A Buckhorn Bachelor by Lori Foster Page B

him. He’d been kissed before.
    And sure, her scent intoxicated him. But most women smelled good. And were soft. And sweet.
    How was she so different?
    How did she affect him so strongly?
    At the side of the house, his knees locked, his breath strained, he stared down at her.
    She stared back. “Are you okay?”
    A deep breath didn’t really help, but it at least gave him a second more to think. A car door slammed and the sound of conversation— a male voice —carried from the driveway to where they stood.
    Possessive urges swamped him, narrowing his vision until all he could see was Issy. Urgency kicked his heart back into a racing beat. He hadn’t yet had her. He damn straight didn’t want some yokel stepping ahead of the line.
    â€œAdam?” she whispered, her expression growing wary.
    He cupped one hand to her jaw, ran his thumb over her swollen bottom lip. “Did you invite someone over?”
    Leaning her cheek into his palm, eyes closed, she whispered, “No.”
    The relief stayed just out of reach. “Then who—”
    They both heard Amber’s laugh.
    Damn it. Umbrage stiffened his spine. His busy-body cousin had brought a man to Issy’s house! What was she, a pimp?
    Issy patted his chest, turned to kiss his palm, then whispered, “Just a second, okay?” She crept to the side of the house to peek around, taking care not to be seen.
    Expression incredulous, her brows pinched, she ducked back and whispered to Adam, “It’s the EMT I met at the carnival.”
    No, he decided. Not happening.
    Yet as Issy pondered the situation, his indignation swelled.
    She looked up at him. “You could sneak back to your boat and—”
    â€œI’m not going anywhere.”
    That had Isabella tipping her head in a curious way. “If your cousin sees you here, how will you explain?”
    I’m first in line . But no, of course he couldn’t say that. It sounded horrible. She wasn’t a prize to be won. She was a beautiful, intelligent woman who just happened to make him insanely crazed with lust.
    And seriously, he didn’t want there to be a line. Thinking about any other guys sidling up to her for any intimate reason—even a kiss—left him infuriated.
    Only he didn’t have the right to be infuriated. At the moment, he didn’t have any rights at all.
    Probably time to change that.
    If he could.
    â€œYoohoo, Adam,” she teased softly, waving a hand in front of his face. “You still in there?”
    â€œI’ll tell her about the cat.”
    One brow going up, Issy said softly, “Okay. So then why are you still here?”
    Because I need you.
    â€œShe’ll ask, Adam. You know that.”
    Before he could answer, he needed to know. “What are you going to do?”
    â€œGet rid of him as quickly, but nicely, as I can.”
    There’d been no hesitation, and he believed her. He was a lucky guy.
    Amber’s voice reached them as she called out, “Isabella?”
    â€œShe’s comin’ this way,” Issy said urgently. “Make up your mind.”
    Adam grabbed her in for a quick, firm kiss. He wanted her to remember he was waiting. “I’ll stay out of sight. Soon as they’re gone, you and I need to talk.”
    â€œWe do,” she agreed, coming in for yet another fast peck. “And I’ll go first.” Then she slipped around the house, catching Amber just before she would have busted them.
    â€œHey, Amber,” Issy said in her soft drawl. “Sorry, I was down by the lake.”
    Adam stayed put, content to listen in.
    â€œJust you?” Amber asked.
    Adam recognized the tone. Amber already knew he was with Issy. How she knew was anyone’s guess. But for sure, she knew.
    â€œUh-huh. So what’s up?”
    Glee sounded in Amber’s tone when she said, her voice all silky, “You remember Wayne?”
    â€œOf course. How are