"I'm fine. What do you want? " "I wanted to know if it would bother you if I made noise.

" "Doing what? " "Target practice." He sat up and spotted the gun in her lap. "Where did you get that? " "Tom Norton gave it to me. "

"Put it away."

"I want to learn to shoot with some degree of accuracy."

"No, you don't."

"I'm going to learn how to protect myself. I don't particularly like guns, and I had hoped never to own one, but the Blackwater gang changed everything. I'm responsible for taking care of myself and my son, and I'm not going to let anyone hurt us."

"Dry your hair and go to sleep." She pushed a wet strand of hair over her shoulder, then opened the box of bullets Tom had purchased for her, and began to load the gun.

He tried not to get mad as he watched her shoot at an impossible target. She was driving him nuts because she kept making the same mistakes over and over again, and when he simply couldn't stand it a second longer, he got up.

He came up behind her, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her up against him, then took hold of her hand that held the gun.

"Exactly what are you shooting at? " he demanded.

"The tree straight ahead. What did you think I was shooting at? " she asked.

"The stars. You're too high, sugar." He spent the next twenty minutes teaching her, and, honest to Pete, he hated every second of it.

She shouldn't have to be learning such a skill. She should be in a parlor somewhere sipping tea while Caleb played at her feet. She was a lady, and ladies didn't carry guns.

He made the mistake of giving her his opinions. She vehemently disagreed. "I've admitted I don't like the idea of carrying a gun, but I'm going to until every one of the Blackwater gang has been captured, and if that means I'm no longer a lady, so be it."

"You sure are pretty when you're angry. Your eyes sparkle."

"A lot of women carry weapons for . . . What did you say? " She turned her head to look at him and bumped into his chin. "I said you're pretty, " he repeated.

He rattled her with the compliment. "Thank you, " she stammered before looking away so that she could concentrate.

"Women who live in the Wild West must carry guns because there are all sorts of . . . What are you doing? " He had bent down and was nuzzling her neck. "I'm kissing you, but don't let me interrupt your tirade. You were saying? " "There are wild animals . . . like bears and other predators . . . and . . . " She paused to sigh, then tilted her head to one side so he would have more room to explore the side of her neck. The sweet warmth of his breath against her felt wonderful and made her shiver. She knew she should stop him from taking such liberties, and she would do just that, she promised herself, in just a little while.

"Predators? " he asked when she didn't continue.

"Yes, there are lots of predators."

"Where? " She had lost her train of thought. "I don't know. . .

somewhere." He laughed softly. "I'm getting to you, aren't I? " He asked the question as he slowly turned her in his arms and lowered his head so that he could give her a proper kiss. His body had other ideas. The second she put her arms around his neck, he roughly pulled her up against him until her breasts were pressed against his chest, and hungrily kissed her. His mouth took complete possession of hers, his tongue penetrated, and for long breathless minutes he made love to her with his mouth. Her body fit his perfectly, as though she had been made just for him. She was so sweet and sensual and loving.

And innocent. The reminder helped him regain his senses. He couldn't quite make himself let go of her, but he did let her catch her breath.

Gently tugging on her lower lip with his teeth so she would open her mouth again, he kissed hard and thoroughly, and then released her.

She wouldn't let go of him. Trembling with desire, she kissed him with all the pent-up passion and longing inside her. She became the aggressor, imitating the erotic way that he had kissed her, timidly at first and then boldly when he wrapped her in his arms again. He growled low in his throat when her tongue touched his.

God, she was sweet. She tasted like candy. Her abandon shook him, and he knew that if he persisted, he could overwhelm her senses and make love to her. She was too innocent to think about consequences.

One of them had to think about tomorrow, and he knew it was up to him to stop now.

He pulled her arms away from his neck and took a step away from her.

"I shouldn't have done that, " he said gruffly.

Dazed, she watched him walk away. "I'm glad you did, " she whispered.

"I wanted to know what it would feel like . . . " He turned back to her. "I'm not an experiment, Jessica." She could see the anger in his eyes and in his stance. She took a step toward him, then stopped.

"No, you're not. It's just that I've wanted to kiss you for a long time."

"Yeah, well, it isn't going to happen again."

"Why not? " He couldn't believe she had to ask. "You do know what kissing leads to, don't you? " She slowly nodded. "I'm pretty sure I do, but since I've never . . . " He cut her off, for the topic was making him ache with his need to touch her again, and if he did that, he knew he wouldn't stop.

"We're just going to have to stay away from each other. You got that?

" She nodded, then shook her head. "How in heaven's name are we going to be able to do that? We're traveling together."

"Just keep your hands to yourself." After giving her the command, he laughed harshly.

Never before had he said those words to a woman, and he couldn't believe he'd said them to Jessica.

It's the damned badge, he thought to himself. It had made him noble.

She folded her hands. "If that's what you want, I shall of course be happy to accommodate you." He was suddenly furious with her. "No, that's not what I want. I want to take your clothes off, toss you down on the ground, and do all the things I've been dreaming about." Her eyes widened. "You dreamed about me? " "Let it go, Jessie."

"I dreamed about you too. Cole do you want to make love to me? " "No, not make love, " he corrected. "Have sex. Do you understand the difference? If we had sex, tomorrow morning you would realize the mistake you'd made and you'd live with that regret for the rest of your life." She could feel the anger building inside her. "And you?

Would you realize it was a mistake? " "Yeah, I would."

"Would you also live with regret the rest of your life? " "I'd regret all right, but not for long. Now do you get it? It wouldn't mean all that much to me." She spotted the empty gun on the ground, picked it up, and marched past Cole.

"Of all the arrogant . . . " "I'm being honest, Jessie. Most men would lie to get a woman like you in bed."

"A woman like me? " He followed her to the campfire. "Yeah, " he said. "Like you . . .

innocent and pure and sexy as hell. With your fine body, you can't afford to be naive. It's dangerous and stupid."

"So now I'm stupid?

Being inexperienced doesn't mean I'm stupid." She dropped the gun in the bedroll and stood there glaring at him.

"Answer one question for me, and then we'll never discuss this topic again."

"What? " "What makes you so certain that I would live with the regret the rest of my life? Is it because I'm a woman, or is it because I'm stupid? " "Are you telling me you wouldn't regret it? " She didn't answer him. "Sure you would, " he decided. "Women want strings."