Texas Wildcat by Lindsay McKenna

the time to find out, don’t we?”
    Kelly nodded hesitantly, uncertain of all these new, unexpected feelings she was experiencing.
    “Now do you understand that when I say I find you attractive, intelligent and exciting it doesn’t just mean I want to take you to bed?”
    She felt heat sweeping across her neck and up into her face. “You do have a way with words, Tyler,” she shot back.
    Sam grinned, starting up the car. “I think you prize honesty above everything else, Kelly Blanchard. And I intend always to be honest with you.”
    She settled back and put on her seat belt. They drove in silence, leaving the sprawling skyline of Port Neches and then Houston in the distance. Kelly sat there digesting his words. He wanted her, but on all levels. Suddenly, her wariness of Sam evaporated. Taking a deep breath, she looked over at him as he drove.
    “How old are you?”
    “Thirty-five. Why?”
    “I was just wondering what it took for you to see women differently than most men do,” Kelly provided in explanation.
    “A set of parents that encouraged me and my sisters to do whatever we set our minds to. My father didn’t make a distinction between the children when a tire on the car had to be changed or something mechanical had to be fixed.”
    “So your sisters are…” She groped for the correct word.
    “Feminists? Yes, I would say they are. One is a veterinarian and the other is teaching computer science at a local college.” His blue eyes twinkled. “They remind me a lot of you: headstrong, courageous and outspoken.”
    “And you don’t find that a problem?”
    “Why are any of those qualities a problem, Kelly?”
    “Most men see them that way. That’s why.”
    “Do you think maybe you’re a little prejudiced about men in general?”
    Kelly gave a weak smile. “ Touché , Sam Tyler. Touché. ”
    “No one is keeping score,” he reminded her darkly.
    “Thanks,” she whispered, “I needed to know that.”
    Sam reached out, capturing her hand for just a moment and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “I know.”
    Her fingers tingled where his hand had briefly rested. A crazy thought tore through her: what would it be like to be loved by Sam? If he was this understanding in conversation, he must be just as sensitive in lovemaking. Kelly flushed furiously over those thoughts. “Who developed your appreciation of women as real people?” she asked.
    “Like I said, it began with my parents. My mother had plenty to do with opening my eyes to the fact that women really weren’t the weaker of the species at all. And then, every woman I knew thereafter more or less honed my appreciation for the sex.”
    “I’ll bet there were plenty,” she muttered under her breath, more as a comment to herself than Sam.
    “Jealousy doesn’t become you,” he teased, smiling.
    Kelly returned the smile, feeling more free than she had in a long time. “No, it doesn’t. And I have a feeling that each woman was very special to you. You don’t seem the type to use a woman and then throw her away.”
    He pursed his lips. “Right again. But then, I look at both men and women in that light, Kelly. Every human being is unique. Of course,” he drawled, “redheaded woman are just more fascinating than anyone else.”
    Kelly laughed with him. “For once I’m glad I have red hair.”
    “So am I,” he returned cryptically.
    As the afternoon came to a close, Kelly didn’t want to return to her father’s home. Who could have made going out for barbecued spare-ribs an adventure? Sam Tyler did. At the door of the house, Kelly turned, looking up at Sam.
    “I think you know how wonderful today has been,” she said.
    Sam came to a stop, inches separating them. “I can say the same. Want to do it again sometime soon?”
    Kelly grinned, touching her stomach. “At least not for another week! I stuffed myself on those delicious ribs. I guess I just never realized how much I had missed Texas food.”
    He reached out and touched one