Putting down his coffee cup, Abe stretched his arms over his head, then pushed back his chair. Well, Im gonna go watch a little news, he said. Quint, why dont you take Maura down to the stables and show her the new stud. Shes not seen him yet.
Fully expecting Quint to come up with an excuse to leave, Maura got to her feet and began gathering the dirty dishes. Thats all right, Abe, she said, not bothering to glance Quints way. I can walk down to the stables another time. Its almost dark anyway.
Its at least another half hour until dark, Quint spoke up. We have plenty of time.
Mauras gaze jerked to the end of the table just in time to see him rising from his seat. Instead of a look of boredom, she was surprised to see a smile on his face.
Are you game? he asked.
Uhsure. She glanced down at the plates she was holding. Just let me put these away.
Ill help you clear the table.
Flustered by this turn of events, Maura hardly noticed Abe quietly leaving the kitchen.
Theres no need, she told him. Ill gather everything up later. Wed better not waste daylight.
She put the plates in the sink, then turned to see he was waiting for her by the door. As she joined him, her heart began to pitter-patter like a rain shower threatening to turn into an all-out storm.
The evening might get cool before we get back, he suggested, his eyes sliding slowly over her bare shoulders. Do you think you might need something to cover your arms?
Youre probably right. Hold on, she told him, then hurried out of the room. By the time she fetched a shawl from her bedroom closet, she was breathless and silently berating herself for behaving like some besotted teenager. Quint Cantrell was merely being polite and friendly, she told herself. This was only a walk. Not a date.
Once the two of them were off the back porch and walking down the middle of the dirt road that led to the ranch yard, Maura breathed deeply and tried to relax.
I really didnt expect you to go through with this, she said honestly. I meanAbe can be so obvious sometimes. And he doesnt stop to think that you might have more important things to do than show me a horse.
Except for the crunch of gravel beneath their feet, the night was quiet. When Quint chuckled softly, the sound wrapped around her like the warm night air.
I think showing you a horse is far more important than talking about that damned old mine. I was glad for an excuse to get away.
Smiling, she glanced at him. Well, I understand youre not keen on inviting that sort of mining hubbub onto your ranch, but I think youre wonderful for listening to your grandfathers dreams and taking them seriously.
He shrugged as though he didnt warrant her compliment. Hes always listened to mine. And in spite of him being so cantankerous, hes a very wise man. Id be a fool not to listen to him.
Too bad Gilbert had been so full of himself that hed not looked to his family or anyone for advice, Maura thought. Hed believed himself to be smarter, slicker and savvier than anyone around him. And to a point, he had been, she thought grimly. Hed certainly fooled her for years. Was that what love did to a woman? Blinded her ability to see the truth, twisted her judgment? Until her love for him had begun to crumble, shed not seen the real man.
So how is your arm doing? she asked after a moment. I dont suppose you went to the doctor and got stitches.
No. But its healing.
It seemed the farther they walked, the closer he was drawing to her side. Maura tried not to notice, but that was fairly impossible to do when her heart was hammering in her chest.
One of the best things I like about working for your grandfather is having time to be outdoors, she said. Before, putting in long hours at the hospital didnt leave me much time or energy for walks outside.
Did you do hospital work before you moved back to Hondo Valley? he asked.
Before her divorce, she thought ruefully. Clearing her throat, she gazed ahead at a stand of tall pines and the long, dark shadows slipping across the road. Beyond the distant mountains, the sinking sun painted a bank of clouds pink and gold and as she admired the beauty, she realized she was just now coming awake after a long, long sleep.
No. I worked at a large health clinic. Which was hectic, but rewarding.
Forgive me if this sounds tacky, Maura, but we both know that you dont have to work at anything. I meanyour family has made millions and youre obviously wealthy. You could travel the world and be a lady of leisure.
She looked at him, then burst out laughing. Oh, Quint. Thats so funny. Me, a lady of leisure? Id be bored out of my mind. And everyone has a reason for being, dont you think? I like to be doingto make a difference for others. Dont you?
