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She’d done a good deed that would likely tear her family apart. Destroy their world. Burn her past with a flamethrower seen only in Marvel movies.

Do the needs of the one or few ever outweigh the needs of the many?

“What do you say about spending a week with me and playing the game?”

“Yes.”

Chapter Four

“lwant tohear your opening salvo about the rules of the game,” she said coolly.

Who the hell was this woman?

“Let’s get out of here,” she said, walking back to the bar, pulling two crisp Bens out of her small handbag. She swooped up the whiskey bottle and two glasses and walked out without checking to see if Bodhi followed.

Probably every man in the place wanted to be in his position.

Bodhi knew he was in trouble long before the double doors of Grey’s swung shut behind him. Hell, he’d been busted the moment she walked in.

But all season long he’d danced and dared danger in the arena. He’d devoted himself to the white-hot flare of larger and larger risks. If he were going to crash and incinerate, why not embrace the burn on the way out?

He’d never been so dazzled by a woman, and he didn’t even know anything about her except that he wanted to know everything. The curiosity and anticipation sizzled in his blood. He’d been thinking about what this week would mean to Ashni and Beck, and yes, Bowen and Granddad. Bodhi hadn’t entered in his own thought equation. He was the catalyst. The spark.

But now the week held personal promise. And instead of running flat out, he wanted to savor a moment or more.

“Which way?” he asked as they stood out on the sidewalk in front of Grey’s. His life was so scheduled—a year in advance, and then so many dictates in between the cities: driving, taking care of his horse—Cash—and his equipment, the workouts, the stretching, the photo shoots, the sponsor meet and greets, community service, meetings with his agent or rodeo staff. Even his off time came with a list of chores on Granddad’s ranch.

Tonight, it was just him and her.

And my agenda.

What cards was she holding so tightly against her chest? Would she give him a peek? Woman like her had complications oozing from her pores. And he’d steered free of complicated women always.

“You’re not married or stepping out on a man for a buzz, are you?” The suspicion jumped out of nowhere, and he’d been dumb not to think of it earlier.

“I provide my own buzz, and when I’m bored with a man, I walk.”

“That’s on my list.”

“Mine too,” she said firmly, her eyes still glittering, probably from what had essentially been a cheating accusation.

“So where would you like to go and discuss the game and the rules?” he offered, wanting her to feel safe with him. It would be natural for him to ask for her name, but he liked the mystery of not knowing, of wondering when she would tell him and what it would be and how it would sound on her plump lips that were in such contrast to her refined and almost angular features.

“I just arrived in town this afternoon,” she said and stuck out one long leg to showcase a gleaming, stylish black boot. “This is my first time in Montana.”

“How long you aiming to stay?”

“I don’t have a specific itinerary.”

What woman went on vacation alone and had no plans?

“I volunteer as your official Marietta guide.” Bodhi jumped into the invitation.

“What’s first on our itinerary?”

He found the playful light in her eyes contrasting with her guarded expressions fascinating. A passionate woman with epic self-control. One who was aware her every move was watched, and yet she still had secrets she guarded.

He’d enjoy discovering each one.