Jesse: Merry Christmas, Cowboy. Lynnette Kent

is nice,” she said, walking across the room to look out the windows, which provided a view to the east. “I can see why your parents feel comfortable here.”

      “Yeah, we’ve been in this same room at the Finals as long as I can remember. What did you want to talk about?”

      Facing him, she shoved her hands into her jeans pockets. “Well, obviously, I owe you an apology.”

      He shrugged one shoulder. “Not ‘obviously.’”

      Janie nodded. “Oh, yes. The kindest thing you could say was that I had to let off some steam, after the trip with Mom.”

      A half grin curved his lips. “I can say that.”

      “But whatever concerns I might have about your dad, I don’t have any reason to make accusations that include you, Jesse. I’m sorry I blew up like that. You’ve been a real help today, and I’m grateful.”

      “Okay, then.” He came close enough to put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry about it anymore. I know J.W. isn’t an easy man to trust, especially for your family.”

      “But you are.” She put her hand over his fingers as they rested against her body. “I’ve always trusted you.”

      Time stopped. Jesse’s eyes widened as he looked down at her. A strange fluttering started up behind Janie’s ribs as she focused on the weight and heat of his hand, the feel of his skin against her palm. Somebody took in a quick breath.

      And then he backed away, letting his hand fall to his side. “So, what are your plans for your first night in Vegas? Gambling? Shopping? A show?”

      Janie shrugged both shoulders, disappointed. “I don’t have a clue. I’ll take any recommendation you’d like to offer.”

      “What are Mark and Nicki doing?”

      “Um, they might be staying in for the evening.” She felt her cheeks heat up as she said it.

      Jesse’s flush showed that he took her meaning. “All these newlyweds are a pain in the butt for us single folks. Well, if you want to see a show, there’s—”

      She shook her head. “I’m not really big on going out by myself. I’ll just get some dinner and sit with my mom.”

      He gazed at her for a few seconds. “Why don’t the two of us go out together?”

      AN HOUR LATER, JESSE EYED his reflection in the mirror, removed a hair from his black blazer and then met his own gaze.

      “Dinner and a show,” he told himself. “It’s the least you can do for Elly’s best friend. Not a big deal.”

      The trouble was, it felt like a big deal. He hadn’t really meant to ask Janie out, in the social sense of the word, any more than he would ask his sister for a date. Hell, he’d seen Janie in her pajamas since she was a twelve-year-old sleeping over at the ranch. In all this time, he’d thought of her as a part of Elly’s life. Not his.

      Today seemed different…or maybe it had started last night, when she insisted on driving him home. He didn’t recall ever being alone with Janie before, or really talking about anything more serious than a ball game on TV. Some of their conversations, last night and today, had been uncomfortable and explosive. But not dull. Janie didn’t ignore issues, didn’t gloss over the problems facing both of them. Jesse liked knowing where he stood and what he might be up against. He liked knowing what she thought and that she tried to fight fair.

      The real shock was realizing that he’d never really seen Janie before today. He’d always carried around this image of black pigtails, checked shirts and dirty hands. Elly, too—Jesse knew he tended to see her as the kid he remembered, with tangled hair and braces on her teeth, rather than the lovely adult woman she’d become.

      Janie had changed, as well, and definitely for the better. Her sleek black hair, high cheekbones and bronzed skin revealed the Lakota blood she’d inherited from her mother. But her full, pouty mouth must have come from her dad’s side of the family, along with her figure, rounded in all the right places. Despite her size—she couldn’t be more than five-three—she struck Jesse as a curvy little package of dynamite.

      In more ways than one. And that’s what worried him.

      He had enough complications in his life right now with out adding any kind of relationship to the mix, let alone an attraction to his sister’s best friend.

      Or, for that matter, to his half brother’s half sister.

      So this would be just a friendly evening, he promised himself, walking down the hallway to Janie’s door. Casual. Relaxed. No strings.

      He knocked, Janie opened the door…and his gut lurched like a fish out of water.

      I’m in serious trouble, here.

      He could only hope his reaction didn’t show on his face. “Ready to go?” As she stepped out and turned to make sure the door latched, he said, “You look nice tonight.”

      An understatement, if ever he’d made one. For the first time in both their lives, he was seeing Janie Hansen in a skirt—a swirly black skirt that revealed her sexy legs. She wore red boots with black stitching and black heels and a close-fitting red sweater with sequins across the shoulders. Her shiny black hair flowed like water down her back.

      She looked, in a word, hot.

      “Thanks,” she said, smiling at him as she turned a round. “I busted my budget on clothes for this trip. I almost never have a reason to dress up.”

      “That’s too bad.” The elevator doors opened as soon as he pushed the button, for which he was grateful. He could have kept shoveling on the compliments, which would only sabotage his “just friends” campaign. “What would you like for dinner?”

      “I’m hungry enough to eat just about anything. You choose.”

      “How does Italian food sound?”

      “Terrific.”

      A cab took them from their hotel to the Wynn Resort. Janie pressed her nose to the backseat window throughout the drive, exclaiming at the lights and sights of the Las Vegas street scene.

      “You never imagine it quite this bright,” she said as they walked through the Wynn Hotel entrance. “Or this tall. Or this crowded,” she added, as a group of Asian tourists nearly ran over her.

      Jesse put a hand at the small of her back as she edged toward him. “Sometimes people are watching what’s around them instead of what’s in front. Are you okay?”

      “Sure. I can see why they’re distracted. Just look at this place. Amazing.”

      A giant poster caught her eye and she stopped in her tracks. “Oh, wow. This is where he’s performing?” One of the biggest stars in country music had come out of retirement to give concerts exclusively at the Wynn. “I’ve never seen him live. I love his music.”

      Jesse couldn’t hide his grin. “Well, I guess that’s good.” Reaching into his breast pocket, he pulled out two tickets. “Because I just happen to have—”

      “Jesse!” Janie screamed, and then threw her arms around his neck right there in the middle of the lobby. She had to jump to reach him, and he wrapped his arms around her, to keep them balanced.

      The crowd flowed around them as they stood there for uncounted seconds, with Janie’s breasts pressed tight against his chest and his head filled with the scent of spices that rose from her hair.

      Finally, her arms loosened, and he had the presence of mind to ease his hold so she could slide back to the floor.

      “I can’t believe this.” She had tears in her eyes. “How did you get tickets? I know his shows sell out months ahead of time.”

      With his hand back at her waist—and his blazer buttoned to hide the fly of his jeans—Jesse guided her