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She jumped to her feet and moved to the porch rail. The stars twinkled overhead as a gentle breeze rushed past her. In the distance, the moonlight lit up the paddock, giving it a peaceful glow—the opposite of the upheaval of emotions churning inside her. Why did everything have to be so difficult?
From the way she saw it, this was their last chance to be together, to see what might be between them. If she walked away now, they’d avoid further complications. But she’d be plagued by what if’s and should have’s. Could she run off into the night? The thought didn’t appeal to her. Instead, she decided to let the night unfold one kiss at a time.
As though sensing her resolution, Cord moved to stand behind her. He leaned toward her, until his chest rested flush again her back. His breath tickled over her ear. Her every nerve ending tingled. He ran his warm hands down her chilled arms, and she began to relax. Even if common sense dictated otherwise, she didn’t want anything but to be wrapped in his warm embrace.
The full length of his hard body pressed against her, making her insides quiver with excitement. A moan swelled in his throat, the deep tones reverberating in his chest. She’d never met a man who intrigued her both mentally and physically.
“I can’t remember an evening I’ve enjoyed this much.” He lowered his mouth to her ear and murmured, “I’m glad you decided to come over and share the evening with me.”
“Me, too. Whistle Stop is growing on me.” She hoped her voice sounded steady, but she couldn’t hear it for the pounding of her heart. “I understand why you love it here so much. With the continuous string of sunny days and the colorful citizens, what’s not to love?”
He didn’t answer. His fingers continued stroking her arms. Her head rested just below his chin, and their arms entwined. They fit together like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. She didn’t ever want to walk away. She wanted him to continue to hold her like this—forever.
The thought of forever shook her to the core. Her stomach tightened. She was supposed to be here conducting business, not losing her heart to a man who made her want to forget her responsibilities and follow her desires.
She glanced up at the sky. A star caught her attention with its brilliance, twinkling like a diamond chip.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star. First star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, have this wish I wish tonight…to capture the heart of this cowboy who’s holding me close.
“Do you think our fates are written in the stars?” She hoped the childhood lyric would bring her luck.
“I think we’re the masters of our own fate by the choices we make in life. Right now, I choose you.”
She turned in his arms. “I choose you, too.”
Chest to chest, their lips were merely a breath apart. She didn’t want to talk anymore. She lifted up on her tiptoes. Her lips tingled with anticipation. She pressed her mouth to his. His hands slid up her back as he deepened the kiss. A moan grew deep in her throat. No one had ever evoked such a powerful longing in her with a mere kiss—Cord’s touch was most definitely magical.
Her arms slid up over his broad shoulders and slipped around the back of his neck. Her fingers stroked his neck and combed through his hair.
His eyes widened. “Your hands are cold.”
She honestly hadn’t noticed. Her mind had been on more important matters. “You know what they say: Cold hands, warm heart.”
He smiled. “That’s the
thing about the desert. Once the sun sets, the temperature dives. You should get out of the cool air.”
She swallowed hard. “Do you want me to go?”
“No…well, not unless you want to go.”
Again, the warning voice in the back of her mind chimed in, willing her to go, to keep her heart safe from being broken again. But was that truly what she wanted? Would the memories be enough for her? Maybe if he didn’t have his arms around her, she’d be able to think clearly. She pulled free from his hold and walked over to the porch swing.
“Would you like to go inside? I could light a fire.”
“Not yet. This evening is so beautiful and peaceful. I don’t get a chance to sit outside in the evenings very often. Can we talk?”
“Talk? Isn’t that what we’ve been doing all evening?”
“Yes, but I meant about something a little more personal.” She knew exactly what topic she wanted to broach, but she was still working up her courage. “You know…so we know each other better.”
When he joined her, the swing seemed to shrink considerably. His thigh brushed hers, sending her pulse soaring, but it wasn’t like having the entire length of his rock-solid body pressed up against her, driving her heart into overdrive. Just the memory of it warmed her chest. She had to think of something—anything—but how good he’d felt.
Cord stretched his arm out along the back of the swing. His fingers lightly brushed her hair, sending goose bumps down her spine. She’d never be able to carry on a conversation with him touching her. She attempted to wiggle over on the seat to give them each space, but there was nowhere to go. She turned to him. If she was going to get intimately involved with him tonight, she needed to know what she was getting herself into.
“Tell me about her.”
Cord sat up a little straighter. “Tell you about who?”
