“Meeoowww,” she cried pitifully.

He glanced at her empty bowl. “I know damn well you inhale your food, so go try some other sucker.”

She rubbed against his leg, purring, watching him from beneath lowered brow, purring some more. Then suddenly she bit his ankle.

“Ouch!”

“Mew.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Tanner was far more interested in hearing Cami say he was right again.

“I really hate it when I’m wrong,” he heard her grumble.

Walking through the kitchen toward her voice, he stopped short in the hallway, staring at the small table by the front door.

Her answering machine was talking.

“Fine,” she said. “So no one but Annabel is listening to me. Great. Figures. Story of my life.

I hope you’re getting a kick out of this, cat.”

Why was Cami, a woman who’d rather cut off her own limb than get out of bed before ten in the morning, calling herself at… He glanced at his watch. It wasn’t even six yet.

“For summer, it’s pretty darn cold out here in this ridiculous summer dress.”

And why was she still in her summer dress?

She hadn’t actually used that condom with the nerd, had she?

“Of course, what do I expect for being in the Sierra wilderness all night long. You know, I thought this was all my fault, but really, upon reflection, it’s not. It’s my parents. Dad’s had what?

Six wives? No, wait, I’m forgetting the unforgettable Brandy.”

Tanner lifted a brow. Brandy?

“She made seven. Seven stepmothers, some of whom were younger and had bigger boobs than me. It’s no wonder I only date guys once.” Her sigh filled the room. “And then there’s Mom, the mistress of control. Really, when I think about it, it’s a miracle I’m normal at all.” A short silence.

“It’s sure quiet out here. Hope some ax murderer doesn’t find me, there’s no one to hear me scream. Although there are some very annoying birds circling over my head.”

At that, Tanner dove for the phone, but just as he picked it up, she disconnected.

The digital readout on her machine starting blinking the numeral one.

He hit play, and once again Cami’s voice filled the room, from the beginning this time.

“Dimi, get your paws off my stuff and come rescue me from the date from hell,” she said, clearly annoyed.

Who was Dimi?

But then Tanner got sidetracked by the rest of the message, and he listened in growing concern. Dammit, it wasn’t a joke, he decided, listening past Cami’s light voice to the panic just beneath the surface.

She really was stranded, alone, and had been all night.

Swearing, he left the town house and headed toward his truck, because good God, if anyone stopped for her, she’d annoy the hell out of them, maybe even goad them into killing her just to shut her up.


A BIG RIG lumbered right past Cami’s raised thumb, and feeling decidedly unladylike, she sent him a hand gesture she’d never had the opportunity to use before.

It felt so good she gave it to the next truck that passed her, as well.

“Oh, that’s the way to charm someone into a ride.”

Whirling around, Cami faced Tanner, who’d pulled up behind her. She’d been so busy swearing and kicking dirt, she hadn’t even noticed.

“You,” she said brilliantly.

“Yep. Me.” He looked her over. “Are you all right?”

The nerve of him to look so good in the mornings, all big, sexy male. She didn’t want to think about how she looked-rumpled and pathetic. “Of course I’m all right.”

“Yeah? So what are you doing?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?” He came closer and tucked his hands in his pockets. “That’s funny, I could have sworn you were enticing truckers to pick you up by flipping them off. Which doesn’t work, by the way. You have to give them some sugar.” He lifted a suggestive brow. “And I’m not talking the granulated kind.”

Wasn’t this fun? Not only did she have to face his amusement over her misfortune, she had to face the fact that her entire body tingled in awareness of him simply because he’d played a small part in her dreams.

Okay, a big part. Even more reason to be grumpy. “Go away.”

“So happy to see me.” He put a hand to his broad chest. “I’m touched.”

“This isn’t happening,” she said to the sky.

“Yep. It is.” He tugged off his dark sunglasses and studied her carefully.

She studied him back. He wore Levi’s that had clearly seen better days. They were clean, for now, but worn white at all the stress points, of which he had many. She knew she was gawking, but she couldn’t help it. She was starving, sleep-deprived, and even worse, she was sleep-deprived because her fantasies had involved him. Heavily.

Shrugging out of his untucked plaid shirt, he handed it to her. Now he wore only a plain white T-shirt.

“I’m not cold.”

