Page 29 of Texas-Sized Secrets

“I thought you knew.” Mona’s head spun, her heart beating too fast. What was she doing? Her gaze locked in on his lips and she swayed toward him.

Reed dropped her hand, captured her hip and dragged her against his chest. His fingers dug into her thick, damp hair, winding around a heavy strand. “This won’t solve your problems, but damned if I can resist.” Then his lips descended on hers, at first crushing them, his tongue pushing past her teeth to tangle with hers.

He tasted of mint and smelled of soap, a fresh combination, completely sexy. Mona sank against him, her bottom finding purchase on his thigh.

With a gentle twist he had her lying beside him on the mattress.

Her arms circled his neck, bringing those incredible lips back to hers. Mona could die this way and be happy.

Reed’s hand smoothed across her collarbone and down to the first button on her cotton shirt. With a flick of his fingers, that one loosened, exposing more of her breasts.

The juncture of her thighs tingled deliciously. She wanted him more than she’d wanted any man. And though she knew she shouldn’t, she couldn’t stop herself.

The next two buttons came undone, the knot the only thing keeping the blouse from gaping open.

Mona’s hands rose to remove the knot, but Reed brushed them aside. He bent to touch his lips to her throat, blazing a trail down her neck and lower to the valley between her breasts.

His fingers removed the knot, spreading her shirt wide enough he could stare down at her.

A burst of panic overcame her. He’d see her body for what it was. Pregnant and unappealing. Breasts too large, the lump of her baby protruding as a reminder she’d been with another man. Tiny stretch marks marring her skin.

Mona laid still, her breath caught in her throat, those dratted tears threatening to fall.

Reed’s hand lifted to cup one breast, massaging the tip to a hard little nub. His mouth descended on the other, drawing it between his lips and teasing it with his tongue until Mona arched off the bed, pushing closer to him.

Her fears evaporated momentarily in the ecstasy of his touch, until his hand slipped lower to the gentle slope of her belly.

Mona reached up and captured his fingers in hers. Her brain reengaging, reason flooding back, shoving aside the blinding web of desire. “No. I can’t. I shouldn’t.” With a sob rising in her throat, Mona scrambled off the bed and ran out of the room.

Alone in her room with door locked, she let the tears fall unchecked. She knew what she’d been feeling, but what had she been thinking? He was the hired help. She was an unmarried ranch owner on the verge of losing everything. She sank to the edge of the bed and buried her head in her hands, silent sobs racking her body.

“Mona?” Reed called out to her through the wood-paneled door.

Mona buried her head under her pillow to shut out the sound. She couldn’t go to him. He was her employee, not her lifeline. She’d made her bed nearly six months ago, choosing to believe in a man unworthy of her affection. It was her mistake to live with. Not that her child would ever feel like a mistake. But the father would never know, if she could help it.

And Reed deserved a woman who didn’t have so many strikes against her.

The long day and even longer bout with tears, something she didn’t indulge in often, took their toll on Mona and she fell asleep.

Not until the fifth ring did she hear the phone through the thickness of her pillow. By then it stopped ringing. The blue numbers on her digital alarm clock indicated 11:38. Who would call that late?

The next thing she knew, her door was being attacked by a jackhammer. The banging was so loud, the baby kicked a protest against her ribs.

“I’m coming.” With a hand over her belly to calm her child, she hurried to the door and yanked it open.

Reed stood in front of her, fully dressed in jeans, shirt and boots. “Get some clothes on. Catalina’s been taken to the hospital in Amarillo.”

Chapter Eight

“What happened?” Mona slid into the passenger seat of Reed’s truck.

“Fernando and Rosa got the call on their cell phone as they left a friend’s house in Prairie Rock. All they knew was that the bartender at Leon’s found Catalina unconscious in back of the bar.”

Mona’s stomach roiled. “Do you think it was Dusty?”

“I don’t know. I’m hoping Catalina can tell us once we get there.”

“I hope she’s all right.” Mona slammed her fist against the door panel. “Damn it! She has to be.”

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