Summer Nights (Fool's Gold #8)

Wanting stirred. When she was around, it didn’t take much. Knowing she was in the room pretty much did it for him. Last night he’d taken her again and again, unable to get enough of her. They’d fallen asleep in each other’s arms. Now he watched her and wondered what he’d gotten himself into.

From the first moment he’d seen her, he’d been unable to escape her. He’d tried. But here he was, in her bed. Trapped by a desire he couldn’t control and a need he couldn’t explain. He should be running, or at least looking for an exit. But he wasn’t. He couldn’t leave. Not yet.

Was it possible she was who she seemed? She never looked at other men, she was funny, sexy and sweet. Maybe it was time to accept that and give them both a chance.

He got out of bed again and walked into the living room. Once there he strolled behind the wet bar and started coffee. He used the half bath and the spare toothbrush that housekeeping had thoughtfully put into a drawer. When he returned to the bedroom, the main bathroom door was closed. Seconds later it opened and Annabelle appeared.

“Morning,” she said with a shy smile. “You know, the hotel provides robes.”

“You’re not wearing one,” he said, taking in the delicious view. Full br**sts, a narrow waist and round hips. She was all curves and attitude.

“Neither are you.”

“I’m a guy.”

Her gaze dropped to his growing erection. “Well, that explains the anatomical differences.”

“I made coffee.”

She smiled. “See, this is why you’re such a fun date.”

They were standing about ten feet apart. He was aware of her body, of the bed and the fact that he wanted her again. He also knew that she was probably tired, sore and not in the mood. Damn.

“Shane?”

“Yes?”

“I know what you’re thinking.”

“No, you don’t.”

The smile widened and her eyes brightened. “Yes, I do. I can see it on your face. And other places.”

He glanced down. There was no hiding that, he thought, knowing if he got much harder he would explode.

“The coffee is going to take a few minutes,” she told him. “Until then, do you remember what happened when you asked me to get the champagne? Back when we first got here?”

He remembered every detail of her walking across the room, turning around and touching herself, first with ice and then her hands. He swallowed.

“Uh-huh.”

“That was just my br**sts.” She moved her hands to her belly and laid them against her soft skin. “Remember?”

His gaze locked on her slow moving fingers. How they were inching down and down. His breath caught. She wouldn’t… She couldn’t…

She did.

Her right hand slipped between her legs and moved in a slow circle. Her gaze locked with his and he saw passion in her eyes.

He didn’t remember moving. One second he was on the other side of the room and the next he was pulling her close, kissing her deeply, his hand nudging hers away.

“Me,” he insisted, wanting to be the one to feel her swollen, damp flesh.

Then she was urging him toward the bed.

“Touch me everywhere,” she breathed, lying down, then opening her arms to him. “Touch me, Shane.”

And he did.

* * *

CHARLIE WATCHED THE twin girls play with their terry-cloth stuffed animals. Rosabel, otherwise known as Rose, sat next to her sister, Adelina, each holding a worn cat.

“I can’t believe they’re a year old,” Charlie said.

Pia Morena leaned back against the sofa. “Me, either. It’s going so fast. Peter’s already twelve. Next year he’ll be a teenager. When did that happen?”

“Kids grow up.”

“I know and I don’t like it.” Pia smiled. “I plan to send off a sternly worded letter of protest.” She pointed at the twins. “They’re walking and starting to talk. I feel like in thirty seconds they’ll be dating and borrowing the car.”

“You have a little time.”

“I hope so. I’m loving the whole ‘Mom’ thing. I don’t want to become obsolete.”

Charlie raised her eyebrows. “You’re being a little dramatic.”

“I know. I have moments when I’m completely normal. This would not be one of them.” She sighed. “I think it’s because we’re getting a family picture taken tomorrow. It reminds me of the passage of time. Plus, we’re talking about having another child and while I want that, I know it means the twins are growing up.”

“They’re a year old, Pia. Get over it.”

Pia laughed. “This is why I like you, Charlie. There’s no drama. You’re a completely rational person.”

Charlie knew that wasn’t true. She had as many demons as the next person. Maybe more. Which was why she’d stopped by.

Pia’s smile faded. “So it is serious.”

“What?”

“Why you asked to come over. What’s wrong? How can I help?”

Pia Moreno was in charge of the festival calendar in town. She coordinated the million little details that went into making Fool’s Gold a tourist haven. Without Pia there would be no Winter Festival or Book Festival. No vendors selling jewelry and lemonade. No rides, no horse-drawn carriages in the winter.