He felt a tremor race through her body and skip into his. This close, her eyes looked as blue as a lake – and just as fathomless. She chewed at her bottom lip in a ridiculous attempt to stem the tears that were still raining down her face. Her breath came in short, hard gulps.
He squeezed her arms a bit tighter and said again, "It's bull, Nora. All of it. At least," he said with a shake of his head, "what I caught of that monologue. You talk so damn fast, it's hard to be sure."
A tremulous smile flitted across her face and was gone again in an instant. "My mom always said that when I was nervous she couldn't hear a word I was saying."
"I know what she meant," he grumbled. "But the upshot of this is, you're blaming yourself because you panicked."
"Exactly," she said, and tried to worm out of his grasp. But there was no way someone as small as Nora was going to get away from Mike if he didn't want her to. And damn it, he didn't.
"You didn't panic, Nora. You took care of her. You read to her. The same damn story over and over until I would have pulled my hair out in frustration." He gave her a small smile and was rewarded with one just like it.
"That's not true," she said, leaning into him. "Emily already told me you read her that story every night."
"Wrong," he said on a sigh, enjoying too much the feel of her body pressed along his. "I recite it. I learned it by heart months ago."
She laughed. The sound was hesitant, unsure, but it was there, however briefly.
Mike's gaze swept over her face, her hair, and came back to her eyes. So deep. So blue. So … innocent. Hell, he never would have believed that in the twenty-first century, you could find an innocent over the age of fifteen. Yet here she stood.
In his arms.
His thumbs moved back and forth over her bare arms, and the feel of her skin beneath his sent a rush of fire pouring through him. His body tightened and breathing became a real issue.
But he wasn't holding her for his own satisfaction, right? He was supposed to be consoling her. He got back to the subject at hand and tried to tell his body to chill out.
"Kids get sick fast, Nora. But they heal just as quick, most of the time." He shrugged helplessly. "And, nine times out of ten, all you can do is stand there and watch over them. Try to make them more comfortable."
Her gaze dropped.
He dipped his head to reestablish the connection. "Read to them."
She smiled again.
"You did good."
Nora sucked in a long deep gulp of air and blew it out again, ruffling the stray curl draped over her forehead. "If you're lying to make me feel better," she said, "I want you to know you're doing a great job."
His mouth quirked. "I'm not lying."
She studied his features for a long minute, as if trying to read the truth in his expression. What she saw must have convinced her finally because she nodded and whispered, "Thanks."
"No problem." His thumbs moved over her skin again, and this time she shivered and he felt her reaction kick around inside him. Deliberately, his grip loosened as he told himself to take a step back. That they were too close, standing here in the dimly lit room. Moonlight streamed through the uncurtained front windows and lay in a silvery pattern on the worn rugs and hardwood floors.
The one lamp burning in the room cast a small circle of golden light that came nowhere near them as they stood locked together near the hearth.
"Mike…" she whispered, and her voice seemed to dance at the back of his neck, sending every damn one of his nerve endings onto red alert.
While he still could, Mike let her go and took a half step backward. Scrubbing one hand across his face, he told himself to ignore her perfume – some delicate flowery scent – as it surrounded him, filling the air with a power that threatened to rock him to his knees. "Look," he said tightly, remembering that there was no future in this, "Emily's asleep. She's going to be fine by morning. Maybe you should be headed home."
"I don't want to leave just yet," she said, and took a step closer.
Now, she might be a virgin, but Mike certainly wasn't, and he'd seen that determined look on a woman's face before. She'd made up her mind about something, and he had a feeling that once Nora had set her course it would take more than logic to change it.
"Nora, this isn't a good idea," he said, feeling it only fair that he try, anyway, despite the low chance of success.
"See," she said, coming even closer, "that's where you're wrong, cowboy. I think it's a great idea."
And then she was in his arms, pressing her body into his, wrapping her arms around his neck and going up on her toes until their mouths were just a kiss apart.
