I smile. “You can tell her. She’s going to find out anyway from me, and I’m sure she’ll get a good laugh out of the whole fiasco.”
Once we’re alone, Michael leans in, and a shiver runs through me at the feel of his body heat. “I couldn’t let you go that easily, Emery Walker.”
We leave the bar together, and I take my car and follow Michael in his truck to Wild Ranch.
When he reaches the guest cabins, he pulls into one a few doors down from mine. Wild Ranch has multiple guest cabins, some remote and others, like this group, are set back from the main house but clustered together.
By the time I get out of my car, he’s already walking toward me.
“It’s amazing that, even if we didn’t meet tonight, I could have met you here,” I say to him.
“It is,” he agrees. “You want to sit by the bonfire up at the main house?”
“That’s not for guests,” I say.
“I know. But you’re with me.” He reaches out his hand, and I take it.
His hand is strong and calloused and masculine. I have sudden visions of those fingers of his touching me in other places. His rough pads between my thighs…I barely suppress a gasp.
The night breeze is cool, but the fire is warm. Michael ushers me onto the thick cushions of the outdoor couch and he sinks down next to me.
“So what brings you to Wild Ranch?” I ask him. “A vacation?”
Under the light of the flames from the fire, I watch as his eyes flash with pain. He opens his mouth like he’s going to speak, but then he shuts it.
“That was a nosy question,” I say quickly.
“No,” he says just as quickly. “It wasn’t. The story isn’t that interesting. But it’s still raw.”
I take a long look at him. “I get it.” Because I do. “I tend to open my mouth and reveal the most personal things. But I admire those who don’t.”
Underneath the dark Montana sky littered with stars, we stare at each other. “Maybe I’ve been doing this all wrong. My work is intense, and I don’t often take the time to just…be.” His arm goes around me. “Tonight with you feels like the first time I’ve relaxed in years.”
I snuggle into his side. “I’m glad. I’ve had fun with you. I was honestly just hoping my blind date would be a good guy I may want to sleep with.”Shit, why did I say that out loud?“I mean, forget that last part. It sounded needy.”
His arm tightens around me, and his fingers play with the hem of my shirt. “It didn’t sound like anything other than honest. Which I appreciate. And just so you know, I was also hoping I’d hit it off with my blind date.”
“You were?”
“I was. Although I never expected you, Emery. You’re the first woman I’ve ever been on a date with where I know I want a second date. And a third.”
I turn to face him. His dark eyes are warm and open, but I also recognize the undisguised heat.
And then, he does what I’ve been dying for since I barreled into him yesterday—he kisses me.
His lips slant over mine, softly at first, and then with more urgency. He angles my jaw with his fingers so he can gain better access to my mouth, and I open for him eagerly. As his tongue slides between my lips, my entire body lights up.
“Emery,” he murmurs as he slides his hand up my torso and his fingers graze the underside of my breast.
We’re in a full-on make-out session when I hear, “Well, well. I see the date was a success.”
I jerk my head back as Michael groans.
“Go away, Luke,” he says in an irritated tone.
Luke Wild, whom I met briefly yesterday when I checked in, chuckles. He’s another handsome Wild man with dark hair and an amazing body.
I wave at him. And that’s when he furrows his brow.
