Or when we’re in bed together.
The air thickens between us, and I swallow hard and point enthusiastically—way too enthusiastically—up at the stars.
“Nothing like a Montana sky,” I say in a bright tone.
“That’s true.” Now Declan sounds like he’s trying not to laugh.
I don’t blame him. My game is essentially at zero, and my ability to deflect is just as poor.
I give up on faking it, and just speak what I’m feeling. “Declan.”
“Yeah.” His tone is gruff and uneven.
And I go for it. “How come you kissed me at the game?”
He keeps his gaze trained on the stars over our heads. “I wanted to. It felt…” He pauses. “Like the only thing I wanted to do in that moment.” He clears his throat. “Kind of the way I feel right now.”
My inhale is audible. I bite down on my bottom lip and don’t answer him.
Without saying anything, he turns and takes a step toward the cabin door. With his keys dangling in his hand, he says, “I don’t want to say good night.”
His back is to me, but I can hear the way his voice hitches. Like he thinks I may not want the same thing.
I touch his elbow. “I don’t, either.”
“What do you want, Mia?”
He’s giving me an out.
But I don’t want an out.
I just want him.
“I want to be alone with you.”
“Thank Christ.” He turns and takes me into his arms.
He rubs my back, and even through my coat, I can feel the heat of his palms.
I fist the lapels of his suit jacket and look up at him. “Take me somewhere we can be alone.”
The fact that Jamie Beth is inside our cabin is so ironic. She’ll want to kick herself tomorrow.
Declan takes my hand. “Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“I’m not sure yet. But we’re standing on six hundred acres of land. There’s got to be somewhere private.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
We end up in the barn. Declan remembered when Luke recently pointed out the loft area above the stables. It’s got a mattress for a cowboy or ranch hand who needs some sleep. It’s also got pillows, a blanket, plus a large, open window and a skylight where the light from the moon shines in.
“This is nice.” I walk over to the window and look out at the shadowy dark pastures of Wild Ranch. “I had no idea this loft existed.”
Declan comes up behind me and puts his arms around me. “I’m happy it does.”
I turn around to face him, and his mouth covers mine.
