Page 91 of Where the Wattles Bloom

‘Well … I’m sure the local chamber of commerce disagrees but I think it’s totally underrated. A bit of spit and polish, some weed killer, and it’d make an awesome outdoor venue.’

‘Or a great post-apocalyptic film set.’

He grinned. ‘Now you’re thinking.’

She smiled because he was sexy when he grinned, but her smile didn’t last long. Rowena was fairly certain he hadn’t brought her out here to explore a local tourist trail.

So, why? Did he have something he wanted to talk to her about?

‘What’s the real reason you brought me here instead of heading back to the farm?’

He shrugged. ‘I got the feeling you weren’t ready to head back yet.’

Well, that was true. But the fact he knew it was as unsettling as the rest of the feelings that tumbled around inside her tonight, mixing and churning.

Worried he’d be able to read her turmoil, Rowena broke eye contact, returning her attention to the windscreen, barely registering the run-down surroundings now. She should get out of the car. It would be a lot easier to stargaze sitting beneath them than from inside the cab.

Her hand slid to the door handle but faltered when his fingers touched her shoulder.

‘And I wasn’t ready to head back either.’

A wave of goosebumps skittering across her flesh was followed by a wave of longing so intense Rowena felt it deep in the muscles of her pelvic floor. She glanced at his fingers as they gently caressed her skin. She’d worn a tank top tonight, leaving her arms bare, and he was taking full advantage.

His touch was feather light but she felt it everywhere. In the ruche of her nipples, the tempo of her breathing, the exquisite ache between her legs. Like Shirley had done earlier, Rowena shuddered as his fingers trailed down her arm.

Their eyes met. ‘You ever made out at a drive-in?’ he asked, his voice so low it was almost a growl.

‘Nope.’

‘You wanna?’

After, Rowena couldn’t recall if she answered him or allowed her lunge to do the talking but, in a flash, she was clambering over the centre console, reaching for him, ignoring her banged knee on the gear stick and the logistics of the situation.

She just had to be on him.

If he was surprised by her fervour, he didn’t show it, just met her mouth with equal passion as she finally slid her thigh over the top of his, squeezing between him and the steering wheel to straddle his lap.

His lips were hot and hard and she moaned as his sugar and spice filled her senses, and the kiss went from scorching to incendiary in seconds. A hand gripped her arse, holding her close, his hips rising to meet hers as she ground against him.

Suddenly, the seat fell backwards and she was sprawled on top of him, blissfully horizontal. Or as horizontal as they were going to get in a dual cab.

But, oh dear god, it was better. So much better.

Lachlan speared his fingers into her hair and groaned. ‘Ro.’

Her name was a ragged puff of warm air against her lips before he plundered her mouth, his tongue tangling with hers. And she loved it. Loved that he sounded as helpless and desperate and affected as she was. As out of control. Because Rowena was out of her skin with wanting him.

Not in possession of her own body.

Desire, thick and rich and reckless, had taken over and she was helpless to do anything other than obey. His pheromones and her hormones had swirled together in the intimate confines of the cab to form a lethal mix that had jettisoned its load into her system. Every nerve ending she owned was sparking as blood rushed in one direction.

That throbbing point between her legs.

The point where the bulge in his jeans met the seam in hers, causing the most excruciating friction. Rowena was faint with it as his big hands caged her hips, holding her tight to him as they ground up a veritable firestorm.

If she’d been in her right mind, Rowena might have thought twice about dry humping a hot farmer in the front seat of a car at an abandoned, derelict, country drive-in.

But, clearly, she was far from her right mind.