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He couldn’t yet admit to anyone how badly he had treated Roland and how Murdock, God bless his gentle and loving soul, had done just the opposite. That discussion would have to wait for another day.
Walking back to Rylee, he eased down on the bench beside her. “Now, I’m just glad Valerie Summers had been there for Dad.”
He put his arm around her and pulled her close. “Reading Dad’s journal made me realize something though. I was set to live my life the same way he’d lived his. My mom had drilled it into my head—my brother’s too--that marriage should be a business arrangement, one that increased the family fortune, and not one based on love. Although I believed her, Murdock didn’t buy into it and married Karlis against Mom’s wishes. Now, I’m just relieved that I never married anyone for that reason. Still, the love boat has sailed for me and though it’s too late for me to catch it, I do want to be with a woman of my own choosing, based on my present wants and needs.”
“And you think I might be such a woman, Frazier?”
“Yes.”
She paused for a moment, obviously thinking that over. Then she tilted her head to look at him. “I guess we should go back in for dessert. Baylor said something about chocolate cake. You must have told him how much I like chocolate.”
“Guilty as charged.” Frazier knew she’d deliberately brought their conversation to an end, but he wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
He stood and offered Rylee his hand. She took it and stood as well, coming right smack against him. Neither took a step back.
“Frazier.”
“Rylee.”
They said each other’s names at the same time, knowing what came next.
• • •
Rylee knew she should take a step back, but it was as if the soles of her shoes were glued to the brick floor. And when she stared up into Frazier’s incredible dark eyes, she could actually feel her stomach do a little flip-flop.
She wished he wouldn’t look at her like that. It was as if he was reading her mind. And right now, she was thinking how badly she wanted his kiss.
Evidently, he took her mind at its word and lowered his mouth to hers. She hadn’t realized just how much she wanted him to kiss her until she felt his mouth touch hers and his tongue slide between her lips.
At first, the kiss was teasing and gentle, as if he’d known it had been years since she’d done this sort of thing and didn’t want to overwhelm her. She appreciated that. At least, at first. But the longer his tongue gently played with hers, the more she wanted…more. A lot more.
When he finally released her mouth, she smiled up at him. “Is that the best you can do?”
Frazier smiled back. Then, cupping her chin, he lowered his mouth to hers again. This time, he deepened the kiss, allowing his tongue to greedily ravage her mouth in a way that was making her panties wet.
He tasted so good. Needing more, she went up on her tiptoes, kissing him as deeply and as hungrily as he was kissing her. And when she felt his hands brush against her backside, she heard herself moan.
Moments later, he brought the kiss to an end and she moaned again. Unable to help herself, she lowered her face to his chest and drew in a deep breath, filling her nostrils with his masculine scent. Damn! Did he have to smell good too?
“Rylee?”
She slowly lifted her head to look up at him. “Yes?”
“Do I need to apologize for kissing you that way?”
She couldn’t help but smile. “Not at all. I loved every minute of it. Couldn’t you tell?”
A huge smile covered his face and he reached out and brushed a hand against her cheek. “You are so damn good for my self-esteem. When a man gets to be my age, he needs it.”
She rolled her eyes. “Come on. You’re only nine years older than me. My dad is eleven years older than my momand they don’t have any problems. And with your energy, I have a feeling I’ll have to take plenty of vitamins just to keep up with you.”
She hadn’t meant to say that—alluding to them having a future--and hoped he didn’t notice. But he just leaned in and brushed another kiss across her lips. “I think we better go back inside now. I believe there is a chocolate cake waiting for our attention.”
She nodded and let out a breath. “I think that’s a good idea.”
Over cake and wine, they shared more stories. He seemed especially interested in the close relationship she and her in-laws shared. She also mentioned to him that her best friend Sheryl was an author. He told her that he’d read several of Sheryl’s books because Electra had narrated them. When he asked if she’d ever met Electra, she said she hadn’t. She didn’t like lying, but she wasn’t ready to reveal that part of her life to him yet.
After they finished eating dessert, he walked her up to her room and kissed her goodnight at her bedroom door, but not before warning her that he had a full day of activities planned for them tomorrow.
