the outside stairs, followed by a knock on the door. Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly, wiped her palms on her jeans, and opened the door. And literally had to haul her tongue back into her mouth.

Killian Walker was dressed all in black again, this time in an embroidered Western shirt and dress jeans, spit-shined black leather boots, and yet another black Stetson. Heat blazed in those onyx eyes. Between her thighs, an insistent throbbing let her know she was just as affected as he was.

Damn!

His eyes took a leisurely tour of her body, from her neck over her breasts and hips to her polished toenails and back up again. With every pass, her skin felt scorched, as if he'd actually touched a match to it. She swept her tongue over her suddenly dry lips and swallowed, hard. For some reason, her gaze automatically dropped to his fly, her eyes widening at the sight of a significant bulge. Maybe going out to dinner wasn't such a good idea. But staying in might be a whole lot worse.

This was so not her style.

"Lookin' real good." The husky quality of his voice sent shivers racing down her spine.

"Thank you." She wet her lips again. "You, too."

He drank her in once more then held out his hand. "We'd better get out of here before I do something to get us in trouble. Shall we?"

"Yes. I'm ready."

She grabbed her slim purse from the little table by the door, slid the thin strap over her shoulder, and stepped out into the little landing. Pulling the door shut behind her, she double- checked that it was locked.

"Okay." She smiled up at him. "Let's go."

He handed her into the silver SUV and leaned in to buckle her seat belt.

"I can do this myself, you know." He was so close she could inhale the clean, male scent of him, earthy and outdoorsy.

"Just being a gentleman."

He snapped the buckle into place, his face so close to her she could almost count his eyelashes. For a second, they were frozen, his mouth barely an inch from hers. Time stood still for an interminable moment. Then he backed out and closed her door.

"So," he said when he was buckled into the driver's seat. "This is your town. How about picking a place for us."

She had thought about Bib's Ribs then discarded it as too messy. She didn't want to spend half the evening with barbecue sauce all over her face and hands. Steak. Kansas was known for steaks, and The Roadhouse had excellent meals at reasonable prices in a very informal atmosphere. She mentioned it, and Killian nodded.

"I can always eat a good steak. Just point me in the right direction."

"It's on the other side of town," she told him. "I thought we'd take the long way so you can see some more of Red Creek."

"Such as?"

"You'll see."

He slid her a quick glance. "Okay. You're calling the shots."