Courting Trouble (The Texas Two-Step Series, Book 3) by Kathy Carmichael Page A

ignore. His company helped.
    He'd called Sarah, who reported nothing new. Although the best course was to remain where they were until news came, Diedra wasn't sure how much longer she could survive the waiting. She rubbed her sore neck, hoping to work out even one of the kinks that had gathered there like distant relatives at a funeral.
    Once Alec had showered and changed into one of Jeff's old sweat suits, which Meagan sometimes wore when she was having one of her bad days , Diedra took the opportunity to clean up as well.
    Her bedroom smelled of Alec. How peculiar, considering he'd used her shampoo and soap. But she would recognize his unique blend of spice and leather anywhere. Diedra stepped into a pair of old jeans, their weathered coarseness almost soothing as she slid them on. She pulled a large T-shirt over her head, not bothering with a bra.
    When she wandered into the living room, she found Alec collapsed on an overstuffed chair, looking very much at home in the dim lighting. How could he fit so easily into her life, into her heart? She had to fight off the idea he might remain in her life. She knew better.
    But, by golly, she'd enjoy him for as long as he was willing. She had nothing to lose but her heart, and she was rapidly coming to realize she'd already given it to him two years earlier.
    "Your TV isn't working," he said.
    Was he picking on her again? She sighed. Maybe she was being overly sensitive. "I keep anything electrical either put away or unplugged. Lightning killed my last one. Do you want me to plug it in?"
    "No. I hadn't realized it was unplugged, was just worried it was broken. You doing okay?"
    "Yeah, I feel a lot better since I showered and put on dry clothes."
    "I hope you don't mind," said Alec, "but I threw mine in the washer."
    "That was a good idea." Diedra ran nervous palms down her jeans. She'd begged the man to stay and here she was feeling like a high school girl with her first crush. "I'll plug in the TV."
    "Don't bother. How about some music, instead?" He nodded at the stereo.
    She plugged it in and didn't bother to change it from her favorite country radio station. Now what could she do? She rubbed her neck again.
    "Want something to eat?" she asked.
    His green eyes bored into her, hot and needy. Like her. "Maybe later."
    Now she really felt nervous.
    This was the man she'd basically attacked in a car, for heaven's sake. He was looking at her as though he wanted her, and she had cold feet? What had gotten into her? She ought to be jumping into his arms. She felt like hiding.
    Maybe she hadn't been aware of all the risk earlier. She hadn't realized she was in love with this man.
    Stupid, stupid, stupid. She was a fool. She stared down at her bare feet and wriggled her toes. The same toes that he'd curled just hours earlier.
    She wanted him to do it again.
    "It's hot in here." Diedra glanced up at him.
    He merely stared at her with a gaze that said he knew exactly what was going on in her head. She didn't like that one little bit. Okay, so she wasn't sophisticated, but was a little mystery too much to ask?
    She knew she was all wrong for him, wrong in every way, but that didn't make her want him one iota less. She hoped like the dickens he didn't see anything other than desire on her face. What would he think if he knew how she felt? Would he rush for the door?
    "You're awfully tense," he said. "Would a neck rub help?"
    "It sounds awesome." Maybe it would smooth out some of her kinks, muscular and otherwise.
    He moved to the couch and patted it. She took a seat with her back to him, momentarily grateful he couldn't see her face.
    He placed his fingertips on her neck and began to massage, gently rubbing knots she'd never known existed.
    At his touch, her hormones shot into high production. Oh man, oh man, oh man.
    Alec lightly moved a tendril of her hair out of his way as he continued kneading. The tenderness of his gesture sent shock waves through her body.
    "Earlier today, I would have