The Doctor Wears A Stetson (Contemporary Western Romance) (11 page)

"Thanks," she said. "I'll be all right in a
minute."

He narrowed his eyes. "Have you been
drinking?"

Jessie hiccupped. "Only punch."

"
Only punch?
Are you sure?"

Jessie nodded and laughed. "Tori spiked
it."

Sam's lips curved in a reluctant smile.
"That little witch."

"A charming little witch, don't you
think?"

"Much too charming," he said with a
frown.

Jessie felt Sam's fingers dig into her
shoulders for just an instant. His dark brown eyes held
secrets.

"Thanks for the dance." Jessie backed away,
but Sam didn't release her. Another song played on the jukebox.
Couples swayed to the slow melody.

"How about one more?" he asked.

Jessie hesitated, then nodded. What the
hell? One more dance couldn't hurt, could it?

Sam pulled her closer, but not too close.
That's what she liked about Sam. She felt safe with him.

Without conscious thought, Jessie laid her
head against his shoulder. She felt him stiffen and looked up,
wondering if she'd crossed some invisible barrier. Before she could
ask what was wrong, a strong hand encircled her waist, turning her
away from Sam.

"I believe this is
my
dance."
Cameron's voice sent shivers down Jessie's spine. His intense stare
made her swallow hard.

"Maybe the lady doesn't want to dance with
you." Sam stood his ground, not relinquishing his hold on
Jessie.

The tension crackled between the two men.
Cameron's touch kindled dormant fires, and her traitorous body
responded instantly. She reminded herself about TR and what she
owed him, but TR was gone. Cameron was here. More than anything in
the world, Jessie wanted to be held in his arms. One time.
One
last time.

"It's okay, Sam," she said.

He glared at Cameron. "You sure?"

"I'm sure."

Immediately, Cameron swept her away. No
words were spoken; none were needed. Cameron's eyes never left
Jessie's as he held her close. With every movement of the dance,
his muscular legs caressed the length of her thighs. Locking his
arm around her shoulders, he grasped the nape of her neck. He
caught her hand, interlacing her fingers intimately with his.

Jessie remembered him kissing her fingers,
one by one. Had that only been yesterday? Cameron was holding her
so tightly, she felt his arousal pressing into her and from the
look in his eyes, he knew exactly what he was doing.

After circling the floor twice, he clasped
Jessie's head into his shoulder, brushing his lips against her
hair. His hot breath scorched the sensitive shell of her ear.

Time rolled back and Jessie remembered
another dance with Cameron McCade in a darkened gym on prom night.
He'd held her close then, too. And her young body had responded
with alarming enthusiasm.

But that innocent dance so long ago couldn't
compare to what Jessie was feeling now.

Cameron's heart pounded in time to her own.
Nothing existed for Jessie except the powerful arms around her, and
the musky scent of the man holding her.

When the song ended, he took her by the
elbow and led her away into the night. He was breathing hard,
walking fast. Jessie had to run to keep up with him. She tried to
free her arm, but Cameron ignored her.

"What are you doing? Where are you taking
me?" she whispered furiously, glancing back at the diminishing
lights surrounding the dance floor.

"I'm taking you someplace where we can be
alone. We
need
to be alone."

Cameron pulled Jessie to the side of the
huge implement barn, away from prying eyes. He held her for a
moment, hugging her close. "I've wanted to do this all
evening."

The savage yearning in his voice flowed over
Jessie like a blanket of pure desire. An answering ache in the pit
of her stomach begged for fulfillment. Tori's punch clouded all
reason. Jessie's body burned for one man; she had always burned for
one man. He was here, holding her, wanting her.

Cameron touched her cheek, sliding his
fingers into her hair, tangling them in the silky bonds. With
infinite gentleness, he brought her lips close to his mouth. She
felt his breath mingle with hers. The effects of the punch,
combined with the intoxicating nearness of Cameron's body, pushed
all thoughts of resistance to the back of Jessie's mind.

When his lips finally sought her mouth, she
locked her arms around him and gave herself up to the pleasures of
the kiss. This would be all she could have. She would not, could
not betray TR's memory. This kiss would have to last her for the
rest of her lonely life.