Mike's body went hard and tight. Every muscle, every cell, sizzled and burned. He clenched his jaw and fought against grabbing her. His hands fisted at his sides even as he felt his blood boil.
Her breath dusted his face. Her fingers stroked through his hair and he felt her touch right down to his bones. She shifted a little, rubbing her abdomen against him. She smiled knowingly.
"You know, Mike, I think you think it's a better idea than you think you do."
He blinked, shook his head and ground out, "What?"
"Oh," she said, running the tip of one finger around the inside collar of his dark red T-shirt. "I think you understand me."
He shuddered and, in self defense, grabbed her tight, holding her still, with his arms locked around her waist and tightening like a vise.
"Oomph." Her breath was squeezed from her lungs, but it didn't seem to be bothering her any.
"Nora," Mike said, forcing his voice to work around the huge knot of need lodged in his throat, "I'm not the one you want."
She tipped her head to one side and gave him a crooked smile that stabbed right to the heart of him. "How do you know what I want, cowboy?"
"Quit calling me that," he grumbled. "I'm a rancher."
"You're a cowboy," she murmured, and let her fingers trail through his hair again, sending tiny lighting bolts blasting throughout his body.
"I'm not gonna do this."
"Oh, I think you will."
Damn it, he thought. She was way more right than he was.
"C'mon cowboy," she murmured, moving her mouth even closer to his. "Be a hero, kiss the girl."
His right hand swept up her spine. Threading his fingers through her fine, silky blond hair, he cupped the back of her head and held her still for one long, heart-stopping second. Staring down into her blue eyes, he felt himself fall, and the last rational thought that darted through his brain was What the hell. What harm can one kiss do?
"Yes ma'am," he muttered, and took her mouth in a fiery kiss that slammed into both of them with the strength and raw fury of a runaway train.
Nora held on tight and enjoyed this new experience. She'd been on a roller-coaster ride of emotions all night. First teasing Mike, then sitting beside Emily's sickbed, then here again, in the dark, with Mike. Talking to him, watching him, feeling the power of his forest-green eyes were all enough to send any healthy woman over the edge.
But seeing him in action as a tender, loving father had just topped off what she'd felt building inside her for weeks now. Mike Fallon was more man than she'd ever hoped to find. Her body hummed when he was around. She hated leaving him at night and couldn't wait to see him again. Was that love? She didn't know. Didn't want to think about it. At least not now. For now, all she wanted to do was feel.
She'd saved herself for years, hoping, praying the one special man might come along. Then, she'd given up hope. Now, here, tonight, she'd found him.
The fact that he wasn't interested in love or forever was something she'd worry about tomorrow. Tonight, she wanted his arms around her. She wanted to taste and feel and experience everything she'd been missing all these years.
His mouth opened over hers, his tongue parting her lips, sweeping into her mouth to dazzle her even further. She'd been kissed before, her brain screamed out, but her body knew better. She might have been kissed, b
ut she'd never been kissed.
And Mike was a man with a real gift for kissing.
She groaned softly as he took more of her, tasting, exploring, delving deep into the heart of her. His breath brushed her cheek, his tongue entwined with hers, dazzling her, stealing her breath and sending her pulse beat into a rapid dance that pounded in her ears and left her shivering.
Again and again, he explored her, while his hands moved up and down her back, along her curves, finding their way along her body, driving the heat swamping her into an inferno. Nora held on to him, clinging to his broad shoulders as if her life depended on him.
Dazzling fireworks exploded behind her closed eyes, and the falling sparks seemed to shatter and spill throughout her body. Her brain shut down, but that didn't matter. No thought was necessary. She forgot to breathe and didn't care. Everything else in the world fell away as she stood wrapped in the center of his warm, solid strength. She wanted that kiss to go on and on. She wanted his hands on her body, and the fire inside quickened until she felt flushed from head to toe. Still, she wanted more.
