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A muscle worked his jaw. “I was curious.”
“So was I.” She took a step even closer to him and tossed her hair over her sh
oulder. “But anyone can get caught up in lust. We did before, remember?” The words as they passed her lips stung. She’d always thought she loved him, but she had to stop this destructive urge right now, because she wasn’t about to take a chance on letting this man hurt her again. “And just for future reference, cowboy,” she continued, “that kind of Neanderthal tactic might work on some of the women around here, but with me—”
“I’m sorry.”
She couldn’t believe her ears. Never had this man apologized to her. “What?”
“I came on too strong. You made me see red and then all of a sudden…” He leaned against the wall, sighed loudly, then before her eyes drew himself upright. “It won’t happen again.”
“You bet it won’t!” she said, not sure if she was relieved or disappointed. Her pulse was still beating erratically and the taste of him lingered on her lips. “And as for my dad, just leave him alone, okay?”
His eyes narrowed. “Don’t know that I can.”
“Why not? What makes you want his place so badly?”
Mason shrugged as he held open the door and she passed through. “It’s the right time.”
“The right time for whom?”
“Brynnie, to begin with, and, yes, me. I need a place down here. Cawthorne Acres has everything I want.”
“Except a for-sale sign on the front door.” She reached into her purse for her keys and, as she extracted the ring, cut herself on a pair of nail scissors tucked into an inner pocket. “Ouch. Oh, damn.” A drop of blood oozed from the tip of her forefinger and before she could do anything, Mason took her hand in his and eyed the wound.
“Let’s see.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Maybe.”
“I said, it’s…” Her voice faded as he slowly placed her finger to his lips. “Oh, no, don’t—”
But his lips were warm, and the flow of blood was quickly stanched, the inside of his mouth so slick and seductive Bliss could scarcely breathe. Why, oh, why did this one man still get to her? What was it about him she found so damned irresistible?
“I’m okay,” she said, retrieving her hand.
“I know.” He rocked back on the heels of his boots and had the decency to look uncomfortable. “I, uh, don’t know what came over me.”
He actually looked perplexed for an instant.
“Listen, Bliss,” he said, clearing his throat and walking to the fireplace, where he leaned against the mantel, as if he, too, finally realized the need for distance between them. “You’d be doing your father and Brynnie both a big favor by suggesting he sell the rest of his property.”
“I think that’s his decision. And now I have some advice for you. Just leave Dad and Brynnie alone. They have enough problems without having to deal with you.”
“And what about you, Bliss?” he asked.
“What about me?”
“Should I leave you alone, too?”
“Absolutely.” She tried not to notice the way his jeans settled low over his hips and the play of muscles in his forearms as he moved. Dark gold chest hair sprang from the V of his neckline, and she remembered exploring the springing curls that covered his nipples with young, interested fingers.
“I think you’re afraid of me.”
She laughed and shook her head as she headed for the door again. “Don’t flatter yourself, Lafferty. You don’t scare me.”
“Maybe I ought to.”
