Page 15 of The Texan's Secrets

“Do you watch this often?” She liked the connection of his hand around hers. It felt natural, oddly comforting.

“Not often enough.”

“Can you imagine building a house here?” she asked, fantasizing. “Right here, with a sweeping front porch so you could watch this every night?”

He chuckled low. “That’s an idea.”

“My view faces east.”

“My deck faces north. It’s a nice view of downtown, but it’s a stretch to see the sunset most of the year.”

“I suppose it wouldn’t be the same inside a house. Not like this. Not with the wind in your hair, hearing the birds, smelling the pine and wheatgrass.”

He nudged his shoulder against hers and squeezed her hand. “So much for being a hothouse flower. I think you’re secretly a wild rose.”

Her heart skipped—not because he’d given her a compliment, but because it came close to the truth, although not in the way he was thinking. She had an untamed streak, something deep inside her that liked to shake things up. She was trying to tamp it down, spending her time consulting instead of hacking. But she still loved the thrill of going rogue.

“What about you?” she asked.

“What about me?” He turned to face her.

“Wild or tame?”

He gazed into her eyes, rose-colored light on the planes of his face. “I wish I could say tame.”

“Why?”

“It’s safer than wild.”

Her heartbeat deepened and her skin warmed with an undeniable sexual attraction.

He took a step forward. “If I was tame—” he slowly lifted a hand to her cheek, sliding his fingers into her hair “—I’d behave myself right now.”

She inhaled deeply, liking where this was going. She swayed forward, anticipating the touch of his lips against hers.

“Where’s the fun in that?” she whispered, tipping her chin to a better angle.

He gave another low chuckle and brought his mouth to hers.

The kiss started soft but then firmed, generating its own sensual current. Her lips parted. So did his. They explored each other’s contours, sending a wave of awareness through Emilia, warming her from the roots of her hair to the tips of her toes.

She looped her arms around his neck, took another half step forward to press herself to his body, loving the feel of his heat, the firm muscle of his thighs, his stomach and his chest. Her breasts turned heavy, sending tingles into and along her spine.

His arm curled around the small of her back, holding her close, while his hand slipped to the back of her neck, tangling in her hairline.

He gasped in a breath, then kissed her again and again.

The sunset had faded, and twilight surrounded them when they finally parted.

It took her a moment to catch her breath. “Wow. That was wild.”

He grinned as he eased back. “It seems neither of us is the tame type.”

“I guess not.” Although she’d never come close to reacting that way to any other man. The combustion between them rocked her to her toes. “I guess it’s a real date now.”

“Good to know you’re on board.” He planted a quick kiss on her lips, leaving a final sizzle in its wake. “More wine?”

She looked to the sky, disappointed that the beauty had faded. “It does look like the show’s over.”

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