He leaned toward her and wiped barbeque sauce from the corner of her mouth with his fingertip. He put his finger to the tip of his tongue. “Sweetest sauce I ever tasted.”
“Hah! What’s good for the gander is good for the goose.” She leaned in close to him and quickly licked the corner of his mouth. She sat back, looking quite pleased, obviously expecting him to go on teasing her.
But he felt her touch like a punch to the gut. If that was a sample of what she could do to him, he wanted her tongue all over him, licking and stroking and tormenting until he returned the favor. She was playing with fire and didn’t know it. Pretty quick, he wasn’t going to be able to control the inferno she was building in him.
“Trey?” She raised her eyebrows in obvious concern. “Was I out of line?”
“Hell no!”
He leaned over, grasped the back of her neck, and planted his lips on hers. She tasted like beer, barbeque, and a sweetness that could only be her own. He felt a growl lock in his throat as something feral threatened to bust loose. Yet he remained gentle, not about to spook her, as he nibbled from one corner of her mouth to the other, then probed slightly with his tongue.
When she parted her lips, his groan broke free as he pushed into her soft, warm depths. He heard her sigh, a soft, husky sound, as she returned his kiss, grasping his shoulders and pulling him closer.
“Howdy out there! Where are you two?” a woman’s voice called, breaking the stillness of the night.
Misty gasped and jerked back. “Is that the Gladstones?”
“If it is, I’m going to sic the coyotes on them.”
He heard footsteps on the brick walkway that led to the spring. He cursed under his breath at the lousy timing. He couldn’t even get up, not in his wet jeans, or he’d reveal exactly what they’d been up to out here.
Misty put a hand over her mouth, eyes wide with surprise and wonder, as she stared at him. “I guess that kinda got out of control. But we’ve been under a lot of stress.”
“Not out of control at all.” He tugged her hand toward him and kissed her soft palm. “I’ve wanted to kiss you since the first moment I saw you.”
She gently cradled his face with her hand. “We’ve been a little busy for you to follow up on that plan till now.”
“I didn’t know if you’d be so inclined.”
“Guess I am, or was, but we’d better leave it here.”
“You sure?” If he had time, he’d change her mind, but the footsteps were drawing close.
She nodded as she pulled her hand away and placed it in her lap.
“There you are!” Charlene stepped into the gazebo.
“We brought more to drink.” J.P. followed her, holding a tray of beers.
Trey leaned close to Misty. “You’re my Christmas angel.”
She shook her head in denial.
“Won’t let you forget it.”
J.P. set the tray on the table, seated Charlene beside Misty, and eased down in a chair. “Pretty place, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Misty agreed.
Charlene winked at Trey. “So, what have you two been doing?” She patted Misty’s hand, her fingers sporting red-tipped nails and sparkling rings. “Sugar, your hair is all wet, and your makeup’s a mess. Maybe you ought to check a mirror.”
Misty pulled her hand away, surprised at Charlene’s rudeness. Maybe she’d been struck by the green-eyed-jealousy monster despite being married to a nice-looking man like J.P. and didn’t want another gal hanging out with Trey. Whatever the case, Misty knew her makeup wasn’t in the best shape, but she didn’t much care. And Trey didn’t appear to either.
But she’d learned something important about Charlene for her file. The perfectly put-together antique hunter liked to think she was the only woman on-site who could turn a man’s head.
Chapter 10
Misty caught Trey’s glance, but all he did was shrug and appear amused at Charlene’s comment.
“That’ll happen when you take a spontaneous dip in the spring,” Misty said, throwing Charlene’s words back at her. “Feels wonderful. You ought to give it a try while you’re here. Washes away all your troubles.”
Charlene clicked her long nails together as she smiled with crimson-tinted lips. “Skinny-dipping? Naughty girl.”
J.P. sat up straighter and gave Misty a closer look.
“Not at all.” Trey jumped into the conversation. “Clothes and all. Looked like so much fun I had to join her. We’re sitting here letting our clothes dry, enjoying the night and shooting the breeze.”
“He’s been telling me about his work as an EMT.” Misty decided to get the discussion away from her wet clothes and messy makeup.
“You’re an emergency medical technician?” Charlene’s big eyes widened in surprise and interest.
“Let me answer that.” Ruby stepped into the gazebo, carrying two battery-powered hurricane lanterns. She set them on the table before she took a seat across from Misty.