“Okay.”
“Follow me, angel.”
They walked out of the hotel and headed to his truck parked
across the street.
The sun hung low in the sky. She was glad to be out from under
the mine and in the open. When they got to his truck, Phoenix opened the door for her. He was a rugged cowboy, a talented artist, and a
wicked lover. But he was also a gentleman. I might as well throw in the towel. No woman can resist this man, at least not one like me.
Holding back anything from him would be out of reach of her skill.
She hopped up into his truck. She watched him walk back to the
driver’s door. He opened it and got in the cab.
“You don’t have to sit so far away.” He patted the middle of the
bench seat, urging her to move closer. “I want to have you within easy touching distance.”
“Someone might see.” Jessie looked around the street. There were
only a few people out, and none were looking at them, thank God.
That could change in a flash if she moved to the center of the cab.
“We have to keep things quiet. You will do that for me, won’t you?”
His eyes narrowed, giving her a sinking feeling. Finally, he
nodded. “I will.”
She felt the weight of her worry lift. “Thank you, cowboy.”
“But the second we get out of town, I want you next to me. No
arguments, understand?”
“Yes.” She wanted to be near him, too. More than
wanted...craved. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise. I hope you’re hungry, Jessie.”
She realized she hadn’t eaten in several hours. “I am. Starving
actually.”
Wilde Fire
63
“Good. I’ve got something special in mind for you.”
When they passed Carlotta’s Liquor Store and Tarot Card Reading
Room, Jessie moved next to Phoenix. She closed her eyes and leaned
her head into his chest. His body felt good and sturdy—male.
Phoenix clicked on his iPod connected to the radio. A country
ballad filled the cab of the truck, and Jessie hummed with the tune.
She began to relax. The day had been harrowing. Some food and a
little rest was what she needed.
After about fifteen minutes of driving on a dirt road, they came up the hill, where a large oak tree stood alone. Phoenix parked the truck a few steps away from the tree. To one side of the oak, a large blue
blanket cloaked the ground. In the middle of the covering was a
wicker basket surrounded by some pillows.
“Phoenix, you did this?” she asked as they stepped out of the
truck.
He smiled. “I thought you might enjoy a private picnic more than
a busy restaurant. I have crackers, fruit, cheeses, and a bottle of Chardonnay.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “It’s perfect.”
He hugged her tight. Then they settled down on the blanket to
enjoy the feast he had prepared for her. It was an excellent meal.
Sliced apples, strawberries, blueberries, bananas, Gouda cheese, and more. The wine tasted fresh and sweet on her lips. After consuming
about half the contents of the basket, she settled back, satiated.
Phoenix stared at her in a way that caused butterflies to flutter in her belly. “So, what did you think of Austin?”
“He was…a bit intense.”
Phoenix stroked her hair. “It’s a good description of him.”
“Has he always been this way?”
Her cowboy kissed her cheek, and she began to feel warm and
fuzzy. “Jessie, let’s talk about Austin another time.” His lips pressed against her ear as his hands wandered over her body.
“But you’re the one who brought him up.”
64
Chloe Lang
“God, you’re one smart cookie. Guilty. I did bring him up, but
let’s not think about the mine, my brother, or anything else. Right now, I just want to focus on you, angel.” He started stroking her hair.
“This feel good?”
It did. She held up her hands in surrender. “All right, cowboy.
What do you have in mind?”
He kissed her cheek. “I think you know, Jessie.” His hands
cupped her breasts over her shirt, and he began massaging until her
“Follow me, angel.”
They walked out of the hotel and headed to his truck parked
across the street.
The sun hung low in the sky. She was glad to be out from under
the mine and in the open. When they got to his truck, Phoenix opened the door for her. He was a rugged cowboy, a talented artist, and a
wicked lover. But he was also a gentleman. I might as well throw in the towel. No woman can resist this man, at least not one like me.
Holding back anything from him would be out of reach of her skill.
She hopped up into his truck. She watched him walk back to the
driver’s door. He opened it and got in the cab.
“You don’t have to sit so far away.” He patted the middle of the
bench seat, urging her to move closer. “I want to have you within easy touching distance.”
“Someone might see.” Jessie looked around the street. There were
only a few people out, and none were looking at them, thank God.
That could change in a flash if she moved to the center of the cab.
“We have to keep things quiet. You will do that for me, won’t you?”
His eyes narrowed, giving her a sinking feeling. Finally, he
nodded. “I will.”
She felt the weight of her worry lift. “Thank you, cowboy.”
“But the second we get out of town, I want you next to me. No
arguments, understand?”
“Yes.” She wanted to be near him, too. More than
wanted...craved. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise. I hope you’re hungry, Jessie.”
She realized she hadn’t eaten in several hours. “I am. Starving
actually.”
Wilde Fire
63
“Good. I’ve got something special in mind for you.”
When they passed Carlotta’s Liquor Store and Tarot Card Reading
Room, Jessie moved next to Phoenix. She closed her eyes and leaned
her head into his chest. His body felt good and sturdy—male.
Phoenix clicked on his iPod connected to the radio. A country
ballad filled the cab of the truck, and Jessie hummed with the tune.
She began to relax. The day had been harrowing. Some food and a
little rest was what she needed.
After about fifteen minutes of driving on a dirt road, they came up the hill, where a large oak tree stood alone. Phoenix parked the truck a few steps away from the tree. To one side of the oak, a large blue
blanket cloaked the ground. In the middle of the covering was a
wicker basket surrounded by some pillows.
“Phoenix, you did this?” she asked as they stepped out of the
truck.
He smiled. “I thought you might enjoy a private picnic more than
a busy restaurant. I have crackers, fruit, cheeses, and a bottle of Chardonnay.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “It’s perfect.”
He hugged her tight. Then they settled down on the blanket to
enjoy the feast he had prepared for her. It was an excellent meal.
Sliced apples, strawberries, blueberries, bananas, Gouda cheese, and more. The wine tasted fresh and sweet on her lips. After consuming
about half the contents of the basket, she settled back, satiated.
Phoenix stared at her in a way that caused butterflies to flutter in her belly. “So, what did you think of Austin?”
“He was…a bit intense.”
Phoenix stroked her hair. “It’s a good description of him.”
“Has he always been this way?”
Her cowboy kissed her cheek, and she began to feel warm and
fuzzy. “Jessie, let’s talk about Austin another time.” His lips pressed against her ear as his hands wandered over her body.
“But you’re the one who brought him up.”
64
Chloe Lang
“God, you’re one smart cookie. Guilty. I did bring him up, but
let’s not think about the mine, my brother, or anything else. Right now, I just want to focus on you, angel.” He started stroking her hair.
“This feel good?”
It did. She held up her hands in surrender. “All right, cowboy.
What do you have in mind?”
He kissed her cheek. “I think you know, Jessie.” His hands
cupped her breasts over her shirt, and he began massaging until her
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