Dylan by C H Admirand Page A

and something more, nearly indefinable—the feeling that this woman was going to matter.
    â€œThat and a couple of bucks would get you a cappuccino with the works back home,” she mumbled, finally straightening up and turning to face him.
    Their eyes met and the anger in her gaze flared into something hot and wicked. Hot damn and hallelujah… she wants me!
    She shook her head as if to clear it and held out a hand to keep him from reaching for her. “Stop right there, buddy.”
    â€œName’s Dylan, ma’am.” He grabbed ahold of her hand and reeled her in until she bumped up against his chest and their jean-clad legs were plastered against one another. Her heat scorched him, and Lord, every cell in his body stood at attention.
    â€œYou were on my mind all day,” he rasped into her hair as he leaned down and pressed his lips to the top of her head. He breathed in and was surrounded by her scent, a combination of sun-warmed woman working up a sweat and—he buried his nose again—some kind of berry.
    â€œAnd smell good enough to eat, but damned if I can decide if you’ll taste like strawberries or raspberries.”
    â€œYou are not going to kiss me again.”
    He grinned. “Well now, darlin’, I’m not much of a betting man, but I’ll take that one.” He swooped down and captured her lips with a kiss that had all of his cylinders firing. His engine was running smooth and hot. Sliding a hand down to her waist, he angled his head for a deeper taste.
    Shock waves rolled up and over him as his lips devoured the berry-tart confection melting into his arms. He was breathing hard when he came up for air. “I’ve got to have more.”
    He was watching closely for her to say yes and follow him into the madness, but something in her eyes changed. She pushed out of his arms, and he let her go. “You gonna walk away from me a second time, when you know we’d burn each other up in bed?”
    Her eyes were emerald bright with desire, and still the little filly sneered up at him and said, “Watch me, cupcake.” She turned and stalked to her truck, got in, slammed the door, and gunned the engine. Dirt and gravel ground beneath her tires and shot out as she tore off down the road toward town.
    Wiping the grit from his chin, he shook his head. It was going to be a long and bloody battle, but he’d win and she’d thank him for it.

Chapter 3
    Dylan’s hand gripped the steering wheel as he drove into town. He wanted to gas it and catch up to Ronnie, but changed his mind. Why be predictable? The enemy would never suspect that he was going to lie in wait for her, until the time was right, and then he would take no prisoners and offer no quarter.
    He was grinning as he pulled up in front of the address Emily had given him: Ronnie’s store. He had a feeling the woman hadn’t put two and two together and figured out he was her new carpenter. He couldn’t wait to see her reaction. Although he’d come a different way, it was just around the corner from the Lucky Star. Putting his truck in park, he got a good look at why Emily said the woman needed him. The place was a wreck. What was left of the front window had been boarded up with plywood… interior plywood.
    â€œWaste of good lumber, won’t stand up to the elements.” When he got closer, he noticed the heads of the nails. “Hell, whoever nailed this up had no idea what they were doing.” He shook his head at the choice of the roofing nails used to nail the veneer plywood over the window opening. “No wonder Emily said her friend needed my help.”
    Still smarting from his run-in with the hardheaded woman from back East, Dylan had to dig deep to lose the irritation. He’d never be charming like his younger brother Jesse, but at least he could find some patience for the owner of the ruined store before he went in and bit Ronnie’s head