She gaped.
Sam felt chilled to the bone. “He didn’t come for the money that night, darlin’.”
She swallowed hard. Her eyes squeezed shut for a moment, then she stared up at him and said, “If I didn’t have my gun, I wouldn’t have had any way to defend myself, unless I could’ve gotten to a frying pan or a knife. I keep the gun in an end table drawer in the living room, not far from the front door. I never would have made it all the way into the kitchen if he really wanted to—”
Another tremor ran through her.
Sam closed the gap between them. He caressed her cheek, brushing away tears. “You’re in over your head, darlin’. Let me help you.”
“I don’t want to be trouble for you. I have to handle this myself, Sam.”
He let out a low grunt. “I know when to take no for an answer. This is not one of those times.”
She smiled softly, despite the tension lingering between them. “You can’t save everybody, cowboy.”
“We’ll see about that.” His head dipped and he kissed her. A sexy tangling of lips that turned hot and passionate when she opened her mouth and his tongue delved inside. His fingers threaded through the silky strands at her temple as his thumb glided over her cheekbone. His other hand rested on her waist.
He deepened the kiss, eliciting a moan of pleasure from her. His cock swelled and the adrenaline pumped through him again.
Her hand clutched the material of his shirt at his back. The other splayed over his pecs. She returned his kiss with equaled fervor.
Christ, she made him hot and hard. Her tight, curvy body, intoxicating scent and addictive kisses had him believing there was a hell of a lot more to the way he felt about her than the “crush” Reese had suggested.
When they finally came up for air, they were both breathing heavy. Yet he kept tangling his lips with hers, stealing soft kis
ses.
“You do me in, darlin’,” he whispered against her mouth.
“No one’s ever kissed me the way you do. So much fire and reckless abandon.”
“Like I can’t get enough of you?”
She grinned. “It’s really very sexy.”
He chuckled. But then he looked her deep in the eyes and said, “I do know when to stop.”
“Sam.” She sighed. Her fingers whisked over his clenched jaw. “I already know you’re different. And after getting such a healthy dose of reality in Nashville, I wouldn’t get involved with you—or anyone else—if I thought I’d have to fight you off at some point. You’re not that type.”
“You thought the same of the ex, though, right?”
“I was naïve with him, admittedly. Lesson learned. I can read the signs much clearer. Besides, the true testament of a man’s moral fiber is what his family, friends and dog think of him. Or in your case, those horses you take such good care of. And Reese is nuts about you. She’s a good judge of character. I trust her.”
“She did make the right choice with Caleb.”
“I like him a lot.”
“Not too much, I hope.”
She laughed. “Nothing to worry about there, cowboy. You have no competition.”
Just a healthy amount of obstacles, he thought.
Concerned over her situation with the ex, he said, “Maybe you ought to stay at the inn. Reese brought it up last week, and Caleb and I both thought it sounded like a good idea—even before I knew the extent of your troubles.”
“I appreciate the offer. But I can’t let this take over my life. And I really do love my trailer.”
“You don’t worry about him coming back?”