Yes, she was definitely not Gail. His ex-girlfriend had expected people to go out of their way for her, and she hadn’t given a royal flip what anyone thought. “Since you feel so strongly about it, how about I follow you home, just to make sure you get there safely.” At her puzzled look, he added, “It will make me feel good to know you’re home, safe, Dani.”
Dani glanced in her rearview mirror and saw that Wade was behind her. His following her was not necessary--she would have found her way back to Libby and Richard’s ranch. But in a way, she was glad. There were no streetlights, and since she hadn’t thought it would be dark when she returned, she hadn’t left any lights on at the ranch house, either. It was likely the area was pitch black. And didn’t Richard mention something about coyotes, bobcats, armadillos, and foxes that come out at night? Not to mention rattlesnakes, which were plentiful in these parts? A shudder passed through her at the thought of encountering even just one of them.
She released a deep breath when she thought about Wade. It had been nice of him to invite her to dinner, and their conversations had been pleasant. She was learning more about him, and she liked him. But what did it mean? Sure, the two of them were unattached if they wanted to…To what…? And was she ready for that?
It would be crazy to jump into another relationship so soon after Steve.Wouldn’t it?
She heard the toot of a horn and looked in the rearview mirror. When Wade blinked the truck lights, she wondered why he was trying to get her attention. She eased to the shoulder of the road, and he pulled in behind her. She watched him get out of his truck and walk toward her, totally intrigued by the way he sauntered in the darkness, like a panther.
Dani rolled down her window when he reached her door. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“You missed the turn-off back there.”
She blinked. Had she? Obviously, she had. “Oops. I’m sorry. I can’t believe there aren’t any streetlights out here. How can Libby stand it?”
“I’m sure Rich would never let his wife go out at night without him.”
“That’s a good thing,” she said.
“Turn around and follow me. I’ll lead you there.”
She didn’t want to think where she would have ended up if he hadn’t been following her. “Thanks, Wade.”
“You’re welcome, Dani.”
She liked the way he pronounced her name with that sexy, Texan drawl. Turning her car around, she tailed him and within minutes, she saw the marker indicating the Mercer homestead. He drove into the yard, and she followed. The truck’s high-beam headlights illuminated the huge ranch house. Even at night, it was a majestic sight.
When Wade brought his truck to a stop, she pulled up beside it. She hesitated to get out when she remembered all the wildlife she’d thought of earlier, and was grateful when Wade got out of his truck and walked over to her car. That was when she felt it safe to get out.
After she grabbed her briefcase, he surprised her by taking her hand. “It’s dark and I don’t want you to miss a step.”
“Thanks,” she said.
He pulled out his phone and clicked on the flashlight so she could enter the security code correctly, which would also unlock the door. When the door opened, he entered the dark house and turned on the lamp in the foyer.
“Thanks, again.”
“You don’t have to thank me for every little thing that I do, Dani,” he said, coming to stand in front of her.
“It’s habit.”
He nodded, then said, “When you missed the turn-off, I wanted to call you, but realized I don’t have your phone number. May I have it?”
“Of course.” She rattled off her number, and he put it in his phone. When hers began ringing, she said, “Now you have mine and I have yours.”
He met her gaze as he put his phone back in his jeans pocket. “Yes, Dani. You have mine and I have yours.”
He stood there, staring at her, and she stared back. The darkness of his eyes seemed illuminated with warmth in the lamplight. Dani wasn’t sure who made the first move or if it was done simultaneously by both. All she knew was that suddenly, they were kissing. The moment his tongue touched hers, a jolt of sensual pleasure ripped through every part of her body, making her weak in the knees. She moaned. She’d never felt anything like this before…
She was being kissed by a man who knew what he was doing. A man who knew how to pleasure a woman. As heat blazed up her spine, she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, wanting more. She might regretthis in the morning, but right now, she was all in, in the most erotic sort of way. He used his tongue to stroke every part of her mouth, making it tingle as if it were a live wire.
He broke off the kiss, licking her lips before lifting his head to stare at her. Her body felt warm under his regard, aching for him to kiss her again. As if he were enduring that same ache, he took her mouth again, and she moaned in appreciation. He kissed her thoroughly, causing sexual need to curl her stomach. And it seemed she wasn’t the only one, she thought, as she felt his hard erection pressing against her. But it didn’t scare her. What terrified her was the hunger he brought out in her, making her want him in a way she had never wanted a man before.
This time, she was the one who broke off the kiss, realizing that she was holding on to her control by a thin thread. But it was too soon for this. Drawing in a deep breath, she took a step back, met his gaze, and said, “Thanks for making sure I got home safely, Wade. Goodnight.”
He held her gaze for the longest time, then said, “Goodnight, Dani.” Opening the door, he walked out.
CHAPTER 14
