The same silky tresses that’d trailed across his chest two nights ago.
It was her.
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
It was her.
Fletch immediately stalked across the yard.
Devin’s eyes widened when Fletch stormed into view. But Fletch barely spared him a glance; he was entirely focused on seeing the face of the woman who’d been haunting his thoughts for the last two days.
He stepped in front of Devin, forcing her to look at him. “I thought I might be hallucinating.”
She gasped. “What in tarnation are you doin’ here?”
God that Southern drawl alone made him half hard.
“Please tell me you’re not some kind of freaky stalker who’s been following me.”
Stalker? What the hell? “Be pretty hard to do since you left without a single word or any clue where you were goin’.”
She poked him in the chest with her finger. “Those were the parameters we both agreed to, big guy. So don’t blame me.”
“I am. Because you didn’t give me a chance to change those parameters.” His gaze roamed over her face; he couldn’t believe she was here. “You left without a word . . . why?”
“What was I supposed to do? Leave you a note?”
“Something, anything would’ve been nice . . .” He offered her a slow, steady smile. “Tanna.”
Her eyes narrowed at his deliberate use of her name.
“I’ll leave you two alone to talk since you obviously know each other,” Devin said behind them.
“No, Devin, stay,” Tanna said. “He and I don’t have anything to discuss.”
A sassy little head shake and a dismissive look wouldn’t deter him. Fletch growled, “Get lost,” to Devin, while keeping his eyes locked on hers.
“Okay, man, I get it. I’m gone.” Devin chuckled. “Although, this could probably give me some new songwriting material.”
Fletch snarled, “Go.”
Devin walked away.
“Unbelievable. Why did you do that?” Tanna demanded.
“I didn’t think you’d want to broadcast that we were screwing like minks the night before last, especially since we didn’t exchange names.”
“I didn’t think you’d act like a caveman if we did cross paths again.”
When she tried to sidestep him, he latched onto her upper arm. He pulled her behind him, herding her against the corral and boxing her in. “Wrong answer, sugar twang. You know firsthand that I give in to my baser impulses without apology.”
She blushed.
They stared at each other.
“Do you remember when I said you looked familiar and you accused me of feeding you a line?” Fletch asked. “Now I know why. I must’ve seen you in pictures. I’ve heard about you, Tanna Barker, Celia’s sometime traveling partner. Wild child on the circuit, according to Lainie.”
She lifted her chin. “And?”
“And you’re so damn beautiful you take my breath away.”
Her stiff carriage softened slightly. “You are far too charming and knowledgeable about me, Mr. . . . ?”
“Fletcher. August Fletcher. Everyone calls me Fletch.”
She drilled him in the sternum with her fingernail. “Aha! Celia’s talked about you too. So has Lainie. You’re a vet, right? Veterinarian, not a military vet.”
“Yep. Now that that’s out of the way, can we go someplace and—”
“No.”
Fletch moved in closer. “Why did you immediately say no before hearing my suggestion?”
“It either had something to do with us getting naked, or with us talking.”
“Oh, I wanna strip you to skin all right. Then spend the rest of the day and all night reacquainting my hands and mouth with your body. But talking is a good place to start.”
Her eyes turned defiant. “We have nothin’ to talk about.”
“We have everything to talk about now that I know you’re sticking around, working at the Split Rock. And you oughta know that I tried to bribe the desk clerk to give me your name after I woke up alone. I walked through the motel and the bar parking lots looking for any vehicle with Texas plates. I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I even went to Cactus Jack’s last night, hoping that you’d show up.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Did you think of me at all?”
She seemed reluctant to answer.
He heard the boot steps and then Eli stepped into view.
“Hey, Fletch. What’s goin’ on? Looks like you’re browbeating this lovely woman.”
“We’re just having a conversation. A private conversation. Everything is fine.”
“Is that right?” Eli asked. But he wasn’t looking at Fletch; he was focused on Tanna.
Tanna sidestepped Fletch. “I’ll catch up with you later.” And she bailed.
Fletch got right in Eli’s face. “What the hell was that about?”
“You looked like you were gonna throttle her. People were taking note.”
“Remember when I told you about the woman I met? That’s her.”
Eli’s eyebrows rose. “No kiddin’? And she’s here? How’d that happen?”
Fate. “Guess it’s my lucky day. Get this: she’s working up at the Split Rock.”
“Look, I ain’t one to meddle. But will you go easy on her? She’s had a rough year and still hasn’t found her footing.”