“You’re covered in goose bumps.” He set the shirt on her shoulders.

Damn, it was warm and smelled like him. She hugged it closer to her body and glared at him.

He smiled. “You’ve had problems?”

“Nope.”

“Hmm. You’re just standing out here for your health, I suppose. Practicing hitchhiking for the day it might come in handy?”

Pride was a terrible thing. And it had been a long night. Nothing had happened to her, but still, all that could have suddenly ran though her head.

Tanner’s smile faded. “What’s going on, Cami?”

God, that voice. It was low and husky and so sexy that, all on its own, her body leaned toward his.

Definitely sleep-deprived. “Nothing.”

“Cami.”

“All right, fine. I survived the date from hell.

There. Are you happy?”

“I know about the date,” he said quietly.

“About Ted’s love of the buffet. About the drive-in. About the car and how the son of a bitch left you out here all night.” He stepped closer, all sign of amusement long gone. “What I’m asking is, are you really all right?”

She swallowed hard. “You…listened to my machine.”

“Be grateful. Or you’d be sticking out more than a thumb right now, trying to get a ride.”

Oddly enough, she was grateful. In spite of herself, and the fact that her fingers itched to lift his T-shirt and see if his belly was as magnificent as it was in her fantasies, she was happy to see him.

So much so that she might have thrown herself against him and started crying in relief, except for her damn ego, which was definitely straining now. “What are you doing here?” She asked this casually, as if they’d run into each other at the grocery store instead of a stupid, deserted road where no one had given her a second glance all night.

“I think that’s my question to you.”

“Oh. Well, I just-”

“Admit it,” he said, stepping even closer, staring into her face. “You need me.”

“Of course I don’t.”

“So your message was a lie. Your date went fine. Is that it?”

“Well, fine is relative term-” She stopped abruptly when he set a finger to her lips. It was warm and work-roughened and smelled like soap.

“Let’s skip all the crap,” he suggested. “And get right to the part where you express your gratitude for my rescue.”

She pushed his hand away from her mouth. Her lips tingled at the loss of his touch. “I most definitely do not need rescuing.”

“Really? You’re going to walk home then?”

She studied the sky with great intensity, hoping he’d just vanish because it was easier than swallowing pride.

“Have it your way,” he said after a moment. “See you back at the lake. Whenever you get there. Did I mention it was twenty-two miles from here to there?” With that, he turned on his heel and started walking away.

“Wait!” she cried, then watched him stop and slowly turn to face her. “Okay, I need a ride to Truckee. But not a rescue. Let’s be clear on that.”

Leaning against his truck, he crossed his arms. “Oh, you’ll have to do much better.”

“Or what? You’ll leave me out here? I don’t think so.”

A blast of wind hit her, raising the skirt on her dress. Before she managed to shove it down, a passing truck honked in appreciation. “Oh, sure, now people notice me standing here,” she fumed, trying to keep her dress down and her hair out of her face at the same time.

“Maybe he could give you a ride,” Tanner said, unmoved.

“A ride from you will do,” she said between her teeth.

He didn’t move.

“What are we waiting for?”

He just stood there.

“Tanner!”

“I was hoping you could ask me nicely. Maybe even lift your thumb and smile hopefully, like you did for that other guy before I pulled over.”

She gaped at him.

His smile went positively wicked, making her stomach leap. “And if you wanted to wait for another breeze to lift your skirt again and show off those pretty pink panties you’re wearing, I wouldn’t mind one little bit.”

“You’re sick,” she declared, storming around the side of his truck, slamming the door after she plopped into the passenger seat. “Really sick.”

“Just a thought.” He started the truck and took a quick look at her. Better. She had some color in her cheeks and she didn’t look close to tears anymore. In fact, she looked downright furious.

She wouldn’t thank him for that, but he was relieved. If she’d broken down and cried, he wouldn’t have known what to do. Tears always baffled him, especially when he was the only one around to soothe them.

Not that holding her against his chest, running his hands up and down her slim back would have been a hardship. But he’d gotten quite the view of what she had beneath that skirt. Hips that begged for his hands to grip them. Creamy thighs meant for openmouthed kisses. And what those pink panties covered made his mouth water.

Holding her now would be a definite mistake. It would take her about one second to realize he had more in mind than mere comfort.