Rustled. B.J. Daniels

way we can work this out so we both get what we want.”

      “I guess that depends on what you want,” he said, not turning around. He heard her get up and come toward him and was glad he’d tied her hands behind her back. Otherwise he’d be worried about getting his head bashed in.

      “All I need is for you to let me go.”

      “How would that get me back my cattle?” he asked, playing along.

      “Well,” she said softly right behind him. “If you just untie me …”

      JINX LOWERED HERSELF to the cave floor next to him. He glanced over at her, eyes narrowing a little as she repeated his first name, her voice dripping with sugar. She saw the male spark in his eye as she moved closer. How sad that men were so much alike, she thought, a little disappointed in this one. She thought he was too smart to let himself be seduced by her.

      She hated that she’d had to resort to such distasteful behavior, but too much was at stake. If she had to use her feminine wiles, she would.

      “Yes?” He was close enough that she caught his very masculine scent.

      She moved so her thigh brushed his. “Why don’t we be honest with each other?”

      “Why don’t we?” He pressed his thigh against hers. His leg felt warm, even through his jeans. His dark eyes locked with hers. She felt a shiver that she quickly squelched. His eyes were golden like a big cat in the firelight. He really was magnificent.

      It was the intellect in that gaze that gave her pause. She saw challenge in his eyes as well as a warning. This was a man you didn’t want to fool with.

      “Tell me what you’re really doing up here,” she said, not about to break eye contact first. He might be dangerous, but then again, he didn’t realize the kind of woman he’d crossed paths with either.

      “Checking my cattle, just like I told you.”

      He was either telling the truth or he was a damned good liar.

      She reminded herself that he could just be playing along. If he knew who she was and what she was doing on his land … “Can’t you please untie me?”

      “No.”

      “You really think I’m going to get away?”

      He smiled. “If I give you half a chance, yes.” He turned back to his cooking.

      “There wasn’t another reason you just happened to come up here?” she asked quickly.

      He turned off the stove and gave her his full attention. She found herself holding her breath. There was something about this man that scared her—especially the way he made her heart pound when he was this near, his gaze so intent on her that she feared he could see into her soul.

      “As a matter of fact, there was another reason.”

      She expected him to finally tell her that he knew who she was. That she was the reason he was here.

      “I wanted to spend a few days up in this country because I enjoy it. I thought I’d be alone. But since I’m not …” He was taunting her. Her feminine wiles were wasted on this man. “So, Jinx, what exactly are you offering?”

      “If you think I’m going to sleep with you, you’re going to be disappointed,” she snapped and slid away from him.

      He laughed. “Hell, I’m already disappointed. I thought we were being honest with each other.”

      “I should just let them kill you,” Jinx grumbled, trying to get to her feet. With her hands tied behind her, it was a struggle.

      Dawson rose abruptly, grabbed her waist and lifted her to her feet. His dark gaze bored into hers. “Now that we’re being honest, no more games. Seduction might have worked on your rustler boyfriend, but quite frankly you aren’t very good at it and anyway, you’re not my type.”

      She swore as she tried to kick him in the groin. He’d obviously expected it, because he stepped to the side, grabbing her as she lost her balance and started to fall to the cave floor.

      “Enough foreplay,” he growled as he hauled her back over to the stool and pushed her down on it. Leaning over her, his gaze fired with anger as he said, “I’m getting my cattle back and you’re going to jail, and if your boyfriend comes after you, he’s going to get himself killed.”