Embrace My Heart(64)
Qasim grazed his knuckles along her cheek. “Honey, don’t you think I’m afraid, too?”
“Maybe, but you’re not coming from where I am.”
“Really? After what I told you about how often people have let me down? Maybe I came to expect it so much that I couldn’t see anything else. My issues with possessiveness didn’t fit when it came to you. That became even clearer when Oliver told me what that fool did to you. I knew I had no place having anything to do with you.
“I knew it and I said ‘to hell with it.’ And since being your friend doesn’t appeal to me even a little bit...” he smiled, pulled her into him when she returned the gesture “...you being my ex-lover is just wrong in too many ways to name.”
Vectra’s smile remained, though her eyes tinged with just a hint of curiosity. “Will you promise to tell me when I’m getting weird on you?”
Qasim locked his arms about her waist. “Only if you promise to do the same for me.”
“Promise.” Vectra stood on her toes, sharing with him a kiss of desire and love.
“So what now?” Vectra nuzzled her cheek against Qasim’s grizzled jaw.
“Well, I’m invited to a pretty good party tonight,” he suggested.
Vectra laughed. “This all got started because of a party.”
“And to think, I almost didn’t go.” Qasim grinned.
“Me, too.” Vectra beamed. “Guess we needed a good reason.”
“Yeah...but I’ve always been a fan of a good party.” Qasim outlined her ear with the tip of his nose and then set his mouth against it. “Especially the kind that come after weddings.”
She blinked, swallowed. “Yeah, those are, um...pretty good. I haven’t been to a party like that in a long time.”
“Neither have I.”
“Let me know if you hear of one?”
“Count on it, Ms. Bauer.” He leaned in as if to kiss her and then seemed to reconsider. “So what else goes on in a vineyard besides picking grapes?”
“Why, Mr. Wilder, what are you insinuating? I’m a good girl.” She huffed. “Picking grapes is all I’ve ever done out here.”
“That’s a pity.” Qasim hoisted her against his chest. “Let’s see what we can do to change that.”
Vectra’s laughter carried until Qasim found a perfect, private spot amidst the healthy vines. He silenced her more sweetly than she could ever have imagined.