Shepulls back and rests a hand over my thumping heart.
“So,thisis why you’re a workaholic?”Shelooks right at me.AndIknow she sees me. “Thisis where it all comes from?”
Ishrug.“Maybe.”
“Andit’s why you can’t stop.You’reworried it might all go away.Andwhy, even thoughYellowBarnwouldn’t die without a store inWarmSprings, you’ll fight tooth and nail to make sure it gets one.”
Icurl my mouth up at one side. “Imight be slightly competitive, yes.”
Shechuckles and looks up at me from under raised eyebrows. “Andpossibly obsessive about making cash?”
“Possibly.”Iloop my arms around her waist and pull her back against me.“Butit also meansItotally understand why you’re so passionate about the little guy not being trampled by the big guy.Wewere the little guys for a long time.So, of course,Iunderstand your fear of that.”
Herhead slumps against my shoulder. “Thanksfor the reminder.”
Irun my fingers up and down her spine as she talks into my neck. “Onceyou’ve won theYellowBarnbattle—and of course you will, because me and my protests don’t stand a chance in hell against you—once you’ve done that, you’ll leave town and move on to your next project.”Shepauses to swallow. “Andthe next girl.”
Ijerk back like she’s punched me. “Oh,Christ,Polly.No.”Itilt my head to try to meet her gaze. “Isthat what you think?Thatthere’s a girl in every grocery store town?Andafter thisI’llslide right along to the next in line?”
Shelooks down at the warm space between our bodies. “I’mnot sure.”
Itip her chin and search her blue eyes.ThistimeIsee something much deeper, something behind them—a place in her heart, her mind, her soul—thatI’venever seen in anyone before.
“Howcan you say that?”Iask. “Icanceled two meetings to be here today.”
Shegives me an ironic half-smile, and for the first timeIrealize how tragic it must sound to have that as your benchmark for being crazy about someone.
Shestrokes my thigh. “Butyou’ll still be gone soon.”
Isqueeze her other hand between mine. “Notfar, though.Ionly live inManhattan, forGod’ssake.”
I’venever had any trouble walking away from any woman before, but the thought of not seeingPollyagain makes me sick to my stomach.
Itake her face in both hands. “Idon’t want to walk away from this, do you?”
Hereyes lock on mine. “No.Butthat’s becauseIthink it’s special.”Sheruns a finger up my thigh and strokes the sensitive crease where my leg meets my groin, tantalizingly close to my balls. “Imean,Iwouldn’t have sex in front of llamas with just anyone.”
Phew, the fun quirk to her lips is back.
“Oh, well, yeah.”Iwave my hand and dismiss it with a shrug. “Ido that all the time.Sothat was nothing to me.”
Shemakes a fist and gently punches me in the bicep.Hersmile widens, sending relief flooding through me.
“Hell,Polly.Ithink it’s special too.”Iscoop her back toward me, cradle her against my chest, and rest my chin on her head. “Ididn’t want to spend time on business today.Iwanted to spend it with you.Ilie in bed at night wondering howIcan spend more time flirting with you, not howIcan broker the next deal.I’mnot interested in looking at plans for the new store anymore.I’minterested in gazing at you in your overalls and imagining what’s underneath them.”
Ibury my face in her hair and kiss the top of her head, then move down to her forehead.Shelifts her face asIdot kisses down to the slightly sunburned tip of her nose, then press my lips against hers.
“Don’tyou get it?”Ibreathe against her mouth. “Iwant this to be more than a fumble in a llama shed.”
Herlips curl into a smile against mine. “I’mdeeply flattered.”
“Seriously.AndIwant it to be more than one afternoon away from the rest of the world on this island.Iwant you to be part of my reality.Iwant to see what this is, to explore it beyond right now.”
Asevery muscle in her body relaxes against me, every worry flies out of my head.
“I’dlike to find that out too.”Slowly, she lifts her lashes until her eyes meet mine. “Iknow it makes no sense.Butit feels right.”
And, suddenly,Iunderstand all the feelingsI’vehad sinceImet her.Whyshe’s the magnetI’mdrawn to.
