Darkness Unknown by Alexis Morgan Page B

or shoving him back on his ass. He wanted to yank her right back into his arms.
    â€œWhew, those freckles ought to come with warning labels—they’ve got some serious mojo going!” He kissed the tip of her nose, right on the freckles. “We could get company any minute, so I figured we’d better slow it down a bit.”
    Her gaze immediately went to the door. When she realized they were still alone, she slumped slightly and laid her head against his shoulder.
    â€œIt could have gotten a bit awkward if Chase came charging in here to show you his moves.”
    She giggled. “He might be more interested in the ones you’ve been showing me. Especially where your hand is right now.”
    It took him a moment to realize that, contraryto his direct orders to stop, his fingers had slipped past the flimsy barrier of Gwen’s panties and were busy caressing the treasures within. Even now, he could barely muster the strength to stop.
    â€œI’d say I’m sorry, but that would be a lie.” He slowly withdrew his hand and tugged her skirt down where it belonged, although it damn near killed him.
    Gwen didn’t look upset. “I’d have some of my own explaining to do.” Then she patted his backside—from within his gym shorts.
    A chuckle bubbled up from deep inside him and turned into a full-blown belly laugh. He leaned against the wall while he struggled for control. Gwen’s own sense of the ridiculous caught up with her, and the two of them laughed until their sides hurt.
    â€œMust have been one heck of a joke.” Jake came in, with Chase right behind him. “I don’t suppose you want to share it.”
    â€œNo, you had to be there. Or better yet, not.”
    Jarvis’s answer set Gwen off again, and the other two rolled their eyes in disgust. When he was laughed out, Jarvis looked at Jake and Chase. “How did the rest of the lesson go?”
    â€œGreat!” Chase answered. “I tossed him on his”—his eyes flickered over to his sister and back before he continued—“uh, butt. That was fun.”
    Jake punched the boy in the arm. “Everybodygets lucky once in a while, so don’t let it go to your head. Don’t they, Jarvis?”
    Jake always did see too much. “How about we get cleaned up, pile in the Chevelle, and head into town for a pizza fest?”
    â€œI call shotgun!” Chase yelled.
    No way. The only Mosely he wanted sitting next to him was the cute redhead. As the four of them filed out of the barn, Jarvis held out his hand to Gwen and smiled when she took it.

Chapter 6
    T he car purred down the road out of town, carrying them all back to the farm. They had only a few more miles to go before she and Chase would climb out of the Chevelle and the two men would head off to wherever they lived. Another puzzle she had yet to solve. She glanced over at Jarvis, whose profile was highlighted by the dash lights. There was so much strength in his face, but so few answers.
    As if feeling her gaze, he reached over and squeezed her hand. She squeezed back before withdrawing her hand from his. The stereo was playing classic southern rock, filling the easy silence that had settled over the four of them after a long evening together.
    Dinner had been fun. The three guys had carried most of the conversation. It had been such a relief to see Chase so relaxed and happy that shehad been content to sit quietly and let him argue sports with Jarvis and his friend. They all had differing, usually very vocal, opinions on this year’s pennant races, but it had all been done in good fun.
    In between, Jarvis shot hot looks her way whenever he thought Chase wouldn’t notice. When they first arrived, he slid in next to her in the booth, taking up far more than his fair share of the seat. For her brother’s sake she’d tried to leave enough room between her and Jarvis to make it clear that the two men were there