Cameron didn't know why Jessie had changed
her mind about resisting him. Right now, he didn't care. All that
mattered was that she was arching her back, pressing her soft
breasts against his chest, clinging to him and responding
deliciously to his kisses. They fit together perfectly. He longed
to bury himself in her, feel her warmth surround him. He
desperately wanted to lie down with her.

Scooping her up in his arms, he kicked open
the barn door. Moonlight shone through the upper windows, revealing
the hulky shadows of tractors and trailers. His eyes quickly
adjusted to the darkness, and he walked to the back where a
mountain of soft cottonseed stood. Carefully, he laid Jessie down
and stretched out beside her. He rolled over and covered her body
with his. He kissed away her small moan of protest, assaulting her
senses with renewed passion.

The fresh smell of cottonseed blending with
Jessie's perfume drove Cameron wild. He ravaged her mouth, plunging
his tongue deep within, tasting her fully.

She'd worn a long, baby blue dress to the
party. The dress had bewitched him all day. There were no buttons
in back or front, only snaps on one side, starting from under the
arm down to the alluring curve of her hip. All afternoon and
throughout the evening, those snaps had tantalized his
imagination.

Shifting his weight, Cameron tucked a knee
between Jessie's legs. The flowing skirt allowed easy access. She
parted her thighs and raised her hips, gently rubbing against his
iron hard length. Beads of sweat broke out on Cameron's forehead.
He forced himself to slow down and fought for control. Jessie's
movements were pushing him close to the edge. He deepened the kiss
and explored her sweetness. His hands searched out every secret of
her luscious body.

Supporting himself on one elbow, Cameron
undid the snaps of the enticing blue dress one by one. He slipped a
hand under the loosened fabric and eased the lacy edge of Jessie's
bra downward, exposing her breasts to his questing fingertips. He
cupped the firm flesh in his palm, relishing the silkiness of her
skin. She felt heavy and full. God, he had to see her, taste her.
He had to get rid of these clothes.

Jerking the bodice out of the way, he looked
his fill.

"Beautiful, Jess. You're beautiful." He
trailed kisses along the swell of one rounded breast, circling the
rosy nipple, teasing the base with his tongue. Then he gently
licked the tip and blew softly over the wet peak.

Jessie writhed beneath him, arching her
back, seeking more. She reached for him and pulled his head closer,
straining upward. Cameron hesitated only a fraction of a moment
before taking her into his mouth, swirling his tongue around and
around, sucking the nipple hard. Jessie shook her head from side to
side, raising her body toward him. The whimpers in the back of her
throat grew stronger and louder. His body flexed in response.

He reached under the full skirt and slipped
his hand beneath the elastic band of Jessie's panties. He slid his
fingers through the soft curly hair. She was wet and ready for him.
When he felt her legs wrap around his waist, pulling him closer,
Cameron's control snapped.

He grasped her bottom with both hands,
thrusting against her with urgent need. He tugged at the tiresome
panties. "We need to get rid of these, sweetheart."

The low, savage words wrenched Jessie back
to reality.
What was she doing?
She had only wanted one
kiss, that's all she could allow herself. How quickly that kiss had
spiraled into full-blown passion. Damn Tori and her punch!

Jessie caught Cameron's hand and her panties
fell back in place. They were both breathing hard, staring at each
other. His heavy-lidded eyes asked a question.

She didn't have the answer. She knew she
couldn't blame the punch for her lapse. It was Cameron. It had
always been Cameron. They'd felt the attraction when they were
kids. But they weren't kids anymore and Cameron wasn't holding
anything back. He wanted her.

And God help her, she wanted him. His kisses
ignited a raging passion within her. She craved the feel of his hot
mouth on her heated skin. She definitely had a weakness when it
came to Cameron McCade.

But nothing had changed. He was leaving
tomorrow. All he wanted was her body.

Jessie pushed away and jumped to her feet,
keeping her eyes lowered. She tried desperately to restore order to
her clothing and her emotions. Her fingers fumbled with the snaps.
"I don't know what to say . . . I didn't mean to let it go that
far."

