“I think I would be taking advantage of you if I asked for help.”
“I could think of worse things. Are you drinking Tequila?” He tapped the rim of the glass.
“Yes. My sister’s.” She’d forgotten that she still held the glass.
“That’s your sister’s drink?”
“No. The Tequila. It’s hers. I’m not much of a drinker. I mean…sometimes…like tonight.” Oh hell. What had come over her?
“Do you mind?”
“Not at all.” She handed it over and watched as he brought the glass to his lips, taking a sip. His gaze stayed connected with her and there was something flirtatious, almost erotic in the simple act. She would have never thought sharing a drink with a man could tweak so many nerves in her body. The man who stood before her reeked of confidence and maturity. Magnetism and draw. There was an unspoken power between them and she had no resistance in her. He made her feel vulnerable, weak at the knees. She wondered if he had any vulnerabilities. Weaknesses. What made him happy? Sad? What did he crave?
He gave her the glass back and she drank, swallowing hard. “Maybe you should tell me why you’re here. If you were coming from town, you wouldn’t have passed my place.” She stared up at him as wave after wave of desire swarmed her, mixing with the alcohol. Her body was still relaxed after the bath, her blood flowing. His exotic scent lured her into being brave—finding her inner warrior.
“You busted me. I couldn’t resist driving by and checking to see if your lights were on. Saying that sounds a little stalkerish, but I promise I have the best intentions.”
Butterflies flitted inside her stomach. So, he’d been thinking of her too. She took a step past him to the railing and leaned against the wood, feeling the cool breeze across her warm cheeks. “Were you on a date?” She turned and pressed a hip against the rail, keeping her gaze on him above the rim of the glass. She sipped and the heat in her stomach matched that between her thighs. How could a man erupt such a strong desire in her without even touching her?
“A date?” There was a brief hesitation. “No. I had an unexpected problem in one of the rentals. I’ve officially added plumbing to my list of new skills.” He laughed and joined her at the rail, his bicep brushed her shoulder as he relaxed his hip against the spot next to her. They could have easily been lovers, but she couldn’t trust her own emotions, not when the alcohol threatened to make a fool out of her.
“You’re learning a lot of new things in Tarnation. From plumbing to grooming dogs to making a woman’s knees weak.”
“Am I making your knees weak?”
“Did I say that aloud?”
“Yes, you did.” His smile grew by leaps and bounds. “I’m enjoying meeting new friends.”
His husky voice tweaked her nipples and her toes curled. “Are we friends, Ash?” She liked how his name rolled off her tongue.
Then he caught her off guard for the second time tonight when he took the glass from her hand and set it aside, then placed his hand on her hip. The heat from his fingers burned through the material of her clothes. “I won’t get too close considering I was waist deep under a leaky sink tonight, but there’s been something that has been driving me crazy. I don’t think I’ll get any sleep until I kick this question out of my head.”
“Yeah? What is it?” she murmured.
“What those lovely lips taste like.” He lowered his head and kissed her lightly on the lips—a slow caress, but then his tongue slipped inside. A moan escaped her, and she melted into him, craving more, loving how good his lips felt against hers. She couldn’t imagine a better kiss or a feeling that could match the temptation inside her. She could have stayed in his arms, surrendering herself to him, but the creaking of the old door opening was a cold shower to the moment.
Ash stepped away and Lexi cleared her throat, creating some unwanted distance between them about the same time her mother was on the porch too, looking from Ash to Lexi. “Please forgive the intrusion. I’m Lexi’s mom, Peggy.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.” He shook her outstretched hand. “I’m Ash Colt.”
“Ash? I knew an Ash once, but he wasn’t as sweet as you.” Peggy dipped her gaze from his head to the dusty tips of his boots.
“Mom? Did you need something?” Lexi wanted the porch to open and engulf her.
“That evil cat of yours crawled under my bed and won’t come out.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“You two go on about your business. Ol’ Puss will be fine in the meantime.”
Once they were alone again, Lexi wrapped her arms around her waist hoping to settle the butterflies. “I’m sorry. These are the downfalls of not living alone.”
“I should be going anyway. Sunrise comes early on a ranch.”
“Your question? Was it answered?” She caught him mid-stride.
“A whole new set of problems have arisen.”
Although she couldn’t see his expression in the shadows, she could feel the heat of his words into her core.
Going inside, she closed the door and smiled. A kiss from a sexy cowboy was definitely the way to end an evening.
Secured by the Lawman (Mountain Force Book 2) Page 21