Texas Heroes_ Volume 1(171)

“And if I do?”

He glanced at her. “It’s not your kind of place, Lacey. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Stop it, Dev. I want to be someone new.”

An odd look crossed his face at those words.

“I mean it.” She spread her arms wide, throwing her arms back and wishing her hair were long so it could whip in the wind like a banner.

“If you don’t stop looking like seven kinds of sin, I will not be responsible for my actions,” he growled.

A slow, lazy smile spread across her lips. She arched one eyebrow. “Really?”

“And if you say really one more time like you’re licking your chops over forbidden thrills, I definitely won’t be responsible.”

She couldn’t resist. “Really?” She threw back her head and laughed.

He slammed to a stop in a parking lot and yanked her against him, covering her mouth in a kiss so hot she was sure her lungs were scorched.

But Lacey didn’t care. This was the best night of her whole life, and she was going to live it to the fullest. She’d never felt more alive, her nerve endings sizzling like severed high wires dancing on the ground in a shower of sparks.

Dev took her under again, and she thought she’d lost the ability to breathe…but she didn’t care. Giddy laughter bubbled up her throat, and she wanted to sing and shout and dance.

He pulled away slightly; she gripped his hair in her hands and nibbled at his lower lip. “Don’t stop.”

Was that her voice, so low and hungry?

“I have to, or we’re not making it out of this car.” Dev sounded a little breathless, and Lacey was inordinately pleased to think she could have that effect on him.

“Am I a femme fatale, Dev?” she asked innocently.

Dev growled low in his throat. “You are pure hell-born trouble. I’m shocked at you.” But he was grinning, even as his eyes sparked with something dark and dangerous.

She inhaled to speak—

“Do not say really…”

Lacey laughed. She’d only had one glass of champagne but she felt like she could fly. “Take me dancing, Dev.” Her voice lowered. “And then take me home.”

His nostrils flared. “When I do, I’m going to want to stay,” he warned.

She licked her lips, loving the way he sucked in a breath as he watched her. “I hope so.”

Dev cursed under his breath and broke from the car as though demons were after him. He stood outside with his hands on the door, his knuckles white. “Don’t tease me, Lacey. Not about this.” Suddenly his eyes were that boy’s eyes, almost pleading.

She crawled over his seat and emerged from the car, settling her hands on his. “Never about this, Dev.” She took a deep breath. “Never.”

Dev shut the car door and grasped her hand, pulling her into his side. “If I last one dance, it’ll be a miracle.” He sounded thoroughly disgruntled, and Lacey giggled.

But he lasted a lot more than one dance. The place could only politely be called a dive, but Lacey had more fun than she’d had at any expensive society function. They didn’t talk much—the music was too loud for that. But it was great music, fast and full of energy and fun.

Dev taught her dances with names she couldn’t possibly remember, but she didn’t care. He was a superb dancer, gliding and whirling her around the floor with muscular grace. He even did something she’d wanted to do all her life: have her partner slide her between his legs, then lift her over his head as they jitterbugged like crazy.

She was sweaty and hot and out of breath when he declared a rest break. Gratefully, they sank into chairs as Dev ordered beers for both of them.

“Sorry,” he shrugged. “No wine in this place.”

She lifted the beer bottle to her lips and took several deep swallows.

Dev’s eyebrows rose. “You like it?”

She shook her head. “It tastes terrible. But it’s wet.” And then she laughed and pulled his head toward hers, sinking into a beery kiss. “I’m having so much fun, Dev,” she murmured. “Thank you for this.”

He hesitated before he answered, staring at his beer bottle and picking at the label. “This is who I am, Lacey. I’ve got money now, and I make a good living. But losing everything when my dad died taught me that none of that’s important.” He lifted his bottle for another swallow, but paused. “You have to know that about me. I don’t want your money. I don’t like it, or what it makes people think about who they are compared to others.” He tipped the bottle back, his strong throat moving with each swallow.

Lacey’s mouth went dry with lust, but she was more shaken than she could say by his words. “Is that what you think of me, Dev? That I’m like them?”