“No. Don’t you know how to kiss?”
“I know how to kiss.”
“Like you know how hens cock-a-doodle-do?”
“Like I know how roosters are peckers!”
“Kiss me like you know how.” Cash didn’t think she’d take the challenge.
But in the next breath Tracy grasped the open collar of his shirt, pulled herself to him, and stood on bare tiptoes between his cowboy boots. Sliding her hands to his shoulders, she closed her eyes, and tugged him closer. He lowered his head and this time his mouth met silky soft lips with a cinnamon flavor. Supple and full, her lips and mouth were the sweetest he’d ever tasted. He placed his hands on her waist and though he wanted to move them to her breasts, he restrained himself. When her fingers delicately threaded through his hair at the back of his head, goose bumps covered his skin. He pictured tossing her onto the bed just before she broke their kiss. Lowering herself from her tiptoes, she took a step back and smiled confidently.
“Do I know how to kiss?” Tracy asked, flipping a long lock of hair over her shoulder.
Cinnamon hair, lips, and breath, Tracy was princess of the cinnamon kiss. “Not bad.”
“Not bad?”
“Not as good as a kiss from me, but not bad.”
“What?” Tracy’s mouth fell open. She pointed past the bedroom door. “Get out, mister big’n bad!” When Cash chuckled, she grabbed his hand and led him through the cabin. “Out!”
“I’m going,” he said. She let go of his hand and slashed her index finger at the front door. He raised both hands in surrender. “We have to be up with the sun, so get a good night’s sleep.”
“Go!” she snapped and opened the door.
Shimmering moonlight haloed the gorgeous woman.Through the gauzy nightgown, there was a hint of her nipples and the vee between her legs.
“When we get back on Thursday, I’ll give you a tour of the inside of my house if you’d like to see it. For the purposes of your story.”
“I would appreciate a tour,” she admitted. “Thank you.”
“I’ll show you something new I recently added on the balcony facing Pikes Peak. You’ll be the first one to see it.”
“What is it?” Tracy asked, but he shrugged. “Tell me, Cash.”
“Maybe I’ll kiss you under the stars on the balcony.” With that, he sauntered out of the cabin. “And maybe I won’t.” Crossing the porch he stopped at the edge and turned to her. Looking her up and down he cocked a brow and said, “Racy Tracy, don’t bring that nightgown out on the trail. I can see right through it.”
“Good night!” Tracy snapped and smacked the cabin door shut.
“Racy Tracy?”she repeated.
Tracy looked down at her gown, realized Cash was right, and hugged herself. She picked up her laptop and returned to the bedroom. She flipped back the bedspread and sheet and settled herself in the bed. Nothing she could do now about what he may or may not have seen. But she’d follow his advice and not take this gown on the overnight camping trip. She leaned against the headboard and sighed.
What was Cash planning to show her on that balcony? Would he really try to kiss her under the stars? Just in case he did, Tracy warned herself not to respond any more to him than he had to her when she’d kissed him. During that kiss Cash had kept his hands safely on her waist. But if he hadn’t, how far would she have gone with him? Farther than she’d ever gone before? She wanted Cash to?—
“I’m back,” Donna called from the living room andslammed the front door shut. Tracy hoped if she didn’t answer, Donna wouldn’t leave her be. “Knock, knock,” the woman said at the same time she rapped on Tracy’s bedroom door.
Her thoughts of Cash interrupted, Tracy reluctantly replied, “Come in.”
Donna opened the door and leaned against the doorjamb. “I just ran into Cash and he brushed me off. As usual,” she complained. “I don’t know how that red-blooded, all-American, gorgeous rancher can resist all of this—” she waved a hand over her bosom— “voluptuousness.”
Tracy shrugged and mumbled, “I don’t know.”
“And Beau! Handsome wrangler that he is, taken by simpering—” Donna huffed the name, “Cristen.”
“Cristen is really pretty and so sweet,” Tracy said. “She and Beau are cute together.”
“Whatever. Even when Sam’s wife isn’t around, he’s standoffish toward me. Jeff is too young and still wet behind the ears. I guess that leaves Ed and Larry.”
