cheeks, Kelly stared up at him, unaware of the bemusement in her own expression, her mouth craving his.
"You're still a rowdy cowboy, aren't you?" she asked, her eyes dropping to his lips. "This isn't the place for lovemaking."
"Honey, anywhere I want is the place. And what better spot than where Althea can see it's not her I want, but you."
Chapter 4
Kelly started to protest, but Kit simply pulled her against his mouth again and kissed her long and hard.
She was breathing erratically when he released her. "Is that called staking your claim?" she asked, her voice tremulous. Her heart slammed into her chest, blood heating through her body. The other people in the crowded room faded from view. She saw only Kit.
"Yep."
His eyes roamed the room in blatant satisfaction before he looked back at her. "And everyone who needed to know it, saw."
"Oh, great." Embarrassed, she glanced around, noticing people talking, catching the eye of one or two, blushing as she quickly moved hers.
"When Althea leaves, you and I can have a huge fight and everyone will know you're free again," he said softly.
She pulled back and glared at him. "I'm free right now, cowboy. Kisses mean nothing. Don't ride me or I'll walk away and leave you to Althea."
His eyes gleamed. "Don't ride you, when it'd be so much fun?"
Kelly flushed at his words and rose on trembling legs. "I'm going for some food. Want something?" She stepped away from temptation, from danger. She needed a few minutes to get her emotions under control.
"I'll take a plateful."
Kelly kept a watchful eye on Kit as she loaded up two plates with an assortment of the food on the tables. She considered her hasty agreement for the charade. She hadn't thought about it much, just that he'd seemed so upset, and she reacted. His vulnerability struck a chord deep within her. And now that she'd met Althea, she wanted to help him even more. Could they fool the whole town, though? And for how long?
When the dance ended, Clint and Sally offered Kelly a ride home. Accepting, Kelly worried Kit might prove difficult when bidding her good-night. But he didn't say a word. Waving them goodbye, she entered her house wondering at the disappointment that he hadn't at least tried to kiss her again.
* * *
Kelly woke late Sunday morning. She was heavy lidded and headachy, wishing for more sleep, knowing her body thought she should be up with the sun. Even after her shower, she was listless. No more late nights for her. After only a couple of weeks in Taylorville she was adjusting to country hours.
There was plenty to do around the house. She could put up shelves so she could unpack her books. She could wash the linens, work on the new storybook. But Sundays were lazy days and she didn't have much motivation. She rather wanted to think about the dance, remember Kit's kisses and the awkward situation with Althea.
She drifted to her backyard, hot in the afternoon sun but shaded by the large oak tree that grew on the border with Molly Benson's yard. She sank into one of the lawn chairs and dozed, lazy and content. San Francisco was probably foggy and cold. She rarely sat out in the afternoons there, unless it was during the warm, sunny days of September.
If she still lived in the city she'd have had brunch with friends, made plans for the week and scarcely had time to do routine chores. Life was slower here, and she was surprised at how fast she was adjusting. Wouldn't her friends be surprised?
"Hi, Kelly. Enjoy the party last night?"
Old Mrs. Benson walked sedately across the yard, two glasses brimful of iced tea on a silver tray. "I brought refreshments." She sat daintily on the second chair and smiled at Kelly.
"Thanks. It sure gets hot." Kelly took a long drink of the icy liquid and settled back, smiling at Mrs. Benson. "The dance was enjoyable. I met a lot of people."
"I saw you sitting with Kit Lockford. He was always a wild boy."
Kelly nodded, but said nothing. Had Molly also seen his kisses?
"You're still a rowdy cowboy, aren't you?" she asked, her eyes dropping to his lips. "This isn't the place for lovemaking."
"Honey, anywhere I want is the place. And what better spot than where Althea can see it's not her I want, but you."
Chapter 4
Kelly started to protest, but Kit simply pulled her against his mouth again and kissed her long and hard.
She was breathing erratically when he released her. "Is that called staking your claim?" she asked, her voice tremulous. Her heart slammed into her chest, blood heating through her body. The other people in the crowded room faded from view. She saw only Kit.
"Yep."
His eyes roamed the room in blatant satisfaction before he looked back at her. "And everyone who needed to know it, saw."
"Oh, great." Embarrassed, she glanced around, noticing people talking, catching the eye of one or two, blushing as she quickly moved hers.
"When Althea leaves, you and I can have a huge fight and everyone will know you're free again," he said softly.
She pulled back and glared at him. "I'm free right now, cowboy. Kisses mean nothing. Don't ride me or I'll walk away and leave you to Althea."
His eyes gleamed. "Don't ride you, when it'd be so much fun?"
Kelly flushed at his words and rose on trembling legs. "I'm going for some food. Want something?" She stepped away from temptation, from danger. She needed a few minutes to get her emotions under control.
"I'll take a plateful."
Kelly kept a watchful eye on Kit as she loaded up two plates with an assortment of the food on the tables. She considered her hasty agreement for the charade. She hadn't thought about it much, just that he'd seemed so upset, and she reacted. His vulnerability struck a chord deep within her. And now that she'd met Althea, she wanted to help him even more. Could they fool the whole town, though? And for how long?
When the dance ended, Clint and Sally offered Kelly a ride home. Accepting, Kelly worried Kit might prove difficult when bidding her good-night. But he didn't say a word. Waving them goodbye, she entered her house wondering at the disappointment that he hadn't at least tried to kiss her again.
* * *
Kelly woke late Sunday morning. She was heavy lidded and headachy, wishing for more sleep, knowing her body thought she should be up with the sun. Even after her shower, she was listless. No more late nights for her. After only a couple of weeks in Taylorville she was adjusting to country hours.
There was plenty to do around the house. She could put up shelves so she could unpack her books. She could wash the linens, work on the new storybook. But Sundays were lazy days and she didn't have much motivation. She rather wanted to think about the dance, remember Kit's kisses and the awkward situation with Althea.
She drifted to her backyard, hot in the afternoon sun but shaded by the large oak tree that grew on the border with Molly Benson's yard. She sank into one of the lawn chairs and dozed, lazy and content. San Francisco was probably foggy and cold. She rarely sat out in the afternoons there, unless it was during the warm, sunny days of September.
If she still lived in the city she'd have had brunch with friends, made plans for the week and scarcely had time to do routine chores. Life was slower here, and she was surprised at how fast she was adjusting. Wouldn't her friends be surprised?
"Hi, Kelly. Enjoy the party last night?"
Old Mrs. Benson walked sedately across the yard, two glasses brimful of iced tea on a silver tray. "I brought refreshments." She sat daintily on the second chair and smiled at Kelly.
"Thanks. It sure gets hot." Kelly took a long drink of the icy liquid and settled back, smiling at Mrs. Benson. "The dance was enjoyable. I met a lot of people."
"I saw you sitting with Kit Lockford. He was always a wild boy."
Kelly nodded, but said nothing. Had Molly also seen his kisses?
Similar Books
