it’s just an excuse to keep what’s happening between us safe. Like
our relationship is in a box for you to take out whenever you have needs.”
“That’s not fair. We hardly know each other. Do you think I’m afraid to commit?”
“I think someone’s made you afraid to trust.”
Tears filled her eyes and she blinked. “Daniel, we need to talk—”
He shook his head. “After the party.”
A fierce frown drew her brows together. “We’ll never get around to conversation
then.”
Daniel smiled. “After you make good on your promise…we’ll talk.”
Her head canted and she gave him an assessing look. “We just had our first
argument.”
“Not so bad, huh?”
“I survived.”
48
Ride a Cowboy
He rose, and held out his hand to help her stand. “You sure you’re feelin’ all right?”
“Uh huh,” she answered, sounding a little breathless as she stared up.
His gaze dropped to her lips, and they parted. That was invitation enough.
Intending only a quick kiss to her lips, he pressed his closed lips to hers, but was
pleasantly surprised when her head tilted to align their noses, and she deepened the
kiss. His hands smoothed over her ribs, slid around her back, then spread to embrace
her. He pulled her close to him, and she leaned into him with a soft moan. He let her
take the lead, and while she never ventured beyond the seam of his lips, her own
melted against his.
Suddenly, she broke off the kiss, shoving at his chest and he released her
immediately. Breathing heavily, he fought to calm his racing heart. Glancing around, he
found his hat on the floor, and brushed it off, before placing it back on his head.
His eyes sought hers. Her lips glistened still from their kiss. Choking down an
inward groan, he said, “Tonight.”
49
Delilah Devlin
Chapter Five
Katelyn chose a pink cotton dress with a skirt that swirled around her calves when
she turned. She smiled at herself in the mirror, wondering if this was starting a trend. A
brand spanking new pink life. Her blond hair was pulled away from her face, fastened
with small silver barrettes leaving the rest to fall to her shoulders. She hoped she didn’t
look ridiculous and like she was trying to appear younger than she was, but the truth
was, the anticipation of seeing him again left her feeling like she was standing on the
edge of something wonderful.
And if they ended up in bed together tonight, she didn’t believe her secret was a
betrayal. He might have access to her body, but this time around she wasn’t going to
entrust her inner self to anyone else’s care before she was sure. However, yesterday
she’d called an attorney and begun the process to end her marriage to her husband.
This was a victory she wanted to savor alone—she’d proven her strength of will,
proven Chris was wrong about her. She wasn’t the insecure young woman he’d
married. She no longer needed his approval to validate her choices. She didn’t need
him—she didn’t need any man. It was a liberating feeling taking this final step of
emancipation.
Every bit as freeing as the rich sensuality of Daniel’s kisses. Today, standing in the
middle of the library where anyone could see them, she’d given herself permission to
love again. Compared to the wicked things he’d done to her before, the kiss had been
rather innocent, but she’d initiated a deeper joining, let her hands roam over his body in
a possessive way,
Until she’d realized the hard, unyielding surface beneath her palms wasn’t his
muscled chest, but the Kevlar jacket he wore beneath his uniform. That had been
50
Ride a Cowboy
enough to jar her back to reality. She hadn’t known he was an officer. He’d kept his
own secret.
She wouldn’t hold it against him. They had to learn to trust each other and give
themselves time to know each other. If the physical side of their relationship was on the
fast track, well, halleluiah anyway.
The age difference that
our relationship is in a box for you to take out whenever you have needs.”
“That’s not fair. We hardly know each other. Do you think I’m afraid to commit?”
“I think someone’s made you afraid to trust.”
Tears filled her eyes and she blinked. “Daniel, we need to talk—”
He shook his head. “After the party.”
A fierce frown drew her brows together. “We’ll never get around to conversation
then.”
Daniel smiled. “After you make good on your promise…we’ll talk.”
Her head canted and she gave him an assessing look. “We just had our first
argument.”
“Not so bad, huh?”
“I survived.”
48
Ride a Cowboy
He rose, and held out his hand to help her stand. “You sure you’re feelin’ all right?”
“Uh huh,” she answered, sounding a little breathless as she stared up.
His gaze dropped to her lips, and they parted. That was invitation enough.
Intending only a quick kiss to her lips, he pressed his closed lips to hers, but was
pleasantly surprised when her head tilted to align their noses, and she deepened the
kiss. His hands smoothed over her ribs, slid around her back, then spread to embrace
her. He pulled her close to him, and she leaned into him with a soft moan. He let her
take the lead, and while she never ventured beyond the seam of his lips, her own
melted against his.
Suddenly, she broke off the kiss, shoving at his chest and he released her
immediately. Breathing heavily, he fought to calm his racing heart. Glancing around, he
found his hat on the floor, and brushed it off, before placing it back on his head.
His eyes sought hers. Her lips glistened still from their kiss. Choking down an
inward groan, he said, “Tonight.”
49
Delilah Devlin
Chapter Five
Katelyn chose a pink cotton dress with a skirt that swirled around her calves when
she turned. She smiled at herself in the mirror, wondering if this was starting a trend. A
brand spanking new pink life. Her blond hair was pulled away from her face, fastened
with small silver barrettes leaving the rest to fall to her shoulders. She hoped she didn’t
look ridiculous and like she was trying to appear younger than she was, but the truth
was, the anticipation of seeing him again left her feeling like she was standing on the
edge of something wonderful.
And if they ended up in bed together tonight, she didn’t believe her secret was a
betrayal. He might have access to her body, but this time around she wasn’t going to
entrust her inner self to anyone else’s care before she was sure. However, yesterday
she’d called an attorney and begun the process to end her marriage to her husband.
This was a victory she wanted to savor alone—she’d proven her strength of will,
proven Chris was wrong about her. She wasn’t the insecure young woman he’d
married. She no longer needed his approval to validate her choices. She didn’t need
him—she didn’t need any man. It was a liberating feeling taking this final step of
emancipation.
Every bit as freeing as the rich sensuality of Daniel’s kisses. Today, standing in the
middle of the library where anyone could see them, she’d given herself permission to
love again. Compared to the wicked things he’d done to her before, the kiss had been
rather innocent, but she’d initiated a deeper joining, let her hands roam over his body in
a possessive way,
Until she’d realized the hard, unyielding surface beneath her palms wasn’t his
muscled chest, but the Kevlar jacket he wore beneath his uniform. That had been
50
Ride a Cowboy
enough to jar her back to reality. She hadn’t known he was an officer. He’d kept his
own secret.
She wouldn’t hold it against him. They had to learn to trust each other and give
themselves time to know each other. If the physical side of their relationship was on the
fast track, well, halleluiah anyway.
The age difference that
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