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“So, are we finished talking?” she asked, running one hand down his chest, across his abdomen and lower still, to curl her fingers around the thick, hard length of him.
He hissed in a breath through his teeth. “Yeah, I think that about covers everything.”
“Good to hear,” she said and kissed him while her fingers moved on him, sliding, caressing. “So don’t just stand there, cowboy. Show me what you’ve got.”
“Challenge accepted,” he muttered. He felt like he was going to explode. How could he want her so desperately? Lifting her, he half turned and braced her back against the closest wall. “Not slow this time, Naomi. This time it’s gonna be hot and fast.”
She leaned into him, wrapped her legs around his waist and nibbled at his neck. “Show me.”
Hard and aching, he slid inside her and instantly felt her body tighten around his. Silky heat surrounded him, and he groaned as Naomi scraped her nails across his skin and hooked her ankles behind his back. She met him eagerly, hungrily, and his brain short-circuited as he stared into the eyes of a woman he’d thought he knew.
Her body, his, moving together, in a mad, wild tangle of desire and need that gripped them both. One corner of his mind yelled at him to lay her down, take his time with her. But that calm, reasonable voice was shouted down by the other half of him demanding that he have her. Now.
“Toby, Toby...” She twisted her hips on him, increasing the friction, increasing the need until he thought he’d go blind with it.
“Come on, baby.” He kissed her, hard and long and deep, and took her breath as his own, devouring her as she was devouring his body. “Come with me. Come with me now.”
He felt her body tighten, felt the first flickering pulse of her climax and watched her eyes glaze. And while she rocked with the orgasm shaking through her, he forgot about control and emptied himself inside her.
Caught in the web spinning between them, Toby knew that in spite of what he’d said before, nothing would ever be the same.
Nine
After a few days in LA, Naomi was ready to be home in Texas. Now that she was back home, she might miss Hollywood a little, but it was good to be back. As summer heated up and June inched toward July, the days got longer and the people moved slower. It was an easier pace than the big city, and that was part of its appeal. She’d heard people say that anyone could live up north, but it took real character to make it through a southern summer.
Naomi wasn’t so sure about that. But one thing she did know—she was grateful the Royal Diner had AC. The minute she and Toby’s sister, Scarlett, stepped inside, Naomi almost whimpered.
“Oh, it’s going to be one ugly summer,” Scarlett said as she signaled to Amanda and then tugged Naomi to a booth.
Naomi flopped onto the red vinyl bench seat and stacked her shopping bags beside her. “I let you talk me into buying too much.”
“It’s never too much,” Scarlett said. “Besides, you’re getting married. You need...stuff.”
Stuff didn’t begin to describe all the things Naomi had picked up that morning. She and Scarlett had spent the last several hours at the Courtyard Shops, a great collection of eclectic shops where you could find anything from antiques and crafts to fresh local produce. But there was also a new bridal shop owned by Natalie Valentine.
And that shop was where Scarlett had pushed Naomi into going a little nuts. She was only carrying a few of the things she’d bought. The rest were being delivered to the ranch. Naomi wanted a small wedding, in the evening, maybe, out at the ranch. She hadn’t talked to Toby about it yet, and she knew her mother wouldn’t be happy with the venue, but Naomi was. A small, simple wedding, with just their families and friends there, made the most sense to Naomi. After all, it wasn’t as if this was ever going to be a real marriage.
Her heart ached at that thought, but she had to acknowledge the truth, no matter how painful. Toby was never going to know she loved him. Never going to love her back. And she had to find a way to be all right with that. If she couldn’t...then maybe marriage wasn’t the answer. For either of them.
“I love the dress you picked out,” Scarlett said. “That pale yellow just looks gorgeous on you, and knee length will keep you from passing out in this heat.”
“Thanks,” Naomi said. “I like it, too. My mother will no doubt want me in yards of lace and tulle, but that doesn’t make sense for a backyard ceremony. And besides,” she added wryly, “it’s tacky to wear white on your wedding day when your baby bump is showing.”
Scarlett laughed a little, then shook her head. “You’re going to be a beautiful bride. But are you really sure you want it held outside? Even in the evening it’ll be hot.”
“I’m sure,” Naomi said. “We can have the reception by the pool, and if it gets too hot, people can go into the house for a break. Of course, I haven’t talked to Toby about any of this yet, so he may have different ideas...”
Scarlett waved one hand at her. “He’ll be good with whatever you want. He loves you, right?”
Sighing a little, Naomi leaned toward the other woman and whispered, “Scarlett, you know the truth. I know Toby told you.”
“Sure, I know,” she said. “And I know my brother. He’s a great guy, Naomi, but he’s not going to marry someone just to do her a favor. He cares for you. I can see it.”
Care was a long way from love. Too long. Since they got back from California, they’d shared a bed and shared each other, every night, every morning and one memorable afternoon in the workshop. But they hadn’t talked about Hollywood. Hadn’t talked about their wedding. Hadn’t talked about anything important. It was as if they were both holding back, and Naomi didn’t know what to do about it.
“Hey, Naomi, you okay?”
“What?” Sighing, she shook her head. “Sorry. I drifted.”
