“Still...maybe it would be better if you wait until daylight to head out that far...”
She had a cop at her door. Surely it wasn’t paranoia to think driving ten miles out in the desert could be dangerous.
He’d stopped in the foyer. Turned. Was a foot away and staring her right in the eye. “Are you asking me to spend the night here?”
No. No! She’d been afraid for his safety. Remembered the drive back into town that night. How thankful she’d been to see the lights of town. Hadn’t wanted him back on any ten-mile stretch alone in the dark until they knew more.
Right?
She didn’t expect him to hang with her all night.
Didn’t want him to.
Not really. The woman she was knew better.
“I’m sure the Dales Inn has a room,” she said. January was one of the biggest tourist months in Arizona, but Mustang Valley wasn’t a hot spot.
He nodded and turned back toward the door.
Disappointment flooded her. Hers? His? She’d always hated to let him down. Had done everything she could not to make that happen. Especially after he’d been adopted and told her how lonely he was, living in that big mansion with a new father who didn’t seem to put a whole lot of stock in having him around. He used to say that her friendship was the most important thing in his life.
Had that been a lie?
Or had it just changed?
Did it matter?
“Good night, then.”
He reached for the door handle.
“Rafe.”
“Yeah?” he asked, turning again.
“You’ll stay in town, right?”
He studied her, frowning. “It really means that much to you?”
With a nod she looked up at him. “It really does.”
“Then yes, I’ll stay in town, rather than returning to the ranch.”
Good. Phew.
“I’ll call you in the morning,” he said.
She nodded. Couldn’t stop looking at him. Remembering the shots firing, needing to know that he was okay. Far more than she’d cared if she was.
Taking a step closer just happened. He seemed to get that. Leaned down just enough... And their lips touched.
Tentatively. Softly. Like two kids raging with hormones, budding with love and filled with curiosity. Two kids who didn’t have any idea what they were doing.
But instead of being ripped apart by angry words from Payne Colton, who’d followed them because Rafe had unknowingly taken a horse that Payne hadn’t wanted ridden, they continued to kiss.
Rafe’s lips opened, seeming hungry with desire. They moved against hers, strongly, confidently, eliciting a response from her she hadn’t known she was capable of giving. Her tongue moved of its own accord, meeting his, exploring. She sucked at his lips. Pressed hard, needing it all to be real. His arms were around her, flattening her against him, and she held on to his head. His neck. Pulling him to her.
They turned, and she fell back against the door, his body against hers, holding her there. Molding her. She could hardly breathe. Couldn’t think.