Let It Ride by Katherine Garbera Page A

they called El Dorado. It was an Aztec-like structure with a huge waterfall that even during the day had plumes of water that turned gold every fifteen minutes. It had cost more than Deacon had wanted to spend on a water display, but he’d learned from Mac that the more you invested in your resort, the higher the profits down the road.
    He paused at the bar to order a Scotch for himself and a strawberry margarita for Kylie. He spotted her lounging in the sun. Her chair was pulled a distance away from those around her. She wore large sunglasses and her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Her book was in her hand, and Deacon knew he would have to work hard to make a place for himself in Kylie’s world. She was very self-contained.
    He didn’t dwell on his doubts. He fixed an image of Kylie in his head where before a faceless woman had been. Kylie would be his wife. Things had progressed too far for him to pick anyone else. At least that’s what he told himself. He didn’t want any other woman.
    He moved across the pool deck, intent on Kylie. She was an island of calm amidst the chaos that was Vegas. People were talking and laughing. Smoking and drinking. Kissing and fighting. And there, apart from them, sat the woman he’d chosen for his own.
    He didn’t feel worthy of her, and he hoped she’d never realize how little in this life he’d done right. Last night he’d come close to lying about his past. She was just too innocent of life in general for him to contemplate telling her the truth.
    “May I join you?” he asked.
    She glanced up at him over the rims of her sunglasses. The smile that broke over her face was tentative. Did she have doubts about him already?
    “Sure,” she said, glancing around for a vacant lounger. There were none.
    He lowered himself onto her lounger by her thighs. They were smooth and tanned and, he knew from last night, strong. He handed the margarita to her and took a stiff swallow of his own drink. Tried to remind himself that they were in public and he should keep his hands to himself.
    He studied her in the sunlight. Last night in the shadows he’d become acquainted with her body, but much of it was still a mystery to him. Her tropical-print bikini left little to the imagination. The top lovingly hugged the full curves of her breasts. Her trim midriff was bare, and her bikini bottom was barely visible beneath the translucent red cover-up she’d wrapped low on her hips.
    He hardened in his pants and knew that lunch was going to be a very quick meal—he didn’t think he could draw out this seduction much longer.
    “Did your meetings finish early?” she asked.
    Clearly she wasn’t on the same track. He took another swallow of his Scotch, trying to quench the desire pulsing through him with each breath he took. Each breath that was filled with her unique feminine scent. Each breath that felt hotter than the one before.
    “Yes,” he said when he realized she was staring at him.
    “Thanks for the drink,” she said. He watched her take a delicate sip and then lick her lips. God, she was killing him.
    He rested his hand on his leg and knew if he moved his fingers the slightest bit to the left, he’d be touching her. He wasn’t a subtle guy. He downed the rest of his Scotch and gave his empty glass to a passing waiter.
    Hands free, he was able to caress her the way he’d been wanting to. He traced a random pattern on her thigh and was rewarded when she shifted her legs under his touch. Not out of his reach but into his caresses.
    “Are you ready for brunch?” he asked, needing to get out of this very public area because the things he wanted to do with her were very private.
    “Yes,” she said. Her husky voice shot right through him, and he reached for her hand to help her to her feet. He knew that nothing had been decided, but when he slipped his arm around her waist to lead her back to the hotel, he had the feeling that everything was coming up sevens and he was riding a