Instead, I cleared my throat. “My room’s probably a bit of a mess.”
“I’m sure it’s fine. I appreciate it. Thank you.” She stood on tiptoe to press a kiss against my cheek.
I closed my eyes as her lips met that day’s scruff. Clenching my hands into fists, I held the stack of sheets to the side, afraid tomove. My cheek burned where she’d kissed me, like she’d seared me with her lips.
Every cell in my body ached for more.
She dropped back onto her feet, lowering herself by a few inches. I opened my eyes, meeting her gaze. What I saw there made me want to throw caution to the brush pile and let it burn. The heat racing through my limbs ignited parts of me that had been numb for years.
“Delilah.” Her name drifted from my lips on a whisper, like a prayer.
She rose back onto her tiptoes, her lips inches from mine.
I held myself in check, fighting the urge to claim her with every ounce of my self-control.
Then she pressed her lips to mine. My control shattered like the empty beer bottles Colin and I used to use as target practice when we were kids. I dropped the sheets, wrapped my arms around her, tangled my hands in her hair, and gave in.
CHAPTER 9
DELILAH
I couldn’t believewhat I’d started. I had no idea a simple kiss could release the kind of passion that flooded through me as I met Jasper kiss for kiss. His tongue slid against mine, his hands cupped the back of my head, cradling it as he took the kiss even deeper. I gripped his biceps with my hands, trying not to lose myself completely.
He pulled away first, nudging his nose against mine. “You okay?”
Words escaped me. Not only was I incapable of forming a cohesive sentence, but I’d lost all ability to speak. My knees knocked together as I looked for somewhere to sit before I lost the use of my legs.
Jasper’s arm went around my back, and he guided me toward the couch.
“I’m fine.” I drew in a deep breath. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t escape his scent. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to.
He held on to me until I’d settled on the cushion of the overstuffed couch. “You sure you’re all right?”
Telling the truth would only make the situation worse, so I lied. “I’m absolutely fine.”
“Can I get you a glass of water? Something to eat?” He stood next to the couch, his fingers kneading the back of his neck.
I needed to process what had just happened... the way the world shifted when our lips met... the way his kiss made me want to throw away all of my inhibitions and do unspeakable things with the cowboy in front of me.
“Delilah?” The way his voice caressed my name made me want to shrug off his shirt and pull him down onto the couch next to me.
But I couldn’t. I shook my head, trying to rid myself of the heated images running through my mind. Getting involved with Jasper would be a bad idea. An epically bad idea. My days in Ido were numbered. Twenty-eight more, to be exact. And then I’d be headed back to Dallas to make my fortune in private labeled cosmetics and fashion accessories.
Things could be worse. Thanks to Stella’s business sense and my good looks, I had something waiting for me on the other side of my pageant career. A lot of girls I knew couldn’t say the same. It wasn’t worth risking my future for a temporary fling with Jasper Taylor. No matter how those hazel eyes might wordlessly beg me to throw caution to the wind.
“I ought to get to bed. Don’t we have something scheduled tomorrow?”
His shoulders rose and fell as he let out a long-drawn-out breath like he was relieved I’d given him an out. I’d been the one to initiate the kiss. He’d probably been trying to figure out a gentle way to let me down.
“I’ll have to check the binder. I think there’s a tour of a local vineyard in the afternoon, but nothing in the morning. It’s Sunday. My family usually goes to church together, but I might beg off from that tomorrow.”
What kind of guest would I be if I didn’t accompany them to church? “I’d love to join you if you go.”
His eyes widened.
“Unless you think it’s not a good idea.” Why was I so off kilter? I hadn’t felt so out of place in Hartwood or East. Of course, I hadn’t been an unwanted house guest in either location. Plus, I’d had Stella to keep me company.
“Why don’t we talk about it in the morning? I think we could both use a decent night’s sleep.”
