Great, now at least her sa.s.s was back. He stepped away and raised both hands. 'Whatever you say. Go put on your blouse and be ready to go.'

Chapter Five.

Despite the searing heat, Robyn found she was shivering. G.o.d, she hated him, hated him. He'd turned her latest attempt to get the better of him into another opportunity to show off his holier-than-thou side. He'd apologized for giving her the hottest kiss she'd ever had and then he'd made her cry.

As she rounded the corner, she rubbed furiously at her eyes. She hated to cry. She unlocked the door and slammed it behind her, making the window gla.s.s rattle. The only good thing to come out of the whole episode was that he'd lied when he said he didn't want her.

A reluctant smile curved her lips. d.a.m.n, he was hot, especially with all that water dripping down him, molding the fabric to his chest and tight abs. She dropped her coat on to the bed and headed for the bathroom. Despite his size and the shock of being doused in dirty water, he hadn't hurt her either.

She studied her flushed face in the mirror, touched her slightly swollen lips. He kissed like a man who knew his way around a woman's body like a man who would give her whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted it. That's why she'd pulled away from him. She'd been too afraid to continue the kiss in case she begged him for more and lost her fleeting advantage. Between her legs a pulse throbbed and flowered into life.

She slid her hand inside her panties and found them wet, her s.e.x open and willing. He'd been hard, she'd felt him rocking into her. With a sigh she withdrew her hand and washed up. No time for that now if she wanted to go shopping.

The faint sound of a high-revving engine filtered through the thin walls. Her black blouse was almost dry. She slipped it on and splashed water on her face to hide her tears. By the time she scooped up her purse and opened the door, Dakota was outside. The engine of the bike purred like a tiger at rest.

He'd exchanged his Stetson for a helmet and handed her one as she sidled up to the bike.

'Put this on,' he shouted over the rumble of the engine.

After seeing how grubby she looked, Robyn could hardly complain it would mess up her hair. She complied, tucked her braid neatly down the back of her collar and put on her sungla.s.ses.

'Get on.'

She climbed up behind him and wrapped her arms around his narrow waist. Beneath her the bike throbbed as if echoing the pulse of awareness between her thighs. Was that why men liked bikes so much? Did they get a cheap thrill every time they revved up?

She squeaked as he pulled away and held on tight, her eyes half closed against the sudden rush of warm dusty air. She still didn't know exactly where they were going or how long it would take. What if he was a serial killer after all? She consoled herself that a splashy and vicious death would at least get her back on the front pages of the entertainment mags.

Dakota turned his head slightly and mouthed the words: 'OK back there?'

She nodded and relaxed her grip, taking in the rugged desert scenery for the first time. She rested her cheek on the thick denim of his jacket, enjoyed the roughness and the distinct scent of horse and leather. They were back on the highway and headed toward what appeared to be a sizeable town. Perhaps she could get him to drop her here instead . . . but she wasn't ready to leave him yet. The thought made her stomach flip over and she held on to him even tighter.

Dakota slowed down and pulled off the next ramp, bringing them down into a small shopping complex. By the time he killed the engine, Robyn had registered the name of the biggest store. She pulled off her helmet and faced him.

'That's Wal-Mart.'

'Yeah, I know.'

'I don't shop at Wal-Mart.'

'You do now, especially when it's on my dollar.' He grabbed her hand and started walking toward the entrance.

She tried to put the brakes on. 'I have money.'

He raised his eyebrows. 'I hadn't noticed.'

Her cheeks heated at his candid appraisal. 'I have, just not on me right now.' She sighed. 'Look, I can't keep taking stufffrom you.'

'Why? Do you think that makes you beholden to me or something?' He shrugged. 'It's just money. I'll lend you a couple hundred bucks, OK? That should be enough to get you a change of clothes and all the other stuffwomen seem to think necessary to survive. You can pay me back when we get to LA.'

He placed his hand in the small of her back and maneuvered her into the store. It was busy as h.e.l.l: kids everywhere and parents shouting commands that no one appeared to listen to. Dakota grabbed a cart from an ancient greeter and headed for the ladies' aisles. Robyn followed slowly along behind.

'Don't you have to go do something manly like look at guns or fishing tackle and bait?' she asked.

'Nope. I'd much rather help you choose new panties.'

Dubiously Robyn scanned the rows of lingerie. Had she ever been in a Wal-Mart before? G.o.d, everything was so cheap! She fingered a pair of pink and black lace panties. She was used to wearing Chanterelle or Agent Provocateur which cost hundreds of dollars just for the basics. Perhaps Dakota was right and she would be able to find herself a whole outfit.

