ONE NIGHT TOGETHER

"No matter how much you beg, I can't do that a third time."

She opened her eyes and knew she didn't have the energy to do anything but lay in this bed. Making love with Andrew had been all consuming, just as passionate as she remembered. Actually, it was even better than she remembered, if such a thing was possible.

Andrew kissed her shoulder and grinned at her. "Honey, if you are looking for a third time before sundown, you are in bed with the wrong Texan." Andrew ran his hand down the length of her body, cradling the dip of her waist with his hand. "Of course, we could spend the night here and see what happens."

Rose moved closer to him, despite the high temperature of the room. "Still....we need to get back. Francisca will be wondering where we are."

"I doubt it. They are probably out with Bobby's friends at the Last Chance or maybe even at the Lynette ranch. Bobby's not known for going to bed early. Even your dog's in no hurry to go home."

"Is he okay?"

Andrew had brought Pookie and his bed up to the bedroom a while ago, in between making love, because she had worried about the dog being lonely.

She'd been surprised Andrew understood, but she shouldn't have been. The man's job was taking care of animals.

"He's snoring." Andrew gathered Rose into his arms, where she went willingly. "Listen."

Sure enough, the unmistakable sounds of a content Shih Tzu could be heard from the corner. "That's him, all right. He always breathes like that."

"You sleep with him, don't you," Andrew commented.

"I will never tell."

"That's okay," he said. "I don't mind replacing a dog."

She planted a kiss on his chin. "Who says you are replacing him?"

"Sweetheart, there's only room for two of us in this bed, or haven't you noticed?"

Rose snuggled against that hard male body and closed her eyes. "I've noticed," she murmured sleepily. "Wake me up when it's time to go home, okay?"

He could have said, 'Sweetheart, we are home,' but she couldn't be sure. Not when all she wanted to do was stay in this bed and sleep beside her cowboy.

Andrew lay awake and worried that this would never happen again, that if he so much closed his eyes she would disappear the way she had last time. Her gorgeous naked body nestled against his scarred and battered one, her head on his shoulder as she slept.

She was going to stay for the wedding. Maybe. No, she would stay. She loved that niece of hers and she would want to be there when the girl got married. Andrew would enjoy seeing that wedding himself, because it meant that at last the caretakers of these kids could start taking care of themselves.

"Hi, Aunt Roro." Her niece, propped against the headboard by a pile of pillows, waved to her. "I've waiting for you."

"You have?"

"Of course. Where have you been?" she looked at the bedside clock. "It's almost midnight."