ANOTHER SUNNY DAY (9 page)

"What are you doing here?" His unexpected voice nearly caused her to choke on her
wine.

"Where am I supposed to be?"

He found an empty stool and pulled it up next to hers, lowering his voice so as not to disturb the others' conversation. "I checked your trailer. You weren't there, of course, so I assumed you had gone into town with the others. They did ask you, didn't they?"

"Yes, they did, but I have been known to pass up a party. I thought it would be more fun to hang around here, and I'm glad I did." She resented him for immediately putting her on the defensive. "Why didn't you go with them? I thought you might need the night
off from your bothersome job."

A muscle in his strong square jaw was working overtime as he leaned closer to hiss in her ear, "You know I don't s
till feel that way about you."

"Well, that's news to me. You avoided me like the plague today and pawned me off on poor Willie like a pair of hand-me-do
wn shoes," she whispered back.

"You two seemed to get along okay." Grudging admiration warmed his voice. "He was quite overwhelmed by you, and that's some compliment. He
doesn't take to many people."

"You were lucky we finally hit it off. For a while there I was thinking of crea
tive ways of paying you back."

"If you wanted me to get someone else to ride with you, you should have just said so," he sai
d with an innocent smile.

"I wanted you," she admitted, then added hastily, "to ride with me and point out the highlights." His smile was working its magic on her, making her forget her resolutions to
remain emotionally uninvolved.

"Didn't Willie do
that?"

"Yes, but it wasn't the same," she answered softly.

"No, it wasn't," he agreed, attracted once again to her openness and warm, likable personality and despising himself for it. It would make his life a whole lot easier if she wasn't so damn perfect.

Their eyes met in silent accord, hinting at what might be, but this was not the time or place to make any promises. A shiver of anticipation shook her sl
ight body. Maybe tonight . . .

"Maybe we could impose on Sunny and get her to sing a few songs for us," someone suggested. Other voices joined in, echoing the encouragement while several people hurr
ied away to get their guitars.

Sarah felt a surge of panic. She had not anticipated being asked to sing. There must be some way she could get out of this gracefully. Her voice was gentle and sweet, but it had none of the vitality and range of
Sunny's. Just one song would expose her as an impostor, and she mustn't let that happen now.

"I'm sorry, but I
just couldn't," she stammered.

"What's the matter? Is the star too big to sing for free? Maybe we should all take up a collection and see what her price is," a man suggested sarcastically as he staggered up to her, obviously feeling the effect of several beers too many. A stunned silence settled over the group as he fumbled with his wallet, pulled out a bill, and with a swiftness that could not have been anticipated, stuffed it into the cleavage that was reveal
ed by her tight red jump suit.

The drunk's next move was to pick himself up from the dirt where he lay after Tyler's left fist connected with his jaw. He struggled up, his fists ready, but the deadly glitter in Tyler's eyes penetrated his benumbed senses. Backing away from Tyler's imposing figure, the man stumbled over to the ice chest, picked up another beer, and disappeared outsi
de the fire's circle of light.

"Hey, Ty. He didn't mean anything by
it." someone said soothingly. "He's just had a little too much to drink. It's okay if Sunny doesn't want to sing."

Tyler glanced back at Sarah's stricken.
expression, and as if recognizing her dilemma, he forced himself to relax. "I'm sure Sunny would love to sing for us," he said, causing Sarah to gasp in alarm, "but you folks can't expect her to endanger her voice in this cool, humid night air. She's got a big performance at the rodeo in a few days. Why don't we all sing to her for a change. I'll bet that would be a first."

"I play a mean guitar," Sarah was quick to offer. "It's been a long time sin
ce I've been to a sing-along."

Luckily that suggestion met with everyone's approval, and they all seemed to accept Tyler's 'excuse for her without reproach. Someone, thrust a guitar into her hands, which she flipp
ed over and fitted to herself.

Tyler settled back into his chair, studying her quizzically. "
There's not too many people who play the guitar with their left hand," he commented. "I noticed you ride left-handed too. I never realized you were a southpaw."

"I've always been left-handed, but I learned to play the guitar with my right hand. It wasn't until I saw Paul McCartney so happily adjusted to being left-handed that I switched back over to what, came naturally." Confidently she strummed and tuned the instrument. Sunny had often asked Sarah to accompany her when she sang, but Sarah always refused. She didn't mind sitting in on sessions or playing back-up in the recording studios, but she had never wanted t
o go on stage with her sister.

More loudly than harmoniously the group sang all the songs they knew and some they didn't. Forgetting the words was no problem, as someone could always come up with substitutes, some of them hilarious. It wasn't until almost midnight, when the fire burned down, the beer ran out, and memories began to dim, that the cheerful group began to dissipate
, heading off to bed.

Sarah stretched gracefully as she stood up, Tyler's darkened eyes following her every move. Hastily he cleared his throat and levered himself up off the short stool. "My horse threw a shoe today and split his hoof. That's why I was so late to supper," he explained. "I'd better go check on him again be
fore I turn in for the night."

"I'll go with you if you don't mind," she offered, wanting to strengthen the new, bond between them. This should give them a chance to talk privately and may
be reach a new understanding."

Tyler hesitated. He was already feeling like he had been twisted in knots tonight. The gentle fragrance of her perfume had attacked his senses until it threatened his sanity. He, too, wanted to have the opportunity to spend more time with her alone, but he wasn't sure he could trust himself tonight. His guard was down, and it was becoming more difficult every minute he was
with her to resist her charms.

