“Todd, why don’t you stay with us tonight? There’s no sense in renting a motel room when I’ve got plenty of space.” Darci knew her offer was selfishly motivated. With Todd there to act as a buffer, maybe she could keep from making a fool of herself over Cole.

“I don’t think there’s room for both of us on that couch, Darci.” Cole grinned at her, taking the edge off his words.

“I’ll get a bed ordered for the spare room and have it delivered this afternoon, okay?” Pink stained her cheeks. Talk about sleeping, beds and another night alone in Cole’s company stirred up sensations she was desperately trying to ignore.

“I don’t want to put you out none, young lady. I can find a dive to stay in that won’t cost much.”

“Nonsense. Both of you be there in time for a late dinner.” With her words, she knew she needed. Todd to break the awful tension building between her and Cole, knew she wasn’t strong enough to resist the temptation he offered much longer.

Todd nodded his agreement and stepped to the door. Cole stood several feet away from her, eyeing her carefully. Just before he turned away, he softly whispered, “Chicken.” Without another word, he left.

When he closed the door behind him, her office, the room she’d always felt so complete in, became empty, lifeless—as if Cole had taken all the energy with him. Darci sat in her chair with a heavy sigh. It was already happening. Maybe it was too late to save herself. Her heart was falling in love with Cole without her permission.

And Cole was right. She was chicken.

Cole hurried down the hallway, feeling like he’d barely managed to escape with his sanity intact. What had possessed him to play with Darci like that, to allow himself to taste her sweet skin, to touch her soft lips? It was crazy. He’d never allowed himself to tease a woman, had never played the sex games the other cowboys seemed to indulge in. After his wife had died, Mandy had taken every ounce of his concentration and energy.

He greeted his secretary with only half his attention, and darted into his new office. With a sigh, he flopped into the leather executive chair and leaned his head back to stare at the tiled ceiling. He desperately wanted to make love to his new wife. It was legally his right, but he had his suspicions about the morality of such an act since theirs wasn’t a real marriage.

He couldn’t pursue what he so desperately wanted because of a rash promise made when other things seemed more important. Darci called to him, sending out a siren’s song he was finding more and more difficult to resist.