She moaned and leaned back her head. Their lower bodies brushed against each other. When her belly came in contact with his erection, it was his turn to groan.

He slid one hand from her waist up to her breast and cupped the feminine curve. Even through the layers of her shirt and bra, he could feel her tight nipple. One sweep of his thumb against it had her gasping.

She touched his head and guided his mouth back to hers. This time when he entered her, she closed her lips around his tongue and sucked. He dropped his free hand to the small of her back, holding her in place so he could rub against her.

The thick ropes of his control began to unravel. When she curled both arms around his neck, it seemed natural to place his around her waist and pick her up. She wrapped her legs around his hips, bringing herself in direct contact with his hard-on.

It was paradise. It was pure torture.

He swore. She broke the kiss and smiled at him.

“So you find me annoying, but you still want me,” she whispered.

“I don’t find you annoying.” He pushed against her crotch.

“I don’t find you annoying, either.”

He read the passion in her eyes and knew she was more than willing to take things to the next level.

He glanced around, searching for a soft, private spot, only to realize they were out in the open and likely to be discovered any second. It wasn’t romantic, it wasn’t smart, and he didn’t have a condom with him. Phoebe deserved a whole lot better.

“I want you,” he told her.

She tightened her legs around him. “Me, too.” Color stained her cheeks. “I’ve never said that to a man before.”

Zane realized he hadn’t told a woman, either. He’d shown her, but he’d never actually spoken the words. Phoebe was changing him in all kinds of ways.

He wanted her with a desperation he’d never felt before. And yet...

“We can’t,” he said gently, ignoring the hardness and the pain in his groin. “You deserve better than something hot and fast up against a tree.”

She swallowed. “I’m not so sure about that.”

“I am.”

“Oh.”

She sounded disappointed. Had she been anyone else, he would have said the hell with it and taken what she offered. But she was Phoebe.

From behind them came the sound of a car horn honking, and then another. They couldn’t see anything through the trees, but they heard laughter drifting toward them as at least a couple of off-road vehicles drove slowly past.

“Sounds like we have company,” he said. “We’re close to Stryker land. Guess they decided to say hi. You go on ahead. I need a few minutes.”

When he pointed at the front of his jeans, she blushed. “Oh. I see your problem. Well, you could walk right behind me and no one would notice.”

He chuckled. “I’ll wait it out. Go on.”

“Okay.”

She headed toward camp. Zane watched her go, taking in the sway of her hips and the wave she gave him right before she disappeared.

Getting involved with her would be stupid. He doubted Phoebe understood about easy, short-term affairs. But how was he supposed to resist those big eyes and that mouth of hers? Just touching her made him want her more than he’d ever wanted in his life. He’d walked away from so many things in the name of getting it right, but he wasn’t sure he could walk away from her.

* * *

PHOEBE EMERGED FROM the trees to find people pouring out of four rugged-looking vehicles. She stopped counting when she got to twenty, then stepped toward the laughing guests.

After a couple of days on the range with their small group, the noise level was a little shocking. It seemed like organized chaos as the people called out to each other, setting up two portable picnic tables and loading them with food.

The sun was still visible low on the horizon, painting the Western sky in warm purples and reds. The soft light on a summer night in the mountains filled Phoebe with a feeling of contentment.

“Reese!” Chase called out in a voice about an octave lower than normal. He and a gangly teen did a complicated handshake that devolved into fake punches.

“Phoebe, over here!” Maya said. “I want to introduce you to my bestie from tenth grade. This is Dellina Hopkins.”

She had her arm around the shoulders of a pretty woman with long, brown hair.

“Dellina Ridge now,” her friend said.

Maya grabbed Dellina’s left hand and whistled at the beautiful ring set flashing on her fourth finger.

“My husband’s over there,” Dellina said, pointing toward a black Jeep with flames on the side, where two men were lifting out a heavy cooler from the back.

Eddie and Gladys were behind the men. Gladys was holding up a lantern while Eddie was getting close-up video of their butts.

“That’s Ford Hendrix,” Maya said. “So you must be married to the other guy— Wait a minute! Is that—? You’re married to Sam Ridge? The football player? I’ve done a couple of stories about him and that tell-all his ex-wife wrote.”

Dellina laughed. “We don’t talk about that.”

“Ohmigosh,” Maya said breathlessly. “Is that Mayor Marsha?”

She grabbed Phoebe’s hand and pulled her toward a lovely silver-haired woman who was standing with Andrea near one of the tables. The woman was dressed with casual elegance in lightweight gray slacks and a teal-colored sweater set. Around her neck, she wore pearls, and Phoebe wondered whether she should warn her about the raccoons.