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hands by his sides. He was smiling, but it was not a polite smile. This was a side of Nate that Christy hadn’t seen before, and she began to understand that ranching wouldn’t be a job for a city cowboy. Neither would mining. Nate had mostly been pleasant and easygoing with her, but there was a toughness in him that she was seeing for the first time.
    The young cowboy looked a little nervous now. He could see, as Christy could, that Nate was half a head taller than he was and a good bit more muscular, and had an arrogance and authority that the younger man lacked.
    â€œWe came here to dance and have a good time,” Nate told the cowboy. “But her idea of a good time and mine are a little different. Now, me, I like a good fight, and I really enjoy making holes in glass. In fact, you’re just the right size to make a nice big hole in that plate glass window out front…”
    â€œI see my girl over there,” the cowboy said suddenly, making as if to look over Nate’s shoulder. “Hi, hon!” he called. “Sorry, but I’d better go now,” he told Christy. He tilted the brim of his hat respectfully, looked at Nate and cleared his throat, and made a quick exit.
    Christy blew out the breath she’d been holding. “I didn’t know what to do,” she said as he sat down. Her face was red and she was almost babbling with nerves. “He asked me to dance. He wasn’t insulting or anything, but he just wouldn’t go away.”
    â€œCan’t say I blame him,” Nate said, smiling gently. “You’re a dish.”
    Her face grew radiant. “I am?” she asked shyly.
    That attitude amused him. She was good, he’d give her that. The way she’d refused the cowboy and pretended to be frightened was a nice touch. Not that it worked. He’d seen other women use the same tactic. In fact, he was a veteran. One too many sophisticated Eastern women had come out here pretending to be innocent for his benefit. He was too worldly wise to be taken in, unfortunately for Christy.
    â€œCome here.” He stood up and pulled her into his arms, moving her out onto the dance floor to the rhythm of a slow love song. “Relax, honey,” he said gently when he felt her slender body tense, going along with the deception to put her at ease.
    She bit her lip. “I haven’t danced much…”
    Sure, he thought cynically. “You’ll get the hang of it. Here, put both arms around me. Just like this.” He pushed her arms under his and around him and slid his own arms around her shoulders, riveting her body to his so that the only space between them was at the hips. He chuckled at the shiver that went through her, his breath warm and amused at her ear. “Don’t you like dancing close? I do.” He wondered why she insisted on pretending to be shy and innocent, but perhaps it was part of her act. He didn’t care. She was like all the other women who came on to him, this was just a different ploy. It wouldn’t matter in the long run. She’d be gone soon, so he was going to enjoy her while he could. She appealed to his senses in a shockingly fierce way. He wanted her as he’d never wanted anyone else.
    Christy felt his arms contract and her knees threatened to give way beneath her. Nate smelled spicy and manly and she loved the warmth of his lean body and the hard, heavy beat of his heart at her ear. He was so much taller than she was that her cheek lay against his breastbone. He felt like hard muscle all over and she loved the safety and excitement of his arms. Her eyes closed and she relaxed all at once, letting him take her weight.
    He let out a breath himself when he felt her breasts soften against him as she let go. He tugged her a little closer, lifting her into a warmer embrace as he moved her to the music. It had been a long time since he’d felt so exhilarated from a simple dance.
    He was no fancy Dan