by Rita Herron
He patted the bag slung over the back of the bike. “We can take Jose with us. Have a threesome.”
“Sounds kinky.”
He wiggled his brows. “Might be. I have salt and lime, and know some inventive ways to use them.”
A small smile tugged at her mouth as titillating sensations splintered through her. Memories of their first meeting crashed back, then their lovemaking. His teasing comment about watching her suck the lime and wanting her mouth on him.
But one ride with him would only make her crave another. And then she might break down and make a fool out of herself by begging him not to leave.
“Cole…”
His expression grew serious, and he reached for her hand and tugged her close, so that she rested against him. “I know you think that all men are liars and cheaters…”
“They are.”
He traced a path along her cheek with his thumb. “And that they use you and then walk away—”
“They do.” Although she ached for things to be different.
He pulled her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss to each finger. “I promise not to cheat or lie to you, Joey.”
She pushed at his shoulders, needing distance before she broke down and cried and begged him to love her. “Maybe not, but—”
“No buts.” A smoldering intensity underscored his words, and he tightened his grip, refusing to let her run. “And I’m not walking away, sugar.”
A tear trickled down her cheek. She desperately wanted to believe him. “Our families, Cole…our history. Look at them.”
“We’re not them,” he said thickly. “Give us a chance, Joey. We can make our own family the way we want it.”
Hope slivered through her. What was he saying?
“Family?”
He threaded his fingers through her hair and yanked her down across his lap. “I love you, sugar.”
“Cole—”
He pressed a finger over her lips to shush her. “I love you, and I want to marry you.”
Joey stared into his eyes, his words echoing in her head. Sincerity mingled with heat and passion in his eyes. A passion that she had known with only one man. A love she’d felt when she’d been in his arms and no one else’s.
He had whispered the words in return. And he’d sounded as if he meant them.
“Now, don’t make me beg.” Emotions thickened his voice. “I almost lost you before, Joey. I don’t want to lose you again. Not ever.”
“I don’t want to lose you, either,” she whispered.
“Then climb on, sugar,” he said with a sexy smile twisting his lips, “and let’s go for that ride.”
“Where are we going?” she asked breathlessly.
He grinned and swung her around until she climbed on behind him. “Someplace where we can be alone, and I can feel those mile-long legs wrapped around me.”
She nuzzled his neck with her tongue. “Someplace where I can sprinkle that salt and lime juice on your body and lick it off?”
“Oh, yeah, sugar. Someplace where we can make all those fantasies I’ve been having about you come true.”
She clasped her hands around his waist and leaned into him. He had already made all her dreams come true just by loving her. But a shot of tequila off his washboard belly and his length inside her was definitely another fantasy to look forward to.
And she was certain that they could think of others…
ISBN: 978-1-4268-7855-8
JUSTICE FOR A RANGER
Copyright © 2007 by Rita B. Herron
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and TM are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
www.eHarlequin.com
*Nighthawk Island
