“Already deciding how he feels without asking him?”
They stood at the entrance to Colt’s trailer. Des had no answer to that. She was brave—fearless, really—in so many areas of her life. But this? This scared the hell out of her.
“Just talk to him, Des. Don’t walk away without knowing what might be between the two of you.”
“I guess so.”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “Don’t guess so. Just do it. You kicked ass in that last scene, by the way. You nearly had me crying.”
She laughed. “Thanks. I’ll see you at the wrap party later.”
She showered, changed clothes, then headed over to the ranch. She walked into the house, the smell of something delicious coming from the kitchen.
“Hi, Martha.”
Martha gave her a bright smile. “Hi, sweetheart. I just pulled a couple peach pies from the oven.”
“I smelled them as soon as I opened the front door. The scent is to die for.”
“Thank you. They’re for my church group. And how are you doing? Did you finish the movie?”
She pulled up a seat at the island. “We did. Finally.”
“Congratulations.” Martha poured her a glass of iced tea. “And did it all go well?”
“I think so.”
“You must be so happy to be finished.”
Des took a drink of tea and nodded. “Yes. I guess so.”
Martha loaded a few things into the dishwasher, then wiped her hands on the towel and refilled her tea glass and came around to the other side of the island to take a seat. “You’re going to miss the ranch. And Logan.”
“Yes.”
“Have you told Logan that?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Des laughed. “Now you sound like Colt. He told me the same thing today.”
“Maybe Colt’s suggestion makes sense. You two are never going to figure out what you both want if you don’t communicate with each other.”
“I don’t know, Martha. I can’t see how this could ever work.”
“Unless you talk to each other.”
She sighed. “I know. I’m afraid, though. He’s so reluctant about relationships, and ours has been perfect because there’ve been no promises. No ties.”
“Well, a relationship has to either progress or it dies. I think it’s high time to figure out where yours is going, isn’t it?”
Martha made a lot of sense. Which didn’t comfort Des all that much. “You’re right, of course.”
Logan came in the door a short time later, his face darkly tanned, rivulets of sweat running down his temples. He took off his cowboy hat. His hair was matted to his head and soaking wet. So was his T-shirt, which was so wet it outlined his chest and abs to perfection. He looked utterly miserable, and absolutely, breathtakingly sexy.
When he looked up at her, he straightened and smiled. “Hey. Didn’t expect to see you here today.”
“We finished up early, so I thought I’d surprise you.”
“I’m surprised.”
Martha filled up a giant glass of ice water and handed it to him. “It’s over a hundred degrees out there today. Drink this.”
Without a word, he accepted the glass from her and downed the contents. “Thank you.”
“You look exhausted,” Des said. “And fried.”
“It’s okay, just hot out today.” He came over and brushed his lips over hers. She tasted sweat, and something purely elementally male that never ceased to turn her on.
“Still, you’d probably like to take a shower and put your feet up in the cool air-conditioning for the rest of the day.”
He leaned against the counter. “What’s going on, Des?”
“A wrap party tonight. But you don’t have to come if you don’t want to.”
“You inviting me?”
“Yes.”
“Then I want to come. What time?”
“Eight thirty.”
“I’ll be there.”
She grinned. “Good. And thank you.”
“Now that that’s settled,” Martha said. “We’re having salmon steaks and asparagus for dinner, along with fruit salad. Are you staying, Des?”
“I’d love to, Martha. Can I help?”
“Everything’s already done, except for the salmon, which we’re fixing on the grill tonight.”
“Sounds great. And, Martha, you and Ben are also invited to the wrap party tonight. If you’d like to come.”
Martha’s smile was as wide as the state. “I’d love to come. How thrilling. How do I dress?”
“Just as casual as you’d like. There’ll be drinks. And we’re letting the press in. It’ll be a free-for-all. Should be a wild and crazy night.”
“Oh, boy.” Martha’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “I’m going to head home to pick out somethin’ to wear.”
“Leave the fancy furs in the closet, Martha,” Logan said. “It’s a little warm for those.”
“You hush. And see what Ben’s up to. I’m sure Desiree is hungry.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
After Martha left the room, Des slid off the barstool and went over to him, sliding her hand into his hair.
“I’m hot, I’m sweaty, and I stink,” he said.
“I don’t care. Kiss me.”
He tugged her close and put his mouth on hers, kissing her with that same familiar hunger that never failed to drive her desire to feverish levels. She whimpered and raised up on her toes, molding her body to his. He grabbed her butt, then pulled away, his breath coming out in harsh gasps.
“Martha will be back any minute. Their house isn’t that far away. We need to stop.”
“Or, you could take me upstairs with you.”
“You’re a bad influence.”
“Not the first time I’ve heard that.”
He took her hand and pulled her upstairs, then shut the door to his room and headed into the bathroom.
She took a seat on his bed. “Where are you going?”
He paused and turned around. “To take a shower.”
“You think I mind a little sweat?”
“Babe. I’ve been out in the pasture all day. Trust me, I’m not pleasant.”