“I agree about the good time. I can’t wait to get you on the dance floor.”
“Also, I want something from you.”
He shot her a quick glance and then his attention went back to the road. “What can I do for you?” he asked evenly, but his voice had changed, taken on the all-business tone that she was more familiar with.
“I’m trying to see if I can finagle an invitation to your ranch.”
He smiled. “Darlin’, I thought you’d never ask! I’ll take you home with me tonight.”
“Cool it, cowboy. I just want to take you up on your earlier offers to look at one of your water pumps.”
His smile disappeared and she wondered if he wanted to turn around now and take her home. “Sure, Lindsay. Tell me when you want to come.”
His voice had turned solemn and a muscle now worked in his jaw. She knew she was annoying him, but she wanted to see for herself if he still had his old water pumps.
“Thanks, Tony. I appreciate your offer. You told me to come look.”
“So I did,” he answered, and then he became silent as they drove on the empty road.
After they reached the county road, he glanced at her once again. “Lindsay, if that’s what you wanted tonight, and why you accepted, do you still want to go?”
“But, Tony,” she said in a sultry voice, “that wasn’t the sole purpose of accepting your offer to go dancing tonight.” She ran her fingers lightly along his thigh. “I also remember how much fun and sexy you can be.”
She received another one of his glances and saw him inhale deeply. “Then I’m glad you’re here, darlin’. That makes the evening much better. ‘Fun and sexy,’ huh? I’ll try to live up to that description.”
She laughed. “I’m sure you will,” she said.
Flirting with him made the drive seem shorter, and he flirted in return, causing her to forget about water pumps.
When they reached the roadside honky-tonk, loud music greeted them outside the log building. Inside, they found a booth in the dark, crowded room that held a few local people she knew but more that she didn’t.
As soon as they had two beers on the table, Tony asked her to dance. The band, made up of a fiddler, drummer and piano player, had couples doing a lively two-step. As they stepped into the group, Tony held her hands, staying close beside her as they circled the room, and then he turned her, so she danced backward as he led. His gaze locked with hers. Desire was evident in the depths of his eyes as he watched her while they danced. She had his full attention and she tingled beneath his gaze and forgot about her problems.
They danced past midnight and after they returned to their table, he leaned closer. “Ready to leave? We can’t talk in here anyway.”
When she nodded, he stood, waiting as she slid out of the booth to walk out with him. The air was warm outside, the music fading as they climbed into his pickup.
Light from the dash highlighted his prominent cheekbones, but his eyes were in shadow. The ambience reminded her of their night together, when the dim light of his condo bedroom had shielded his eyes from her view. The memories stirred her as she recalled making love with him. She had tried to avoid thinking about him all week, yet here she was with him. This was crazy. She had to get over Tony, forget him and go on with her life. No way did she want to think about their lovemaking or give him a hint that she would ever want to make love to him again.
As they approached her ranch house, lights blazed from it. “Looks like you have a house filled with people.”
“I leave it that way. I don’t like to come home to a dark, empty house. And I leave some lights for the dogs,” she explained. “Drive around to the back door. It’ll be easier for me.”
He drove through her wrought iron gates, which closed automatically, and did as she instructed. “I can tell you a better way to avoid a dark, empty house. Come home with me.” He unbuckled his seat belt and turned to her. “My house will be neither dark nor empty, and I promise you some fun.”
She smiled at him, able to see his eyes now; their blue depths seemed to sparkle even in the darkness. “Thanks, but I belong here. Besides, we agreed on the parameters for tonight.”
“It’s temptation. You’re temptation, Lindsay. Beyond my wildest imaginings,” he said, leaning forward to unlock her seat belt. As he did, his lips nuzzled her throat while his fingers caressed her nape. Then he turned to get out of the truck and strode around to open her door for her.
He draped his arm across her shoulders as they walked to her door. “Tonight was fun. I could dance with you for hours. There are a lot of things I could do with you for hours.”
Her insides tightened and heated, but she forced a grin. “Is playing chess one of them?” she asked, trying to lighten the moment and get his mind off making love.
“No, chess is not what I had in mind at all,” he said as he stopped and turned her to face him in the yard under the darkness of a big oak. As he slipped his arm around her waist, her heart thudded. He leaned close to trail kisses on her neck, her ear. “No, what I want to do is hold you close, kiss you until you melt,” he said in a deep, husky voice.
His words worked the same magic on her as his lips and hands. Her knees felt weak and she wanted his mouth on hers. Forgetting all her intentions to keep the evening light, she slipped her arm around his neck and raised her mouth for his kiss.
“Why do I find you so damn irresistible?” she asked.