He stood tall, over six feet, she guessed. He pulled off his black Stetson to hang it by the door. His face looked familiar in a classic way: high cheekbones and a broad forehead. He scanned the room as if searching for someone. His heated gaze caught on her. She felt his surveillance, the measuring look in his eyes. The cowboy started toward the bar, his black eyebrows slanting as he stared at her. The thought of him getting any closer made her uncomfortable. He looked like a bad guy from an old western, rough with his grizzled face and serious mouth. “Hey, Jimmy!” he called, and Del turned to see that her drink had arrived.

The bartender waved a casual hello to the cowboy and nodded at her. “There ya go, Missy. Wanna keep a tab, or is that it for you tonight?”

The cowboy squeezed in between Del and the gentleman sitting next to her. His arm rubbed hers. He smiled a crooked grin.

“Uh, I’ll have a tab,” she blurted.

“Care to dance?” the cowboy asked.

Del looked over at the floor. The lights were low and the people hadn’t thinned one bit. “Not really my thing,” she said, turning back to him.

“Maybe a slow dance?”

She looked him up and down, noticing his rugged body and the tight way his jeans hugged his legs. It had been a while since she’d slow-danced. Her gaze settled on the curly, black hairs rimming his unbuttoned collar. Del sucked in her lower lip for a moment. It had been a long time since she did much of anything with a man. “Maybe.”

He shrugged and ordered a beer. She watched him drink as she sipped her sour margarita. “What’s your name?” he asked.

“Del. Yours?”

“Garrett.”

“Pleasure to meet you.”

“Pleasure’s all mine.” He drank back half his beer and reached for her hand. “Next song, you’re mine, okay?”

“That depends on the song.” His palm felt rough against her wrist. He closed his fingers over her skin, and she wondered what it would feel like to be held down by such a strong man. The stray thought sent a thrill through her body. It’s been way too long. Del let him run his thumb across her skin for a little while, but the sour salt of her margarita made her mouth water for more. She pulled away, slowly so he’d know she wasn’t offended. Del brought the wide-rimmed glass to her lips.

Garrett drank his beer and eyed her over the top of his glass. He guzzled it to the end. Licking his lips, he leaned close. “You picky ‘bout the song or the company?”

“The company looks good to me.” She chuckled at herself, a little startled by the flirty comment.

“How long you stayin’ at the ranch?”

“Two weeks. Why?”

“That ain’t very long.” He pursed his lips, returning his face to that stark look he had on when he came in. “Guess we better get to know each other pretty quick then.”

“Oh? Maybe we should just dance and leave it at that.” She swirled the liquid in her top-heavy glass. The music surged, slowed, died, and a slower song started up. Del shot a glance at the dance floor. Couples changed their pace. Others, mostly singles, left the area altogether.

He gripped her wrist. She felt his cheek against hers as he leaned in and whispered, “Ready?”

“I guess so.”

He led her onto the floor, past the throng of cuddling lovers and into the corner of the room. A firm hand held hers, and a tight forearm pressed into her lower back. Garrett led her with precision; he was obviously a man practiced in the art of control. Del watched his face. She couldn’t think of anything to say. He stared at her in an intense way. They moved in step, his chest touching hers. She felt every intake of his breath. The song wore on and soon, she felt his upper leg running against her crotch. The pass startled her, but she held her tongue. Her long, silk skirt hid his advance. The muscles on his leg were taut, hard, grazing her pussy and filling her with a throbbing need to experience more of him. She felt as if a long turned off switch had been thrown on within her body.

He fixed his cheek against hers, his mouth touching her earlobe. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve seen.” He kissed her ear in a gentle way. “You goin’ on the morning ride?” he whispered.

“Thanks, and no.” He smelled like leather and spicy cologne. Del breathed in his scent. She relaxed and let him guide her side to side, his leg warm between her inner thighs. She ran her fingers up and down his back.

“Why not?” he murmured, his lips soft and heated against her earlobe.

“I have work to do.”

“That don’t sound like fun to me.”

The music swelled around her. She felt a bulge in his jeans when he spun her. This stranger turned her on. She wanted to finish her drink and take him back to her room. I’ll do unspeakable things to him and sleep better than ever when we’re done. “What does sound like fun to you?” she asked, her voice husky.

His hand slid down her back until his thumb hooked in the waist of her skirt. “I can’t say. It might embarrass you.” Fingers thrummed at the top of her ass. “You wanna be embarrassed?” he stopped moving. His stubbly cheek scraped against her face as he pulled back to stare at her.

“Maybe. Buy me another margarita. I’ll think on it.” She flashed him a wicked grin.

He raised an eyebrow and nodded. “All right. I think I can manage that.” He closed the distance between their lips and brushed a kiss across her mouth. He smelled like beer.

She stood on her tiptoes to kiss him harder. Garrett didn’t pull away, but slid his hand down her skirt and squeezed her butt cheek. She parted her lips, anxious to taste more of him.