Carter's Treasure by Amy Gregory Page B

breath she took. After several silent moments, she nodded.
    He knew she wasn’t going to tell him anything tonight. But that nod was an admission. He had a feeling tonight’s episode had to do with how skittish she was and how protective her brother was. And after hearing her and Brody on the phone with their father, he knew Brody was a walk in the park compared to James.
    As they walked out of the large, dim walkway toward where the motorhomes were parked, he kissed her head. They wound their way around to hers. He glanced up at her door. He’d hang onto anything he could to keep her from walking through it. Knowing he wasn’t getting any information tonight and that he wanted to keep her in his arms just a little longer, he changed the subject. “So? Who’d have thought I’d meet the girl of my dreams today?” His tone was playful.
    Molly looked up at him. “The girl of your dreams, huh? Are you crazy ? Were you not there and involved in a fight? Over me ?” She paused. “I talk like a trucker and I ride a dirt bike for a living. I’m not exactly the girl you take home to mom.”
    “Oh, yes you are, you’re perfect…perfect for me,” Carter said in a low voice.
    Suddenly the jovial mood he was going for went serious. With one hand on her waist, he pulled her closer. He ran his finger under her chin and brought her face to his. So much had happened since the last time he’d tried to kiss her. But he was caught up in the moment and wasn’t thinking. Before his brain could warn him to give her space, he bent and kissed her gently on the lips, so light it was almost a whisper.
    He pulled away a few inches to look at her…waiting for her to stop him, but hoping she wouldn’t. Her shallow, jagged breaths gave her away. She wanted him. He leaned in to kiss her again, cradling the back of her neck with one hand as he slid the other to her cheek, stroking it with his thumb. When he felt her put her hand to his heart, he prayed like hell it wasn’t to stop him. Instead, she parted her lips just a little, and he took the invitation, tilting his head to the side to deepen the kiss. He slipped his tongue over hers, just slightly, instinct telling him to take it very slow with her. The deep breath was necessary as they slowly broke.
    He watched her eyes flutter open and he grinned at her. She still had her hand on his heart and he still had her face in his hands. Carter gazed into her deep blue eyes—the deepest sapphire blue he’d ever seen.
    “Please, Molly. Tell me you felt that too,” he begged desperately in a low voice. Carter didn’t care if he was begging, he’d get on his knees if he had to. He’d been immediately attracted to her, but he knew something was different. That wasn’t just a kiss.
     
     
    “Yes,” Molly whispered. She touched her tongue to her top lip, wanting to taste him again, her breathing still shaky. Pure habit when nervous, she bit her bottom lip again. As she did, she heard him suck in a sharp breath.
    “Between listening to your breathing and the little lip thing you’re doing right now, you’re about to make me lose my control, Gorgeous.”
    Her mind was spinning, almost as fast as her heart was racing. She’d been kissed before, she wasn’t a complete moron. But not a toe curling, stomach dropping, sparks shooting kiss like that. Oh, wow. Wait, what did he say, lose control ? Her breath came out with a whoosh.
    “Um.”
    “It’s okay. I’m teasing, I promise. I didn’t mean to make you nervous,” he said softly while rubbing her back to keep her calm.
    You mean more nervous?
    “I’m…I’m okay,” she said with as much confidence as she could gather. She took a deep breath. “This seems surreal. I like to know what’s going to happen next, to be in control. You know, have things planned out.”
    “Sometimes,” he whispered, “there’s a bigger plan out there and we don’t have the answers to it.”
    “Sure feels like that, huh? It’s kinda scary,