Quin lost his train of thought. One that was heading for a huge pileup any moment.
Not for any of the reasons she had named. He was angry for reacting so badly to her seeing him undressed, reaching in his soul and massaging an ache. Resurrecting feelings he tried much of his life to hide.
Quin hooked a chair with the toe of his boot and slumped into it. He closed his eyes, not giving a flying fig if Kaira noticed. After all, she was too busy flouncing around the room, performing a soliloquy.
Anger was all Quin could remember feeling. First was hugging his father good-bye when he went off to war, never to return, then watching his mother grieve herself to death. Later, Quin was shipped from one family to another until Monk took him in and taught him the worldly ways of living.
If it hadn’t been for his mentor, Quin would have lost the ranch before he was old enough to play with roly- polies. Settling in at the old homestead, Monk taught Quin how to ride with the wind, follow a trail while covering tracks, and how to hunt and fish for survival. Drink whiskey like a man and play a decent hand of poker. To take care of his body and mind. Quin went to school, something many young men his age didn’t get a chance to do. Readin’ and numbers, as Monk used to say, were what would make a man successful. That and having general smarts, he’d always add.
Quin couldn’t help but smile at his wandering thoughts. The ol’ cowpoke had taken him to church every time the door opened, except during roundup time. Then they’d hook up with an outfit and take a herd of cattle up north to market. Once Amarillo became a rail town and stockyards became a plenty, Monk bought the print shop, like his father before him, and trained Quin in the newspaper business. The ol’ buzzard had taught Quin everything a young man needed to know, except how to keep his heart from being broken.
Kaira’s rambling cut through his musing. “And then I arrive in Amarillo and…”
Quin watched Kaira. Every time she stopped for a breath and her eyes met his, his heart turned over. When she wasn’t watching, his gaze traveled over her face, then moved down her body slowly. The very air around her seemed electrified and wrapped him in invisible warmth, sparking feelings in him that had nothing to do with reason.
“Plus, today is April Fools’ Day, so I thought you’d enjoy a joke.” She stopped and looked up and his heart lurched madly. “Any red-blooded man enjoys…”
“The last I heard, April Fools’ is on the first day of April, so you’re either early or late, depending on which you prefer.”
Kaira’s brows arched mischievously and she twisted her pretty little lips, as though giving the whole idea plenty of thought. “I rarely look at a calendar…”
Damn, that woman was so compelling, with a magnetism potent enough to rivet him in place. He veered away again, thinking about velvety skin concealing an inner strength bordering on stubbornness like nothing he’d ever experienced.
Monk had taught him everything, but somewhere along the line he’d failed the class on how to handle a woman like Kaira.
“Do you want to know what happened to my back and shoulder?” Quin wasn’t sure where the words came from. Maybe it was her magnetism after all.
“I barely noticed a scar.”
Torn by conflicting emotions, he began. “I was foolishly young, invincible, I thought. Rode the range when I wasn’t on my ranch, near the Canadian River.” He cleared his throat, pretending not to be affected by his pounding heart. “Monk and I hired on with an outfit taking a couple of thousand longhorns up to Dodge City. Moses, the lead steer on the drive, was hoofin’ it along between me and Monk, since we were riding point. We had our eyes on a young, feisty bull closing in on Moses. I knew if they began to fight, Moses would kill the maverick and we’d be gathering up strays for a month. Like an idiot, I thought I could distract the ornery critter, but not before Ol’ Moses turned and decided to put the bull in his place. They hooked horns and somewhere along the way, I got into the fracas.”
“Which one did you say was the head cow?”
“Lead steer, and it was Moses.”
“You and Monk didn’t hurt either of the cows, did you?”
“Steers! No, between me getting gored and Monk getting me the hell out of the way they forgot their differences and the bull ended up at the railhead. Ol’ Moses had to sluefoot his way back to Amarillo with the drovers. If it hadn’t been for Monk, I’d be dead.”
Before he knew it, Kaira kneeled before him. Taking his hands in hers, she kissed one then another. “It must have hurt, Quin.” She cooed like a mourning dove, throaty, soft, and meaningful. “Can I do anything for you?”
“Try giving that tongue of yours a rest, sweetheart.” Not knowing what possessed him, he lifted her into his lap.
Hungrily, his mouth covered hers, sending spirals of ecstasy through him. He intended to kiss her gently, but when she returned his kisses with such reckless abandonment, he turned demanding. Quin masterfully taught her new ways to use her tongue. Learning fast, she amorously responded, arousing him fully.
Blood pounded in Kaira’s brain, leapt from her heart, and made her knees tremble.
Quin’s mind told him she’d slap him all the way to Goliad and back if he went further, but his body refused to listen to the warning. He slowly moved his hand under her skirt to skim her hips and thighs. She was stunned at the unharnessed desire that his gentle touch sent throughout her body, her own eagerness to touch him, accept, and return each passionate kiss.
Before she completely tossed out any semblance of logic and let Quin have his way with her, Kaira had to tell him the truth. She couldn’t sleep with a man she lied to. She slid her arms from around his neck, splaying her palms against his chest. Looking into his eyes, she knew the moment might pass, and Quin would withdraw as he did earlier in the evening, but she had to take the chance. He had to know everything. “I have something I have to say…”
Quin rolled his eyes. She always had something to say, but why right now? He tried to pull her back into his embrace.
“You have five seconds, starting right now.” He pointed toward the shelf clock and smiled. A very wicked, sensual smile.
“I need to say this. I feel so sorry for you-”
As quickly as their kisses turned to passion, he pulled her arms from around his neck and set her upright, allowing the hem of her skirt to fall into place in the process.
Quin came to his feet. “I’m not your charity case. I don’t want your pity.” He ran his hands though his hair. “Your grandfather sent you here for a purpose, and taking me on as a charity case wasn’t it.”
“You’re not a charity case. I meant-”
“You seem to think the words ‘I meant’ will correct whatever ill-conceived remarks that flow from your mouth. Do us both a favor and do the job you were hired for-get me some news.” He pulled his slicker and hat from the coat tree. “I’m not your project or your lackey. Don’t feel sorry for me.” He stormed outdoors bareheaded, carrying the raincoat.
Intense lightning flashed, followed by a deafening clap of thunder that split the air and seemed to reinforce Quin’s furor.
Kaira yelled into the darkness. “You’ll have an editorial tomorrow that you will never forget-
Chapter 10
Kaira kicked the door shut with picture-rocking force. The reverberation disturbed the only shelf on the wall, which held a mantel clock with some God-awful mythological creature reclining on top.
Settling her hands on her hips and pursing her lips, she studied the newsprint that Quin had nailed up-
