Looks like everybody's asleep. Don't they keep a light on for you?"
"They probably figured I wouldn't be needing it."
"Sorry to disappoint your cousins."
"Not to mention me.I'm gravely disappointed at the way this evening has ended.You're going to ruin my reputation as a lady-killer." He flashed her one of his famous smiles.
He opened the door and climbed down.When he rounded the front of the truck, he paused beside her open window. "Good night,Marilee. I appreciate the ride home. I just wish you didn't have to make that long drive back to town all alone."
"I'll be fine.I've got my radio to keep me company."
"You could always coe inside and bunk in my room."
"What a generous offer.But once again, I'm afraid I'll have to decline,though I have to admit that I've had more fun in a few hours with you than I've had in years."
The minute the words were out of her mouth,she wanted to call them back. What was it about Wyatt that had her trusting him enough to reveal such a thing?
Though she barely knew him,he'd uncovered an inherent goodness in him that was rare and wonderful.
This had been one of the best nights of her life.
Still,he'd gone very quiet.As though digesting her words and searching for hidden meanings.
As he turned away she called boldly, "What? No kiss good night? Just because I refused to spend the night with you?"
He turned back with a smile, but it wasn't his usual silly grin.Instead, she noted,there was a hint of danger in that smile.
He studied her intently before reaching out as though to touch her face. Then he seemed to think better of it and withdrew his hand as if he'd been burned.
His eyes locked on hers. "I've already decided that I'll never be able to just kiss you and walk away.So a word of warning,pretty little Marilee. When I kiss you,and I fully intend to kiss you breathless,be prepared to go the distance. There's a powerful storm building up inside me,and when it's unleashed,it's going to be one hell of an earth-shattering explosion.For both of us."
He walked away then and didn't look back until he'd reached the back door.
Startled by the unexpected intensity of his words,Marilee put the truck in gear and started along the gravel lane.
As her vehicle ate up the miles back to town,she couldn't put aside the look she'd seen in his eyes.The carefully banked passion she'd taken such pains to hide had left her more shaken than she cared to admit.
In truth,she was still trembling.
And he hadn't even touched her.
Emergency One.What's the problem?"
"It's my heart."
The familiar deep voice had her pausing mid-stride. "Wyatt?"
"Yeah.I meant to ask you to call me when you got home so I'd know you were safe. Now I've been having heart palpitations worrying about you all alone on that long stretch of highway."
"Pretty good timing,rebel.That highway is just a memory now.I'm already inside my apartment and heading toward the bedroom."
"I'm betting you set a new speed record."
She laughed. "And broke a few speeding laws along the way.But I'm home now,safe and sound. I hope this eases your worries about me."
"Yeah.I can sleep now.But I still wish you'd agreed to bunk out here with me. Good night,Marilee.
If you wouldn't mind driving my truck across the tarmac,I'd like to unload the medical supplies and deliver them to the clinic on the way to Delia's."
"Good idea.Let's kill two birds."
Marilee shook her head. "Please.I'd rather not talk about killing any birds."
Wyatt paused and touched a hand to her cheek.
She felt the heat all the way to her toes.
He stared down into her eyes,and his lips curved into a killer smile that had those same toes curling with pleasure.
"My fearless,independent adventurer. You handle a plane like you were born with wings.I've watched you patch up battered, bloody cowboys without flinching. But you can't even think about harming a bird."
She couldn't say a word.Her throat was dry as dust.
With a thoughtful look he rubbed a thumb over her lower lip,then turned away and headed toward her truck.
Marilee remained where she was, absorbing the aftershock of his touch. She'd thought he would kiss her.Had wanted him to.Desperately. Instead, all he'd done was touch her.And that had been enough to reduce her to a weak, trembling mass of jelly.
She was going to have to do something about these jumbled hormones.
She sucked in a deep breath and got to work hauling the cases of medical supplies.
