A Moment in Time by Deb Stover

surge of heat she'd noticed had been simple fear, of course.   No reason to let another deceitful man turn her not-so-pretty-head.  
           Cole Morrison was no better than Blade–after all, he was male–and she'd better not forget that.   Survival, Jackie.   "So...you think the miners will actually pay to hear me sing, huh?"  
           "That's what I've been told."   Cole urged the horse over a fallen tree, then took a fork that led into a dense forest of pine and aspen.   "You're a legend in these parts."
           "Legend?"   The Legend of Devil's Gulch?   She shivered as the cool mountain air encircled her bare and feather-covered skin.   The rash stung and itched like mad, but she struggled against the urge to scratch any more.   She was raw enough.   "I doubt they'll feel the same way once they hear me sing."   Not to mention their likely reaction to seeing her less than huge attributes.
           "Well, that isn't my problem."  
           She glanced back over her shoulder, drawing a sharp breath when she met his piercing blue gaze.   God, he's gorgeous.   Swallowing the lump in her throat, she summoned Blade's image to the forefront of her gray matter and renewed her sense of indignance.
             "No, of course it isn't your problem, Mr. Morrison."   She flashed a false smile and batted her lashes at warp speed.   "You're just delivering the merchandise.   Right?"   Somewhat vindicated by his flinch and grimace, she faced forward again.
           "Touché, Miss Lolita.   Touché."
           "Why, you don't sound very pleased with your success, Mr. Morrison."
           "Would you stop calling me that?"
           "But isn't that your name, Mr. Morrison ?"   His sigh tickled the back of her neck and the curve of her bare shoulder.
           "Yep, that's my name."   He shifted his weight and momentarily tightened his arms around her as he adjusted his grip on the reins.   "Like I told you earlier, I didn't want to do this, but they kept raising the ante until I couldn't say no.   I have...obligations."
           "Money talks, eh?"   Jackie cleared her throat.   She needed to keep a clear head and determine a way to get back to the Gold Mine Saloon and make sure Lolita's portrait–and her time portal–became reality, with or without Lolita's impressive cleavage.   Running away would be stupid, considering what happened to her last time she wandered into the mountains alone.   With a sigh, she asked, "How much did the owner of the Silver Spur pay you to kidnap me?"
           "I'd rather not say."
           "Don't I have a right to know how much I'm worth?"   Sounds like white slavery .
           "No, ma'am, I don't reckon you do."  
           She heard him grinding his teeth and satisfaction oozed through her.   Good, she wanted him to feel guilty.   Her only hope was to convince him to take her back to Devil's Gulch, and she'd use any means necessary.
           Remembering the shocked expression on his face when he'd realized where his hand was, she squirmed.   Any means, Jackie?   Her belly roiled and a chill chased itself down her spine even as an insistent and irritating warmth settled deep and low and fast.   Talk about internal contradiction .
           Damn.  
           Cole Morrison was a handsome devil, but so was Blade.   Jackie closed her eyes for a moment.   No way.   She'd fallen easily into Blade's deceptive arms, but not because she was loose, as Aunt Pearl would have proclaimed.   No, she'd fallen victim to Blade's charms simply because she wanted to be loved.   Always had.
           Fool.
           She couldn't use sex to convince Cole to do her bidding.   Couldn't and wouldn't .   Her eyes popped open and she commanded her hormones to surrender unconditionally, knowing they wouldn't listen.   Her only choice was to ignore them as best she could.
           But what