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earlier that day. Of course, if she’d had any idea what kind of life she was in for, Jed would’ve bet his entire spread she’d have high-tailed it outta that auction faster than he could spit.
    “First thing tomorrow,” he said. “I’ll teach you how to make coffee. But for now, this is just fine.”
    “Fine,” she repeated with a disheartened grunt. “I’m so sick of that word.”
    Jed stared into the fire a moment longer, choked back the rest of his coffee, then refilled his mug.
    “You don’t have to--” Lucy began.
    “I want to.” With a quick wink in her direction, he lay back on the blanket, hands cupped beneath his head, the mug set on the ground beside him. “Has Maggie come out yet?”
    “No, but I saw her peeking out the window a few times.”
    Jed exhaled a long breath. What was he going to do with her?
    “She’ll be fine,” Lucy said matter-of-factly. “I imagine it’s difficult for her to have a strange woman show up unannounced.”
    She was probably right; all Maggie needed was a little time to get used to the idea of having Lucy around.
    One thing at a time, that was all Jed could do. If he could get comfortable around Lucy, maybe Maggie would follow his lead. Maybe it would help her understand that they all wanted the best for her and the baby.
    He leaned up on his elbow, took a long drink of the coffee swill, and watched Lucy’s expression as the light from the flames licked and danced across her face.
    “Tell me about yourself, Lucy.” Even as he spoke the words, he wished he could take them back. Did he want to know about her past, the details behind the scars on her hands, or about any other men she may have sat under the stars with?
    It took her a while to answer, almost as if she was trying to decide what she should say. Or perhaps what she shouldn’t. After a while, she turned to him and shrugged.
    “What would you like to know?”
    “Everything.” He tried to smile, but it took too much energy. “If we’re going to be husband and wife, we should probably get to know each other.”
    “Okay.” She tipped her head a bit and looked down at him, her green eyes smoldering like fiery emeralds. “But we don’t have to talk to get to know each other. We can learn all we need by just--”
    Jed sat bolt up. “No.” He took a few deep breaths before looking at her.
    A small pout pushed at her bottom lip. “You’re so stubborn--”
    “Me?” he choked. “You’re the one. . .you. . .what are you. . .?”
    Lucy crept closer until she knelt directly in front of him. Jed tried to scramble back, but she pulled his hat off and tossed it aside, then slid her fingers through his hair, caressing his scalp and tickling the skin behind his ears.
    A soft moan floated around them.
From him?
    “There,” Lucy cooed. “Isn’t this better?”
    Why couldn’t he swallow? Her fingers were like magic, making all coherent thought vanish.
    “Lucy. . .I don’t think. . .”
    “Shh.” Instead of silencing him with her finger, as he’d done to her earlier, she cupped his face in her hands and pulled him closer. What the hell--?
    He swallowed hard, his throat as dry as the ground beneath him. Her face hovered closer, her calloused palms cool against his cheeks.
    Sweet Jesus.
    She was like velvet against his mouth, her lips soft, full, and open to him. She intoxicated him with her scent, her touch, her taste.
    He should stop this. He should set her back and try to once again to make her understand that they needed to be practical.
    He sure as hell shouldn’t be pulling her closer or moaning when her tongue met his. That wasn’t practical at all. But hell if he could stop himself.
    Cradling her in his arms, he lowered her to the blanket, then braced his elbows on either side of her, their bodies barely touching. He brushed his mouth over hers, just enough to tease, just long enough for her fingers to find his hair again. Then he took the kiss deeper, longer.
    He teased her lips open with