Todd grabbed his burger and propped his feet up on her desk, but Darci was pleased to see he was careful to keep his spurs away from the polished wood. After he swallowed a mouthful, he grinned at them both. “Now, let’s get to work. I hear it’s the last hand and you’re down and out of aces. Show me what you’ve got so far and we’ll figure out how to make it work.”

Cole briefly outlined what they needed to do, where they needed to go and how they hoped to do it. Todd frowned over the papers as he gobbled down his meal, then dropped his feet to the floor with a loud thump and began to pace.

Darci glanced at Cole, but he simply shrugged as he finished his chocolate shake. Suddenly, he leaned forward and traced the rough pad of his fingertip slowly across her upper lip. “You had some chocolate on your mouth.”

He leaned away as if nothing had happened and proceeded to pile up their garbage. Darci struggled to pull a breath into her lungs, blaming her light-headedness on lack of air rather than Cole’s touch.

Todd stopped and glared out the window. “Okay, here’s the plan. We take what you’ve already done, because you’re both definitely on the right track. But we need to expand on it, build it up. You’re being way too cautious. You need to spend some money, kids, and it won’t be pocket change. Big things come only to those who take the big chances.”

“Another famous quote from Todd Perkins himself.” Cole finished clearing the desk.

A hesitant knock sounded at the door.

“Darci?” Alex looked in, a confused frown worrying his face. “There’s an old saddle under my desk. Is there something I need to be doing with it?”

“Don’t touch that, mister. That’s my saddle, and I parked it there for safekeeping. Don’t trust these big cities, and I don’t have a place to lock it up just yet.”

Alex looked to Darci for confirmation and she nodded, barely suppressing her grin. “Just move it to the side, Alex. We’ll deal with it later.”

Alex nodded, cast a suspicious glance at Todd, then backed out of the office. A loud thump echoed through the door, and Darci exchanged a knowing glance with Cole. But once their gazes locked, she couldn’t break away, couldn’t force her thoughts back to the problem at hand. The gray of Cole’s eyes urged her closer.

Electricity sparked between them, and she found she was becoming addicted to that rush of excitement every time Cole was near. His eyes crinkled, and she lowered her gaze to his mouth, which was turning upward in a tantalizing grin. She licked her own lips and watched that smile fade, watched his mouth thin as if he were trying to gain control over himself.