Page 50 of A Fortunes of Texas Christmas (Fortunes of Texas)

“Come here,” he beckoned, holding out his hand.

She stayed where she was on the other side of the sofa. “Oh, no...you don’t get me so easily. You’re still in the doghouse.”

“Doghouse?”

She nodded. “I read your blog,” she said, hands on hips. “You know, the one about being single and loving it. The one that said you were painting the town with redheads.”

Amersen laughed. God, she was so passionate and vibrant and made him insane and aroused and utterly powerless. “I haven’t written a new blog post in weeks. That was something recycled from a couple of months back.”

She looked dubious. “Why no new posts? Lost your muse?”

“Lost my mind, more like.”

She grinned, clearly delighted, and then she looked a little somber. “I know this is ridiculous... I know we didn’t make any promises not to see other people and I know I have no claim on you...but seeing you with that woman made me so mad. And then there was the picture of you with the brunette...”

He frowned. “What brunette?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know who she was, just another picture on your Twitter or Facebook.”

“I haven’t been near another woman since I left Texas,” he assured her. “I promise.”

She nodded vaguely. “I believe you. Only, it’s got me realizing that maybe I’m not the modern-thinking girl I thought I was. Maybe I’m just as insecure and needy as every other person on the planet.”

Amersen stared at her, absorbing her beauty and intensity and unwavering honesty. He knew he’d never met a woman like her. She had no agenda—no interest in his money or fame. That was why making love with her had felt so raw and real. And that was why her bailing that morning had wounded so deeply. Because they weren’t over. Not by a long shot. He was, he suspected, at the beginning of the first real relationship he’d ever had.

“I really want to make love to you,” he said softly.

“I know,” she replied, her eyes never leaving his. “I want that, too. But first,” she said and waved the shopping bag in her hand, “I want the chance to wear this new dress.”

Earlier she’d insisted he wait for her outside a small boho boutique while she looked for a dress. He’d complied easily enough, seeing as he’d be stripping the dress off her at some point.

“Okay,” he said agreeably. “I’ll take you somewhere for dinner, and then we can come back here and make love all night.?

?

Her brows rose. “All night?”

He shrugged loosely and smiled. “It’s been a long two weeks.”

She grinned. “What about jet lag?”

“I wouldn’t let that stop me.”

She laughed and twirled and headed for the bedroom. “I’m going to shower and change.”

“I’ll book dinner.”

“No need,” she said as she walked. “I have that covered already.”

When she returned to the main suite about half an hour later, his jaw dropped. She looked stunning. The black dress was modest but flared over her hips and made her sensational legs look hotter than Hades, and all he wanted was to see them wrapped around his hips. She had a purple wrap draped around her shoulders and a pair of purple satin shoes on her feet.

“Mon Dieu, you look beautiful.”

“Thank you. Now, go and get dressed and we can get going.”

He chuckled and headed for the bedroom, showering and changing his clothes quicker than usual because he didn’t want to miss any more time in her company than he had to. Once they were on the road, she gave him directions and he drove a few miles out of the city.

“You haven’t said where we’re going,” he said as he took a left turn and headed west out of town.

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