By the time Wyatt drove the truck close to the plane,she was in control and able to work alongside him without sighing like a girl with her first crutch.
But just barely.
And you're thinking I just tossed out some casual phrase that you've heard from dozens of guys? Or maybe one in particular,who mattered enough to turn you into a cynic?"
At the intensity of his tone she looked up. "Yeah.Something like that.After all, McCord,your reputation precedes you. You're not exactly shy with women. I'm sure you've used plenty of lines like that to get what you want."
His eyes,steady on hers,were hot and fierce.
His voice was equally fierce. "I'll admit that when I first saw you, my initial reaction was purely physical. A healthy combination of testosterone and lust.What guy could look at you and not feel what I felt? You're beautiful, and bright and independent.And did I mention beautiful?"
That brought a smile to her eyes.
"But the more I got to know you,the more I realized you weren't just a pretty package.I started learning that you were someone special.Someone I wanted to treat very carefully."
"And now?"
"I'm still battling lust."
There was that grin,sending an arrow straight through her heart.
"But there's more here.Much more." He stared at her mouth with naked hunger. "I've waited a long time for this,but now I'm going to have to kiss you.And when I do,I can't promise to stop."
She stood very still,heart pounding. "How do you know I'll ask you to?"
"Careful.Because unless you tell me to stop,you have to know where this is heading..."
In reply she stood on tiptoe to brush her mouth to his,stopping his words. Stopping his heart.
He drew in a deep breath and drew her a little away to stare into her eyes. "I hope you meant that."
"With all my heart."
"Thank God." He dragged her against him and covered her lips with his.Inside her mouth he whispered, "Because, baby,I mean this."
She'd waited so long.So long.And it was worth all the time she'd spent waiting and wondering.Here was a man who knew how to kiss a woman and make her feel like the only one in the universe.
This kiss was so hot,so hungry, she felt the rush of desire from the top of her head all the way to her toes.And still it spun on and on until she became lost in it.
He changed the angle of the kiss and took it deeper until Marilee could feel her flesh heating, her bones melting like hot wax.
She wanted to be sensible,to move slowly, but her mind refused to cooperate. With a single kiss her brain had been wiped clear of every thought but one.She wanted this man.Wanted him now.Desperately.
When at last they came up for air, she put a hand to his chest. "I need a minute to catch my breath."
"Okay." A second later he dragged her close. "Time's up."
Her laughter turned into a sigh as he ran nibbling kisses down her throat until the blood was drumming in her temples.
Is that a plane?" Marilee awoke with a start,surprised to find the sun already high.
Wyatt shaded the sun from his eyes to scan the sky.
As the sound grew louder they both sat up at the same moment.
"A truck." Wyatt pointed. "Coming from that direction.Probably Jesse and Zane with that flatbed they promised."
"Oh,no.Look at me.What was I thinking?" With a cry Marilee grabbed up her discarded clothes and started dressing.
When she finished she tossed Wyatt's clothing at him. "Aren't you going to put these on?"
"Yeah.No rush."
"No rush?" She was already climbing into the cockpit of the plane to retrieve her gear.
Men, she thought. If they were standing naked in Grand Central Station, they would probably take their sweet time finding something with which to cover themselves.
Marilee lay perfectly still,waiting for her world to settle.She had to fight the unreasonable urge to weep.
Wyatt's face was pressed to the hollow of her throat,his breathing rough, his damp body plastered to hers.
He nuzzled her neck. "Am I too heavy?"
"Umm." It was all she could manage.
"You all right?"
"Umm."
"Did anybody ever tell you that you talk too much?"
"Umm."
He brushed his mouth over hers. "If you hum a bit more,I might be able to name that tune."
That broke the spell of tears that had been threatening and caused her to laugh.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. "Have I told you how much I like your silly sense of humor?"
"No,you haven't." He rolled to his side and gathered her into his arms,nuzzling her cheek,while his big hands moved over her hip,her back,her waist, as though measuring every inch of her. "What else do you like about me?"
