smiled ruefully in the sweet perfumed darkness. He’d chosen the Homestead Inn because it was an actual inn, offering charmingly rustic accommodations. In his own absurd optimism, he’d thought he might share a room here, and a bed, with Diana tonight. He shook his head. Any fool could see it was too damn early for that.
Once again, he wondered where the elegant, powerful CEO went and where this nervous, uncertain woman came from. In her vulnerabi lity, Diana drew out feelings of protectiveness and gentleness he hadn’t known he possessed. Could it all be an act?
She talked quietly all the way back to town. Her childhood had been so different from his—and a lot less fun from his point of view. Lessons in this and that…ballet, art, even manners—deportment, she called it, and he laughed. He didn’t think she realized how cold, and even sad, it all sounded.
By the time they pulled up next to her car in the company lot, Logan had almost decided his initial assessment of Diana had been wrong. This was no hardened career woman, despite her professional demeanor and obvious success. He was curious, too, about her apparent naiveté. It could all be an act, but if it was, she was one hell of an actress. He looked across the seat to where she sat with her head leaning against the window. “Well, here we are.”
“Yes. Thank you, Logan. It’s been fun.” Her voice sounded almost wistful, and the full lips parted in a soft smile.
Coming around to her side of the Cherokee, Logan opened the door and reached up to lift her down. Her waist was slim and firm beneath his hands, the lush breasts a tender temptation just above his thumbs. But he resisted the desire to simply pull her into his arms. She wasn’t ready. Her firm grip on his forearms held her at what she undoubtedly felt was a proper distance from him. So he stepped to the side, reaching behind her for the jacket that still lay on the seat of the SUV. “Let me help you with this.” Sliding the fine lightweight wool over her silk-clad arms, he ran his fingers to the nape of her neck, releasing the heavy fall of hair trapped by the collar. The silken strands covered his hands, warm from her body and full of the scent of her. With a gentle squeeze on the neck, he gave fair warning of his intention, then grasping her shoulders gently, turned her into his embrace.
An instant’s resistance melted into fluid motion as she stepped t owards him. In the light from the streetlamps, her face looked unsure, but not fearful. Watching emotions flit across her face, in succession too rapid for him to interpret, he leaned down and with a gentle touch, took her soft mouth. She was still as a statue. He lifted his head and looked into her eyes.
Strange feelings stirred inside him. Lust chained tightly down, yes. But something more as well. Something unfamiliar. He slid his hands down to her elbows and wrapped his arms around her, drawing her closer. Her hands flattened against his chest, but she didn’t push away. Once again, he lowered his head and took her mouth, more firmly this time. Without a word, his lips urged her to drop her defenses. He felt her body relax as she swayed against him, head tilted back and lips parted, and he traced their fullness with his tongue, tasting the sweetness of her mixed with a hint of blackberry. As he lingered, lips moving softly against hers, her hands slid to his shoulders. He pulled her tight against him, fighting the desire to take all the sweetness she offered. For just a moment, he allowed himself to increase the pressure of the kiss, and then eased back, gently releasing his hold on her until she stood on her own, still in the shelter of his arms. Like a child. His heartbeat, strong and steady, pulsed in his fingertips. Her face was open, soft—and surprised. His head pulled back. Why the hell did she look surprised?
The nervous, uncertain look returned, and she stepped away. “Goo dnight, Logan. It was…” She swallowed. ”It
Once again, he wondered where the elegant, powerful CEO went and where this nervous, uncertain woman came from. In her vulnerabi lity, Diana drew out feelings of protectiveness and gentleness he hadn’t known he possessed. Could it all be an act?
She talked quietly all the way back to town. Her childhood had been so different from his—and a lot less fun from his point of view. Lessons in this and that…ballet, art, even manners—deportment, she called it, and he laughed. He didn’t think she realized how cold, and even sad, it all sounded.
By the time they pulled up next to her car in the company lot, Logan had almost decided his initial assessment of Diana had been wrong. This was no hardened career woman, despite her professional demeanor and obvious success. He was curious, too, about her apparent naiveté. It could all be an act, but if it was, she was one hell of an actress. He looked across the seat to where she sat with her head leaning against the window. “Well, here we are.”
“Yes. Thank you, Logan. It’s been fun.” Her voice sounded almost wistful, and the full lips parted in a soft smile.
Coming around to her side of the Cherokee, Logan opened the door and reached up to lift her down. Her waist was slim and firm beneath his hands, the lush breasts a tender temptation just above his thumbs. But he resisted the desire to simply pull her into his arms. She wasn’t ready. Her firm grip on his forearms held her at what she undoubtedly felt was a proper distance from him. So he stepped to the side, reaching behind her for the jacket that still lay on the seat of the SUV. “Let me help you with this.” Sliding the fine lightweight wool over her silk-clad arms, he ran his fingers to the nape of her neck, releasing the heavy fall of hair trapped by the collar. The silken strands covered his hands, warm from her body and full of the scent of her. With a gentle squeeze on the neck, he gave fair warning of his intention, then grasping her shoulders gently, turned her into his embrace.
An instant’s resistance melted into fluid motion as she stepped t owards him. In the light from the streetlamps, her face looked unsure, but not fearful. Watching emotions flit across her face, in succession too rapid for him to interpret, he leaned down and with a gentle touch, took her soft mouth. She was still as a statue. He lifted his head and looked into her eyes.
Strange feelings stirred inside him. Lust chained tightly down, yes. But something more as well. Something unfamiliar. He slid his hands down to her elbows and wrapped his arms around her, drawing her closer. Her hands flattened against his chest, but she didn’t push away. Once again, he lowered his head and took her mouth, more firmly this time. Without a word, his lips urged her to drop her defenses. He felt her body relax as she swayed against him, head tilted back and lips parted, and he traced their fullness with his tongue, tasting the sweetness of her mixed with a hint of blackberry. As he lingered, lips moving softly against hers, her hands slid to his shoulders. He pulled her tight against him, fighting the desire to take all the sweetness she offered. For just a moment, he allowed himself to increase the pressure of the kiss, and then eased back, gently releasing his hold on her until she stood on her own, still in the shelter of his arms. Like a child. His heartbeat, strong and steady, pulsed in his fingertips. Her face was open, soft—and surprised. His head pulled back. Why the hell did she look surprised?
The nervous, uncertain look returned, and she stepped away. “Goo dnight, Logan. It was…” She swallowed. ”It
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