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“I considered aiming the scissors a bit lower than that .”

Dave adjusted his gray Stetson down over his eyes. “He’s at the bar. Maybe I’ll go have a little talk with him.”

“No, please.” Dallas picked up the cape from the floor and folded it. “Let’s not make this into a bigger deal than it is .”

“That darn Parnell would have to come in here.” Amber glanced nervously at the vase of roses. “I suppose the guy figured out about the flowers, too.”

Dave’s eyebrows rose. “Parnell sent you those?”

“Unfortunately. He has some idea that as foreperson of the jury I deserve his gratitude.”

“That’s not all he thinks you deserve, Amber said. “He’s developed a crush on you, Dallas. I watched him while I was eating dinner, and in between dances he kept looking over at the shop.” She turned to Dave. “He invited her to dinner at the Tack Room: ‘

Dave let out a low whistle.

“She declined.”

“That’s good.” Dave glanced back at his studio where a couple lingered, looking at the sepia-toned photographs on display. “I’d better get back, but I’ll keep an eye on you over here. If either of those clowns pester you again, I’ll drop by.”

“Thanks, Dave.”

Amber put down her coffee and started toward the roses. “Maybe I’d better take those out to my car before they cause any more trouble.”

“Wait. I know I promised them to you, but I’d appreciate it if you d leave them here, after all.”

“You want these flowers?”

“No, but I refuse to be intimidated by that son of a bitch.” Dallas glared out the door of the shop. “Those roses are staying until they wilt. Just let him try and make something out of it!”

Gabe new he’d screwed up. He sat at the bar where he had a view of the Cutting Pen and nursed a beer. Alcohol probably wasn’t such a great idea, either, but the crisp bite of the ice-cold liquid fit the bill right now.

He’d done everything wrong. His plan had been to get a haircut and some information. To cooly, calmly lead Dallas into some sort of compromising confession What had gone wrong?

Just about everything.

He should have refused the massage. Refused the shampoo. Refused to meet the laughing challenge in her eyes, gray eyes with little flecks of gold that sparkled when she smiled. He’d become fascinated with the spirit reflected in those eyes, had wanted to study them far too long. In spite of damning evidence that she was dishonest , he’d begun to like her. Not to mention the baser emotions her touch stirred in him.

Apparently imagining this desirable woman dealing with Parnell had been too much for him. Instead of questioning, he’d accused. Instead of playing it cool,

cascading down her back shimmered the way aspen , g he’d worked himself into a hot rae. He could blame it leaves danced in a breeze. But he d lived in the world on lack of sleep, on the frustration of not being there for Celia during the trial, on the fury blasting through Icng enough to know that beautiful hair and a great him when he’d heard the verdict. body could just as easily be decorating treachery as

He could sit here and make excuses all night, but he’d honesty.

ruined Dallas as a source of information. And if she was

Another man walked into the shop, took off his cozy with Parnell, she d tip him off before the eve rung cowboy hat and eased into the chair Gabe had va was over. Parnell might even have the resources to un-ca ted Dallas reached for the massage wand, and Gabe cover Gabe’s identity as Celia’s brother, even though flexed his shoulders, remembering how soothing the they no longer had tkqe same last name. deep vibration had felt. When Dallas tipped the man

His lack of judgment could mean that Parnell would back into the shampoo bowl, Gabe could feel her fin slip through his fingers. If that happened, he’d never gers on his scalp, smell the fragrance of her skin. He was forgive himself. definitely turned on, not a good condition to be in right

“Another beer?” the bartender asked. now.

Gabe nodded. The bartender had been eyeing him He looked away, distracting himself by examining the strangely ever since he sat down. He scratched inside updated decor of Rowdy Ranch. On the wall behind the his collar where sharp barbs of hair had fallen when deejay booth a black metal sculpture of wild horses was he’d pulled the cape away. He knew his hat didn’t dis-backlit in red. On another, a stagecoach backlit in blue guise the fact that he had half of a haircut, and he careened across the desert, the driver’s whip a vivid probably looked pretty stupid. But stupid-looking or slash of purple neon. The untamed West. Leave your not, he’d keep an eye on Parnell for the rest of the night. inhibitions behind.

But he was here to monitor Parnell, and he’d better And Dallas. remember that. Spotting him in the crowd wasn’t hard.

She moved with the short, jerky gestures of anger that he recognized in himself. She was probably relay-His gaudy dress and loud manner made him easy to ing the whole story to the photography-shop guy and find. He’d already bought some new friends by makthe other woman, a brunette with long, straight hair inga big deal out of paying for a round of drinks. and a figure almost as good as Dallas s. Gabe shook his Gabe was taking the first shift of watching Parnell, head, angry at himself all over again. He should have but he’d lined up two guys to spell him. They were known that after months of being without sex he’d be working cheap because they were friends of his and

, susceptible to a beautiful woman’s attention. they didn’t like Parnell’s kind, but Gabe would have

And Dallas was breathtaking, with hair the color of paid his last penny to snare this particular lowlife. Ceaspen leaves in the fall. When she moved, the curls lia deserved to see him behind bars, along with anyone who had helped him get away with his crimes. If that included the beautiful Dallas, so be it.

It was the Longest Friday night in history for Dallas. She closed the shop at midrught. Amber had gone home a half hour earlier, and Dave had a run of business and would obviously be staying late. Dallas didn’t feel like waiting around so he could walk her to the parking lot, as he often did and undoubtedly wanted to do tonight. But she was a big girl, and she always carried a small caruster of pepper spray in her purse for the times she left the dance hall alone.

Following her usual precaution, she pulled the spray out once she pushed through the oak doors into the night. She wore her fringed leather jacket but the late February chill nipped at her bare legs. When she saw the black Corvette parked several spaces down from her truck, she wondered if it could be Neal’s.

She was too mentally and physically exhausted to care, but as far as she knew, he was still dancing. The Aztec warrior had been glued to his bar stool. She’d passed him with her head high, her eyes forward, and silently wished him a vicious hangover in the morning

To thixtk that she’d thought herself mildly attracted to that arrogant man. She wondered if he was some sort of vigilante type who ran around second-guessing judges and juries. For all she knew he was dangerous. She got a firmer grip on her spray as she unlocked the door of her pickup.

Just as she was about to get in, a car swerved up next to her. She whirled, her thumb on the trigger of the spray.

“Hey, don’t shoot!” said the driver of the black Corvette

Dallas looked closer and recognized Neal. It had been his car, after all, and now he was heading home. “A woman can’t be too careful in a parking lot late at night; Dallas said, lowering the spray slightly.

“Yeah, I suppose you’ll be especially careful after listerung to the testimony of that woman at the trial.”

“That’s right: Dallas turned to get into the truck.

“Good rught now.”

“You know we could just have a drink sometime. I looked for you during your breaks, but I couldn’t find you. “