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“I know that I can’t think straight when I’m around you, and when I’m not, I can’t wait to see you again!”
“You’ve been in love with half the boys around—”
“I have not!”
“What about Dave Lassiter?”
“We had one date—and he’s just my best friend’s brother,” she said, thinking Dave was just a boy. Colton, on the other hand, was so mature. Then she smiled to herself. Obviously Colton had been keeping track.
“And Mike Jones?”
“He asked me to the prom.” She forced her eyes to his. “I’ve had dates, Colton, sure. I’ve even thought I liked a couple of the boys. But it’s not the same as I feel about you.”
“Oh, Cass, no. Don’t—” His gaze appeared tortured.
“Why won’t you believe me?”
“Because it can’t happen. You’re too young and I—I have plans for my life. I can’t be stuck in this Podunk town, feeding livestock and talking about property taxes. . . .” He clamped his mouth shut, and for a moment she thought she saw a flicker of love in his eyes. “Oh, hell, what’s the point?” he growled, swearing roundly.
Cassie flushed, feeling incredibly young and naive. But the hand over her wrist never let go, and Colton’s gaze lingered before dropping.
Glancing down, she saw the wet fabric of her halter top hid very little. Her raised nipples pressed intimately against the sheer scrap of gingham.
“Oh, Cassie, what are you trying to do to me?” he groaned.
“Nothing—I—”
He jerked her forward quickly, capturing her lips with his. Her breath was lost somewhere in her lungs. She couldn’t breathe, could only feel the dampness of his muscled chest, his hair tickling her skin, and his lips, hard and sensual, moving anxiously against hers.
The driving beat of his heart was matched only by her own.
She leaned against him, and he stepped back, his eyes narrowing to hide the desire smoldering in his gaze. “Nothing, my eye. You know exactly what you’re doing to me. I should never have agreed to meet you here!”
“But you did.”
“It was a crazy idea.”
“Why?” Hope swelled again. “Colton, believe me, I know how I feel!” she whispered, throwing all of her pride to the wind. “Ever since last summer I’ve dreamed about you, waited for you.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying! Before the summer’s over you’ll change your mind.”
A hard, tight ball filled her throat. “You don’t love me,” she accused.
He took her face between his hands. “We barely know each other.” His hands dropped. “Besides, you’re just a—”
“Kid,” she finished, mortified. “That’s what you think, right?”
“You’re more than a child,” he said slowly, his gaze moving meaningfully to her breasts. “But you just don’t know what you’re getting into. You’re playing with fire, Cass.”
“I love you—”
“Stop it,” he commanded roughly. “You don’t know the first thing—”
Wrenching her hand away from his, she fought the urge to break down and cry. She’d bared her soul to him, and he’d as much as laughed in her face. To save what little pride she could still claim, she started running out of the lake and across the sandy strip of shoreline to the woods. Intent on walking barefoot all the way back to her father’s house, she struck out through the trees.
“Cassie, wait!”
“Leave me alone!”
