From Doctor...to Daddy / When the Cowboy Said ''I Do''. Karen Rose Smith

think it keeps us safe, but it really doesn’t. The truth isn’t far underneath.”

      She was intuitive enough to know Dillon wasn’t talking about Jeff now. “Sometimes the truth can hurt, or put one in a dangerous situation.”

      “Dangerous? In some ways.” He paused to study her. “I’m still thinking about that kiss. Are you?”

      “Yes,” she admitted on a sigh. Something about Dillon Traub demanded honesty.

      “Do you feel if you became involved with me, you’d be putting your job in jeopardy?”

      “I’ve thought about that … and other things.”

      “What other things?”

      “I’ve been the butt of gossip before. I don’t want to be again.”

      “That’s one thing. What’s another?”

      “Emilia. Even if I were willing to take a risk for myself, I can’t take risks with her.”

      “But there’s still more, isn’t there?”

      “I don’t have time to spare … not with Emilia and work and—”

      “Okay, I get the idea. But I don’t think I’m wrong about the attraction between us, am I?”

      If she answered, she’d be putting too much power in his hands. She lowered her gaze, choosing not to let him see what was going on inside of her.

      He lifted her chin with his thumb. “Erika?”

      If she stood here much longer, she might end up in his arms! There was a magnetic pull toward him that could sweep her off her feet if she let it. But she had to keep both feet planted firmly on the ground. The touch of his finger on her skin, however, gave her thoughts wings. She couldn’t seem to capture even one of them at the moment.

      She had her purse slung over her shoulder and now her cell phone rang from inside of it. Saved by “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”—Emilia loved to hear the song play on her phone—Erika dug in her purse. “I’d better get this.” Opening the phone, she saw the caller ID and froze. It was Zane Gunther’s manager! She couldn’t believe it.

      “Mr. Nolan! Hello. It’s so good to hear from you.” Even if it was bad news, at least she’d gotten this far.

      “Miss Rodriguez?”

      “Yes, it’s me. I’m sorry. I was just so excited to receive your call.”

      The man had amusement in his voice when he asked, “So you think this is going to be good news?”

      “I can hope, can’t I?”

      “Well, you must have been doing a lot of hoping since you first called me. I won’t keep you in suspense any longer. Mr. Gunther has accepted your offer to appear at Frontier Days for the fee Mr. Clifton has offered to pay. He has one request, though.”

      She felt like jumping up and down for joy, spinning in a circle, grinning from now until next year. “Anything!”

      “He would like a secluded place to stay before he performs.”

      She’d discussed this possibility, too, with Grant and had a couple of options. “We’d be pleased to give Mr. Gunther one of the penthouse suites, though that would be in the main lodge. A second choice would be for him to stay in one of the vacant condos. They’re down the mountain a ways. A third option would be the most secluded. We have a few isolated cabins kept for dignitaries. They’re off the beaten path and no one has to know he’s there.”

      “That sounds perfect. Except … is the cabin large enough for anyone besides Zane?”

      “The cabins are really more like small villas. Each has two bedrooms and a full kitchen as well as a dining and sitting area.”

      “I know Zane will want the cabin and I’ll probably stay there with him. How about one of those vacant condos for the band?”

      “Whatever you’d like, Mr. Nolan. I just can’t believe you said yes.”

      He laughed, and said he’d be in touch again to finalize details. Then he ended the call.

      After Erika hung up, she was beside herself with excitement. Zane Gunther. He was the biggest of all the stars she had tried to contact.

      Dillon rose from his desk, his gaze questioning.

      She couldn’t keep her enthusiasm from what had just happened tied up inside her. “Guess who’s coming to Thunder Canyon?”

      Dillon’s mouth tilted up in a smile. “The governor of Montana?”

      “Even better. Zane Gunther’s coming. Can you imagine?

      Think about the crowd he’ll bring in! Just think about his music. And I get to sit in the front row.”

      “I’m glad you’re happy about it. Convincing him to come could make Frontier Days an even bigger success.”

      “Aren’t you excited? Don’t you just love his music? Don’t you wish you could shake his hand and—”

      Something about Dillon’s stillness alerted her that he already knew about this. She remembered telling him how frustrating it was not having anyone call her back … how much she needed a well-known country singer to perform … and he’d said he might be able to help.

      Why would Zane Gunther come to Thunder Canyon? It wasn’t a large venue like he was used to. Suddenly Erika knew this gig didn’t happen by sheer luck. It didn’t happen because she’d made a call.

      “Did you know about this? Did you have something to do with getting him to accept my invitation?”

      Dillon said simply, “Zane and I go way back. We went to school together.”

      “Oh, Dillon. Thank you.” Before she thought about it once, let alone twice, she threw her arms around him and gave him a huge hug.

      In response, Dillon’s arms went around her.

      Their enthusiastic embrace turned into something else when she raised her gaze to his. She could feel his muscles go taut under his suit coat. More than that, she felt his body heat, smelled his aftershave and fell into those golden-brown eyes. Whenever she was within touching distance of Dillon, her whole world changed. It became brighter, clearer, more adventurous. It was a no-holds-barred feeling that she could do anything, or be anything. It was so crazy, yet—

      “Do you want another kiss as much as I do?” he asked, his voice husky.

      “Yes,” she breathed, waiting, anticipating, knowing she shouldn’t be doing this but unable to help herself because it felt so right.

      Dillon’s mouth came down on hers quickly, possessively, passionately. His tongue breeched her lips, searched for a response which she willingly gave as he pressed her more tightly against him. As she laced her hands in his hair, the world around them fell away.

      Eventually Dillon’s hold lessened, his kiss slowed, his tongue stopped exploring and she was aware of all the changes. Yes, they both wanted this moment—but where did he think it was going to go? Where did she?

      She dropped her hands from around his neck and backed away.

      His voice seemed quite steady and he looked much less affected by the kiss than she was. “I shouldn’t have done that here. Are you okay?”

      His office was private. The scenery outside the long windows gave the illusion of being someplace other than in a lodge. But they were in the infirmary suite and could be interrupted at any time.

      Erika’s thoughts wafted through her mind. She was trembling so badly, she felt as if she wanted to fall to the floor in a puddle. But she couldn’t let Dillon see how much he tilted her world.

      After clearing her throat, she straightened her shoulders and met his gaze.