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His mind raced. He’d sworn he’d never fall in love again. The price was too high. And yet every time he looked at Lexi or thought of her, his pulse raced. He couldn’t get enough of her.
Why had he gone and fallen for a woman who would inevitably leave him? Or maybe that was the reason he’d let down his defenses with her.
She was a temporary fixture in his life. With Lexi, there was no future to contemplate. No big life questions to answer. There was only the here and the now. And he didn’t intend to squander either.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Wine? Check.
Dinner? Check.
Conversation? Check.
Surprisingly, after Alexis had charcoaled the taco casserole, the evening had still been an amazing success. Thanks to Cord. With the dishes cleared and the kitchen returned to order, Alexis had zero interest in returning to her motel room. There was nothing waiting for her there but more work. Besides, work and no play was making her very frustrated. Her throw-caution-to-the-wind attitude took over. There was no pressing reason not to enjoy a little more of this cowboy’s company—especially since she’d be leaving in just a few days.
Cord led her toward the porch. He pushed the wooden screen door open and held it until she passed. His spicy cologne teased her senses. She knew if she were to stop in her tracks and turn that their bodies would collide. She savored the thought, but she kept moving.
“Hmm…there’s something missing,” Cord said. “Ah, I know. Wait here.” He stepped inside the living room and turned on the stereo. He returned to the porch and sat next to her. “I guess I should have asked if country music is to your liking.”
“It’s my favorite.”
A romantic ballad started to play and floated through the open windows. The intimate lyrics filled her mind with enticing thoughts. Her gaze shifted to his lips, and she longed to press her mouth to his. But she was hesitant, not exactly sure where they stood.
“It was a really nice evening.” Her gaze met and held his. “Thanks for rescuing dinner.”
“The company was my favorite part.”
“It was? I…I mean it was for me, too.” So then what had happened to all of the flirting he’d been doing in the house? Why was he suddenly acting like the perfect gentleman?
If only he’d make the first move.
Frustration and desire churned within her.
Fine. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Her heart pounded and her hand trembled ever so slightly as she reached out to him. Her fingertips ran along his jawline. “You are so handsome.”
With the pad of her thumb, she gently rubbed over his bottom lip. Their gazes locked. Desire flamed in his dark eyes.
He captured her hand in his and moved it to his chest. “You realize that you’re playing with fire, don’t you?”
So he did still want her. Good. Detecting the pounding of his heart as he continued to clutch her hand to his chest excited her all the more. “If you’re trying to scare me off, it won’t work.”
“Promise?”
She nodded.
“Should I be worried?”
His steady gaze continued to hold hers. If a person could ravish another with merely a look, this could be that moment. For so long now they’d been doing this dance of getting close and then pulling away. Tonight there’d be no pulling back on either of their parts. It was the only thing she was certain of at this point. And in this moment, it was all that mattered.
At last, she found her voice. It came out low and seductive—a new side of her. “You should worry. I have very definite plans for you.”
His brows drew together as though he’d had an unsettling thought. “Not that I’m not flattered, because I am. But Lexi, this is already complicated. Are you sure you’re prepared to complicate things even further?”
The echo of her father’s cautioning voice combined with the memory of Cord’s hesitant question balled her stomach up into a knot. She pulled her hand from his. Why did he have to pick now of all times to be sensible? Why couldn’t he just go with the moment?
Part of her said life wasn’t worth living without a few risks. Another part said she was being reckless and irresponsible. She was getting in far too deep with this sexy cowboy. She inwardly groaned. Why did she have to have an attack of conscience now?
