His scent reached her-a woodsy fragrance mingled with the tang of beer. His hand was warm against her back. She leaned back just a little, and he supported her. Safe. That’s what she was feeling, for the first time in days.

Startled by the emotion, she glanced into his face, and the illusion shattered. She wasn’t safe with this man. When she looked into his eyes her pulse leaped and her throat went dry. He’d offered to help protect her from Neal Parnell, but who would protect her from Gabe?

The music ended, but he still held her firmly in his arms. Before she could suggest they leave the floor, a waltz began. Gabe moved into the flowing rhythm as if born to it.

Dallas sighed involuntarily. She’d forgotten how much she loved to waltz. And this man knew how to do it. Long, languorous strides carried her through the dip and flow, lift and whirl. Her cares slid away as he led her smoothly, never miss inga step, never allowing her to falter.

“You wanted to talk?” His breath feathered her ear.

She glanced into his knowing eyes, her lips a fraction away from his. “Not yet.”

A spark kindled in his dark gaze. His grip on her shoulder tightened and his lead became more forceful. On a swell of music they soared-swooping like hawks riding the desert wind. She would give a great deal to have this go on… and on.

But the music ended and she gazed at him with regret Another two-step followed, and with a slow smile he urged her gently backward in the familiar six-count movement.

“I love to waltz; she confessed, keeping her eyes focused on the curve of his shoulder.

“So do I.” His deep voice, so close, drew a tremor of reaction from her.

“I suppose you know Neal followed me to the icecream store today.”

“I know.”

“I’m not admitting he’s anything more than a nuisance “

“That’s your privilege, although you’re wrong.”

She took a steadying breath. “Maybe we shouldn’t have this conversation: She shifted as if to move out of his arms.

“Stay.” His grip tightened slightly, but she could feel the restrained power and knew that if he really wanted to hold her there she’d be unable to get away. “Please.”

She glanced up at him. “What’s your stake in this?”

“I told you. I don’t like to see slime like Parnell get away with intimidating women.” The lines of anger bracketing his mouth made him look capable of avenging all the wrongs of the world.

“Well, Amber told me I should get some help.”

The angry lines softened, and he looked down, deliberately capturing her gaze. “Here I am.”

She had trouble breathing. Here I am. Three simple words. Ah, but how they complicated her life. This rough, tough bounty hunter scared her to death. She , didn’t want to need him, didn’t want to need anyone , but it seemed at the moment she had no choice. “What-” She stumbled over the question, hating to ask it of anyone, least of all this man. “What do you th_ ink I should do?”

“For starters, let me check the security on your trailer.”

“My locks are fine.”

“I’d like to make sure.”

Well, she’d asked for his help, and she wasn’t an expert on locks. In his line of work, he probably had to be. “When?”

“Tonight, if possible: ‘

She hesitated. Maybe Dave liked his handshake and Amber liked his buns, but Dallas didn’t know Gabe well enough to be alone at night in an isolated trailer with him.

As if reading her thoughts, he spoke. “I can give you the numbers of two bail bondsmen I’ve worked for. They’ll vouch for me.”

“Tonight?”

Gabe chuckled. “They call me at all hours. Besides , they’re both night people. They’ll be up.”

“All right. I’ll call.” And if he checked out okay , which she guessed he would, she would be alone tonight with this man who made her skin tingle wherever he touched, who made her completely forget herself as she whirled in his arms on a crowded dance floor. What would happen when they closed the door on the world?

Nothing. This man was too hot to handle. If she ever gave up a small measure of her independence to someone , it wouldn’t be some vigilante type who thrived on drama and danger. She wiped all emotion from her face before she met his eyes again. “I’ll let you know when I’ve contacted your references.” She could tell by the slight falter in his gaze that he’d noticed her subtle rejection His expression closed down.

At that moment Neal tapped on Gabe’s shoulder. “My turn, buddy.”

Gabe glanced over his shoulder and Dallas felt him stiffen, but he didn’t interrupt his rhythm. “No: ‘

Neal shoved a pair of dancers aside and followed. “Hey, I-“

“Sorry.” Gabe ground out his denial as he placed himself between Neal and Dallas. In seconds they’d danced away from where Neal stood, face distorted with fury.