'I like these.'

She turned to find Dakota right behind her. He dangled a tiny sc.r.a.p of black lace on the tip of his finger.

'You would. I'm not buying them.'

'Maybe I'll buy them for myself then.'

She studied his groin. 'I'm not sure they do them in men's sizes. You'd only need a small.'

His slow appreciative grin made her feel all warm inside like pulled taffy. She struggled not to smile back.

'Now, honey, you know that just ain't true,' he said.

'I don't.'

He considered her. Something in his smile made her skin tingle with antic.i.p.ation. He moved closer and lowered his voice. 'Well, I suppose it was dark when you sucked me off, but I'm sure you got a good feel for me.'

She fought a blush as he took her hand and kissed her fingers. Why did he have to be the one man who attracted her so deeply? What was it about him that made her want to fall into his arms and let him do whatever he wanted to her?

'I thought we were supposed to be buying clothes for me, not listening to you bragging again.'

He squeezed her fingers and then released them. 'I'm not bragging, lady.'

She grabbed the cart and walked blindly forward. The trouble was she knew he wasn't. A searing memory of his c.o.c.k filling her mouth made her swallow hard. Their relationship was so awkward. Her all too intimate knowledge of him and that tantalizing spark of unsatisfied l.u.s.t that burnt between them made it way too difficult to think straight.

He caught up with her as she was choosing a pack of black T-shirts.

'Robyn, I don't know how to say this . . .' He sighed. 'd.a.m.n, this is hard.'

She glanced down at his jeans. 'According to you it's always hard, so what?'

He shoved his fingers through his dark hair. 'Will you just listen? I'm kind of out of my depth here. We've practically had s.e.x and yet I don't know you at all.'

'So?'

'So I know I should keep away from you, but I just get this sense of unfinished business, that if we did make love the sheets would go up in flames.'

She stared into his intent hazel eyes, unable to look away. So he felt it too, then, the frisson of s.e.xual excitement every time they touched. She dropped the T-shirts into the cart and folded her arms across her chest.

'So what?'

He smiled slowly. Of course, close up, the laughter lines around his eyes only made him more attractive. 'So how about we start again? Take it slow, see what happens along the way.'

'You're courting me now?'

'Could you just be serious for one second?'

She bit her lip. 'I don't know.'

He reached forward to touch the corner of her mouth. 'If we're going to travel together with this "thing" between us, why not make it a good thing rather than a problem?'

'Because you don't mean that.' She tried to laugh. 'It's just a line to get what you want and then move on.'

He frowned and withdrew his hand. 'Hey, you were the one pursuing me, remember?'

Anger threaded through her confusion and arousal. 'Because I knew s.e.x would get you panting after me. And it worked, didn't it? Thanks for reminding me, Saint Dakota.'

'But it's not just about s.e.x . . .'

She cut through his denial, stepped away from him. 'Of course it is.'

'But dammit, I like you, Robyn.'

She pushed past him with the cart and headed for the jeans section. G.o.d, he'd made her want to cry again. How long was it since someone had said they liked her without wanting something in return? She stared at the ranks of blue denim, grabbed the first pair of size fours she saw.

'Robyn . . .'

She swung around to stare at Dakota. He leant against the corner of the display, one hand in his pocket, his eyes full of concern for her. It was if he saw through her bravado to the scared mixed-up girl at her center.

'It's OK if you don't agree with me. I just thought this was a great way for us to meet halfway.' He shrugged and handed her a wad of folded bills. 'Obviously I'm an idiot. I'll meet you at the front of the store when you're ready, OK? No rush.'

She watched him walk away, her whole body trembling. Was he right? Was it possible for them to start again, to pretend to have the kind of relationship she'd once dreamt about? Robyn drew in a shaky breath. The trouble was, she wasn't sure if she was capable of dealing with a hot s.e.xy guy who wanted her. Her therapist always said she'd gotten so used to being in abusive relationships that she unconsciously looked for the kind of men who treated her like s.h.i.t.

Dakota wouldn't treat her like s.h.i.t.

She put the jeans into the cart without bothering to try them on and moved toward the sandals. There sure was a lot to think about. It was about time she had a man who treated her nice. And somehow she knew she could at least trust Dakota that far. The rest of her romantic yearnings were just a stupid dream. Robyn forced a smile. Whatever happened she was going to have s.e.x with him and enjoy it.

She studied the rows of shoes and set off down the first aisle. Dakota had told her to take her time and now she intended to take him at his word.

