His Outback Cowgirl(27)

Heart hammering and head spinning, he eased his mouth off hers to give them a chance to breathe.

Bridie moaned in protest and her fingers splayed into his hair to stop him from pulling too far away. Blue eyes luminous, she smiled. “Exploring our humanity hasn’t finished yet, cowboy.”

He didn’t return her smile. Instead his thumb brushed the red marks his whiskers had made on the soft skin beside her mouth.

“Hell. I’m sorr–”

She placed a finger on his lips. “Don’t ever apologize for who you are either. I love it that you’re not always so level-headed and sensible.”

She drew his head down to hers.

Despite Bridie’s words, Ethan made sure this time he stayed in control. There was still a bear around. Sensual and deep, their second kiss was none the less potent. When they drew apart, Bridie’s eyes were heavy-lidded and dreamy.

“See, now you’re having no trouble staying still.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “But we really do need to head back if we’re to make our new camp by nightfall.”

“Okay,” she said with an exaggerated and husky sigh, her legs slipping from around his waist. “If we have to.”



When they reached the small plateau where they’d sleep, the sun had commenced its slow descent. A creek gurgled between the meadow and the forest and a ridge provided protection from the wind.

Night fell as they unsaddled the horses and set up camp. Ethan welcomed the darkness that would hide both his expressions and thoughts. Their kiss hadn’t seemed to have changed anything between them for Bridie. She appeared to treat him no differently. But for him everything had changed.

The world had shifted and he wasn’t sure which way to turn. All he knew was that he shouldn’t have kissed her, even if she’d wanted him to. While their time away had appeared to have brought her a little peace, she still grieved for her father. He should never have taken advantage of her emotional vulnerability.

He was certain that getting involved with a conservative cowboy wasn’t part of her plan to work out where her future lay. Her physical response to him was a natural reaction to adrenaline and the close proximity associated with waiting for the bear to disappear. She said herself she was only human.

He set about lighting the campfire. As for his response, now that he’d held Bridie in his arms and knew that her boundless energy was only matched by her deep passion, he wanted more. But he was playing with fire if he touched her again, let alone kissed her. The risk to his heart was too great.

Their campfire dinner of nachos, followed by apple crisps, was soon eaten and to his relief, Bridie yawned and said she’d have an early night. He’d made sure their bedrolls were again a safe distance apart and as the firelight flickered and the stars blazed overhead, they turned in. The bug spray sounded, before Bridie slipped into her bedroll.

Head pillowed by his arm, he stared at the inky sky. When silence stretched between them, he thought there’d be no conversation like there’d been the previous night. Then Bridie spoke. “I can’t believe you didn’t have a plan. That actually shocked me.”

He chuckled. “I did. It was just one you wouldn’t have liked.”

“Just as well. I guess it was one where I didn’t get to have any fun?”

“That’s right. But you would have been safe while I distracted the bear.”

“Sorry, but that’s a bad plan.” He could hear the frown in her voice. “I’m the risk taker, not you. Besides as if I would have let you leave me behind.”

“That’s why I said I didn’t have a plan.”

Bridie didn’t immediately reply. He sensed, like him, she was thinking about what happened after the bear left.

“Ethan ...”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, you know I more than liked kissing you ... but it can’t happen again.”

“I know.” The darkness hid his grim expression but couldn’t conceal the regret underpinning his words.

“You do?”

“Yes. You’ve lost your father, the last thing you need is any ... complications.”

“Ethan, you’re not a ... complication. What I was going to say was that I don’t know how long I’ll be around.”

“Which is true for both us. I have to head back to my own ranch sometime.” He hesitated. “Then there’s the obvious reason, I’m not your type.”

In the firelight, he could see her prop herself on her elbow and look across at him. “What do you mean?”

Ethan turned to look at her. “Well, as you said I’m not a risk taker and you are. I like life simple, safe and conventional and you like a little more danger, spice and action.”