Cowboy Take Me Away(25)

The heat of the day lingered even as twilight approached.

She pulled into a roadside rest area and dug her clothes from the bottom of her purse. Making sure the coast was clear, she switched her short-sleeved floral blouse for a sleeveless black western shirt with pink piping on the collar and placket, leaving the top two buttons undone. She ditched the drab gray skirt and slid a tight black knit skirt up her thighs and over her hips. She wished she could’ve stashed a pair of pink kitten heels in her bag, but she was stuck with the white canvas shoes she’d worn all day.

Her hair was a wild tangle after having the windows down in the car, but it’d look messier yet when Carson got a hold of it. She’d nearly screamed in shock yesterday after catching sight of herself in the mirror following their picnic. She’d scraped her hair into a ponytail, praying her brothers and father wouldn’t notice her hairstyle change in the hours between when she left for church and when she’d returned home.

They’d been glued to some sporting event on TV and she’d breezed by them, no problem.

Lying and sneaking around didn’t sit well with her. She’d happily introduce Carson to her family, if it weren’t for the fact their families had bad blood. She’d try to remember to ask Carson specifics about it tonight.

Sure. It’s a little hard to talk when his tongue is buried in your mouth, isn’t it?

Yes. But good Lord could the man kiss. She could’ve happily kept her lips plastered to his all afternoon. And when he’d removed her stockings, his callused fingertips were a reminder that a man was touching her. A man who knew exactly how to elicit that shivery response from a woman.

Part of her wondered how much farther they might’ve gone if a car hadn’t interrupted.

Because you would’ve eagerly shed your clothes and given your virginity to the smoldering cowboy right there on that blanket.

At the time she’d been too annoyed at the interruption to consider how it might’ve looked when Carson had swept her into his arms and carried her back to the truck, without stockings, or shoes, her hair a wreck, her mouth red from their intense kisses.

Her stomach flipped when she heard the rumble of his truck enter the parking area. She grabbed her things, expecting he’d want her to hop in when he pulled up.

But Carson threw the engine in park and jumped out, skirting the tailgate, making a beeline for her. He curled his hand behind her neck and yanked her against his body. His hat shadowed her face and then his mouth was on hers. Kissing her like it’d been weeks since he’d seen her, not just a single day.

She dropped her bag to the ground and wrapped herself around him, letting his heat and urgency consume her.

Just when she thought he’d break the seal of their mouths, he changed the angle and then tone of the kiss. Kissing her with such sweetness she ached. So many sides to this gruff cowboy. And he seemed determined to show her every one.

Lucky me.

Carolyn kept her eyes closed when his mouth finally migrated to her ear.

“I missed you, sugar.”

That deep voice shot tingles down her arm, her spine, her neck. “The kiss proved that you missed me.” She turned her head and kissed his jaw. “But it’s nice to hear.”

“Same goes.”

She inhaled the soapy scent of his shaving cream and rubbed her lips across his jawbone. “I missed you too.”

Carson stepped back. “Let’s go.”

“Where are we going?”

“I told you; it’s a surprise.” He helped her into the cab. His help meant his hands squeezing her butt as he hoisted her in. She arched an eyebrow at him. The man didn’t even pretend it’d been an oversight. He merely grinned.

Before they took off, he said, “Why’re you sittin’ all the way by the door?” He patted the center seat. “Come here.”

“You are so bossy, McKay.” But she scooted closer anyway.

“Comes with bein’ the oldest. Though I’m only older than Cal by a couple of minutes.”

“What’s it like having a twin?”

He shrugged. “Normal for me. We look enough alike some folks think we’re identical, but we’re not.”

Her gaze traveled over his handsome face and she fought the urge to sigh with pure feminine appreciation. Hard to imagine another man looking as fine as him, with that midnight black hair, those compelling blue eyes, chiseled jawline, dimples in his lean cheeks, and the slight divot in his strong chin.

“Why you starin’ at me?”

“Just trying to imagine if your twin is as good-looking as you. When will you introduce me to him?”

He scowled.

Laughing, she leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Honestly I was staring because I like looking at you. There’s a whole lot to like about the way you look, McKay.”