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she’d experienced many kisses, but his was amazing. It drew something from deep inside her, making it grow, filling her with a sweet warmth that she never wanted to let go of. This time when they parted, her breaths were uneven and so were his.
    “One more thing,” he said with a serious look.
    She gave a little sigh. “What’s that?”
    “Were you planning on driving after having a few rum and Cokes?” he asked.
    Her face burned and she looked at her hands that she’d dropped to her lap. “Once I got out here I realized that I shouldn’t be driving and I was going to go back in after the police cars left.” She looked out the passenger side window. “I was too embarrassed to go in right away.”
    “I get that,” he said and sounded like he was choosing his words carefully. “Your stepbrothers are…not nice men.”
    “That’s putting it mildly.” She felt absolutely miserable talking about them. “You can say what they really are. You won’t offend me.”
    “Let’s not talk about those idiots.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “As far as we’re concerned, that trash will never come between us.”
    “Okay.” Her lips trembled a little as she smiled. “That’s a deal.”
    He gave her a grin. “Good. I’m going to hold you to that.”
    She smiled and he kissed her again.
    It was a long time later that they came up for air. The windows were steamed and her body felt warm and ready for him. But she knew he wouldn’t take advantage of her and she also knew she wouldn’t be ready for a sexual relationship with a man she barely knew. Still, that didn’t mean she didn’t want him.
    “I’ll give you a ride home,” he said.
    She sobered. “That’s the last place I want to be right now.”
    John frowned. “Do your stepbrothers hurt you…in any way?”
    She thought about some of the things they’d done to her, how their friend, Freddy, made her worry that he’d sexually assault her. She thought about lying and saying no, that her stepbrothers did not abuse her, but she settled for a shrug. “They are who they are. I don’t have a lot of choice in the matter.”
    The flash of anger in John’s eyes startled her. His face looked tight. “I take that as a yes.”
    “It’s verbal, John.” She realized she’d said his name for the first time, and it felt natural. “They’re just plain mean. They haven’t physically hurt me.”
    “Verbal abuse is abuse, Hollie.” The anger in his eyes magnified. “You need to get away from them. They’re bad news.”
    “I don’t have any choice.” She glanced away from him and stared out the window. “They live with me.”
    “Who owns the house?” John asked.
    “I do.” She looked back at him. “They never left after their mama died.”
    “Then you do have a choice.” John’s voice was firm. “You can kick them out.”
    “I—I can’t.” Hollie bit her lower lip and felt a sharp pain before she spoke. “They’ve made threats. To be honest, I’m afraid of them and what they can do.”
    If she’d thought he’d looked angry before, it was nothing compared to the look on his face this moment. “My brother is the Yavapai County Sheriff,” John said. “He can go to your ranch and order your stepbrothers to clear out of your place and get off your property.”
    Hollie felt miserable. “My stepbrothers are vindictive and they can get even with me. They have friends, ways of doing things that won’t come back on them.”
    John sat for a long moment, clearly thinking over the situation. “Between you and me, I believe that they’re up to something. I’m going to find out what it is, and I’ll be the one to send them to prison for a good long time.”
    “I can only hope.” She sighed. “In the meantime, I’ll have to deal with them.”
    “Stay with me.” He stroked her hair from her face. “I promise to be a perfect gentleman. Or if you’d rather, stay with one of your friends. Get away from your stepbrothers.”
    “I