Land of Enchantment by Janet Dailey

Diana willingly obeyed, surrendering eagerly to the increased ardency of his embrace. There was a tormenting ecstasy in the crushing hold. The blood was pounding through her veins, heightening her senses until she was drowning in this new awareness.
    Her fingers twined tighter around his neck as she poised on tiptoe to get closer to this tall man who was awakening the sleeping passionate side of her nature. His mouth began a thorough inspection of her face and neck, drawing a whispering gasp of pleasure. Deftly Lije pushed her denim jacket away so that only the thin cotton of his shirt and the lightweight synthetic fabric of her shell top separated the growing heat of their bodies. Then his hands were once more at her hips, pressing her against his thighs and revealing his rising need of her. Again his mouth claimed hers, driving away the last tendrils of resistance.
    A sniggering laugh sounded several cars away, followed by a male voice saying in what was a loud aside, 'There's a guy that's got it made for tonight!'
    Almost before the man's words were out, Lije was pushing Diana away from him and opening the door of the pick-up. His breathing was ragged, but his expression was filled with cold anger. He kept a steadying hand on her, since she was still reeling from the effects of his embrace.
    'Get in,' he ordered thickly.
    Her shaking legs were slow to obey, but with the help of his supporting arm, she made it. He wasted no time joining her, slipping behind the wheel and starting the motor immediately. They travelled several blocks in what seemed to Diana a freezing silence before Lije turned to look at her.
    'I owe you an apology, Diana, for placing you in a position to be subjected to that kind of remark.' His speech was clipped and blunt. His eyes that had held such a burning flame were the colour of granite again. 'I'll take you back to your hotel.'
    'It didn't upset me.' That was a half-truth. Diana had been humiliated that her wanton actions had been seen by others, but the aching void of her empty arms upset her more. 'It probably appeared that way to him,' she added, studying the fingers knotted in her lap.
    'It was more than that, and we both know it!' Lije ground out harshly. Her eyes were wide and shimmering like aquamarines when she met his gaze, and she knew he was right. 'That was not a casual kiss in the moonlight.'
    'Not for me,' Diana admitted.
    'Or me…which is precisely why I'm taking you back to your hotel,' he declared. He braked to a stop in front of the hotel, sitting erectly behind the wheel turning only his face towards her. It was shadowed by the light flowing in behind him from the street outside the window. 'Keep in mind, Diana, you're leaving on Sunday to go one way and I leave on Monday going another.'
    Half blinded by the pain his statement caused about the one thing she had been trying to forget, Diana reached for the door handle, wanting only to run away, but his hand reached out, gasping her wrist so she couldn't leave.
    'I've learned quite a bit about you in the past twenty-four hours, Diana,' Lije went on quietly. 'I know you aren't one of those groupies that hang around the rodeo, and as desirable as you are, I can't treat you like one. If you want to call tomorrow off, I'll understand.'
    'I don't,' Diana answered, keeping her head averted.
    His hand took her chin and twisted her face around towards him. He was smiling, not just with his eyes but with his whole face.
    'Then we're both a pair of fools, because I don't want to either.' He leaned over, his mouth brushing hers in a light tender kiss before he settled back on his own side of the truck. 'I'll call you tomorrow morning.'
    'Goodnight, Lije,' Diana beamed, slipping out of the truck and smiling back at him. He nodded. She couldn't see his expression, but she felt sure he was still smiling.
    The telephone rang at nine o'clock on the dot the next morning. Diana, who had been pacing back and forth beside it, lifted the receiver