"I've heard of Quartsite in Arizona, where they have RV orgies," Reese said. "Were you near there?"

"About eighty miles away, but the same concept." Morgan put her fork down and picked up her winegla.s.s instead. "He was seven weeks old when I got him. And we arrived at our new post just as the wintering RVs were leaving. And the summer was long and hot. But not really lonely as Jackson and I got to know one another. And a big plus were the springs. Jackson loved the water, and it was the only place to cool off. We pretty much had the summer to ourselves. There was only the occasional camper. By October, the RVs started coming back. It was quite the reverse from what we have here. October to April down there was far busier than our summers are here. But the rest of the year, it was just brutal. I lasted four full seasons, then transferred to Colorado.

I was supposed to be in the Gunnison district at Blue Mesa but got sent to Lake City at the last moment." She shrugged. "After the initial shock, it really was the best thing. The little house I have, it's right at the edge of the forest. Jackson loved the freedom he had here. If we'd been in Gunnison, he'd have been in a yard in town."

"So he had a good life."

"Yeah, he did. And he made mine all the better."

"But you're not ready for another one?"

She shook her head. "I'm not sure I'll ever be ready. We were so close. I feel like I lost a part of my family, and I'm not sure I can replace that."

Reese took their plates to the sink and rinsed them. "I've never had a pet," she said. "Even as kids, we never had a pet around the house." She pointed at the stove. "You're going to let me keep this for leftovers, right?"

"It's all yours." Morgan got up and brought their winegla.s.ses to the sink. "All done with the wine?"

"I think so. Unless you want some more."

"No, I'm good." She covered her mouth as a yawn escaped.

"Sorry."

"Go relax while I clean up," Reese said.

"I should really get going. If I sit down, I might fall asleep."

"You can stay here tonight, you know."

But Morgan shook her head. "I'm not up for it tonight, Reese.

Besides, you know, I'm still-"

"I know, Morgan. And you must think I'm a s.e.x monster or something. I just meant you could stay here. Sleep here," she said.

"I've enjoyed your company. And I've missed you."

Morgan stared at her, somewhat surprised by Reese's admission that she'd missed her. Not missed having s.e.x, but missed her being around. It occurred to her then that an arrangement of a physical relations.h.i.+p of s.e.x without ties would work much better if the two parties involved didn't really like each other.

But in their case, their friends.h.i.+p was growing stronger, thus making the s.e.xual part of their relations.h.i.+p less physical and more emotional.

And that thought scared the h.e.l.l out of her.

Morgan turned, pulling out of Reese's arms and squinted at the clock. Five fifteen. She closed her eyes again, knowing she should leave, but it was too warm under the covers and she was far too comfortable right where she was.

"What time is it?" Reese whispered in her ear.

Morgan sighed and snuggled closer to her warmth. "After five," she murmured. She felt Reese's lips caress her skin.

"Living dangerously, aren't you?"

Morgan rolled toward Reese, pressing their bodies together.

"It's nice and warm here. I don't want to get up." She moaned as Reese's hands slid across her body, cupping her b.u.t.tocks and squeezing. "Don't start," she whispered.

"It was your idea to sleep naked."

"I always sleep naked," she said, then moaned again as Reese's lips nipped at her throat. "We can't do this." She stopped Reese's hand before she could capture her breast. "I should go."

"I want to kiss you."

"Oh, no, you don't." Morgan groaned and turned away. It was getting too hard. She wanted to kiss her. She wanted to touch her. She wanted to make love to her this morning. Instead, she pulled out of her arms. "I should go," she said again. She heard Reese sigh and felt her slip away from her.

"I know."

Morgan tossed the covers off and hurried into her sweats.h.i.+rt, the morning chill making her s.h.i.+ver.

"You want me to get a fire going?"

"No, no. I'm fine. Go back to sleep." She turned, pulling the covers around Reese again.

"Thank you for staying last night," Reese said sleepily. "It was nice."

Morgan nodded. "Yes. I like sleeping with you too." But Reese's even breathing told her she was fast asleep again. She 0.

watched her for a moment longer, her eyes drawn to her lips.

Without thinking, she bent closer and gave her the barest of kisses. But it was enough for her to want more. She made herself move away from Reese and she pulled her eyes from her lips, needing all her willpower to walk out of the room when what she really wanted was to crawl back in bed with her.

She shut the bedroom door quietly, then leaned back against it and closed her eyes. Yes, she had stayed the night. Yes, they had slept naked. And no, they hadn't had s.e.x. They'd cuddled together like two people in the midst of a lovely courts.h.i.+p...

touching, but never crossing the boundary as they drifted off to sleep. And a wonderful sleep it was as they held each other during the night.

