Page 34 of Texas Daze (Texas Montgomery Mavericks)

“Really.”

She put her hand on his forearm before she replied and it took the strength of the gods not to look at Debbie. “I think we candothat.”

“Can I get you adrink?”

“Chad volunteered butthanks.”

He frowned. “That doesn’t make me look good,doesit?”

“This isn’t a date, so you don’t have to feel obligated to buy medrinks.”

He scooted his chair closer until their thighs met. He draped an arm on the back of her chair and leaned toward her. “I wanted it to be a date,” he said into her ear. Warm breath circled her ear and trailed down her neck. Fingers of heavy lust stirred the smoldering fireinside.

She drew in a breath. He smelled so good. Sandalwood mixed with something spicy. Add in his pheromones and testosterone, and she was a goner. How in the world had she convinced herself that she could remain cool in hispresence?

“I wasn’t sure after seeing you and your nurse at lunchtoday.”

He fingered her curls, tickling her neck. “I’m not interested in my nurse. She’s new to town and I felt sorry for her. There’s only one person I’m interested in.” His fingernail dragged softly down the side of her throat. Her heart charged from trot to full-out gallop under his softtouches.

Sheswallowed. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. If you don’t know that, then I’m not doing somethingright.”

“Here’s your beer,” Chad said, setting a bucket of ice with six beers on the table. “That’s thirty-fivedollars.”

Elistraightened.

Marti didn’t know if she should chuckle that Chad was holding out his hand for money or groan that his timing suckedsobad.

Eli pulled two twenties from his pocket. “Keep thechange.”

“Hey, man. Thanks,”Chadsaid.

“You don’t have todothat.”

“Do you really want to sit here tonight in this noisy bar and drink beer?” He leaned in closer. “Or would you rather go somewhere a little quieter with some soft music and an excellentwinelist?”

She looked into his chocolate eyes. There was only one answer to thatquestion.

Chapter9

“Wine?”

Marti dropped her purse in a chair and followed Eli across his living room to his kitchen. She scooted up on a stool at the bar separating the kitchen from the open, spaciouslivingroom.

“Sure.”

“Red or white?” He held up twobottles.

“Whichever you’dprefer.”

She was in Eli’s home and, damn it, she was nervous. Her mind whirled with a million of thoughts, too fast and too many to make any sense. Her heart pounded against her chest. Her breaths were rapid, making herlightheaded.

But her lightheadedness could also be related to where she was. She’d followed him in her car from Leo’s, not daring to leave her car parked there in the lot. Whispering Springs was like gossip central when it came to relationships, especially about what would probably be a one-nightstand.

At least she hoped that’s what they wereherefor.

Ruby red liquid sloshed around in a crystal wineglass as he handed it to her. “A late harvest Cabernet Sauvignon fromCalifornia.”

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