Evidence of Trust (Colorado Trust 1)

“Do you want me to?”

The seductive whisper made her shiver. Yes. “No.”

But she’d hesitated a fraction too long because he’d already closed the distance and captured her mouth in a gentle, bone-melting kiss. She knew she should resist—he’d even given her time to—but she was unable to keep from opening to him like a morning glory to the rising sun.

He broke the kiss so abruptly, she would’ve stumbled without the support of his arms.

“Still going to tell me you didn’t want that?”

Dazed, she kept her gaze leveled on the collar of his charcoal gray shirt, annoyed that she’d played right into his hands, and afraid he’d read his effect on her. “Would you believe me if I said I didn’t?”

“No.”

“Then what does it matter what I say? You’re going to believe what you want anyway, just like you did in the mountains. You think you’re irresistible? Go ahead, I’ll let you keep that fantasy.”

His deep chuckle surprised her. “I assure you, should I decide to prove to you how irresistible I can be, it’ll be one fantasy you’ll never forget.”

That did it. She thrust his arms away and poked his chest. “Don’t flatter yourself. All you’ve proven is that you can kiss halfway decent. Any guy can do that.”

She spun around and left him standing alone on the dance floor whether it was rude or not.

Back at the table, she noted the dark look Kelly Stevens cast her way, and rolled her eyes at the raised eyebrows her ranger buddy Randy Gifford tossed over from a neighboring table. Sitting with her back to the wall, she snatched up her soda and willed her pulse back to normal.

Kiss halfway decent? Major understatement.

The chemistry she felt when near the man—hell, just when she thought of him—was stuff she’d only read about in her favorite romance novels. She’d certainly never felt it with Daniel—had in fact told herself writers made it up for a good, hot read.

Then bam! A couple kisses from Joel Morgan, and she knew the true meaning of desire. And he knew it, damn it. Too bad she couldn’t just have some fun and be done with him. Looking around, she knew there were plenty of people who had relationships based on nothing more than the physical. Mitch. The redhead Lindsey. Undoubtedly Kelly. Why not her?

She left the table and sidled up to the bar where Gina and B

illy were doing their best to talk as he flipped bottles and mixed drinks. He was so much faster than the other two bartenders, he’d gained a considerable audience along the length of the bar.

The guy to her right offered his stool, and she accepted with a smile of thanks before turning to Billy. “You’ve upped your game,” she called over the noise.

“I can say the same for you,” he hollered back. “What are you drinkin’?”

“Same as always. Juice or soda, whatever you've got.”

He passed off a tray of drinks, exchanged glances with Gina, and reached for a glass from beneath the counter. “Just thought I’d ask.”

“In the years you’ve known me, have I ever ordered alcohol?”

“We’ve never seen you kiss anyone like that, either,” Gina said. “But it seems there’s a first time for everything.”

As her friend sipped her drink and raised her eyebrows, heat flooded Britt’s face, then spread throughout her body. It made the warmth of the crowded bar so uncomfortable, she had to resist the urge to fan herself with her hand.

Billy set a glass of orange juice in front of her, then folded his arms on the bar and leaned close. “So, what’s the scoop, Ms. Flirty Skirt?”

“You make it sound like I’m a tease.”

“Well you are. A horrible tease.”

“I am not.” Then, despite his joking tone, she leaned back and frowned at both of them. “Am I?”

“No,” he said. “But seriously, what’s the deal with Morgan? You haven’t dated since you and Randy struck out that first summer.”

“He’s completely conceited and stuck on himself. Joel, not Randy.”