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A part of him didn’t want to cross any lines either of them would regret, but a deep sexual hunger pushed him to turn up the heat even more. That same heat shot straight to his groin. And speaking of his groin... The pounding pulse in his crotch had made him rock-hard.
That’s when she pressed closer, as if she’d felt it too, and wanted more of it. A primitive force he hadn’t felt in years urged him to sweep her into his arms and head up the stairs to the nearest bedroom. Once there they would both appease a sexual appetite that was robbing them of their common sense. This adult Charm aroused him as no other woman could.
Their lips parted when they needed air, but soon rejoined. A rush of heated blood passed like wildfire through his veins as their tongues continued to mate. She lapped him up just as greedily as he was lapping her. Her arms tightened around his neck at the same time his tightened around her waist.
“Harrumph...”
The sound of someone clearing their throat had Charm moving away from him so fast she nearly tripped. He reached out and caught her before she could tumble back. He knew who it was and a part of him was annoyed with the interference. Pulling her back to him to act as a shield against an erection that hadn’t gone down, he glanced at the older man leaning against the wall.
“What do you want, Ren?”
“I hated to interrupt but you were supposed to bring this young lady out to the barn for me to meet a half hour ago. I thought I’d come to see what was the holdup.”
And, unfortunately, his foreman had seen too much. Still keeping Charm in front of him, Dylan said, “We would have eventually gotten out there.”
“Not before I left. Have you forgotten I call it a day at five?”
No, he hadn’t forgotten. “Charm, this is Ren Burgess.” Then to Ren he said, “This is Charm Outlaw.”
Recognition lit the older man’s eyes and Dylan knew why. For two years he’d told everyone who’d cared to listen that he planned to marry Charm the minute the both of them graduated from college. He would move her from Alaska and she would go on the road with him while he toured, and they would make New York their home since there was so much to do there.
Ren extended his hand to Charm. “Howdy, ma’am. Welcome to the Red Flame Ranch. It’s nice meeting you.”
Charm gave Ren a huge smile as she accepted his hand. “Thanks, and it’s nice meeting you as well.”
Ren released her hand and then glanced over at Dylan. “Hazel wanted me to tell you that both of you are invited to dinner at six and she won’t accept no for an answer.”
Dylan rolled his eyes. Although he was fine with it, he glanced over at Charm to get her consent. “Charm? Would you like to dine with Ren and Hazel? And just so you know, all of their kids and grands will probably be there as well.”
Her smile widened. “Yes, I’d love to. Now if you two gentlemen will excuse me, I need to go upstairs and unpack so I’ll have something nice to wear to dinner.”
Dylan lifted a brow. “What’s wrong with what you have on?” He rather liked seeing her in those jeans and that BORN AN OUTLAW T-shirt.
She rolled her eyes at him. “I can’t possibly go to dinner dressed like this.”
“Why not?”
“I just can’t, Dylan.” She then glanced at Ren. “Tell Hazel we appreciate the invitation and we’ll be there at six.” She quickly moved past Ren to go inside the house. Dylan watched her until she was no longer in sight. That’s when he glanced back at Ren who was watching him with an amused expression. “What?”
“Damn, Dylan. What were you trying to do? Kiss her mouth off?”
Charm studied her reflection in the mirror and frowned when she saw her swollen lips. There was no way Ren hadn’t seen them as well. On top of that, he’d walked in on them kissing. As far as she was concerned, losing control like that was all Dylan’s fault. He made her aware of herself as a woman anytime he looked at her. She had to find a way to counter her reaction to him if she wanted to be successful at carrying out her plan.
She glanced at the dress she would wear tonight. It was one Dylan hadn’t seen, since she’d purchased it the first day she’d gone shopping, before she’d realized he was still at the resort. She’d known she wanted it the minute she’d seen it. It wasn’t too fancy nor was it too casual. In her opinion it was just right.
While preparing for her shower she wondered what Ren was thinking. Did he assume she was one of Dylan’s groupies? Dylan had just given her name without mentioning if she was a friend, lover or a mere acquaintance. Although she wished Ren had not come upon them in such a compromising way, she hated to think what he would have found had he walked in on them ten minutes later. Probably her spread out naked in that swing with Dylan on top of her. She playfully slapped both her cheeks for having such a naughty thought.
A short while later she had showered, dressed and was ready. She headed down the stairs and found Dylan with his back to her, staring out the living room window at the vast land before him. Was he thinking about that or was he thinking about the grandparents who were no longer here? She’d noted earlier there were plenty of photographs of them everywhere. Over the fireplace, on several walls. Not only of them but also of Dylan in his growing years and of his parents.
He must have sensed her presence. He turned around and the smile on his face said it all. He liked her outfit. He slowly walked over to her and brushed a kiss on her forehead and whispered, “You look beautiful.”
Charm shouldn’t let his words touch her the way they were doing. But she did. “Thank you, Dylan,” she said, trying hard not to sound so pleased with his compliment.
“Are you ready?” he asked in a low, husky tone.
She smiled up at him. “Yes, I’m ready.”
Dylan leaned back in his chair and listened to the conversation around him. The Burgess family was a lively group and Charm fit right in. He could tell Ren and Hazel’s four offspring and grandkids liked her. But then Charm had that easy friendliness about her as well as a warm and bubbly personality. His grandparents had thought she was a sweet girl just from talking to her on the phone.
