“The only thing I know right now is that I head out to California on Monday. Kirk booked a TV commercial for me, modeling underwear for a top name brand. I’ll have him give you a call.”
“So I can’t see you in person, but I can watch you on TV, in your underwear? Do you know what that’s going to do to me?”
“Make you that much happier to see me in person?” Marissa couldn’t stop the mischievous grin from covering her face.
“Cute.” He jerked her closer against him. “Getting back to the Fourth of July. We always hold an old-fashioned cookout here. It’s an all-day and into-the-evening thing, and everyone in the county from miles around comes. Think you can make it?”
Marissa knew she would do whatever it took to be there, but decided to keep it to herself. She didn’t want to seem too eager or available. “I’ll do my best, cowboy. But that’s a month away. What happens if I manage any time off before then?”
“Call me. I’ll come to you.”
Marissa liked the sound of that.
Epilogue
Fourth of July…
Marissa’s jaw dropped as she neared the ranch. It was mid-morning and she was amazed at the number of vehicles already parked in the yard. Most were trucks, in a wide range of ages and conditions. It was clear, which were working vehicles and which were for personal use. When her gaze found the guests, she realized they all had three things in common-jeans, boots, and cowboy hats. She was glad she’d had the foresight to wear jeans and boots, but she didn’t own a hat.
From all appearances, it looked like the Evans brothers had hired some professionals to handle the food preparation and cooking. Smoke billowed from several smokers. Rows of picnic tables had been set up and covered with red and white gingham table clothes. Mountains of paper plates, bowls, and cups were at the end of each table. There were kegs of what she assumed was beer, if the men gathered around them was any indication.
She could hear music, and when she got closer to the house she saw a country band had been set up in a gazebo. Unsure of where to park, she pulled her leased car closer to the barn, parked by the fence, and turned off the ignition. She pulled off her sunglasses and tossed them onto the dashboard.
God, she couldn’t wait to see Beau. Kirk had booked her so solidly through the last few weeks that she hadn’t been able to get any real time off, except for an afternoon here and there. He had been unable to get away, too, working back-to-back jobs. So they’d made do with nightly phone calls that only accomplished one thing. Leaving her lonely, horny, and a little more in love with the man.
As she walked toward the house she spotted Beau talking to a couple of men at the bottom of the steps. His back was to her. She felt her pulse race as she let her gaze travel over his taut backside. Dressed like all the other men in faded work jeans, boots, and a cowboy hat, he was a vision for sore eyes.
With a big smile on her face, Marissa walked up behind him, catching a whiff of his aftershave. She reached for his hat, stepped in front of him, and wrapped her arms around his neck. The happy surprise in his eyes was all worth it.
“I’m back, cowboy.” Marissa stood on tiptoe and planted a long kiss on his lips. Slowly he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into his embrace. That small hesitation planted a seed of doubt in her mind. Wasn’t he happy to see her? But when he didn’t open his mouth, she slowly drew back with mild concern.
“Well, hello, darlin. That’s the best damn welcome I’ve had all day.”
Marissa met the amusement in his eyes with a frown. Then it dawned on her that she’d mistaken one of Beau’s brothers for him. Her jaw dropped. She was too embarrassed to say anything, much less move.
His eyes shifted at something over her shoulder. “Brother, I think this little beauty is yours.” He turned her around slowly.
Marissa was vaguely aware of laughter surrounding them as she turned to face Beau.
“I see you’ve met my brother, Chaz.”
The brother whose priority in life was getting women in his bed. Still in shock, all she could do was nod.
Beau stepped closer to her, amusement swimming in his eyes. “Do I get such a warm welcome, honey?”
With Chaz’s hat still in her hand, she spun around and put it back on his head. When she faced Beau again she didn’t hesitate to throw herself into his arms. There was no hesitation in his crushing embrace. He lifted Marissa off her feet.
“Hell, I missed you,” he said just before his mouth closed over hers.
Marissa gave herself up to his smoldering kiss, happy to be back in his arms again, wondering why she’d ever left in the first place. Beau held her tightly, and this time she got the tongue action she wanted. She didn’t know how long they kissed, but when he pulled back, she was breathless and tingling all over.
“I missed you, too, cowboy,” she smiled with tears in her eyes. “And I’ve got a whole week to show you how much.”
“Just one week?” he teased.
“Well, I’m pretty sure by the end of a week you’ll be, ah, worn out.” Marissa glanced around, noticing more people had arrived. “Do you think we can go someplace to have a quiet conversation?”
Beau grabbed her by the hand and led her to the barn. Once inside he took her to the back where bales of hay were stacked. A small mountain of loose hay was in the corner as if someone had swept it there to pick up later. He pulled Marissa down with him, arranging her on his lap. Laughing, she wrinkled her nose.
“You’ll learn to love it,” he said with regard to the strong animal smells. “Now what do you want to talk about?”
Marissa shrugged. “I just wanted to be alone with you for a few minutes.” She glanced up at him. “I really missed you, Beau.”
“I think you know how I feel,” he said gruffly.
“Do I?” Marissa didn’t want to assume anything, and she’d made a promise to herself that she wouldn’t hem haw around when she saw Beau again but would tell him exactly how she felt. “I, ah, think it’s safe to say that we are, ah, involved.” So much for not hem hawing around. “Emotionally,” she added. There, I said it. She held her breath.
“Is that so,” Beau said after a moment of studying her intently.