A moment later, he broke the kiss, dragging his mouth from hers. She struggled for air and rested her head on his chest, trying to get her balance back, comforting herself with the ragged beat of his heart. Standing on her own two feet again, she swayed into him, afraid that if he moved away too quickly, she'd fall flat on her face.
Noodly knees would do that to a person.
He drew in a long, deep breath and let it shudder through him as he rested his chin on top of her head. "Nora, do us both a favor and go home. Now."
"I don't think I can walk," she confessed.
"I'll carry you to your car."
She leaned her head back to stare up at him. When she saw the dark swirl of desire gleaming in his eyes, her knees went weak again. "Mike, you don't want me to leave. I can see it in your eyes."
"What I want and what I'm going to do are two different things."
Disappointment welled inside her. "They don't have to be."
"Yeah," he said, "they do." And he let her go, taking a step back that was as much mental as it was physical. She felt him withdraw, pull away from the closeness they'd just shared. Nora wanted to kick him.
"You can just shut it off. Just like that." Shaking her head, she glared at him and tried not to think about the fact that her mouth was still humming, her blood still racing.
"If you think this is easy, you're nuts."
"Then why do it?" she demanded, anger and frustration coloring her voice.
"Because one of us has to think clearly."
"Ahhh…" she said on a long, slow inhalation. She dropped both hands to her hips, tapped her left foot against the rug beneath her and snapped, "So what you're saying is, you'll do the thinking for the poor, weak little female who doesn't know her own mind?"
His jaw tightened, the muscle twitching spasmodically. "I didn't say that."
"Sure you did, Mike." In a slow, measured walk, she moved in a circle around him, forcing him to turn his head just to keep his eye on her. "You're so tall and strong and smart and everything. And you've had sex … at least once, for sure."
"Hey…"
"So of course you should take charge here, right?"
"I didn't say I was—"
"So, yeah, Mike. Fine. I'll leave, because I'm not really feeling romantic anymore, anyway, in case you didn't guess that by the way I'm talking and how fast the words are coming out—"
His features tight, he muttered, "I got it, but—"
"But you know something?" Nora said, moving close enough to poke her index finger into his chest with the force of a nail being pounded into a piece of oak. "You're going to regret this, Mike." She moved in closer still, keeping her gaze locked with his, then, her voice low and husky with choked-off need, she whispered, "When you're lying there alone in your bed tonight, Mike, I want you to remember that you sent me home." She ran her fingers down the front of his shirt, then fisted her hands in the material, pulling his head down to hers. "You'll miss me, cowboy. You know you will."
Then she kissed him, hard, slanting her mouth over his and pouring everything she was feeling into that one, last kiss. She felt him give, surrender to the moment, and when his hands came up to her back, she let him go and moved out of his reach. It was small consolation that he looked like he'd been hit on the head.
"This is over for tonight, cowboy," she said, mustering what little dignity she could. Lifting her chin, she met his gaze coolly. "But just for tonight."
Then, with her insides churning and her brain spinning, she left him standing there in the dim light and didn't look back.
* * *
Chapter 9
«^»
"You've got to set the hook and reel him in." Nora's mother glanced at her briefly, then turned her gaze back to the crochet project on her lap.
"Exactly," Frannie piped up, and wiped her baby's drooly chin.
"Honestly, Nora," Jenny complained, hefting her daughter up to her shoulder to be burped. "How have you managed to live this long without knowing the game?"
Nora's gaze drifted from one member of her family to the next. Her mom, Rose, sat in a wing chair with sunlight pouring over her shoulder and onto the spill of garnet yarn cascading off her lap to pool at her feet. Frannie and Jenny were each busy with their kids, but apparently still had plenty of time to give Nora the advice they were so sure she desperately needed.
The house where she grew up hadn't changed much over the years. Oh, it had newer furniture and the carpet had been replaced once or twice. The absence of her father was still felt five years after his passing. But, basically, it was the same old comfortable Victorian. Where she came every two weeks to be harassed over lunch whether she needed it or not.
