Million Dollar Cowboy (Cupid, Texas #5)(58)

"Don't sell yourself short. You inspire me to great heights." He nibbled her earlobe. His warm breath sending shivers over her skin dampened by his tongue.

"I'd love to take you up on that offer," she said, gazing into his eyes. "But if my truck stays parked in front of the chapel after everyone else has gone, it's going to look suspicious."

"You don't want anyone knowing about us?" He kissed her forehead.

"No."

"Why not?"

"You've forgotten how claustrophobic small towns are. I'll never hear the end of it."

"Would that be so bad?" he asked with a wicked laugh. "People gossiping about us?"

"Yes," she said. "Yes it would. I'm the one who has to live here, and live down the reputation you'll stamp me with. I'd be just another silly girl sideswiped by Ridge Lockhart."




       
         
       
        
"Do you really believe that about me?"

"Doesn't matter what I believe. It's all about perception."

Ridge captured her chin between his fingers, forced her to look him squarely in the eyes. "This was special. You're special."

Yeah? Maybe. But so what? He was off to China and she had to finish her degree. "It was great sex."

What about the humming? Huh? What about that? Song of the Soul Mate stuff. It meant something. But she wasn't about to tell him about that. Keep it light. It was the only way for her to survive.

"There's more where that came from." He wriggled his eyebrows like Groucho Marx.

"Listen," she said, imagining she was a sophisticated city woman accustomed to casual affairs. "I really do have to go. The Cupid grapevine aside, I have animals that need my attention."

"Ten more minutes," he finagled, snuggling her against his chest.

Her bones were rubber. How easy it would be to sink into him and let nature have her way.

His intoxicating bay rum and hot male scent enveloped her, and all she wanted was to bottle the fragrance and put it in her pocket so she could pull it out and take a big whiff of him whenever she wanted to remember this night.

"Did you know you have a heart-shaped freckle on the back of your neck?" he asked, tracking his finger over her nape. "It's cute."

Kaia plastered a hand to her neck. She did not know she had a heart-shaped freckle there. "Probably just dirt."

"Let me see." He lifted up her hair, licked the flat of his thumb, rubbed it against her skin where she supposed the spot was. A sweet shiver ran through her body. "No, no. Not dirt. It's a freckle."

He pressed his lips to her neck and the shiver turned into an all-out tremor. How easy it would be to surrender into this, into him. It took every ounce of willpower she possessed to sidle away. "I had a wonderful time tonight. Thank you."

"But . . ."

"I really don't see this going anywhere, Ridge. You've got a life in Canada. I've got a life here . . ."

"Can I at least have your cell number?"

"No."

"Why not?"

She shook her head. "It's for the best. You'll be out of the country. I'll be finishing school. We're both too busy for a long-distance relationship."

He paused, and for a moment she thought she saw disappointment on his face, but he quickly covered it up with a jovial mask. "You're right," he agreed. "Wishful thinking."

Silence fell over the room. Each of them lost in their own thoughts. Things were awkward now. Strained. 

Suddenly, she wanted to be anywhere but here. She needed to get off by herself, think things through. She slid from the bed, using her pillow as a shield as she searched for her underwear.

"Don't get up," she said.

"I hope you don't mean that literally," he said impishly. "Because I already am. Up, that is."

Kaia darted a quick glance at him, and sure enough the covers were tented below his waist. She felt her cheeks flush, ducked her head.

"Down, boy," she quipped, spotted her panties, and slipped them on.

"Kind of hard to do when you just gave me such a clear shot of your beautiful butt."

"You're incorrigible," she said, alarmed by the surge of hope that bloomed in her chest.

"And you love that about me." He gifted her with a saucy smile and sultry, half-closed eyelids. "If you change your mind, you know where to find me."

"At least until Monday," she said. Reminding herself more than him that their short-lived romance had an expiration date.

He threw back the covers, got up, giving her a full frontal view of his total male gloriousness. "At least let me walk you to your truck."