Dallas gratefully accepted the man8e of Gabe’s protection as it settled over her. Like a fool she’d imagined Neal’s obsession with her had ended, but she’d been wrong. Everything Gabe had predicted so far had turned out to be true. And Gabe thought Neal was a rapist. Dallas turned away from the thought. Gabe hadn’t heard the testimony, and he, like most people, was ready to believe the worst of someone like Neal.

Still, she was very glad Gabe hadn’t allowed Neal to cut in. “Thank you; she murmured.

“Anytime.” His tone had become impersonal and instead of holding her gaze, he glanced toward the hair salon. “I doxi t know if you’ve noticed, but Ambeqs up to her eyebrows over there. Two guys are waiting, and a third just walked up.”

Chagrined, Dallas broke away from the circle of his arms. “My God, I never take this long a break: ‘

He caught her arm as she started from the dance floor. “Let me give you those numbers : ‘

“Oh. Of course: With the way he’d championed her on the dance floor she felt less need for references, but checking them would be the prudent thing to do. She waited while he pulled a card and a pencil stub from his back pocket and scribbled on the back before handing it to her.

“Thanks, she said, taking the card. It was curved , pressed that way by the shape of his buttocks, and still warm. She made the mistake of glancing into his eyes, and a potent image of making love to Gabe hit with a force that took her breath away. “I’d better go; she managed in a breathy whisper and nearly ran toward the salon.

Suddenly Neal blocked her way. “Why did you tear off like that today? I was ready to buy you an icecream cone. “

“Neal, I “

Gabes abrupt appearance cut off her reply. He stepped in front of her and faced Neal. “The lady has work to do .”

Neal sneered. “You her boyfriend or something?”

“Yes : ‘

“She said she didn’t have one.”

“I guess she and I will have to talk about that.” Gabe reached for Dallas and guided her gently toward the salon. “Go ahead. I’ll take care of this.”

“Gabe, maybe-“

“I can deal with him. Go .”

PARNELLS EYES GLITTERED as he faced Gabe. “You can’t tell me who I can talk to and who I can’t, cowboy.”

“You were keeping her from her customers.” Gabe clenched his hands at his sides. If Parnell provoked him into a fight, they could both end up being escorted from the place in a squad car. He’d love to see it happen to Parnell, but the jerk could probably post bail quicker than he could, and Dallas might be in danger.

Parnell hitched his belt up a notch. “Well, I’m a pretty good customer myself, if you know what I mean.”

His smirk nearly tempted Gabe into throw inga punch. “Doxi t push it, Parnell.”

“Oh, you know who I am?”

“Unfortunately.”

Parnell looked him up and down. “Well, I could buy and sell you, buddy. You don’t have a chance with me around.”

It took all of Gabe’s control not to strangle him on the spot. “We’ll see about that.” Then he turned his back and walked away.

God, he wanted a beer, but now was not the time. He needed a clear head for the next few hours. Alcohol might lower his resistance to Dallas, and despite what he’d said to Parnell, he had no intention of making a play for her. For several nights now he’d enjoyed the spice of knowing there was some powerful chemistry between them, and for a while there, when they were waltzing, he’d imagined… but no.

He was good at reading people’s expressions, and he could tell from hers after the last dance that it wouldn’t work out between them. She disapproved of how he made his living and mistrusted his pursuit of Neal. Perhaps she suspected him of being uncivilized. True, he hadn’t spent much time in elegant social situations , and if it hadn’t been for his mother, he wouldn’t even know how to waltz.

How his mother had loved to dance. During breaks from her duties as cook for the ranch where they’d lived, she’d taken a battery-operated tape player out under a mesquite tree and conducted dance class for both him and Celia. She’d taught them the fox-trot, too, which he d been able to translate easily in later years to the two-step. But the waltz had been her passion, and she’d schooled him mercilessly until his gangly fifteen year old body had obeyed the lush rhythm of the dance.

“If you want to know a woman, and let her know you, waltz with her,” his mother had said.

And so he had waltzed with Dallas, and for the space of that song had believed he’d finally found a woman to fill his soul. But later, when the waltz no longer claimed her, her eyes had told him a different story. So he would check her trailer tonight and continue to watch over her. He would try to protect her from Neal Parnell and thereby attempt to avenge his little sister. But he would keep his hands off Dallas Wade from now on. Apparently she thought he wasxi t good enough for her. He wouldn’t try to convince her otherwise.