Excerpt: Rocky Mountain High (Bk 2, SIx Pack Ranch)

He stood and peeked in the window. “You need to go and get them in bed?”

She nodded. “They’ll start on their own, but they’ll get distracted soon.”

Daniel smiled. “I think my Mama used to say it was like trying to herd cats to get us all in bed on time. I won’t keep you long, but…” He reached for her hand, linking his fingers in hers. She swallowed hard. Oh lord, it felt so good and scared her mindless. She stood, as still as a statue.

“I’d like to see you, Beth.”

She bit her lip, her eyes wide. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

He turned over her fingers, his thumb brushing the groove on her ring finger that was slowly disappearing. After ten years of wearing her wedding band, the sign was still there, even though the ring was not. “You’re not married.”

She shook her head. “He’s gone.” He raised a brow and she had to say it, knowing the confusion not speaking plainly would cause. “He’s dead. He died in the accident that injured my leg.” Her throat went tight. Images flashed through her mind, the icy road, the glaring lights. The pain.

His fingers stilled. “I’m sorry.”

He pulled away, and she caught at his hand. Damn her indecision. “It’s…okay. We were having troubles when he died, and I’m not grieving for him. Not really. I just don’t think it’s a good idea for you and me…” She couldn’t speak anymore. What she wanted and what she should do—why was it so damn hard to know which was which?

He squeezed her hand softly then let go and paced away. “There’s a whole lot I think you’re not saying right now. That’s fine. I’m still the man you met one night while you were in a drunken state and you don’t really know me.”

“I wasn’t drunk.”

He chuckled and she blushed. “We call that that liquid courage around here, sweetheart, and you had some. I just want you to know I was serious back then when I said I was interested in you. I’m even more interested now, knowing you’re not a city girl living in some high-rise apartment hours away from me.”

“Maybe I’m not staying.”

“And maybe I’ll have time over the next months to convince you staying is what you need. I’m a good man, Beth. I’m not talking about taking over your life. I’m saying you intrigue me and you make my body ache. I think our attraction is something worth while exploring together.”

He moved closer. Her pulse pounded and she tilted her head up involuntarily to keep their eyes in contact.

Another step.

“I want to kiss you.” Their bodies were close enough their heat meshed and a little gasp of need escaped her throat. “Do you want to kiss me?”

Oh god. “I shouldn’t.”

“But do you want to?”

Desire and being responsible warred within her. Accepting his touch tonight would make it all that much harder to turn him down the next time.

He pressed still closer and their torsos brushed together, his erection rubbing her belly. Her back hit the wall as he caged her without using his hands. Their lips brushed together and she sucked in his air, the full body of his flavor rolling over her tongue like a fine wine. He kissed her tenderly, not the white-hot passion she’d replayed over and over in her mind from the bar scene, but a full body caress that started and finished with their lips.

When he pulled away his pupils were huge, his smile even wider.

“Goodnight, Beth.”

And he walked away, down the path that led into the trees.