building a case for coming over at seven-fifteen tomorrow night for a quickie, aren’t you?”
“Listen to you, talking like a lawyer.”
“You must be rubbing off on me.”
“Don’t I wish? I’m willing to rub anything you care to offer. I’ll tell you how depraved I am. While I was kissing you, I considered whether we should bag this party idea and find one of those secluded spots in the woods. We could have a great time, even without condoms.”
“But you obviously changed your mind because we’re discussing instead of doing.”
“I changed my mind because we need to go inside and join the celebration. And because it’s too damned cold to park in the woods. We’d have to leave the motor running and the heater on, which could lead to using up all the gas and getting stranded.”
“Sounds like the voice of experience.”
“Maybe.”
She rummaged in her purse. “Lean over here and let me wipe the lipstick off.”
He moved into the light and she began to giggle. “What?”
“You remind me of the time my three-year-old cousin Stuart got ahold of his mom’s lipstick.”
“Nice. I love being compared to a toddler run amuck. Just wipe it off, please.”
“You started it. I was only trying to make myself presentable and you...pounced.” She rubbed at his face with a tissue.
The light from the mirror was bright enough for him to see her face. “You have it all over you, too.”
“I don’t doubt it. That was freshly applied lipstick and the kind I like isn’t smear-proof.”
“This one makes your lips look wet.”
She rolled her eyes. “I know it does. That’s why I bought it.”
“Aha! Entrapment! No wonder I couldn’t resist you.”
She finished wiping his face. “Nice try, but I think the responsibility for this kissfest lies with you. Anyway, you’re good to go. Let’s see what this episode did to... Oh, my God. I look like a deranged circus clown. Remind me never to put on lipstick in your presence again. You can’t handle it.”
“But you’ll have to before we go in there.”
“That’s right, I will.” She dabbed at her mouth with a tissue. “So here’s an idea. You stand outside and I’ll lock the doors.”
“That’s crazy.”
“No, you’re crazy. I’m just taking precautions.”
He leaned back against his seat and closed his eyes. “Just do it. I won’t look.”
“Okay, but I’m watching you.”
“I promised, and I keep my word. But answer me this.” He kept his eyes closed. “Did you like it?”
“You know I did. Just don’t do it again in the next five seconds.”
“I won’t, but I still think we need to get naked before I leave for Cheyenne.” He listened to her breathing change and smiled. She thought so, too.
9
W ALKING THROUGH THE door of the ranch house, Whitney got quite a reception. Several people sitting around the fire leaped up and came to greet her, including Lexi, who took charge of her coat and purse. Whitney said hello to Janine and met her husband, Aaron.
Damon and Phil each gave her a hug, and then Rosie hurried in from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel and beaming with happiness.
“I’m so glad you could come.” She tossed the towel over her shoulder and grasped Whitney’s hands in both of hers.
“Thank you for inviting me.”
“Should have thought of it sooner. I wish it wasn’t so dark and cold so we could show you around the place. You’ll have to come back. Anytime is fine. You don’t have to wait for Ty to bring you.”
“I’d love to.”
“Then it’s settled. Excuse me for a minute. I have to go grab a couple more bottles of champagne. Now that you’re here, we can do the official toast.”
“You were waiting for us?” Whitney was touched.
“Of course!”
As Rosie hurried off, Whitney thanked her lucky stars that she’d made the decision to come out here.
“You should definitely visit again soon.” Phil, her red hair piled on top of her head, linked her arm through Damon’s.
“Listen to you, talking like a lawyer.”
“You must be rubbing off on me.”
“Don’t I wish? I’m willing to rub anything you care to offer. I’ll tell you how depraved I am. While I was kissing you, I considered whether we should bag this party idea and find one of those secluded spots in the woods. We could have a great time, even without condoms.”
“But you obviously changed your mind because we’re discussing instead of doing.”
“I changed my mind because we need to go inside and join the celebration. And because it’s too damned cold to park in the woods. We’d have to leave the motor running and the heater on, which could lead to using up all the gas and getting stranded.”
“Sounds like the voice of experience.”
“Maybe.”
She rummaged in her purse. “Lean over here and let me wipe the lipstick off.”
He moved into the light and she began to giggle. “What?”
“You remind me of the time my three-year-old cousin Stuart got ahold of his mom’s lipstick.”
“Nice. I love being compared to a toddler run amuck. Just wipe it off, please.”
“You started it. I was only trying to make myself presentable and you...pounced.” She rubbed at his face with a tissue.
The light from the mirror was bright enough for him to see her face. “You have it all over you, too.”
“I don’t doubt it. That was freshly applied lipstick and the kind I like isn’t smear-proof.”
“This one makes your lips look wet.”
She rolled her eyes. “I know it does. That’s why I bought it.”
“Aha! Entrapment! No wonder I couldn’t resist you.”
She finished wiping his face. “Nice try, but I think the responsibility for this kissfest lies with you. Anyway, you’re good to go. Let’s see what this episode did to... Oh, my God. I look like a deranged circus clown. Remind me never to put on lipstick in your presence again. You can’t handle it.”
“But you’ll have to before we go in there.”
“That’s right, I will.” She dabbed at her mouth with a tissue. “So here’s an idea. You stand outside and I’ll lock the doors.”
“That’s crazy.”
“No, you’re crazy. I’m just taking precautions.”
He leaned back against his seat and closed his eyes. “Just do it. I won’t look.”
“Okay, but I’m watching you.”
“I promised, and I keep my word. But answer me this.” He kept his eyes closed. “Did you like it?”
“You know I did. Just don’t do it again in the next five seconds.”
“I won’t, but I still think we need to get naked before I leave for Cheyenne.” He listened to her breathing change and smiled. She thought so, too.
9
W ALKING THROUGH THE door of the ranch house, Whitney got quite a reception. Several people sitting around the fire leaped up and came to greet her, including Lexi, who took charge of her coat and purse. Whitney said hello to Janine and met her husband, Aaron.
Damon and Phil each gave her a hug, and then Rosie hurried in from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel and beaming with happiness.
“I’m so glad you could come.” She tossed the towel over her shoulder and grasped Whitney’s hands in both of hers.
“Thank you for inviting me.”
“Should have thought of it sooner. I wish it wasn’t so dark and cold so we could show you around the place. You’ll have to come back. Anytime is fine. You don’t have to wait for Ty to bring you.”
“I’d love to.”
“Then it’s settled. Excuse me for a minute. I have to go grab a couple more bottles of champagne. Now that you’re here, we can do the official toast.”
“You were waiting for us?” Whitney was touched.
“Of course!”
As Rosie hurried off, Whitney thanked her lucky stars that she’d made the decision to come out here.
“You should definitely visit again soon.” Phil, her red hair piled on top of her head, linked her arm through Damon’s.
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