The velvet flounce hem of her dress swished softly as she moved. He hadn’t realized how his ears had been attuned to that sound all evening until it stopped in the quiet stillness of the room.

Grinding his teeth as he tried not to think of her legs beneath the fabric, Gage reached for the double doors into the bedroom and swung them wide. “Your things from the guest lodge are already here, and there are towels in the bathroom.”

He nodded with satisfaction to see the bouquet of bear grass on the bedside table. The pretty native wildflowers were protected in many areas, but the Mesa Falls ranching practices had brought the flowers back in abundance on the ranch. His staff had done well prepping her room on such short notice.

And he wasn’t going to think too hard about why he wanted to please a woman who’d tricked his security to get through his front door. He hoped he was only giving her a peace offering so she’d be less likely to backstab him with a tabloid hit piece.

“How beautiful,” she murmured, brushing past him and bending over to sniff the white-and-yellow bouquet on her way to the bed. “Thank you, Gage.”

If the warmth in her voice hadn’t undone him, the sight of her beside the king-size bed would have. She was already reaching for the jeweled clip that held half of her hair up, taking the curls down for the night.

He watched, speechless, as the silky mass tumbled free. Curls danced and sprang around her shoulders as she moved. He knew he should say good-night and retreat. Leave her to get ready for bed.

But his mind had already supplied an alternate ending to the evening. One that included him stepping behind her to lower the zipper on her long, strapless gown. Letting the fabric fall away from her curves so he could touch her everywhere. And finding out if sex between them was still every bit as explosive as it had been six years ago. The connection between them had been so strong; the feelings held him hostage, preventing him from finding a long-term relationship after Elena. Everyone else came up short.

“You’re welcome.” He edged the words over a throat gone dry, still willing his feet to move. “If there’s anything else you need...”

Help with a zipper. A neck massage. Multiple orgasms. He could think of so many things.

“I’m all set.” She set her phone and the hair clip on the nightstand beside the flowers. “I appreciate you letting me stay.”

He questioned the wisdom of that decision now, realizing how thoroughly she could distract him. How easy it would be for her to slide past his defenses and learn everything about the Mesa Falls Ranch owners that he needed to keep private.

With an effort, he reminded himself where his loyalties lay.