Dakota checked his watch for the fifteenth time and sighed. How long did it take to buy a few items of clothing? Obviously hours if you were Robyn, whatever her surname was, Smith. Perhaps he'd scared her off with his stupid idea of them getting it on. But, h.e.l.l, he couldn't lie to himself anymore. He was attracted to her. She was such an addictive mix of s.e.x and sa.s.s that he just wanted to listen to her rant at him for ever.

He leant back against the magazine display rack. He wouldn't mind another look at her b.r.e.a.s.t.s either, if he was being honest, or her long legs or her p.u.s.s.y. His c.o.c.k stirred in his jeans. d.a.m.n it had been hard to ride the Ducati with her clinging on to him like a limpet, her hands tantalizingly close to his growing shaft.

She wouldn't be easy that was for sure. But that kind of easy had never attracted him anyway. He'd always liked a challenge and beneath that hard sh.e.l.l was a vulnerability that called to his protective nature. He smiled as he saw her emerge from the crowd of shoppers, a determined look on her face. His gut stirred in antic.i.p.ation. She spotted him and frowned.

'Why didn't you get in line?'

He walked across to her. 'I would've been through three times by now, you took so long.'

'You told me to take my time.'

'Yeah, I did, didn't I?' He followed her to the shortest line and grinned down at her. He gestured at the cart. 'So did you get what you needed?'

'I think so.' She gave him a haughty look, which made her seem incredibly familiar again. 'I'll give you the money back when we reach Los Angeles, OK?'

'Fine by me.' He leant over her shoulder to check out what she'd chosen. 'Looks like you found a load of stuff.'

She didn't reply and he felt her attention drift to their left. A group of women were whispering together and pointing at them. Dakota tried to look oblivious as his stomach clenched. G.o.d, he hoped the women weren't rodeo fans or, even worse, those weird folk who always emailed him after the ads for Prairie Dawg Boots were in the papers. How could anyone fall in love with a picture?

The line moved forward and Dakota went to push the cart, only to find that Robyn was already moving, her hands clenched on the metal bar. Had she noticed the women looking at him? Perhaps she was jealous. He smiled at his own conceit. She'd probably truss him up and send him over if she thought they were even a little bit interested.

'Why is this line taking so long?'

Dakota glanced at Robyn's set face. 'What's up, honey?'

'I just remembered why I should never go to Wal-Mart.'

He checked on the women in the other line. They were still whispering but none of them looked ready to risk a full-out attack. He patted Robyn's shoulder. 'It's OK. It's our turn next. I'm sure we'll be out of here before they are.'

She lifted her chin to stare at him, surprise and suspicion at war in her brown eyes. 'What would you know about it?'

He started unloading the cart, dumping everything in a big pile on the belt as quickly as he could. Robyn didn't argue, she just pulled the hood of her coat over her hair and hurried to the end of the checkout. For once, everything had a price on it and, with them both bagging and Robyn paying with cash, they were soon on their way out the door.

Dakota managed the bags as Robyn led the way back to the bike. Neither of them spoke as they hastily stowed the gear in the backpack he'd brought and put on their helmets. By the time the gaggle of ladies reached the outside of the store, Dakota was already halfway out of the parking lot.

As they sped back toward Las Caldras, Dakota realized Robyn hadn't answered his question. He grinned. She hadn't kicked him in the nuts either, so he supposed there was still hope. The sun's rays slid lower as they reached the outskirts of the small town, alternately blinding and blackening Dakota's vision. He pulled up outside the deserted garage and shut off the engine.

In the sudden silence, he helped Robyn down. She took off her helmet and handed it to him. Her f.u.c.k-me smile was a revelation.

'Thanks for taking me out.'

Dakota stared at her, slightly stunned. 'You're welcome.' He unlocked the back of his trailer and wheeled the motorcycle into the stall. When he turned around, she was still standing there, still smiling at him. His heart rate doubled as she sauntered toward him and put her hand on his shoulder.

'Thanks.'

'You said that.'

'I know.'

She kissed the corner of his mouth, licked the seam between his lips. With a groan, he opened his mouth, welcomed her inside, and relished the unique taste and the texture of her tongue. Her hand crept into his damp hair, keeping him close. He needed no second invitation as he gathered her into his arms and pulled her against his body.

She moaned into his mouth as the kiss became hotter and more erotic. He wanted to sink to his knees, bring her down with him and f.u.c.k her right there. The salacious thought steadied him, made him wrench his mouth away.