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“Thanks, she said, taking the card. It was curved , pressed that way by the shape of his buttocks, and still warm. She made the mistake of glancing into his eyes, and a potent image of making love to Gabe hit with a force that took her breath away. “I’d better go; she managed in a breathy whisper and nearly ran toward the salon.

Suddenly Neal blocked her way. “Why did you tear off like that today? I was ready to buy you an icecream cone. “

“Neal, I “

Gabes abrupt appearance cut off her reply. He stepped in front of her and faced Neal. “The lady has work to do .”

Neal sneered. “You her boyfriend or something?”

“Yes : ‘

“She said she didn’t have one.”

“I guess she and I will have to talk about that.” Gabe reached for Dallas and guided her gently toward the salon. “Go ahead. I’ll take care of this.”

“Gabe, maybe-“

“I can deal with him. Go .”

PARNELLS EYES GLITTERED as he faced Gabe. “You can’t tell me who I can talk to and who I can’t, cowboy.”

“You were keeping her from her customers.” Gabe clenched his hands at his sides. If Parnell provoked him into a fight, they could both end up being escorted from the place in a squad car. He’d love to see it happen to Parnell, but the jerk could probably post bail quicker than he could, and Dallas might be in danger.

Parnell hitched his belt up a notch. “Well, I’m a pretty good customer myself, if you know what I mean.”

His smirk nearly tempted Gabe into throw inga punch. “Doxi t push it, Parnell.”

“Oh, you know who I am?”

“Unfortunately.”

Parnell looked him up and down. “Well, I could buy and sell you, buddy. You don’t have a chance with me around.”

It took all of Gabe’s control not to strangle him on the spot. “We’ll see about that.” Then he turned his back and walked away.

God, he wanted a beer, but now was not the time. He needed a clear head for the next few hours. Alcohol might lower his resistance to Dallas, and despite what he’d said to Parnell, he had no intention of making a play for her. For several nights now he’d enjoyed the spice of knowing there was some powerful chemistry between them, and for a while there, when they were waltzing, he’d imagined… but no.

He was good at reading people’s expressions, and he could tell from hers after the last dance that it wouldn’t work out between them. She disapproved of how he made his living and mistrusted his pursuit of Neal. Perhaps she suspected him of being uncivilized. True, he hadn’t spent much time in elegant social situations , and if it hadn’t been for his mother, he wouldn’t even know how to waltz.

How his mother had loved to dance. During breaks from her duties as cook for the ranch where they’d lived, she’d taken a battery-operated tape player out under a mesquite tree and conducted dance class for both him and Celia. She’d taught them the fox-trot, too, which he d been able to translate easily in later years to the two-step. But the waltz had been her passion, and she’d schooled him mercilessly until his gangly fifteen year old body had obeyed the lush rhythm of the dance.

“If you want to know a woman, and let her know you, waltz with her,” his mother had said.

And so he had waltzed with Dallas, and for the space of that song had believed he’d finally found a woman to fill his soul. But later, when the waltz no longer claimed her, her eyes had told him a different story. So he would check her trailer tonight and continue to watch over her. He would try to protect her from Neal Parnell and thereby attempt to avenge his little sister. But he would keep his hands off Dallas Wade from now on. Apparently she thought he wasxi t good enough for her. He wouldn’t try to convince her otherwise.

DALLAS HELPED AMBER restore order in the shop before heading for a bank of pay phones near the rest rooms to make her calls in private.

When Dallas returned, Amber confronted her, hands on hips. “What’s going on? I’ve been dying of curiosity I saw you two head for the dance floor. Did you ask him to help you?”

Dallas nodded. “He’s coming out to check the security on my trailer,” Dallas said, wiping the shampoo bowl with a damp towel. “I just called the two references he gave me and they think he’s the greatest .”

“I’m not surpised. When is he going to check the trailer?”

Dallas concentrated on the shine of the porcelain beneath her polishing towel. “Torught. After we close up here.”

“Wow. He works fast: ‘

Dallas glanced up and caught Amber’s grin. “Hey. He’s only checking my locks.”

“Wonder if I could get him to check mine .”

“It’s not what you think, Amber. He’s sure Neal’s about to try something.”

“That may be. It’s also a wonderful excuse to go home with you torught. And I’ll bet you’re twisted in knots over the idea of being in close confines with that gorgeous cowboy.”

Dallas returned to her polishing. “I’ve told you , Amber. I’m not interested in his type.”

“Sure you’re not. That’s why you have that towel in a death grip. Look, your knuckles are white.”

Dallas glanced down at the towel and tossed it into the dirty-clothes bin. “Nothing will happen,” she said, more to herself than Amber.

“That’s your loss, then; Amber said with another grin.

ON THE wAY HOME, with the lights of Gabe’s old truck shining in her rearviet.v mirror, Dallas struggled with the protocol of this visit. Should she offer him coffee? He was, after all, doing her a favor. But a cup of coffee might suggest more than she was prepared to handle. Better just let him check the locks and go home. A1tfiough she’d never feared living alone she’d installed good locks because it seemed stupid not to, and the ones that had come with the trailer hadn’t been adequate.

She pulled up in front of the chain-link fence, her headlights picking out Gretchern’s fawn-colored coat as the dog barked a greeting.

Gabe parked beside her and swung down from his truck. He wore a faded denim jacket over his flannel shirt, making him look more like a rogue than ever. “I’m glad you have a dog,” he said when she got out of her truck and walked toward him.

“I’m not sure if Gretchen would guard me or not.” Dallas unlatched the gate and grabbed Gretchen’s collar’ She’s still young, and if you brought a male dog around to entice her, she’d be gone in a flash.”

G abe stepped through the gate and reached to scratch the dog’s ears. “So it’s like that, is it, Gretchen?”

“Down the road there’s a huge dog, part Irish wolfhound and part Saint Bernard, who has designs on her.” Dallas suspected she was babbliq g, but Gabe’s presence beside her as they went up the walk was unnerving’I’ve had to reinforce the fence to keep him out.”

“And her in?” Gabe asked, a smile in his voice.

“Yes; Dallas admitted, unlocking the dead bolt. “If I left things up to her, she’d run off with the first mongrel that came along.”

“But you have other plans for her.” There was an edge to his voice as he walked into her pine-paneled living room, Gretchen close at his heels. He turned to face her. “Don’t you?”

Dallas closed the door. “Yes. I’m not going to breed her now, and possibly not until she’s about two years old. When I decide the time is right, I’ll pick out a pedigreed stud.”

He nodded and continued to scratch behind the dog’s ears. “can’t have indiscriminate breeding. No telling what that could lead to.”

“I have a feeling you don’t approve of my plans for Gretchen.” She took off her hat and ran her fingers through her hair. “Are you one of those people who thinks we should let nature take its course?”