He wanted her more than he had ever wanted anything in his life, but his common sense always reminded him that his own self-respect was worth more than a quick one-night stand with a woman who would probably not even remember his name a month from now. Still, he could not deny himself this chance to be with her even for just a few more moments. Surely he could hold his p
assion in check for that long.

They were almost at her trailer when he answered her at last. "Sure, you can come along.
Zena will be glad to see you."

The horses were standing quietly, securely tied to the rope picket line that ran between two trees. Their slumber disturbed, they still managed a friendly nicker
as Tyler and Sarah approached.

After saying a proper hello to
Zena, Sarah leaned back against the horse's soft snow-white body, watching Tyler attend to his horse's hoof. As he straightened back up he paused, drinking in the sight of her. Bathed in moonlight, the mare seemed to have a ghostly glow, providing a perfect backdrop for the unearthly beauty of the woman reclining against her. There was an innocence about her that the tight suggestive clothes could not hide, but there was also a sensuality just below the surface that had nothing to do with the way she dressed.

Just then his horse shifted, pushing a started Tyler into an even more surprised Sarah. Automatically his arms wrapped around her, keeping them both from falling. Her soft feminine curves pressed against his taut muscular body. Even after the initial danger was past, neit
her made a move to break away.

Sarah lifted her face to his, which hovered just inches above hers. "I guess that's what they can animal magnetism,"
she said as she smiled weakly.

"Thank God for animals," he brea
thed huskily against her lips.

She met him with a hunger that matched his own and surprised them both. Her long slender fingers locked behind his neck, pulling him even closer. His lips molded to hers as if they had been created to match.
They moved over hers, drinking in their sweetness like a thirsty man lost in a desert.

This was definitely better than standing next to him washing dishes, she thought. In fact, this was better than anything else she had experienced in her life. Tiny lightning bolts of desire jolted through her body, leaving her weak and shaken but ready for whatever came. His own response was evident as he pressed against her and she marveled that his physical need was as great as hers. Never again would he be able to convince her that h
e was unmoved by her presence.

His hand slid down her back, making a strange slippery sound against the satin. His mouth pulled away as he leaned back to study her delicate moonlit face. "Oh,
darlin'," he sighed. "What have you done to me?" He pulled her to him again, cradling her against his broad chest, his breath warm against her forehead. "I never expected this or even wanted it to happen. But you've cast some sort of spell over me. I can't seem to resist you." His lips leisurely trailed soft kisses down her neck and she obligingly turned her head to allow him greater access. "You are so real, so honest," he breathed. "Not at all phony or affected like I would have thought. You've got everyone wrapped around your little finger, me included. You're really someone special."

"B
ut I'm not—" she cried softly.

But he silenced her protests with a kiss. One of his large hands moved up to cup her breast, his thumb rubbing roughly across her nipple, which sent new waves of desire throbbing through her body. Gently his tongue tasted her lips, then ran along the uneven line of teeth before her mouth surrounded it greedily. His hand wandered to the zipper that held the front of her jump suit closed. Hi
s fingers stroked her breasts.

Suddenly he stiffened and pulled away, a crumpled twenty-dollar bill held between his thumb and forefinger as if it were contaminated. "I should have broken his jaw," he growled, and threw it to th
e ground with obvious disgust.

"You very likely did," she replied shakily. "I meant to thank you for taking up for me like that. And don't say it was just par
t of your job," she cautioned.

He smiled down at her gently. "I'm getting used to being a knight in blue jeans—as long as I have a beautiful princess to protect. And now, beautiful princess, it's time you got to bed. We're going to have a long day tomorrow, and it's getting very late." He glanced at his watch and ame
nded, "Or rather, very early."

Sarah looked up into his dear face, longing to pour her heart out to him. But this was not the proper time. They both had other things on their minds; probably the same things. She knew it was late, but she
didn't want this night to end.

Slowly they walked back to her camper, their arms wrapped around each other, their hips rubbing sensu
ously together with each step.

"Do you want to come in?" she queried lightly as th
ey hesitated outside her door.

"I can't," he whispered, his eyes telling her how much he wanted to, but his brain
telling him he had better not.

"I know," she answered regretfully, and she understood his dilemma because she was struggling with one of her own. Once more his lips claimed hers for a tender bittersweet kiss before he left her for the night.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Even though she knew it would be a short night, Sarah was too keyed up to fall asleep quickly. There was a small portable TV in the camper, but the reception was poor, and the selection for late-night viewing was even worse so she turned it back off. Rummaging through the night-stand cabinet, she uncovered a paperback copy of one of her favorite author's books. She had already seen the movie and had intended to read the book, so she was pleased. She settled into bed with the book, but after only a couple of chapter
s she lost interest in it too.

Tyler Ross. She savored the name as it forced its way back into her thoughts. One week ago she had never even heard of him, and now she couldn't think of anything else. What was in store for her next week? Since she couldn't see how it could include Tyler, s
he wasn't anxious to find out.

She tried to remember all the obstacles and complications that would make any personal relationship with Tyler a hopeless dream. Logically she listed them in her mind. Most important, of course, was her obligation to Sunny. Sarah had promised to see this deception through to the end, and she would keep that promise
regardless of the sacrifices.