Page 48 of A Match Made in Montana

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Trying to swallowhis food was a huge effort and after a few bites, Craig put down his knife and fork. Fortunately, Annie was chattering away about the upcoming spring festival.

He put an arm around her chair, making sure his fingers touched her shoulders. She was the only reason why he hadn’t already left.

“Will be held at the fairgrounds outside town,” Annie was saying. “The same place where the rodeos also take place. It’s an arts and crafts festival with lots of stalls with food. There’s also live music. My brother and sister and I moved to Marietta about a year ago and the festival was the first event we attended. Lots of fun.”

“First event?” his mother asked, clearly amused. “Are there many other events?”

“Oh, yes.” Annie smiled. “In summer we have the Marietta fair, homecoming is usually a whole weekend of festivities. There is also a bachelor auction at some point and around Christmas there are all sorts of things happening in and around our town.”

“We’ve been all over the world,” his mother said, “but now that we’ve retired, I want to be in a city. I could never settle in a small town for good. I like to be near shops and theaters and an airport. I can’t see you living in a small town either, Craig.”

“But then you don’t know me at all, do you, Mother?” The moment the words were out, he wished he’d kept his mouth shut, but he couldn’t sit here a moment longer, pretending everything was okay.

“Are you ready to leave?” he asked Annie as he took out his wallet.

She gave him one look before she got up. “It was lovely to meet you,” she said to his parents. “When you have time, do stop at Annie’s for a cup of tea.”

Craig put money on the table and nodded in the direction of his parents. “Good night.” Without looking back, he took Annie’s hand and made a beeline for the door.

Chapter Fifteen

As Craig stoppedin front of her house, Annie tried to pull her hand out of his, but he held on tightly.

He pressed her fingers to his mouth, his eyes glowing with a light that made her glad she was sitting down. “I’m not ready to say goodbye. May I please come in?”

Annie stared at him, the beetles in her head doing some serious jumping around. This was such a bad idea, logic tried to reason, but heart won, hands down. She didn’t want to say goodbye either. “Of course.”

He jumped out and was opening her door before she could get out of the car. Lacing their fingers, he walked her to the front door. It was still early, but hopefully Mitch and Aiden and Vivian would already be in their rooms.

“You want coffee or a drink?” she asked as she closed the front door behind them.

He shook his head. “Does the door to your office lock?”

“Yes, it does,” she answered all the other questions he wasn’t asking. Dropping her jacket on the chair, she followed him down the corridor.

Craig entered the office before her, she locked the door behind her. Not quite sure what to expect next, she leaned back against it.

Hands in pockets, Craig stepped closer. “I want to be with you, Annie. I have no right to ask you and if you’d rather—”

This time, she was the one to shut him up with a kiss. Raising herself on her toes, her arms crept around his neck. She kissed him with all the pent-up desire that had been building up over the last few days.

Within seconds, she was ready to go up in flames. Tongues met in a desperate dance. There was only this one night.

Without taking his mouth from hers, Craig picked her up. As if they’d done this a hundred times before, her legs closed around his body as he staggered toward the couch.

Even like this, plastered against him, she couldn’t get enough. She was never going to get enough of this man and his kisses. Slowly, he let her slide down his body, reveling in every soft curve touching him. Only then did he lift his head.

His eyes were mere slits, his breathing ragged. “What you do to me with just a kiss, Miss Annie,” he got out before he bent down and feasted on her shoulder. “This was all I’ve been thinking about tonight. Being with you, like this. Tasting you…” His hand slid the neckline of her dress farther down, his mouth following right behind his fingers. Restlessly, he pulled at her dress. “How do I get rid of this thing?”

“There’s… there’s a button.” She gasped.

He lifted his head. “A button? Just one?”

“Yes, just here…” She showed him.

Cussing softly, he undid the button. “Damn, it’s a good thing I didn’t know that.” With his eyes on hers, he opened the button, his fingers just grazing her skin. Noiselessly, the dress slid to the floor.

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