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Meadow crossed her legs in the low-slung chair and let the music wash over her. She was used to being on her own, but the past two days had been especially difficult.

After feeling the touch of a lover, of fighting for something together, and then the companionship of their ride back to the ranch, she no longer wanted to be alone.

Stealing a peek at Colton from beneath her lashes, she found him looking back.

The flames flickered between them, as hot and bright as the fire low in her core. If she were to leap over the flames and land in his lap, what would he do? Deny they were anything more than acquaintances to each other? The guys already knew he’d brought her home from Badlands that night—Dude had told her so.

Zach brought the first song to a close, the quiver of the strings and his deep voice resonating on the air.

Zach dipped his head toward the ranch hand, Marks, sitting nearest the small ice chest full of drinks. “Pass me one of those beers. All this singin’s making me thirsty.”

He plucked one from the icy depths and passed it to Zach. Then he held up a beer on offer to the rest of them. His gaze lit on Meadow. “Beer?”

“Sure, I’ll take one.” She leaned forward to accept it, noting too late how high the flames were jumping. They licked at her sleeve.

“Jesus Christ!” Colton’s arm slammed into her, knocking her back several feet.

Stunned, she stared up at him, aware that all the guys were on their feet—and he was puffing mad.

“Are you trying to light yourself on fire, woman?” It was a wonder he could even bite off the words around that tendon going crazy in his jaw.

Her pride stung. Recoiling, she glared back at him. “I’m fine. Didn’t even feel the heat.”

It was a lie, but he didn’t have to know that.

He seemed to be making it his business. When he gently wrapped his fingers around her upper arm and guided her arm up so he could inspect the sleeve of the flannel shirt she wore, she felt every man around the fire go still.

Those guys never touched her. No matter how many times they drove her home from the bar, they kept their hands off.

Colton was different…and now they knew it.

The charged atmosphere seemed louder than the crackle of the fire. Their gazes clashed.

Slowly, Colton removed his fingers from her arm. She moved to her seat and dropped into it, waiting for him to do the same.

Only he walked past her, into the night.

The urge to turn around and watch him go was strong. To run after him even stronger.

Some sense of boundaries kept her glued to her chair. Marks got up to place the beer she asked for into her hand, and she accepted it with a smile she knew must look as off as it felt.

Zach plucked a few notes. She twisted off the beer cap but wasn’t in the mood to drink now even though her mouth was dried out. What she was aching for…was Colton.

She couldn’t just get up and follow him into the darkness, though the thought of finding him in the shadows—and letting him take her up against the side of the barn—left her pussy throbbing.

The guys seemed to be avoiding her gaze. What if they told her father that Colton was fooling around with her? She didn’t know what her daddy would do.

He’d been so strange lately, even more withdrawn than he’d been since losing his wife and son. She supposed that he must be feeling a heavy weight—grief often didn’t strike for many months after a loved one’s passing.

More than likely, he wouldn’t have a single thing to say about his elder daughter screwing around if it were anybody but one of the ranch hands. There was always an unspoken limit there. A crossing of social class. The guys were friends, sure. But they were also Gracey employees.

She was no queen, though. If she was, her crown was tarnished beyond repair. She didn’t want to sit on her laurels any more than her sister did. Which was what sent Ivy running off the first chance she got.

Maybe Meadow should have done the same thing. Europe had never interested her, but she could travel the country. Just pack her bags, get in her truck and go.

The idea had merit…but it would mean walking away from her father when he needed her to watch over the ranch more than ever, even if he wouldn’t admit it. Forest was so loyal to her father and the ranch. Since he wasn’t around, she was the next one in line.

And leaving Colton before ever giving them a chance to explore what could really be…