He wasn’t ready for the date to end, but it was nearly eleven and he’d been up since four thirty and she had probably been up nearly as long.

“What are you doing tomorrow night?” he asked.

“I have plans.”

Oh. Well that was unexpected. He did not approve of any other men who thought they could get in his way with this woman. “Mind if I ask what you’re doing?” He failed at sounding casual by about five miles.

Her brows flew up as she got his meeting. “Oh! No. It’s not a date. I mean, you’re the only person I’m seeing. I’m going over to my friend Melissa’s tomorrow. I’m meeting her at her place, and then we’re off to Atlanta for lunch, shopping and a movie.” She smiled brightly, and he spun her neatly and pulled her in close.

She looked up at him as he backed her to the steps leading to her apartment. When she’d gone up a few, they were eye to eye and that’s when he kissed her.

He’d wanted to kiss her since he’d caught sight of those beautiful br**sts of hers in the cereal aisle at the market the weekend before. Had thought about this very moment over and over. Had wondered how her body would feel against his, what she’d taste like.

None of it was anything close to the reality of those tits pressed against his chest as her mouth opened on a sigh, her taste, a little coffee and cream, the sweetness of vanilla from the ice cream, filling him until there was nothing but the way she felt, soft and real and her lips against his.

She pushed closer, winding her arms around his neck, sliding her fingers into his hair, tugging at the curl at his nape.

Royal Watson knew his way around a kiss, and boy was that Anne Murphy a total idiot for letting this go.

His tongue didn’t slide into her mouth, it seemed to flow, a sensuous dance with hers, stroking, teasing, tasting until she was spineless, offering herself up to whatever he had to offer.

She sucked that very talented tongue, and he groaned, pulling her impossibly closer, and she knew he was as into that moment as she was. Oh yes he was. When they tumbled into bed, it was going to be hot, hot, hot.

He nipped her bottom lip just right. Not gently at all. Barely shy of pain, and then he licked the sting away, making her the one who groaned this time.

It went on like that for long minutes, making out on her back steps, the cold air not even bothering her because her skin was on fire for him.

He’d reached up to undo her ponytail at some point, wrapping her hair around his fist to guide her exactly where he wanted, and damn if that didn’t make fireworks explode all points south of her belly button.

At the end of the block, a car door slammed and an alarm double honk sounded, and he breathed out, breaking the kiss.

“You and me. A week from tonight?”

She nodded.

“Good. I’ll pick you up at seven and make you dinner. Then we’ll head to the Tonk. I’m gonna hold on to you all night long on the dance floor.”

“How could I refuse? I can drive to your house, though. You don’t need to pick me up.”

“I know you can. I’ll see you at seven next Friday.” He caught up with her on the stairs, heading to her door. “I’m also going to go inside right now, make sure everything is all right, and then I’m leaving because if I don’t, I’m going to want to do a hell of a lot more than kiss you, and I get the very strong sense that the fantasizing I’ll be doing will only add spice when it finally does happen.” He gave her a look that stole her breath as heat flooded her belly. “And it will happen.”

In the years since she’d left Petal, she’d dated a lot of men. Most of them she’d enjoyed. They were well mannered, and the ones she’d had sex with had shown her a good time. She loved beards and flannel and a nice tailored suit too.

But none of them were even in Royal’s neighborhood. That sweet-talking, courtly mannered, good old boy, disguising a big heart and a serious amount of sex-appeal neighborhood.

She rarely denied herself things she really wanted. She wanted Royal Watson and had zero problem admitting it. And most definitely enjoying it while she had it.

Who knew if it would last more than a few weeks or months? But she did know she planned to savor every minute.

“Good night, Royal. Thank you for dinner and beer and pie and coffee and most definitely for that kiss. I’ll see you next Friday.”

He grinned and her body did the wave for him again. Bending, he stole another quick kiss and stepped back. “You bet you will. Good night, Caro.”

Chapter Six

“I’m so glad you found the place all right.” Melissa opened the door with a big smile.

Her house was a secondary, far smaller building behind another on the outskirts of town. “This is a seriously cute place.” Caroline spun slowly as she took it all in. It wasn’t very big but it was an explosion of color, nearly like a cartoon, but in a good way.

The little house was a golden yellow with red and white trim. It was bold and bright and it totally worked.

Melissa waved her inside. “Come in!”

Inside it was one big, open space. A bed on one wall with bright orange sheets and teal blankets was the sort of thing Caroline saw in magazines and loved, but it never looked right when she did it.

A kitchen to one side and a living area on the other. Big windows looked over a back deck.

“Come spring, we’ll have dinner out there.” Melissa indicated the deck. “You can see parts of town so at night there are pretty lights. Farmland to the west.”