Marissa couldn’t read anything in the tone of his voice. “Don’t you think so?” Then she thought about it. Maybe it was too soon for him. Maybe he didn’t know how he felt. She refused to let it get her down, not after the way he’d welcomed her with that toe-curling kiss. The hardest thing she’d ever had to do was keep the smile plastered on her face while staring up at him, waiting for some kind of response.
“I only know one thing, darlin.” Beau leaned back, dragging her down with him, enclosing her in his arms. “I want you in my life. Physically, emotionally, every way there is. These last few weeks have been hell without you.”
“So, you do think we have something, cowboy?” Marissa teased.
His answer was to roll with her so that she ended up lying in the hay. Then his lips were moving sensuously, seductively over hers, drawing out her willing response. A series of short kisses and then one long, deep kiss that reached all the way to Marissa’s soul. It was the kind of kiss that pulled the raw emotion from her, leaving her eyes burning. She held on to Beau, trying to convey how she felt.
“Does that answer your question?” His voice was hoarse.
Marissa nodded, a tight knot in her throat keeping her from speaking at first. “I just wanted to make sure,” she said throatily. Her heart was swelling with an emotion she was almost afraid to expose. “Now, where were we?”
His passionate kiss was all the answer Marissa needed.
The End
Author’s Other Books
Whiskey Creek Press Torrid – http://www.whiskeycreekpresstorrid.com
It’s All in the Jeans
Wicked Desire
The Cowboy Way
Someone to Love Me
Passionate Encounters
Yield to Me – coming March 2013
The Wild Rose Press – http://www.thewildrosepress.com
All the Right Moves
The Mercenary Way
Ellora’s Cave – http://www.ellorascave.com
Her Hands-On Man
Talk Dirty to Me
Breathless Surrender
Liquid Silver Books – http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com
Hot Spot
The Promise
Whiskey Creek Press – http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com
Cupid’s Arrow
The Senator’s Daughter
Total-E-Bound –
Instant Attraction – coming March 2013
Amazon Kindle –
Up in Flames
A Perfect Fit
Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/ToryRichards/e/B002DBFNUQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Coming March 2013!
Yield to Me – Whiskey Creek Press Torrid
Most women look forward to their wedding day, but not Senator Adams daughter, Sophie. She’s being blackmailed into marrying a man she detests, in order to keep a family secret from being revealed. So when she finds herself in the arms of a sexy kidnapper on the eve before the nuptials, she looks at it as a godsend. Until she realizes that her abductor’s every touch sets her on fire.
Brent was preparing for a long over do vacation on his boat when he’s talked into kidnapping this ‘sweet southern belle.’ It would be a piece of cake, he’s told. So why does he suddenly find himself with a hellion on his hands? One who arouses him without trying, and knows how to satisfy him. Even though they fall for each other, they can only have a future if she admits the truth.
Instant Attraction – Total-E-Bound
Instant attraction runs hot and out of control between an animal activist and a cop, but they want more. Can it turn into love?
Thomas is a motorcycle cop, new to the rural area. He needed a change from the hectic big city, and the pressures of being on the SWAT team. A little more peace and quiet to reflect on what he wants in life, and maybe find someone to share it with along the way. He never expected to find his perfect match in the form of one sexy little animal activist. From the moment they meet, their attraction is hot and out of control.
Julie is an animal lover and works at a no-kill shelter. Living next door to the new cop in the area, she’s asked by a member of the town hall committee to welcome him to the neighbourhood. When she meets Thomas for the very first time instant attraction causes the sparks to fly. And they can’t keep their hands off each other. The hot, anywhere-anytime sex is great but they both want more. Can instant attraction turn into love?
Up in Flames Excerpt
“How bad do you have it?”
His breath was warm against her face. Rachel swallowed. “I can overcome it most of the time, if I think of something else. But knowing that I can’t get out right this minute is the problem. I can’t breathe.”
“Yes you can. Just breathe in deep through your nose and release it slowly through your mouth.” He pulled the glasses off her face and tossed them away. “You’re tense. Try to relax.” His strong hands began to massage Rachel’s shoulders.
She closed her eyes and tried to do what he suggested, then shook her head no and said fiercely, “I can’t breathe. There’s no air.”
“Think of something else.”
She felt his hands move from her shoulders to the buttons at her blazer. She could tell he was unbuttoning it, and the next thing Rachel knew he was slipping it off her shoulders.
“It might help loosening up some of your clothing.”
Rachel felt a scorching blast of heat envelop her when James’ hands began to pull her silk blouse out of the waistband of her skirt. When his knuckles brushed her skin at the top of her blouse, she realized he was undoing more buttons at her breast. Her eyes bolted open, and her hands encircled his wrists. His movements stopped.
“What are you doing Mr. White?” she whispered.
“Helping you, I thought.” There was amusement swimming in his eyes.
“By undressing me?” Under normal circumstances she would be thrilled but she was still stressed over her situation.
“You can relax, Miss Masters. Your virtue is safe with me.”
“I’m not a virgin.” Why had she said that? Rachel wanted the floor to open up and swallow her.
His soft laughter filled the elevator. “Well in that case, maybe you’re not safe with me.” He nudged her hands away and continued what he was doing. His gaze followed his hands while he unbuttoned her blouse, and when he was done he raised his eyes to hers.
She detected a slight difference in his breathing, and his features hardened with what she wanted to believe was growing desire.
http://www.amazon.com/Up-in-Flames-ebook/dp/B00948Q3HI/ref=sr_1_17?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1346443657&sr=1
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