For the last half hour, the hot topic of discussion was her relationship – or lack thereof – with Mike Fallon. Apparently, the whole darn town was talking about her and Mike. Not so surprising, really. There wasn't a lot going on in Tesoro, so having a new piece of gossip was almost enough reason to throw a carnival. With Nora spending as much time with Mike as she had in the last few weeks, it was no wonder people were speculating.
"Who says you have to play games?" she suddenly asked of no one in particular.
All three of them snorted muffled laughs.
Gritting her teeth, Nora defended her position. "Game playing is for kids. Men and women should be honest with each other."
"Ah, so speaks the still unattached sister," Frannie muttered.
"Wisdom from the virgin goddess." Jenny rolled her eyes and congratulated her little daughter on a burp well done.
Nora gritted her teeth, but before she could shoot back some pithy retort, another voice interrupted.
"You girls stop it," their mother said, and Nora shifted her gaze to the woman with softly graying blond hair. "Nora, honey, what works for some doesn't necessarily work for others." Pulling a stitch tight, she laid her silver hook down and rested her hands in her lap. Smiling, she continued. "You've always been as honest as the day is long, Nora. No sense in trying to change now."
"Thank you, Mom," she said, giving her sisters a meaningful look.
"But," Rose said quickly, drawing her daughter's gaze back to hers. "Honesty surely isn't always the easiest policy when dealing with a man."
"Amen," Frannie muttered.
Their mother ignored her and focused on Nora. "Pay no attention, honey. What I'm trying to say is, it won't be easy, but if you want Mike, then you have to figure out how to convince him of that in your own way." She leaned forward, bracing her elbows on her knees, and smiled at her eldest daughter. "I know you, Nora. Where you love, you love strong and deep. If this is really love, then go for it, honey. Find your own way and do what you think best."
Tears stung the backs of Nora's eyes as she looked into her mother's warm, soft blue gaze. It was good she thought, to have a place where you were known so well. Where, no matter what, you belonged and people understoo
d.
"Really, Nora, all you have to do is make up your mind and then convince him that his mind is made up, too." Jenny grinned at her from across the room.
Now, that sounded so much easier than it was probably going to be, Nora thought.
"Oh!" Frannie squealed. "Look. Look." She pointed at her little son. The eleven-month-old had pulled himself to his feet. While the women in the room held their collected breaths, tiny hands fisted in the fabric of the sofa cushion. And with his proud family looking on, little Jake took his first toddling steps.
When he dropped onto his well-padded bottom, his delighted mother scooped him up, cheering for his victory. Nora sat on the floor, watching her sisters and her mother congratulating the little boy. Tears filled her eyes, and she felt a raw, open tide of love rush through her, so thick, so powerful, it nearly choked her.
Family.
That's what mattered.
That's what she wanted most.
And she knew just what she had to do to get it.
*
Things were getting back to normal.
At least, that's what Mike kept telling himself. He hadn't seen Nora in nearly two days. Not since she'd set his body on fire and then walked out of his house to let him burn to a crisp alone.
"Just as well," he said, throwing Emily's sleeping bag and balloon-decorated overnight case into the back of the truck. Nora had obviously finally accepted that whatever there was between them just wasn't going to go any further.
"Hey, boss!"
Mike's head jerked up and he squinted into the afternoon sunlight to watch Rick approach. "What's up?"
Rick shook his head and snapped his thumb toward his own house at the other end of the ranch yard. "You coming right back from town?"
"Yeah. Be gone about a half hour."
"Excellent. On your way back, will you stop and pick up some tacos for Donna?"
Mike smiled to himself. "Thought she was craving ice cream?"
"Last week," Rick said on a sigh. "This week, it's tacos."
"Sure, I'll get 'em."
KISS ME, COWBOY Page 8