Stone Cold Cowboy(42)

“I don’t drink soda, so I’ll have an iced tea.”

“Really? No soda?”

“Too sweet.”

Rory ordered the tub of popcorn and two iced teas. They walked to the theater, and he handed over the tickets to the usher, whose eyes nearly popped out of his head when he caught sight of Sadie in that damn sexy skirt. He wasn’t the only guy Rory ended up glaring at to keep their distance from his date.

He followed Sadie to their seats in the middle of the theater, several rows up past dead center. She liked to be up high, but not at the back. She knew what she liked and didn’t mind letting him know or doing what she wanted. She didn’t just go along. He appreciated a woman who knew her own mind.

They watched the opening trailers, laughing when they bumped hands reaching for the popcorn. So in sync it happened nearly every time. A quarter way through the movie, Sadie propped her feet on the empty seat in front of her, leaned into him, rested her head on his shoulder, and held his hand through the rest of the movie. He laughed when she jumped during a few of the more intense scenes. She punched him in the shoulder for spooking her as the background music intensified and the scene built for the bad guy to attack the good guys. She didn’t settle back into him, so he reached over and pulled her close. She settled in with an “I’ll get you for that.”

The movie ended, but they didn’t get up right away. Instead, they sat together, holding hands, watching everyone else file out.

Sadie sighed and leaned away from Rory. “I really enjoyed the movie, but it’s late, and I’m sorry to say, I need to get home and check on my dad.”

He kissed her forehead, completely understanding her worry. He stood and pulled her up beside him. He walked from the theater to his truck, holding her hand, thrilling at the heat still radiating inside him and the connection they kept building between them.

She climbed into the truck and pulled her legs in, smoothing her skirt down her thighs. He meant to close the door. He really did. Instead, he reached for her, gripping her thighs, turning her back toward him, and used his other hand to tilt her chin up so he could kiss her. He had to kiss her.

Her hand fisted in his shirt at his shoulder and she tugged him closer. He couldn’t get close enough with her skirt keeping him from spreading her legs and pulling her hips to his. He gave in to his need to touch her, sliding his hand down from her jaw to her neck, tracing her throat with his fingertips and down over her chest. She changed the angle of her head and took the kiss deeper. He trailed his fingertips over the top of her breast, then laid his palm over the soft globe and squeezed.

She sighed and nearly undid him altogether.

So soft. So sweet. So his, but he reined it in, sweeping his thumb over her hard nipple, sliding his hand up over the soft mound, back up her chest and throat to her silky smooth cheek. He ended the kiss with a soft brush of his lips to hers, pressed his forehead to hers, and just breathed her in.

“Dangerously addictive,” he whispered, trying to hold on to his control.

“Yes, you are.” She smoothed her hands over his chest and up to his face. She held him away from her and looked up at him. “I’m glad you asked me out.”

“So am I.”

He stepped back, gently touched his hand to her legs to get her to turn back into the truck. This time, she didn’t flinch even a little bit at his touch. Her hair fell down her back in waves. He reached for one of the wavy locks and let it slide through his hand over her chest. The back of his hand brushed softly over her breast a second before her hair fell free. Her breath caught and her eyes widened with surprise at his touch, then blazed with heat. He closed the door even though he wanted to have her right there on the front seat of his truck in the middle of the parking lot. He rounded the hood, taking a deep breath to cool off, and hopped into the truck beside her.

Sadie shimmied over to him. No hesitation, just the same need to be close that he felt for her. The quiet drive home never felt uncomfortable. In fact, she sat beside him, holding his hand in both of hers, tracing his fingers in an absent way that showed him she liked being with him. He really liked being with her. So much so that he was thinking up a thousand and one ways to see her again.





CHAPTER 11

Sadie sat bolt upright and squeezed Rory’s hand. “Stop the truck.” She turned to him and grabbed his shoulder. “Stop. Stop right now.”

Rory slammed on the brakes and pulled off the road.

The lights from her home shone in the distance, but that’s not what caught her attention. She’d been staring out the window, wishing on stars, high on the happiness she felt after such a great evening with Rory. Then she spotted a shadow in the field and panicked.