Page 57 of Lone Star Protector

Since she’d already spilled about the sex, Caroline continued with the truth. “Yeah, I am.”

Once again, her mother did not seem the least bit surprised.

“Does he know?” Ruby asked.

Nash’s ESP must have kicked up because he glanced at her again while he finished his talk with the cop. He started toward her, looking far between that of a Greek god of hotness could have managed.

“He doesn’t know I’m in love with him. Not yet,” Caroline added. “Are you going to give us your blessing?”

Ruby leaned in and whispered, “You’ve always had it.” She gave her another kiss, on the cheek this time and got up. “I’ll give you two a moment while I call for a ride home.”

“We can give you a lift,” Nash offered when he heard what she said.

Ruby shook her head. “I think you two need some time to discuss things.” She brushed her hand on Nash’s arm. “Are you okay?” she tacked onto that, glancing at the ME van that was driving away with Bodie’s body.

“I’m okay if Caroline is,” he said.

“Then, we’re all okay,” Caroline assured him.

“Good,” her mother muttered. “The mission was a success. Take some downtime,” she added and began to make her way toward Slade.

That “all okay” was close enough to the truth anyway. Once they’d had that downtime, it’d be the full truth. And once she told him that part about being in love with him.

She’d felt bold and invincible when she spilled to her mother about that. But now it occurred to her that Nash might not feel the same way as she did. Heck, this could have just been the job to him, and he might—

He took hold of her shoulders, pulled her to him, and kissed her. It was long, hot, and wonderful. The kind of kiss that ignited flames and gave a promise of things to come.

“So,” he said when he finally pulled back. He’d left her breathless, dizzy, and wanting a whole lot more. “Slade says I should take you back into the lake house, that I should put you in the hot tub, and…well, I’d rather not spell out his suggestions, but they’re really good ones.”

Yes, definitely a lot of promise.

“Can we go now?” she asked.

“Absolutely.” He helped her out of the van and hooked his arm around her, already leading her through the gates to where he’d left his SUV. “Did you work out some things with your mom?”

“I did. Forgive and forgive. The forgetting might kick in a little later,” she tacked onto that. “Oh, and she wants us to come for dinner.”

Nash’s head whipped toward her, and she laughed at the brief look of panic on his incredible face. “You can say no.”

He helped her onto the seat of the SUV but kept her facing toward him. This put them at eye level. Mouth level, too.

“I don’t want to say no,” he assured her.

“You mean that?” she had to ask.

“I do. I, uh, think your mother should get used to seeing us together.”

Oh, she liked the sound of that. “Does that mean because we’ll start dating?”

“Among other things.” He kissed her.

She liked that, too. A lot. And the kiss made her feel so needy that she had to fight the feeling just to say what she needed him to hear.

“I don’t want to be a job for you,” she started.

She groaned. Bad start. So, she regrouped.

“I want you in my life,” Caroline said on her second attempt. “And in my bed.”

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