Vampire Cowboy by Juliet Chastain Page B

full of cowboys, cattle-ranchers and gamblers was afraid of her and, he suspected, desired her as well. He could almost smell the lust for her in the air along with the dust and the stink of cattle. His wasn’t the only heart that beat a little faster, his wasn’t the only horn that stirred and hardened.
    She turned away. “Why do I not believe you? Where is your brother?”
    “The sheriff is sittin’ in the jail house playin’ cards with the deputy.”
    “Stealin’ his money, you mean.” She snorted. “You are dripping blood all over the floor. I think you better get on home and lie down on your back.”
    “Yes, ma’am. I think I’ll do that.” Billy Joe heaved himself to his feet and walked a little unsteadily out the door.
    Intrigued, Daniel asked, “May I be of assistance, madam?”
    She looked him up and down for a third time with those bright bluer-than-the sky eyes. Then their gazes met. No mere spark this time—more like dynamite. Heat flared up from his groin and licked at his belly.
    He lowered his eyes to a strand of black hair that had escaped its tie and curled invitingly on one side of her white throat. He imagined kissing her right there where the curl ended, where her alabaster skin would be soft, her flesh slightly yielding. Her blood would be rushing, calling him to lick and nip until he could wait no longer and then he’d—
    “Don’t see how.” She turned on her heel and strode to the door. She paused, looking back at Daniel for an instant. She raised her brows. The heat roared through his belly, singed his heart. He managed to restrain the groan of raw desire that rose in his throat. Was he going mad? He wanted to stride across the floor, take her in his arms, kiss those delectable lips of hers, feel her breasts crushed against his chest, run his hands over her tempting body. Then she turned again and was gone. The men started talking once more.
    Dazed, Daniel stood quietly for a minute. The fire still raged savagely though him. Fierce blood lust blazed and melted, becoming one with unrestrained carnal desire. He had to have her. Had he ever been overcome like this? It was madness. He was on fire after just a few glances from an angry American girl who appeared more interested in the whereabouts of her cattle than in him.
    Daniel took a few breaths, willing the fire to subside. He turned to his neighbor and asked, “Who on earth was that?”
    “That’s Miss Eliza Dunbro.”
    “Good-looking woman.”
    “Yes, sir, but you don’t want to get her mad. She’s as mean as a wet polecat when she loses her temper.”
    Daniel considered that for a while. What on earth was a polecat? More importantly, how could he arrange to see more of this woman who attracted him so violently? Acknowledging there was nothing he could do for the moment, he asked, “Anyone here play a decent game of cards?”
    He didn’t think there’d be more trouble, but just in case, he seated himself at the card table with his back to the wall, facing the room. The fat man who had sat on him came over, shook his hand as though to say “bygones should be bygones”, said his name was Henry and signaled to the cowboy who’d sat next to Daniel.
    “C’mon, Seth,” Henry called out. “C’mon, Miss Susan.” The last he addressed to the thin woman at the end of the bar.
    “You be careful of her,” Seth murmured as he sat down to Daniel’s right. “I hear tell she’s been known to cheat.”
    “She don’t cheat,” said Henry. “Fact is, she’s just a mighty fine card player even if she is a wh—”
    “No need to say it,” Daniel said as he rose to his feet, pulling out the chair to his left and bowing. He’d been taught to be courteous to women lifetimes ago and had never seen a reason to be otherwise—no matter what a woman’s occupation or station in life might be. First Seth and then Henry rose, eyes wide with evident surprise at themselves. Seth doffed his hat. Henry, who was hatless, inclined his