Two Dude Ranchers for Dawn [Cowboy City 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) by Luxie Ryder

you’renotfamiliarwithit.”
    “That’sokay.”Dawntriedtokeephervoicelight,desperatenottoletthemknowthateverybump and rut jolting the truck went right to her groin, causing a hot ache that left her suppressing a groan.
    “I’malittlestifffromsittingonahorsealldayanyway.I’mnotsureIcouldhandlewalkingacoupleof milestonight.”
    Ben rubbed her briefly on the shoulder with the hand he’d been resting on the seat behind her head.“Ifyou’renotupforit,wecoulddoittomorrownight?That’sifyou’vegotnothingplanned?”
    “No,I’mf—I’mokay.”AdeepchucklerumbledthroughGarrett’schestandDawngrinned.“I’m buyingathesauruswhenIgetbacktoNewYork.MyvocabularyisalotmorelimitedthanIrealized.”
    “Yourvocabularyisfine.”
    Dawnlaughedoutloud,asdidGarrett,andittookBenacoupleofsecondstorealizewhathe’d said,butthenhelaughed,too.
    “Okay,hangontight.”Garrettjerkedonthesteeringwheel,findingatrackDawnhadn’tseenwas there,andflooringthetrucktogetitupthesteepincline.Oncetheybreachedthetopofthehill,ahuge valleybathedinamberlightopenedupbeforethem.
    “OhmyGod!”TheviewalmosttookDawn’sbreathaway.
    “Youwait.Itgetsbetter.Inafewminutes,you’llseetheskyturnred,gold,pink,evenpurple.”
    Benleaptoutofthetruckandheldouthishand,urginghertofollow.“There’safallentreejustover yonder.It’sourfavoriteplacetositandwatchthesungodown.”
    Dawn followed him across the clearing to the tree, waiting while he spread the blanket he’d broughtfromthetruckovertheroughbarkandthenjoiningthemastheysatdownonthetreetrunk, leavingaspacebetweenthemforher.Shewasspellboundbythewaythelightmadeeverythinglookso magical. Her vision got a little misty as her eyes filled with tears. She knew she’d never forget this momentaslongasshelived.
    “Prettyspecial,huh?”
    Garrett’svoicejerkedDawnoutofherstupor.“Youcansaythatagain.I’veneverseenanythingso gorgeous.”
    “Meneither.”
    Histonemadeherturnandmeethisgaze,andshefeltasmuchassawthewayhewaslookingat her.Thesoft,amberglowofthesunsetwasreflectedinhiseyes,makingthemblazeinhishandsome face.
    Sheswallowedhard,reluctanttospoilthemomentandsaywhatsheknewsheshould.“Garrett.
    I’msorrybut—”
    “Let’s talk in a minute, okay? You don’t want to miss the best part just after the sun disappears behindthemountains.”
    Dawnblewoutashakybreath,relievedratherthanannoyedthathe’dstoppedher.Ifshewasso surethatshewantedtoturnthemdown,whywassayingitprovingtobesohard?
    BecauseIdon’twanttoturnthemdown.That’swhy.
    Herstomachdroppedatthethoughtandshepusheditaway,unwilling,ormaybejustunable,to dealwithwhatitmightmean.“Whatarethosemountainscalled?”
    “TheSuperstitions.”Ben’svoiceheldthesamehuskytimbreasGarrettandDawnfoughttheurge to look his way, certain she would moan in agony if his eyes were full of the same naked lust as Garrett’shadbeen.
    “Oh,I’veheardaboutthose.SomeNativeAmericansusedtobelieveSuperstitionMountainheld theentrancetotheunderworld,didn’tthey?”
    “SoIhear,buttheymustbewrong.It’stoobeautifulforthat.”
    “Iagree.”
    Silencedescendedasthesunputonadazzlingfinale,settingtheskyonfirewithallofthecolors Ben had promised and more. Dawn sat transfixed, her attention so preoccupied by the sight laid out beforeherthatshewasn’tawareshewasholdinghandswithGarrettandBenuntilhepulledawayand gottohisfeet.Shefeltthelossinstantly,anditdoubledwhenGarrettletgo,too.
    Shestoodup,sadthatthemomenthadpassedandacutelyawarethatshewouldprobablynever experienceanythinglikeiteveragain.
    “Thank you. So much.” Her voice trembled as tears threatened again and she lunged forward without giving herself time to question what she was doing. Dawn threw her arms around Garrett’s neck,reachingupontiptoetoburyherfaceinhisshoulder.
    Hegroanedatthecontactandshetriedtopullawaybuthisarmslockedaroundhertorso,holding herclose.Dawnjerkedherheadbackandlookedupintohisface,scaredandexcitedatthesametime