From Here to Texas. Stella Bagwell

though it’s been eleven years, I doubt that people have forgotten that we were an item. There’ll be gossip everywhere that the old flames between us have burst to life again. That might hurt you politically and I wouldn’t want that to happen.”

      Quito cursed. “What goes on between you and me is nobody’s business but ours.”

      She shrugged. “All right, if that’s the way you feel. But I still want to have the picnic,” she said cheerfully. “I thought we might drive up to the mountains and walk to the meadow. You remember the one with the willow trees, where we caught the trout?”

      Remember? How could he forget? It was the spot where they’d made love for the very first time. Was she trying to kill him with memories or was she simply wanting to relive the past?

      Either way, he should give her a flat-out no. He didn’t want those old flames between them fanned for any reason. She’d already burned him badly. Much more from her and he’d be nothing more than a useless pile of ashes.

      “I remember.” Her blue eyes caught his and he felt his heart jump into a dangerous rhythm. “What time do you want for me to meet you?”

      Smiling with pleasure, she grabbed both his hands and squeezed. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll pick you up here. What time?”

      He felt wicked and indecent and stupid. But for the first time in years, he felt alive.

      “Six.”

      She leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss upon his cheek. “I’ll be here.”

      Chapter Four

      Later that evening, Quito was signing a request for additional funding for equipment when a soft knock sounded on his door.

      Knowing it was Clementine, he picked up the document and switched off the light on his desk. Then reaching for his Stetson, he slapped it on and went to open the door.

      She was standing on the other side, a soft smile on her face and a light in her blue eyes that stirred his imagination.

      “Ready?” she asked.

      He nodded. “Just let me drop this by Julie’s office and then we’ll be on our way.”

      She walked along beside him as they made their way down the wide corridor and the perfume she’d been wearing earlier drifted once again to his nostrils. She smelled sweet and lusty at the same time and he was amazed at the sexual urges suddenly stirring his body.

      Three weeks ago, he’d been almost dead. On top of that, he had not seen this woman in eleven years. How could his body suddenly turn into a wild buck deer?

      Outside on the sidewalk, she pointed to where her car was parked several spaces on down the street from the building. “I have everything loaded into the trunk,” she told him. “Do you think we still have enough daylight to make it to the meadow?”

      Rather than glance at his watch, Quito turned a narrowed eye on the ball of hot sun. “It will be nearly nine before darkness falls. We’ll have time. But I don’t think we should drive your car. Let’s take my SUV,” he suggested. “That way if we have to go over some rough spots, we’ll have four-wheel drive.”