The Stranger In Room 205 (Hot off the Press! 1)

A moth fluttered out of the shadows and tangled in Serena’s hair. Sam reached out to gently disengage it, setting it free to fly toward the closest light. The move brought them closer, and he didn’t immediately step away. He combed his fingers through her hair again. “I like the way you wear your hair. Soft. Natural.”

Now he was flirting with her. And she wouldn’t let herself be carried away by it for the same reasons she’d mentally listed for Lindsey—this was not a man to start depending on. But it was rather nice to stand in the moonlight with him, the scent of roses in the night air, his fingers brushing her cheek. Even a level-headed, practical woman like Serena could appreciate the romance of the situation.

If this had been a real date, a good-night kiss would be appropriate. A light brush of lips or even a more lingering exploration—neither would have been out of line. Had this been a real date, of course.

She realized that Sam was looking at her

mouth, as if similar thoughts were playing through his mind. The possibility that he was thinking about kissing her made her mouth tingle as if their lips had already touched. There was a certain allure in the idea of kissing an attractive stranger—a tempting element of risk in knowing so little about him, having so little reassurance that he was safe. She felt herself swaying toward him and sensed that he was moving toward her, as well.

She was the one who put up a hand, resting it on his chest to hold him away. Kara had the taste for adventure in this family, not Serena. The only wild taste Serena indulged was her preference for wild cherry snow cones. “This isn’t a good idea.”

“No,” he murmured. “Probably not.” But he didn’t move away—and neither did Serena.

“All we shared was dinner and a snow cone.”

“Right. Just a friendly dinner.” His lips had quirked into a half-smile that made her even more tempted to taste them. Just a taste…

He must have read the impulse in her eyes. Once again, he leaned his head closer—and this time she didn’t move away.

It wasn’t a long kiss—but it certainly was a powerful one. The glimpse it gave her of what could be between them if she wasn’t careful shook her to her toenails. Her hands weren’t quite steady when he released her, and she didn’t trust her voice to reply steadily when he murmured, “Good night, Serena.”

Without a word, she turned and headed quickly toward the house. It really didn’t matter if he found her retreat amusing. She needed some distance from him.

She might as well tackle some of that paperwork tonight, after all, she thought as she closed herself into her house. She didn’t think she’d be able to sleep for a while, anyway.

Sam stood in the darkened bedroom of the guest house, staring at the light burning in an upstairs window of the main house. Serena’s room, he presumed. It was after midnight, and she was still awake. Her mother had come home almost an hour ago, and because he saw no other lights he assumed Marjorie had already turned in. But Serena was still awake. Working? Or—like him—was she spending the evening replaying the time they’d spent together? Remembering the brief kiss they’d shared in the rose garden.

She’d been right to run. He’d like to think he’d have had the sense to stop with that one kiss if she hadn’t, but he couldn’t offer any guarantees in that respect. After all, he’d wanted to kiss her all evening. And she had thought about kissing him, too. He’d seen it in her eyes.

Now what was he going to do?

Sam was surprised to answer a knock on his door Sunday afternoon and find the police chief on the other side. “What have I done?”

Dan smiled wryly. “Automatic assumption or guilty conscience?”

“Assumption. As far as I know, I haven’t broken any laws.”

“Then there’s no need for me to haul you in, I guess. How about if we go fishing, instead?”

“Fishing?” Sam felt both his eyebrows rise. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Nope. I’ve got the afternoon off and I’m in the mood to catch some fish. I thought you might like to go with me.”

“Why me?”

Dan’s grin deepened. “Everyone else I asked was busy.”

Chuckling, Sam nodded. “Now I understand.”

“So…you want to go?”

“Sure. But I don’t have any fishing gear.”

“Already covered. Got a cap?”

“Not even that.”

“I’ve got an extra in the truck. Let’s go.”