Baby Stetson (Love and Music in Texas #1) by Nikki Lynn Barrett Page A

she very well might have given herself to Lucas, right then and there. What was wrong with her? She never lost that much sense, not for anything or anyone.
    Emotions heightened, she fidgeted with her hair, smoothing it back and straightening her clothes as if nothing happened. Lucas still stared at her, that look of lust in his eyes, and smiled. “Well, that was fun,” he teased. If he was trying to ease the tension, it worked. Avery laughed out loud. Inside, she wasn’t. How could she lose control like that?
    “Lucas, I-” What could she say? She liked kissing him, but it couldn’t happen again. She didn’t know anything about him, yet she wanted to jump his bones? Yeah, those were classy comments to end a moment of passion, even with a stranger, and even with an interruption. Busying herself and not wanting to look at Lucas at the moment, she opened the fridge, searching for what they came in the kitchen for in the first place. Food. There was plenty of it in there. As she looked through the containers of leftovers, she realized she’d started to say something to Lucas but never finished. When she pulled her head out of the cold air, Lucas stood close again, arms crossed over his broad chest.
    “I know what you’re going to say,” Lucas said softly. “I never intended to kiss you like that. Well, I wanted to, I’ve wanted to all night, but I never meant to push. I apologize.”
    Well, that was unexpected. She never thought he’d apologize. The way he kept turning her inside out, she didn’t want to not kiss him, but this wasn’t the best time, or place for that matter. Avery couldn’t get the kiss out of her mind now. How she’d love to do it again if she had the chance. The way Lucas’s arms felt around her, his hot body pressed up against her, the feel of his lips on hers. A slight moan escaped her throat before she came back to reality.
    Lucas raised his eyebrows, looking at her strangely. “Um, are you okay?”
    Heat rushed to her cheeks. “Yes, it’s just a little warm in here,” she lied, turning back to her task of finding something to eat. “Are you still hungry?”
    For something other than kissing me?
    “More than ever,” Lucas said. Was that an innuendo? Aww, fudge. He was determined to make her melt. He did a very good job of it so far.
    Just ignore it. Ignore the feelings he draws out of you. Pretend they don’t exist. It’s lust. Nothing more, and don’t get involved.
    Simple advice, right?
    Avery shouldn’t kid herself.
    “Okay, we have ham, pot roast, stroganoff...” She listed off the items one by one. She could feel Lucas staring at her, but she tried not to turn around and face him again. If she did ... she might have to fall into his embrace again. This time, there may be no stopping her.
    “Avery.”
    The way he said her name, so low, sensual, and so damned sexy, sent tentacles of icy chills down her spine.
    “Corn on the cob, salad...”
    “Damn it, Avery. Look at me. Please?”
    Begging? Lucas was begging?
    Avery whipped her head around, and straightened. She pushed the fridge shut. Lucas took a step toward her. She swallowed, hard. “I-”
    “I don’t want any weirdness between us. Please. You’re the only person I know here. It’s been nice to spend time with someone, especially someone I connect with. I can’t take that kiss back, nor do I want to, but please. This tension, I don’t like it.” He reached out and touched her elbow. “Please?”
    That look in his eyes melted her once again. What was it about him? “Okay. I can try.”
    “I appreciate it. Look, maybe I’ll skip food for now. I’ve got a few calls to make. I just want to make sure we’re on okay terms before I bow out for the night, okay? So, are we cool?”
    If he wasn’t holding her arm, if the chills would stop, maybe. She refused to tell him that. “Yeah. We’re cool. I guess I’ll see you around?” Another hard swallow. Why was her throat incredibly dry all of a