Fated for Love by Melissa Foster Page B

on level ground again.
    “You can open your eyes now.”
    “No, I can’t,” she said in a croaky voice. When I open them, I have to unlock my arms and pull away, and you feel way too good to do that . She felt him shake his head, and she forced herself to open her eyes. Oh boy. There was no misreading the desire in his eyes or trapped behind his zipper, which was currently pressing against her belly. For another hot second they stared into each other’s eyes, before he pulled back and stepped from her embrace.
    “Come on. I’ll make sure you get home safely.”
    She couldn’t move as the reality of his pulling away struck her. He pulled away . She definitely needed to leave.
    They walked in silence out of the woods with Sweets beside them, and Callie felt him distancing himself even further, which didn’t surprise her in the least. She knew she was far from his type, and she’d just spent their time together proving it.
    As they crossed the bridge, she forced her thoughts into words. “I’m sorry, Wes. I’m sorry they lied. I’m sorry I freaked out back there. I just—”
    He took a deep breath and blew it out slowly, stopping halfway across the bridge and pinning her in place with a piercing stare. “Callie, you didn’t do anything wrong. So you’re afraid of heights?” He shrugged, and something else flashed in his eyes before he shifted them away.
    Desire .
    Oh Lordy. I must be dreaming .
    He shoved his hands in the pocket of his jeans and looked in the direction of her cabin. “Come on. We’ve got an early ride tomorrow. You’d better get some rest.” He stopped at the bottom of the porch stairs, hands still deep in his pockets. His eyes darted to the dark cabin, then back to the trail, everywhere but at Callie.
    She got the message loud and clear. “Thanks, Wes.” She took a step toward the stairs and felt Wes’s hand gently touch her arm. She turned and found his dark brows knitted together. He was leaning forward, as if he’d been intent on kissing her or whispering in her ear. She hoped for the first.
    “Callie,” he said just above a whisper.
    He felt it, too. He had to, regardless of the conflicting messages he was sending. She saw it in his eyes, felt it in the heat that swirled around them, sending shivers down her back. Her lips parted in anticipation. His Adam’s apple jumped as he swallowed, then licked his lips. His mouth was a breath away from hers.
    A light flicked on in the cabin, and his eyes shifted to the door.
    He looked down at Sweets, sitting beside his feet, then back at Callie. With a nod, he turned and walked away, leaving Callie to stumble up the stairs, wondering what the hell just happened.

Chapter Four
    FRIDAY MORNING WES paced his cabin floor, beating himself up for taking the walk in the woods with Callie. He’d liked talking with her and hearing about why she’d become a librarian, and once she’d begun to relax, he’d enjoyed being with her even more. It felt natural to share his most private place with her, the spot he’d never shared with anyone. Christ . He’d made a big mistake. Seeing her as the shy, intriguing girl who picked out his reading material went right out the door. One look in her sultry dark eyes and he’d lost his ability to think clearly. Suddenly, he’d felt the soft pillows of her breasts pressed against him and the curve of her hips filling his palms. He’d smelled her fresh, feminine scent, and that was it. He was a goner. If that damn light hadn’t turned on, he would have taken her in a kiss that would have led to God only knew what else. He needed to get his emotions in check before the trail ride today.
    The trail ride presented another issue. He had a feeling she had no experience on horseback, and given that she nearly climbed under his skin at the height of the boulder, he had concerns about how she’d do riding a horse.
    A few minutes later, he and Sweets headed down to the stables, where Cutter had already saddled the