"You fishing for compliments?"
"Of course I am."
"Glutton. Your sense of humor isn't enough?"
"Not nearly enough.How about my looks?"
"They're okay,for a footloose rebel."
"Stop.All these mushy remarks will inflate my ego." He gave a mock frown. "How about the way I kiss?"
"You're not bad."
"Not bad?" His hands stopped their movement. He drew a little away. "That's all you can say?"
"If you recall,tonight was the first time we've kissed.I haven't had nearly enough practice to be a really good judge of your talent."
"Then we'd better take care of that right now." He framed her face. With his eyes steady on hers, he lowered his mouth to claim her lips.
Marilee's eyelids fluttered and she felt an explosion of color behind them. As though the moon and stars had collided while she rocketed through space. It was the most amazing sensation, and, as his lips continued moving over hers,she found herself wishing it could go on forever.
When at last they came up for air, she took in a long,deep breath before opening her eyes. "Oh,yes,rebel.I have to say,I do like the way you kiss."
"That's good,because I intend to do a whole lot more of it." He lay back in the grass,one hand beneath his head. "Now it's my turn.Want to know all the things I like about you?"
"I'm afraid to hear it." Marilee lay on her side,her hand splayed across his chest.
"Besides your freckles,which I've already mentioned,the thing about you I like best is your take-charge attitude."
She chuckled. "A lot of guys feel intimidated by that."
"They're idiots.Don't they know there's something sexy about a woman who knows what to do and how to do it? I've watched you as a medic and as a pilot, and I haven't decided which one turns me on more."
"Really?" She sat up. "Want me to fetch my first-aid kit from the plane? I could always splint your arm or leg and really turn you on."
He dragged her down into his arms and growled against her mouth, "You don't need to do a single thing to turn me on. All I need to do is look at you and I want you."
"You mean now? Again? So soon?"
"Oh,yeah."
"Liar.I don't believe it's possible."
"You ought to know by now that I never say anything I can't back up with action."
"Prove it,rebel."
"My pleasure."
There was a wicked smile on his lips as he rolled over her and began to kiss her breathless,all the while taking her on a slow,delicious ride to paradise.
He stood and slipped into his jeans, leaving the waist unsnapped as he made his way to the plane in that loose, lanky stride that had her mouth watering. She loved the look of him, like a cowboy in some Madison Avenue ad. Except that he was the real thing, with big,work-roughened hands and scuffed boots and a high-voltage smile that could reduce her to puddles when it was directed her way.
R.C. RyanBut you're going to do what the doctor ordered."
"And if I don't?"
He gave her one of those dangerous, heart-stopping grins. "I'm thinking, if I really apply myself,I can probably find several clever ways to keep you in bed all day,Ms. Trainor."
She was laughing as she allowed him to lead her to her bed.But as he lay beside her and drew her into his arms, her laughter faded,replaced by a series of soft,gentle sighs.
"All right.I'll let you persuade me. But only because the doctor ordered it."
Her words were followed by muffled laughter as they found the perfect way to leave the cares of the world behind.
She surely blows like a Texas norther, doesn't she?
R.C. RyanThat lying..." Jesse turned the key in the ignition before exploding. "Destroying papers that don't belong to him and acting as though he was doing his sister a favor."
"And having a good laugh at our expense." Zane swore under his breath.
"With that smile in place,he completely transformed himself from Scrooge to jovial Old Saint Nick." Wyatt grew thoughtful. "You have to admit that he made a smart move.We'll never know how many pages of Nathaniel's journal or how many of Coot's notes and maps were in those boxes."
Jesse drove the truck along the main street. "Now what?"
Wyatt shrugged. "Ledge won this round. We'll just have to come up with another way to entice him back into the ring."
Zane stared at the sunlight glinting off the peaks of Treasure Chest in the distance. "Maybe he's already won the fight and we just don't know it.
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