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I tightened my arms around his shoulders and stopped trying to think past tonight. I stopped thinking about the festival. About the fact that I was in a house I’d never been inside before tonight with a man I’d known less than two weeks. None of it mattered while he held me.

Pleasure built slowly at first, then faster. I pressed closer, my fingers digging into his shoulders as everything inside me tightened.

Beau said my name against my cheek, low and rough, and that was enough to send me over the edge. I buried my face against his neck and held on while the waves moved through me. For a few seconds, there was nothing but Beau. His arms around me, his breath warm against my skin, the steady beat of his heart under my palm.

He held my gaze as he reached his own release, his entire body tensing. Then he said my name so low and close, I almost didn’t hear him.

I clenched around him, and he held me close until we both caught our breath. Then he shifted his weight next to me and pulled me onto his chest. I traced a finger over his shoulder, following the line of muscle beneath my hand.

“That also wasn’t on my schedule.”

His mouth curved as he brushed my hair away from my face. “You should always build in contingencies.”

“Maybe I need a better one.”

For a few seconds, neither of us said anything. I wasn’t ready for him to move to the other side of the bed, much less for me to get dressed and drive back into town.

He seemed to understand. Beau settled beside me again and pulled the blanket over us. His arm came around my waist, and the steady warmth of him at my back felt way too good.

Outside, wind moved against the windows.

Beau’s thumb drifted across my shoulder. “Stay.”

I knew what I should do. Go back to town. Get some sleep. Wake up in my own bed and start Friday exactly where my schedule said I would.

Instead, I rolled toward him and settled against his chest. “Okay.”

CHAPTER 7

BEAU

I woke before the alarm and could tell Caroline was still there before I opened my eyes. Her head was tucked against my shoulder, and one hand rested low on my stomach under the blanket. Sometime during the night she’d taken over most of my pillow and half the bed, which seemed about right for a woman who could rearrange an entire festival site before noon.

I had horses waiting in the barn and a section of fence I wanted to finish before lunch, but I stayed where I was for another minute.

Caroline shifted against me and made a quiet sound before opening her eyes. “What time is it?”

“Early.”

“That is not a time.”

“Five forty.”

She stared at me. “That’s offensive.”

“You’re the one who stayed at a ranch.”

“I was distracted when I made that decision.”

Her gaze moved over my bare chest, then back to my face.

“Still distracted?” I asked.

“Potentially.”

I kissed her before she could come up with anything else.

The morning after usually made things awkward. I’d had enough relationships to know how easy it was for a good night to turn weird once the lights came on and somebody had to find their jeans. Instead, Caroline kissed me back, then stole another six inches of blanket and told me she wasn’t getting out of bed until the sun did.