The Doctor Wears A Stetson (Contemporary Western Romance) by Anne Marie Novark Page A

against her with urgent need. He tugged at the tiresome
panties. "We need to get rid of these, sweetheart."
    The low, savage words wrenched Jessie back
to reality. What was she doing? She had only wanted one
kiss, that's all she could allow herself. How quickly that kiss had
spiraled into full-blown passion. Damn Tori and her punch!
    Jessie caught Cameron's hand and her panties
fell back in place. They were both breathing hard, staring at each
other. His heavy-lidded eyes asked a question.
    She didn't have the answer. She knew she
couldn't blame the punch for her lapse. It was Cameron. It had
always been Cameron. They'd felt the attraction when they were
kids. But they weren't kids anymore and Cameron wasn't holding
anything back. He wanted her.
    And God help her, she wanted him. His kisses
ignited a raging passion within her. She craved the feel of his hot
mouth on her heated skin. She definitely had a weakness when it
came to Cameron McCade.
    But nothing had changed. He was leaving
tomorrow. All he wanted was her body.
    Jessie pushed away and jumped to her feet,
keeping her eyes lowered. She tried desperately to restore order to
her clothing and her emotions. Her fingers fumbled with the snaps.
"I don't know what to say . . . I didn't mean to let it go that
far."
    Cameron grabbed her shoulders, hauling her
against his chest, forcing her head back. His eyes blazed with
frustration. "What's wrong, Jess? You want this as badly as I do.
We're both adults, for Christ's sake."
    Jerking out of his strong grasp, Jessie
stood her ground. "You just don't get it, do you? There has to be
more for me. I don't sleep around."
    Cameron took a step closer. "I know you
don't. There's something special between us; you know there is.
We're good together."
    "Yes, we're good together," she said,
finally snapping the last snap on the side of the dress. She ran
her fingers through her hair, trying to restore order to her
appearance and to her thrumming body. "So good in fact, you make me
forget everything."
    "Is that bad?"
    "Yes. No . . . I cannot, will not
betray TR," she said quietly.
    "How can you betray him? He's dead, Jess.
Would he want you to stop living? Never enjoy a relationship with
another man?"
    Jessie shook her head. "No, he wouldn't mind
if it were anyone but you."
    Cameron's blue eyes widened in surprise.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
    Smoothing the folds of her long skirt, she
brushed cottonseed to the floor. Her emotions were jumbled and so
was her brain. She owed TR a lot. She'd married him without
loving him, and she'd never given him children.
    Jessie couldn't tell Cameron the real
reasons. She couldn't tell him she was afraid. Afraid she was
falling in love with him again. Afraid she'd never stopped loving
him. Afraid of the guilt and the regret.
    Cameron grasped her shoulders again. She
tried to wrench away, but he wouldn't let her. "What do you mean,
Jess? Why would TR care that it's me?"
    Jessie shook her head. "Because he hated
your family. He never forgot about the feud."
    "What feud? What in the world are you
talking about?"
    "The feud between your grandfather and
TR's."
    "Damn, Jess. That's ancient history. It has
absolutely nothing to do with you and me."
    Her heart ached so badly, she could scarcely
breathe. "I'm sorry, Cameron. I just can't do this." She turned and
ran out the door and into the night.
    He watched her go. She was always running
from him. Now he knew why. Had she loved TR so deeply? He ignored
the stab of jealousy in his gut. How could he be jealous of a dead
man?
    Jessie might still love her husband, but she
was liquid fire in his arms. Did she feel guilty about the sizzling
attraction she felt for him? That must be it, he decided. Guilt was
making Jessie run, from him and from life.
    No woman had ever affected him like Jessie
did. No woman had ever made him lose control like that. His body
was strung as taut as a barbed wire fence. Clenching his fists,
Cameron willed himself to relax.
    If