“You’re safe.” He slipped into the water, pressed jeans, crisp fresh shirt, leather belt and all, and enclosed her in his arms.
He sounded good, the deep vibration of his voice spiraling throughout her. He felt good, all hard, smooth muscles wrapped around her. He smelled good, like spicy barbeque and fresh-baked bread. She took a deep breath, drinking him in as the ache in her chest receded and another took its place. Only this hot ache was much lower down. Her stomach growled, but she’d lost her hunger for food. Trey dominated all her senses.
Chapter 9
What was it about Misty that brought out Trey’s protective instincts? He held her gently when he wanted to crush her against his chest. He’d seen her savvy, sassy self. Now he’d glimpsed her vulnerable, inner self. Simply made him like her all the more. Panic attack. Over fire? There was a story there. He’d like to ask her, but it’d be rude and invasive and she’d probably resist sharing it. Maybe she’d tell him in time. She’d obviously overcome a lot of fear to fight that fire with him. It made her strong in his book. It gave him a bit of a mystery to solve. And it made her more delectable than ever.
He didn’t want to like and admire somebody who’d be leaving in a week or two. She might reel him in like a fish on a line before she tossed him back for being too country, too cowboy. He wasn’t used to being tossed back. And he didn’t figure he was going to get used to it, not now or ever. He’d take what he could get while he could get it. Dallas wasn’t all that far away. Bottom line, he’d find a way to keep her in Wildcat Bluff till Christmas. Sure was the right thing to do, her being his Christmas angel and all.
For now, he had her in his arms, and that was exactly where he wanted her. He could feel the sleek, soft wetness of her hair against his chin. Even wet as she was, he caught the scent of cinnamon and spice that reminded him of Christmas. Shampoo, perfume, or clothes, he didn’t know or care. Suited her fine. Just like her body fit him to a T. He’d known she’d be perfect for him from the first and now he’d proved it.
He still had a niggling doubt in the back of his mind about why she was in Wildcat Bluff. But he didn’t want to go there, so he thrust that thought into the cellar and slammed the door shut. He’d deal with her possible deception later, when the stars weren’t bright in the sky and she wasn’t warm in his arms.
He stroked down her back and felt the smallness of her waist as he pulled her closer. He heard her sigh, a soft escape of breath. He understood. He had the same feeling of rightness. When she clasped his shoulders to hold him tighter, he felt her damp, plump breasts warm against the solid muscles of his chest. Wet fabric didn’t leave much to the imagination. Now he wanted a hell of a lot more than a hug from her.
They might as well be naked. Warm water swirled around them, plastering their clothes to their bodies from the waist down. She was all delicious curves and valleys. He was getting hotter and harder by the moment. If he didn’t move away, he was going to reveal exactly how much he wanted her. Yet he couldn’t resist placing a kiss against her temple, a promise to keep when he wouldn’t feel like a heel for taking advantage.
She leaned back and touched a fingertip to her lips before pressing her kiss to his mouth as she mimicked his earlier touch. He kissed her fingertip, gentle when he wanted to be savage. Yet he understood the necessity of leashing physical needs to address emotional ones.
“Thank you.” She stepped back. “You came to my rescue.”
“Turnabout’s fair play. You came to my rescue earlier.”
“I’m not usually so needy.”
“It can happen.” He gestured toward the sack on the table. “That’s why I brought food for us.”
“It’s cold now.”
“Won’t matter.”
“True.”
“Want to eat at the table?” He gestured toward the round picnic table with comfortable chairs around it.
“We’re wet.”
“The night’s warm.”
He stepped out of the pool, dripping water from his jeans, and held out his hand. She hesitated before clasping his fingers and allowing him to help her out of the water. Her slight hesitation alerted him that she didn’t quite trust him. Not too surprising since she hadn’t known him long, but he wanted to change that fact. He wanted her to completely trust him.
She tried to shake out her capris, but they clung to her like a second skin. She glanced up at him. “Now that you’ve landed me, you aren’t going to toss me back as too scrawny, are you?”
Funny how she’d had the same thought he’d had earlier. “If you’re hooked, good and proper, I know how to reel you in.” He’d meant to be glib, but his words had come out with a ring of truth. “I have barbeque as bait.” He grinned to make light of his words, but still felt the seriousness underneath them.
She gave him an inquiring look and chuckled to ease the sudden tension. “Better be wary of what you hook. Might be more than you bargained for.”