Temptation Ridge by Robyn Carr Page B

came from her as she pressed herself against him, opening her lips more to admit his tongue. His kiss was hot, wet, deep and long. He had been right about one thing—she could mold her small body against him in a way that made him think he might go completely crazy. The one thing that helped him keep his sanity was the belief that when this was finally consummated, it was going to be sweet. And good. For both of them.
    “I have a feeling I’m not what you were expecting,” she whispered against his lips. “I’m not very experienced.”
    “I already know that,” he said. “I am.” He kissed her again, holding her tight, and he felt a slight trembling inhis arms. He pulled away from her lips, still holding her small bottom and pushing her hips against him, and whispered, “You’re right, Shelby. You’re pretty much all surprises.”
    She expelled a small huff of air, smiled and said, “You have no idea.”
    He ran a hand along the hair at her temple. “Shelby, how does a young woman as beautiful and sweet as you not have a man in her life?”
    She glanced down briefly. “There was no time for that. My mom… She was completely dependent on me.” She looked up into his eyes. “I took care of her. That was my full-time job. Until she died.”
    He was stunned speechless for a moment. “For how long?” he asked softly.
    “Five years or so.”
    “Aw, Shelby…”
    “It was my choice. It’s what I wanted.”
    He leaned toward her and pressed his lips tenderly against her head. “Not many people would do that.”
    “Oh, probably more than you think.”
    He was surprised at how much that moved him, touched him. He lifted her chin with a finger and brushed his lips across hers again. He threaded his hand under her thick mane of hair at the back of her neck and put soft kisses on her mouth and temples and eyes. Then her lips again. And he said, “No. Only a certain kind of person takes on something like that. Your kind of person.” This young woman was every beautiful thing he’d ever imagined, from her body to her spirit. He gave her lips another light kiss. “I’m going to put you in your car now.”
    “Seems like maybe you changed your mind about this…this flirting….”
    He shook his head. He wished he could. He knew he should. But he hadn’t. When the time was right for her and the tension gave way to need, when there was no more maybe about it, she was going to come to him, soft and willing, and he was going to make long, slow, fabulous love to her—damn the consequences. And he would be sure she’d have no regrets about the experience. It wouldn’t be too fast and it wouldn’t be too soon—and it would be exquisite. It wasn’t a good idea, but it was the only idea he had.
    “Nah,” he said. “I have a one-track mind.”
    She laughed at him. “Big surprise.”
    “Before this goes any further, we’re going to talk about some things,” he said.
    “What things?”
    “Expectations. Needs. You have to know what you could be getting yourself into. While there’s still time for you to come to your senses.”
    She put her hand against his cheek. “I look forward to that.”
    He gave her a brief kiss and said, “Come on. Time for you to go home.”

Six
    S helby wasn’t quite ready to leave Luke; she was in the mood for more of that kissing and touching. But, sensing he was right to put a little space between them if she wasn’t ready to go further, she let him put her in her Jeep and went home. She let herself into Walt’s house and found it dimmed and quiet. A light was left on for her in the great room and Uncle Walt’s big Tahoe was missing from the driveway. It was only ten, but there was no doubt in her mind that Vanni and Paul had turned in the minute the baby was asleep.
    She was too stirred up for sleep. She pulled off her boots, built a fire, pulled the throw from the couch around her shoulders and curled up in the big leather chair near the hearth. She hugged herself