She pushed away from the door, telling herself she was still in control of the situation. It was only natural to have some emotional attachment to the person you're having s.e.x with.

Right?

Right.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN.

"Good morning, Eloise," Reese said as she walked into her office.

"Chief," Eloise murmured, not looking up from the morning paper.

Reese paused. "Where's Googan?"

Eloise looked up then. "Why?"

Reese arched an eyebrow. "Because I'm the chief, he's the deputy and you're the secretary, and I want to know where he is."

She pointed at the radio. "You want to rouse him up for me?"

"He's got a cell phone," she mumbled as she picked up the radio. "Googan, you copy? The chief's looking for you." When there was no answer, Eloise said, "You know, it's barely eight.

Maybe he's-"

"It's nearly eight thirty."

"He may have worked the night s.h.i.+ft."

"What night s.h.i.+ft?" She pointed at the phone. "Call his cell.""Gee, wish I'd thought of that."

Reese hid a smile as Eloise dialed. She was in a feisty mood this morning, Reese noted.

"Googan? Where are you?" Eloise looked at Reese. "I see.

Well, the chief is wanting to talk to you." Eloise's eyes widened.

"Yes," she said slowly, sliding her gaze to Reese.

Reese rolled her eyes and took the phone from Eloise.

"Googan? Where the h.e.l.l are you?"

"Chief Daniels...I...well, I must have overslept," he said, his voice still hoa.r.s.e. "I was out late last night. On patrol, you know."

"On patrol, huh? I haven't seen you in three days. Now get your a.s.s in here." She slammed the phone down. "On patrol my a.s.s," she muttered under her breath as she went into her office.

"What's he patrolling? Watching the ice form on the lake?"

"You want coffee?"

"I'll get it, Eloise. Don't let me keep you from your daily paper."

"Well, you're in a mood," Eloise said just loud enough for her to hear.

Was she in a mood? Perhaps. Her fond memory of snuggling with Morgan early that morning had faded when she woke up alone. Alone and cold, and to an empty house. She couldn't believe how quickly Morgan's presence-or lack of-had affected her life. She was used to being alone. And she certainly wasn't used to having only one s.e.xual partner. Not even when she and Julie had been somewhat a couple all those years ago. Because they weren't really a couple. Julie worked in vice. Reese in narcotics.

Their relations.h.i.+p was more of a stress relief than anything else.

And after three years, they just started drifting apart, their time together less and less until it stopped altogether. That was the only time in her life she even came close to having a relations.h.i.+p with someone.

Not that she considered what she and Morgan had as a relations.h.i.+p. Affair would more properly describe it. An affair Morgan wanted to keep a secret. Which in some ways belittled it. But when you make an agreement for a physical, s.e.xual arrangement without all the ha.s.sle of emotional ties, there wasn't a whole lot of basis to it anyway. It was just s.e.x. Two people performing an act.

That's how it was intended, anyway. But last night, as they slept together, holding each other, there was no s.e.x, there was no act. And if she were honest, there was nothing physical or s.e.xual about it. Emotional? Yes. Because she felt a connection with Morgan that went deeper than just the s.e.xual involvement they'd agreed to. She suspected the same was true for Morgan.

She spun around in her chair and stared out the window, wondering if maybe they needed to curb things. Slow down a bit.

Maybe do like Morgan had suggested in the beginning. Just get together once a week.

She sighed. She wanted more than once a week. The s.e.xual attraction between them was too strong. Unfortunately, the emotional attraction was rearing its head as well. An attraction that made Reese crave not once a week with Morgan, but every day.It was a dangerous craving, she knew.

But she had no more time to contemplate their affair as she heard the bell jingle and then Googan's distinct voice as he greeted Eloise.

"Come on back, Googan," Reese called. He shuffled down the short hallway, pausing at her door. "Sit down. Close the door."

He s.h.i.+fted nervously as he crossed the threshold. "What's up, Chief?"

She motioned him in. "Just come in, Googan. Close the door."

"If you're p.i.s.sed about me oversleeping-"

"It has nothing to do with that." She pointed at the chair.

"Now sit down." He finally settled into one of the visitor's chairs.

She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms, watching him.

"I have a concern, Googan."

"What's that?"

"There was an incident at Lou's Grocery several years ago.

You want to tell me about that?"

His face turned red and he looked away. "I'm sure you've heard."

"I haven't heard your version."

"I don't really have a version. It happened so fast, and I guess I just panicked. I was in the wrong," he said quietly.

"I see. And what was the result of that incident?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean, Googan." She sat up. "Let me see your weapon."

"Why?"

She held out her hand, waiting. He finally moved, the leather of his belt creaking as he s.h.i.+fted, unsnapping the strap that held his gun in place. He pulled it out then handed it to her b.u.t.t first.