“What?”
“You said you don’t want to be like your father, but when you sing, when you listen to your daughter sing and love it, you’re already not like him.”
Her words flood my chest with warmth. “You said you’ll help me be sure I’m not.”
“I will.” She smiles and stands. “If I can keep my vision of you clear.”
I stand with her, and we’re face to face again, close. “What does that mean?”
She puts her hand on my chest. “It means you tend to cloud my vision.”
I put my hand over hers, loving the flow of electricity between us. “How do I do that?” My voice is low, confident.
“You’re a good man, Remi, and you’re so sweet to your daughter.” Her chin lifts and the moon bathes her face in silver. “When you look at me, I find it very hard to be objective.”
“Objectively, I enjoy looking at you, so good to know.”
She exhales a laugh, taking a step back. “Sing me your favorite Kenny Rogers song.”
“Wow… okay… I have to think about that one.” I set my wine glass on the table, retracing our conversation, the things she said. Then I have it. “She believes in me. I’ll never know just what she sees in me…”
I hold the note and her eyes close. “Mm… that’s nice. You have an amazing voice.”
Her eyes blink open slowly, and when they meet mine, I want to carry her to my bedroom.
I’m caught off guard by what she does next. She steps forward, and the hand on my chest slides higher to my collar. At the same time, she places her other hand on my cheek. Before I’m fully aware of what’s happening, she rises on her toes and lightly presses those full, pouty lips to mine.
It’s a closed-mouth kiss, but my hands are on her at once, pulling her closer, sliding higher to hold her face, threading my fingers in her silky hair, as I open her mouth with mine.
She makes a little noise when our tongues touch and curl together, and heat floods my torso, centering in my pelvis. I’m instantly hard, and God, I want her in my bed. She tastes like expensive dry wine, and she smells like heaven.
Sliding my arms around her, I can’t help noting how perfectly she fits against my body, shoulder to chest to stomach. I chase after another, deeper kiss, but she turns her face, pressing her palms against me.
I release her at once, and when she glances up, her eyes are brimming with emotion.
She blinks fast, turning away again. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sexually harass you.” Her tone changes to shaky humor. “I might be a little drunk.”
“I think sexual harassment is premised on who has the most power, and you only had one glass of wine.”
“Now you’re a lawyer?” She holds the chair and steps around the easels, going quickly toward the house.
I’m not ready to let her leave. “Hang on… where are you going?”
“It’s time to walk away. Or maybe run.” She lets out a nervous laugh.
“I don’t want you to walk away.”
“You’re right, I’d better run.”
“Ruby, wait.” I catch her hand, stopping her progress. “Why are you running from me?”
My hand goes to her waist, and I pull her against my chest. Right where she belongs.
She reaches up and touches the center of my top lip with her thumb, slipping it down to the bottom. “I’ve wanted to kiss you since that first night…” Then she shakes her head. “But you’re too tempting, Remington Key. You’ll ruin everything.”
“What would I ruin?” I catch that hand touching my face, holding it to my mouth and kissing those slim fingers.
She chews her lip as she watches me. “My plans… my goals.” She eases her hands out of mine, and my stomach sinks. “Thank you for the wine. Morning comes early.”