Kyle stood beside the table, studying her with a brooding expression. He had already set the bags of food on the table. She could smell the aromas wafting toward her.
She blinked and rubbed her eyes, trying to quickly clear her sleep-muddled mind. “I guess I dozed off.”
“Yeah. Sorry I woke you.”
She pushed herself up to one elbow. “That’s okay. I didn’t mean to go to sleep. The food smells really good.”
He moved toward her and held out a hand, obviously intending to help her to her feet. She reached out to lay her hand in his.
She had been moving to stand, but the moment his fingers closed around hers, she froze. His legs were already braced to boost her upward, but he went very still as their gazes locked over their joined hands.
Maybe she tugged. Maybe he leaned forward. And maybe neither of them would ever know who initiated the kiss this time. Almost before Molly knew what had happened, Kyle was on the bed with her, and she was in his arms.
Chapter Nine
Molly speared her hands into Kyle’s hair, loving the texture of it. It was still slightly damp, and the faintest scent of rain clung to him—more appealing, in her opinion, than the most expensive cologne. Their bodies were pressed closely together, and she reveled in the differences between them.
“Damn it,” Kyle muttered against her lips.
She was startled into a giggle. She hadn’t really expected Kyle to murmur sweet nothings, but this was ridiculous.
“I wasn’t going to let this happen again,” he said glumly, though he didn’t release her.
She cupped his face in her hands and kissed his chin. “I know.”
He gave her an accusatory look. “You aren’t helping me prevent this.”
Snuggling closer, she smiled unrepentantly. “What makes you think I want to prevent it?”
He started to disentangle himself from her. “Our food’s getting cold.”
“I don’t care.”
“Molly…” Propping himself on his right elbow, he gazed somberly down at her. “I’m not going to try to convince you that I’m not attracted to you.”
Pleased that he had admitted even that much, she smiled. “You know I—”
“But—” he broke in before she could reveal too much “—this isn’t going to happen.”
She was tempted to point out that they were already lying on her bed with his arms around her and his left hand entwined in her hair, so something had already happened. It seemed like a good idea to keep quiet until she heard what else he had to say.
“I’m taking you to the ranch and then I’m going back to Tennessee.”
She nodded, feeling the slight tug of her hair in his grasp. “I know. I wish you would consider staying until after the party Saturday, but of course I know you’re going back home soon.”
“Right. So, uh…” He seemed to have lost the point he was trying to make.
Still smiling slightly, she reached up to touch his face, her fingertips lingering on the scar that outlined his jaw. “Did you expect me to try to talk you out of going back at all?”
He made a face. “To be honest, I never know what to expect from you. Or what you expect from me.”
“I don’t expect anything from you, Kyle. I like you very much. I enjoy being with you. I also happen to be extremely attracted to you, which shouldn’t be surprising since you’re such a good-looking, sexy man. But that doesn’t mean I’m expecting anything more than you’re interested in offering.”
It amused her that her almost offhanded compliments had made him flush in embarrassment. He pulled his hand from her hair and touched his own scarred jaw in a gesture that seemed almost subconscious. “Still, er—”
“Still, you’re worried that I’m going to end up with a broken heart over you,” she said with a sigh.
His color deepened, as did his sudden scowl. “I didn’t say that.”