Beauty's Kiss(48)

“Harley is wonderful.”

“She is,” he agreed.

“Thank you for making this possible,” Taylor said.

“The Ball?”

“No, this,” she said, gesturing from him to her. “I tried so hard to get out of this date but it’s the most fun I’ve had...” Her shoulder lifted, fell. “... ever? Thank you.”

The waiter materialized with a tray and their cocktails, his drink and another champagne for her. She took her flute but frowned at the raspberry bobbing among the tiny bubbles.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

She looked up at him. “I never drink more than two of anything, but I think I’ve already had at least... three.”

“This would be your fourth,” he agreed. “But you’ve had dinner and you’ve been dancing. And if you’re worried about driving—”

“Not worried about driving. Not planning on driving anywhere.” She looked at him. “You do have your own suite here at the hotel, don’t you?”

She saw the gleam in his eyes before his lashes dropped. “I do,” he said.

“So no, drinking and driving isn’t my concern.”

“What is your concern then?”

“Losing my head. Which could easily happen after two. And God only knows what happens after three.”

The corner of his mouth quirked. “All hell breaks loose?”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe we should find out.”

“You think?”

He smoothed a loose tendril back from her cheek, and studied her face, his gaze lingering on her lips. “Could be interesting to see what happens when Miss Harris loses control.”

She reached up, to lightly drag her nails down his cheek. He felt good. So good. And so real. She wanted to kiss him. And more. “I’m not good at this stuff,” she whispered.

“It’s just you and me, baby.”

Her heart did a painful double beat. “I’m afraid I’ll get this part wrong. I’m not a big city girl—”

“Don’t want a big city girl. I like my small town girl just fine.”

She smiled. “You know all the right things to say.”

“I know what I feel and I know what I want. And I want you, Taylor.”

“Why?”

“You just seem like you were made for me.”

Taylor had no answer for this. Silence stretched. She gulped her champagne.

And he just waited, lifting a black brow, his expression quizzical, and maybe even gently mocking, but she didn’t mind.

He was looking at her, waiting on her.

It was all about her. And she liked it. She loved it. She loved the way he focused on her. Loved the piercing blue of his eyes. Loved the intensity in his gaze. When he looked at her like this, she felt strong. Real. Powerful.

She was a woman who could do anything. And love big.

“Can we take our drinks to your suite?” she asked.

“I think we absolutely can.” He stood, held out his hand to her. “Come with me.”





They didn’t make love that night. In Troy’s suite they kissed for hours and did everything one could do without going all the way before finally falling asleep in his bed.

Taylor woke up sometime in the night and turned on her side to watch Troy sleep.

It had been years since she’d slept next to a man. It was hard to sleep when so many different emotions raced through her, making her insides feel raw and tender.

A week ago she would have never thought this was possible. Even two days ago she wouldn’t have thought this was possible...

Now look at her... in bed with Troy, falling for him, hard. So hard.

And yet somehow it felt right. Him, her, together...

Everything worked. They worked. She didn’t know how, didn’t know why, but maybe she didn’t have to have all the answers. Maybe it was enough to just feel wonderful.





Troy woke up Taylor with a kiss. “Hey Sleeping Beauty,” he murmured, “It’s almost six. We better get you home. Don’t want to worry Kara or Doug.”

“Can’t go yet,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck to prolong the kiss then sighing with pleasure as he shifted his weight over her. He was warm and strong and hard and felt so good against her. “We have time.”

“You’re sure you want to do this?” he asked, settling his hips between her thighs.

“Not going home until we do.”

And so they made love, just before dawn, as the first snowflakes of the new storm began tumbling down.

Later, snuggled up against Troy, Taylor sighed, relaxed and perfectly content. “Mmm, that was lovely.”

He wrapped his arm around her, holding her to him. “Who would have ever thought that Marietta’s new librarian was such a wild thing in bed?” he teased.