Cameron grabbed her shoulders, hauling her
against his chest, forcing her head back. His eyes blazed with
frustration. "What's wrong, Jess? You want this as badly as I do.
We're both adults, for Christ's sake."

Jerking out of his strong grasp, Jessie
stood her ground. "You just don't get it, do you? There has to be
more for me. I don't sleep around."

Cameron took a step closer. "I know you
don't. There's something special between us; you know there is.
We're good together."

"Yes, we're good together," she said,
finally snapping the last snap on the side of the dress. She ran
her fingers through her hair, trying to restore order to her
appearance and to her thrumming body. "So good in fact, you make me
forget everything."

"Is that bad?"

"Yes. No . . . I cannot,
will
not
betray TR," she said quietly.

"How can you betray him? He's dead, Jess.
Would he want you to stop living? Never enjoy a relationship with
another man?"

Jessie shook her head. "No, he wouldn't mind
if it were anyone but you."

Cameron's blue eyes widened in surprise.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Smoothing the folds of her long skirt, she
brushed cottonseed to the floor. Her emotions were jumbled and so
was her brain.
She owed TR a lot. She'd married him without
loving him, and she'd never given him children.

Jessie couldn't tell Cameron the real
reasons. She couldn't tell him she was afraid. Afraid she was
falling in love with him again. Afraid she'd never stopped loving
him. Afraid of the guilt and the regret.

Cameron grasped her shoulders again. She
tried to wrench away, but he wouldn't let her. "What do you mean,
Jess? Why would TR care that it's me?"

Jessie shook her head. "Because he hated
your family. He never forgot about the feud."

"What feud? What in the world are you
talking about?"

"The feud between your grandfather and
TR's."

"Damn, Jess. That's ancient history. It has
absolutely nothing to do with you and me."

Her heart ached so badly, she could scarcely
breathe. "I'm sorry, Cameron. I just can't do this." She turned and
ran out the door and into the night.

He watched her go. She was always running
from him. Now he knew why. Had she loved TR so deeply? He ignored
the stab of jealousy in his gut. How could he be jealous of a dead
man?

Jessie might still love her husband, but she
was liquid fire in his arms. Did she feel guilty about the sizzling
attraction she felt for him? That must be it, he decided. Guilt was
making Jessie run, from him and from life.

No woman had ever affected him like Jessie
did. No woman had ever made him lose control like that. His body
was strung as taut as a barbed wire fence. Clenching his fists,
Cameron willed himself to relax.

If only he could stay longer. If only he
didn't have to return to Houston so soon. Maybe he could help
Jessie get past the guilt. She was too young to live the rest of
her life alone. And there was something about her that touched him
deeper than any woman ever had. The thought scared the living hell
out of him, but it didn't scare him enough to make him leave her
alone.

Mentally scanning his work schedule, he
decided he would return to Salt Fork in a few weeks. One way or
another, he and Jess would resolve this thing between them. One way
or another.

On Monday morning, Jessie hurried to the
shop and lost herself in work. She'd stayed home all day Sunday,
trying not to think about Cameron, whether he had left yet, whether
he would stop to say goodbye. She'd prayed he wouldn't. She didn't
know how she could face him after what had happened at the
party.

She didn't know how she could let him go,
either. She was weak, damn it--weak where Cameron was
concerned.

With an unspoken agreement, Sam took care of
the customers, letting Jessie stay inside the office. She didn't
know if he knew what was going on. She didn't explain and was
grateful for his silence. Their relationship was simple, not
complicated in the least. Why was it so complicated with
Cameron?

After lunch, she and Sam were busy working
on the carburetor of a customer's truck, when Jessie heard the
unmistakable rumble of a diesel motor pull into the station. Her
heart lurched for a second when she recognized Dallas McCade's
pickup. Then she gave herself a mental shake. It wasn't Cameron; he
was already back in Houston.

She glanced at Sam to see if he would take
care of Dallas, or whoever had come from the Diamondback Ranch. She
was in no mood to face anyone named McCade today. Sam's dark eyes
gleamed as he started in the direction of the pumps. Jessie leaned
around, curious to see who had sparked his interest, gasping when
she realized it was Tori McCade.