Page 33 of Pure Temptation in Cowboy Boots

“Hot,” Tess said.

“I’ll bet. These nights have been so warm I can barely sleep.”

Which means Mac and I had better close the blinds good and tight. “I know what you mean,” she said. “Well, see you later, Hazel. And thanks again for preserving my bouquet.”

“You’re welcome. Enjoy it.” Hazel headed back over the path worn in the grass between the two houses.

Tess picked up the flowers and went inside. The phone rang the minute she set the vase on her coffee table. She walked over to the little telephone table next to the sofa and picked up the cordless receiver. “Hello?”

“Where have you been?” Mac asked. “I tried about six times today and kept getting your machine.”

The sound of his voice made her nipples tighten. He’d never had that effect on her before, but times had changed. “I was in Phoenix.”

“Oh, really? Buying more books?”

“Not this time. This trip was for other things.” Her first impulse, because it was the way they’d always interacted, was to tell him everything she’d bought. But the dynamics had changed and secrets were very appealing now.

“Anything to do with Sunday night?”

“As a matter of fact.”

“What did you buy?”

She smiled. “Oh, something very, very brief.”

“Really.” The timbre of his voice changed. “Care to describe it?”

“I’d rather surprise you. Use your imagination.”

“That’s been my problem today. I can’t seem to use anything but my imagination. I’ve been so spaced out my dad keeps asking if I overdosed on allergy medicine, even though he knows I don’t have allergies.”

“So you’ve been thinking about me.” Her body reacted, moistening and throbbing as if he were right there beside her.

“That would be an understatement. I keep thinking about that daisy dress of yours, and... everything that happened last night.”

“Me, too.” She stroked the petals of her floral arrangement. “But the daisies were very hard to explain to Hazel Nedbetter, Mac.”

His laugh was low and sexy. “I’ll bet you came up with a story, though, didn’t you?”

“I told her they were from my new principal, whose name is Emma, but she often goes by just the initial M.”

He laughed again. “Damn, but you’re clever. I wish I’d been there to hear you spin that yarn.”

“Me, too.”

His voice lowered, became soft and seductive. “I wish I could be there right now.”

Tess sighed. “Me, too.”

“What are you wearing?”

“A sleeveless blouse and shorts.” Scenarios from her reading flashed through her mind, and she had the urge to experiment with her newfound power. “But it’s very hot, Mac.” She picked up the vase of flowers. “I think I’ll just walk back into the bedroom and take my blouse off.”

“Now?”

“Well, sure, unless you want me to hang up.”

His tone was strained. “No, I don’t want you to hang up. I might not get another chance to call you today. But Tess⁠—”