That wasn’t going to happen to Des. If she wanted something, she was damn well going to ask for it, just like if she didn’t want something, she’d say that, too.

So after Callie, Sarah, and Colt headed over to join Logan and Tony, Des wandered over, too, trying to keep it light between them, until Tony started talking to the others about the cattle and ranch operations. Des drew Logan aside.

“I have a question to ask you, and I expect you to be honest.”

“Okay.”

“Are you seeing anyone else?”

He frowned. “Huh?”

“You know. Some other woman.”

“No. Why would you think that?”

“I didn’t think that. I was just . . . wondering.”

“The answer is no.”

“Okay. Would you mind not seeing anyone else while I’m here?”

His lips curved. “You mean like today?”

She smacked him on the arm. “No. I mean like while I’m here on your ranch.”

“So if you’re not on the ranch I can see someone?”

She pinned him with a look. “Logan, I’m trying to be serious here.”

“Sorry. Des, I don’t have relationships with women. Hell, I’ve seen you more than I’ve ever seen any other woman.”

Her body tingled. “Great. Then let’s keep doing that.”

“Fine.”

“Okay, then.”

He pulled her against him and wrapped his arms around her. “Just so you know, this whole temporary exclusivity thing goes both ways.”

She palmed his chest. “I’m not interested in seeing anyone but you.”

“Good. Then let’s keep it that way. While you’re on this ranch.”

Then he surprised the hell out of her by planting one very hot, very deep kiss on her, right in front of her friends.

“Holy shit,” she heard Callie say.

When he released her, she met his gaze, saw the fire in his eyes, and nearly melted into the ground right there.

“Deal?” he asked.

“Yes. Deal.”

He took her by the hand and they waded into the crowd of people. She felt his stamp of possession on her, and as her friends came up beside her, Callie gave her a very smug, very knowing look. She cast a smile at her friends, just daring them to make a smart-ass comment.

None of them did, whether because of the way she’d glared at them or because they were all too afraid of Logan’s reaction, she didn’t know. Frankly, she didn’t care. She felt sixteen again, like a boy had just asked her to go out with him. She knew it was silly, and yes, it was temporary, but today, she felt really damn good. So what was wrong with that?

As she gazed up at Logan and he gave her a look of pure hungry desire, she decided there wasn’t a single thing wrong with how she felt at the moment.

Sometimes even temporary flings could be fun.

Chapter 13

LOGAN HAD NO idea what had transpired earlier in the day with Des, but she’d asked him about seeing other people, and maybe it was the challenging look in her eyes, or because she’d been with her friends, but something possessive took hold of him at that moment and he’d decided that while she was filming her movie, she was his.

Hell of a thing, considering he was a man who didn’t have relationships, who rarely invited women to spend the night at his house. Yet, here he was at the annual Fourth of July picnic, with nearly half the town of Hope in attendance, and he had his hand firmly grasped in Des’s for everyone to see.

Not that he cared much what anyone thought. He never had.

But then his brother and Emma came up to them. Of course, the first thing Luke’s gaze zeroed in on was Logan holding Des’s hand. And damned if he was going to shake loose of her. He’d made a commitment—well, sort of—and he wasn’t going to back down, no matter how much of a smirk his brother was giving him right now.

Emma hugged Des. “I’m so glad you came today,” Emma said.

“I wouldn’t miss it. All the food, and I’ve heard the fireworks show is legendary.”

“Oh, it definitely is. Come on, there are some friends here I want you to meet.” Emma tugged Des by the hand. “Logan, I’m going to drag her away from you for a while, if you don’t mind.”

Logan nodded. “I don’t mind.”

He watched Des walk away, and soon she was lost in the crowd.

“Beer?” he asked Luke.

“You know it.”

They headed over to the keg and Luke poured them both a cupful of beer. “Let’s go grab a seat somewhere.”

They found an unoccupied picnic table, though it took a while to get there, since they both had to stop and greet several people, including Carter Richards, one of Luke’s best friends, who grabbed a beer and joined them.

They spent some time talking about work, about the ranch, and Carter’s auto shop businesses as well as the movie crew that were milling about meeting all the people from town.

“How’s the shoot going?” Carter asked him.

“Fine, I guess. I’ve been over there a couple of times to watch them shoot. Looks like it’s going good.”

“He’s dating the actress who’s starring in the movie, though,” Luke said.

Logan shot his brother a look. Luke grinned back at him.

“No, shit,” Carter said. “Desiree Jenkins? She’s a beauty.”

“Yeah.” Logan took a sip of beer.

“So how serious is it?” Carter asked.

“It’s not.” And Logan wasn’t going to get into a conversation about Des with either his brother or Carter.

“I’m taking you don’t want to talk about this.” Carter smiled and took a long swallow of his beer.

“I don’t,” Logan said.

“Yeah, but it’s so much fun to probe,” Luke said, obviously unwilling to let the subject drop. “I saw you and Des holding hands earlier.”

“What are you, twelve?” Logan asked. “Mind your own business.”

“Ooh, they were holding hands,” Carter said. “It must be serious. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you out and about with a woman before, Logan.”

“Maybe that’s because I keep my personal business to myself.”

“Mind if I join in?”

Logan hadn’t seen his friend Sebastian Palmer in a while. Bash ran the No Hope At All bar in town.