He smiled and then his expression turned sober. I guess Ive never thought about it that much. I suppose from the time I was a boy Ive been on a mission to keep the ranches going. As for making a difference for othersI must be selfish. I do what I do, because in the end, it pleases me.
Her eyes softened as she studied his face. Thats not entirely true, Quint. I dont know you all that well, but I can see that you want to make a difference for your grandfather, your mother. Thats not a self-centered man.
One corner of his lips tilted to a wicked little grin. Youre wrong, Maura. I am selfish. One hand reached out and wrapped itself around her shoulder. Because right now all Im thinking about is what I want.
She shivered as heat rushed from the spot where he was touching her and shot to every particle of her body.
And what is that? she asked in a strained voice.
To kiss you.
He watched her lips part with shock, but he didnt give her the chance to utter a word or move away. Placing a finger beneath her chin, he bent his head and settled his lips firmly over hers.
Soft. Incredibly soft. And oh, so sweet. Those thoughts tumbled through Quints brain as his lips began to move against hers, to search for even more of her honeyed goodness. Mindlessly, his arms slipped around her waist and drew her ever closer.
Between them, he felt her hands flatten against his chest, then reach upward to his shoulders. The warmth of her spread through him like a white-hot sun baking his skin, heat seeping right down to his bones.
How long had it been since hed kissed a woman? Since hed wanted to kiss a woman? He couldnt remember. Couldnt think. While his mind turned to mush, the rest of his body burst to life, buzzed as though her lips were liquid spirit, intoxicating, luring, begging him to surrender to the moment. To her.
Fired by a hunger that threatened to consume him, his hands pressed into her back and crushed her body up against his. Beneath his lips, hers opened like an exotic flower, tempting him to taste the center. When his tongue delved inside, she moaned low in her throat.
The feral sound matched the urgency inside him and it was all he could do to keep his hands anchored at her back instead of allowing them to cup her breasts, the swell of her bottom, to drag her hips forward and grind them against his aching arousal.
He wasnt sure how much time had ticked by when she finally pulled her mouth from beneath his and stepped back. For all he knew, it could have been long minutes or even hours since hed first tugged her into his arms.
He wasnt sure how much time had ticked by when she finally pulled her mouth from beneath his and stepped back. For all he knew, it could have been long minutes or even hours since hed first tugged her into his arms.
No matter, he thought, as he sucked in a harsh breath and tried to collect his senses. However long their kiss had lasted, it hadnt gone on long enough to suit him. Even though she was looking at him with stunned dismay, everything inside him was screeching for him to hang on to her, to capture her lips all over again.
So much for kissing Maura and getting her out of your system, Quint.
Ithink wed better forget about walking on to the stables, she said in a breathless rush. Then before he could say anything, she turned on her heel and took off in long strides toward the house.
Before she could take three steps, Quint caught her by the shoulder and spun her back to him.
Wait, Maura! We cant go back to the house now!
Her breasts moved up and down as she struggled to regain her breath and Quint was amazed to find himself just as winded and shaken as she. As he watched her lips form a perfect O, he had to fight the urge to sear them back together with another kiss.
We cant? she murmured. Why?
Because Heaving out another heavy breath, he shook his head. After what just happened we
Need to come to our senses and get back to safety, she finished for him.
His hands wrapped around her upper arms and held them tightly as though he wanted to make sure she couldnt escape.
Safety? You think I That weour attraction is something to run from?
She needed to run from herself more than him. But she couldnt admit such a thing. It would be like telling him she wasnt capable of controlling herself or her sexual urges whenever she was near him. Oh, God, how embarrassing.
I think Twisting her head aside, she closed her eyes and tried not to think about the heavenly way hed made her feel. So alive. So sexy. So wanted. Things were about to get carried away, Quint. And IIm not ready for something like that.
