Page 40 of Lone Star Protector

They stepped into an open floorplan similar to Nash’s place, but instead of the pasture, barn, and horses, Slade had a view of the lake. There were other differences as well. Slade had gone for vibrant colors. Cobalt blues, aqua, and yellow.

“Welcome, Nash and Caroline,” a voice said, talking over the song. “Slade informed me you’d be arriving.”

Caroline’s forehead bunched up. “That sounds like Spock’s voice from Star Trek.”

“It is,” Nash verified. “The song and the show were our mother’s favorites. Well, favorites before we moved to Stronghold anyway. After that, we didn’t have a TV, and my SOB of a father didn’t allow her to listen to music. I think this is Slade’s way of thumbing his nose at the bastard while still keeping part of her alive.”

Yes, grief was very complex, and Slade had obviously worked out a way to deal with the loss.

“Caroline, as Slade instructed, the hot tub is ready for you to have a long soak,” Spock added. “Nash, there’s Oban in the liquor cabinet for you.”

“Thanks,” Nash muttered. “It’s my favorite,” he added to Caroline, and then he checked the time. “It’s a little early for a drink, though.”

She checked the time, too, and was shocked to see it was barely noon. Her body suddenly felt as if she’d been up for days. And in a way, she had been since she hadn’t slept a wink the night before. Added to the lack of sleep was all that spent adrenaline from the attack.

“Where’s the hot tub?” Caroline asked, glancing out onto the flagstone patio. It wasn’t there.

Nash smiled and motioned for her to follow him. He led her past a large office and what appeared to be the main bedroom before he threw open double doors at the end of the hall.

And Caroline did some instant goggling.

“Wow,” she muttered. “It looks like a gym and a spa combined.”

“Yep.”

He pointed to a sauna and a lap pool that ran against the entire back of the room. There was another wall of windows here with views of the lake and a side garden bursting with flowers. But the focal point of the room was the sunken hot tub in the center. It was the size of a half dozen regular tubs, and the jets churned and bubbled the steaming teal blue water.

Suddenly, every muscle in her body seemed to be aching to climb inside.

“Help yourself,” Nash said. “There are some swimming clothes in the closet of the ensuite bath or you can take a soak commando since no one can see in through the windows. I’ll grab you a glass of wine.”

While that sounded wonderful, Caroline thought of something else that would work a whole lot better than wine.

A kiss.

So, that’s what she did. She took hold of his hand, pulling him to her and pressing her mouth to his. He stiffened a little, maybe because he was well aware that the kiss could end up being the start of a whole lot more.

And that’s what she was hoping.

It seemed to hit her hard and fast. The realization that while a soak in the hot tub and wine would indeed be nice, it wouldn’t fix what Nash could do just by being with her.

“We’re playing with fire,” he muttered with his mouth against her.

“Yes, we are. Very hot fire.” She kissed him again, deepening it this time, and his taste glided through her.

The kiss continued and got even deeper. The heat came. The hunger, too. Hunger for Nash, and she could feel he was having the same reaction to her. That’s why she was surprised when he eased back.

“You’re exhausted,” he said, lifting a finger. “You’re probably still in shock.” A second finger went up as he continued his tally of why he should be leaving her alone. “You need to relax and process what’s happened.” A third finger went up. “And after a soak and some wine, you need sleep.”

“All true,” she admitted, “but I’m not as exhausted as I was just a few minutes ago.” She moved closer, brushing her body against his. “In fact, I’m more than a little revved up.”

The corner of his mouth lifted in a smile. Then, he groaned. “This feels like taking advantage of you.”

“Always the hero,” she muttered. “So, let me take advantage of you. Let me finish what we started at that party.”

Even with that blatant invitation, she thought he might decline and do the hero thing by giving her some time alone. Time that she didn’t want. So, she kissed him again, this time pressing herself against him.

He made a sound, sort of a groan-grunt combo, and the rest of his resolve seemed to snap because Nash hooked his arm around her waist and hauled her to him. All those muscles made it easy for him to do the maneuver.

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