There was a long pause, and while she waited for his reply, she tried to calm her racing heart, tried to tell herself that the kiss was no big deal. Even though it was the biggest thing she could ever remember happening to her.
I never meant for the kiss to go so far, Maura, he said lowly. That just seemed to happen.
Turning her face back to his, she opened her eyes and felt a jolt to her senses as she gazed into his blue ones. He was probably the most sexual, sensual man shed ever met and to say that his kiss had been potent would be an understatement. Her knees were still quivering.
Mortified, she said, I was in on it, too, Quint. Its just as much as my fault for letting it go on. And on and on, she mentally added.
Why should it be anyones fault? Why are you so bothered about this? Its not like we committed a crimeor hurt anyone.
She looked down at the ground while inside her emotions were tumbling, falling, rolling away at a speed too fast to allow her to catch up.
Thats true.
And you did like it. As much as I liked it, he pointed out.
I cant deny that, she admitted.
So? Why are you trying to race back to the house? To end our walk?
He called this a walk? She shivered to think what a deliberate rendezvous would be.
Her gaze dropped to the toes of his brown boots. I shouldnt have to explain. But it looks as though I must. Her eyes fluttered back up to his. Im not the type towell, just be a diversion for a man. And we both know thats all you want. A kiss, maybe two. Maybe you even want to have sex with me.
The thought did occur to me.
Her nostrils flared at his flippant reply. Well, it isnt going to happen.
Amusement dimpled his cheek long before a chuckle passed his lips. Thats what you think.
A mixture of annoyance and excitement rushed through her, pushing her heartbeat to an even higher rate. And why? Why would you want a woman like me?
Before he could answer, she twisted away from his grasp and began walking. By now it was growing dark and she could only think how easy it would be to fall into Quints arms, to let him show her, remind her that she was still a woman. A woman whod not been made love to in a long, long time.
He snaked an arm around her waist and once again forced her to stop in her tracks and face him.
What does that mean? A woman like you?
He brought his palms up to her face and Maura felt her knees threaten to buckle as he rubbed his thumbs against her cheeks. She was getting glimpses of what he would be like as a lover and those indications were far too tempting for a wounded woman like her.
Oh, Quint, she said in a strained voice, surely you can see what Im talking about. For starters Im six years older than you.
He frowned. What does that have to do with anything?
Maura rolled her eyes. Theres a gap between us.
We can fix that, he drawled, then jerked her forward until the front of her body was brushing his. See? No gap at all. In fact, I can tighten it even more.
He was being a hopeless flirt. Almost playful. Something she didnt think him capable of. Before this evening, the only Quint Cantrell shed seen was a serious, work-driven man. She couldnt imagine what had brought about this change in him. Surely not her.
There are other kinds of gaps, Quint. Youre young and single. She didnt bother to add rich, attractive and considered one of the biggest catches in Lincoln County.
You are, too.
Im divorced, she said thickly.
That doesnt make you contaminated.
She couldnt do anything but laugh and when a smile suddenly spread across his face, it made her feel good, better than shed felt in a long, long while.
See, he said, you were taking one little kiss way too seriously.
The embrace that had gone on between them had been more than one little kiss. But he was right. The best thing she could do for both of them was to treat this whole thing in a casual way. The last thing he needed to know was that hed shaken the very earth beneath her feet.
Youre right. I suppose I have been making too much of it.
The grin on his face deepened. We still have a little twilight left. Lets walk on to the stables, he urged. You dont want to have to tell Gramps you couldnt make it that far.
That wouldnt be nearly as embarrassing as returning to the house with red cheeks and swollen lips, she thought wryly. All right. Lets go on. But
When she broke off with uncertainty, he quickly finished, Dont worry, youve made it clear youve had enough kissing for tonight.
He slipped his arm across the back of her waist and as he urged her on toward the ranch yard, Maura could only think she might have Quint completely fooled, but not herself. Shed not had nearly enough of his kisses. Or his company. And with each step she took by his side, she wondered if she was headed toward a very special place or the hell of another heartache.