That Night With The Rich Rancher. Sara Orwig

in a short time Lindsay looked out at the twinkling city lights spread far into the distance.

      “Do you have your car at the club?” Tony asked.

      “No. I left it at the hotel and took a cab.”

      “Good thinking,” he said.

      Once they arrived back at the country club, a valet brought Tony’s car around and in minutes they drove through the iron gates to his condo complex.

      As soon as Lindsay entered his unit, she walked through his entry hall to cross the spacious living room and look out over the sparkling lights of downtown Dallas.

      “You have a gorgeous view.”

      “Do I ever,” he said, and she smiled when she turned to see him looking at her.

      “I meant the city lights,” she explained, knowing he understood exactly what she had referred to.

      “Want a drink?” he asked.

      “Yes. White wine, please.”

      He removed his jacket and tie, dropping them on a chair, and walked to a bar in a corner of the room.

      “This is a large living area. It’s very nice,” she said, looking at comfortable brown leather chairs and a long leather sofa.

      “It’s convenient when I’m here, which is not too often. A few days here and I’m ready for the ranch.”

      “That I understand,” she said, crossing to the bar to perch on a stool and watch him pour her wine.

      “I have a full bar if you prefer something else.”

      “The wine is good.”

      He handed her the glass and picked up a cold beer. “I figured you for a cold brew,” he said, smiling at her. He set his bottle on the counter, his gaze skimming over her legs when her skirt fell open just above her knees. “Lindsay, it’s a crime to hide legs like yours all the time.”

      “You have no idea what I do all the time. We see each other about once every four or five months at best.”

      “That I intend to change.”

      She shook her head. “You know as well as I do that we’ll go right back to our usual way of life when the sun rises in the morning.”

      “I hope to hell not,” he said, holding up his bottle of beer in a toast. “Here’s to the most beautiful neighbor I’ll ever have and to a night I’ll never forget.”

      Laughing softly, she touched his bottle with her wineglass and sipped her wine.

      “Here’s to the day we can both be civil to each other,” she said.

      “I’ll drink to that.” He touched her glass, took a sip of beer and set his bottle on the bar. “But we’re going to be much more than civil to each other,” he said, the amusement no longer visible in his expression. With his deep blue eyes gazing intently at her, he took her drink from her hand and placed it on the bar. Her heartbeat quickened in anticipation while desire burned in the depths of his eyes.

      “I’ve waited all evening for this moment—to be alone with you,” he said, stepping closer. His arm circled her waist and he lifted her off the bar stool easily, standing her on her feet and drawing her into his embrace as his gaze lowered to her mouth.

      Desire made her draw a deep breath as he leaned closer, and then she closed her eyes, winding her arms around his neck, surrendering to his kiss.

      The moment his mouth settled on hers, her heart slammed against her ribs as passion ignited and desire overwhelmed her. Tony was hard, his chest sculpted with muscles, his biceps like rocks from constant ranch work. She breathed in his scent and knew she would remember it forever. She wound her fingers through his short hair and returned his kiss, wanting to stir him as much as he did her. She tightened her arms around him without having to stand on tiptoe to kiss him because her heels added inches to her height.

      As Tony drew her more tightly against him, his warm hand played over her bare back and then up to her shoulders. Dimly she felt him push away her straps as they slipped down on her arms. In seconds she was aware of slight tugs to her scalp when he removed the pins and her hair fell over her shoulders and down on her back.

      Slowly, while he kissed her senseless, he drew away each pin until finally her hair framed her face.

      He raised his head to look at her, running his fingers slowly through the long locks. “You’re so beautiful. You take my breath away, Lindsay,” he whispered, sounding as if he meant every word. How could she find this pleasure with Tony? Or want him so desperately?

      She had meant this night to be lighthearted, friendly, seductive, so afterward he would be civil to her and try to cooperate with her. She hadn’t considered there could be this unbelievable, fiery attraction that he seemed to feel as much as she did.

      No matter what he said, they’d go back to their old ways after tonight, though maybe not as contentious. This blazing attraction was for one night only. Tonight she wanted this time with him because she had never before desired or reacted to a man the way she did Tony.

      His gaze shifted to her mouth and he leaned down to kiss her again. How long they stood kissing, she didn’t know, but at some point, Tony picked her up to carry her to the sofa, switching off the overhead lighting, leaving only the bar light glowing softly.

      She planned on some kisses and caresses and then she’d stop. Truthfully, she had never even planned on this much. Dancing, some laughs, a good time, maybe some flirting as she tried to soften him up so he would be more receptive to what she wanted.

      She had never dreamed it was possible for Tony’s kisses to turn her world upside down, to make her heartbeat race and cause her to desire him more than any other man. She was on fire. As if of their own accord, her hips shifted slightly against him, pressing tightly and feeling his hardness. He was ready for her.

      Astounded by the need she felt for him and the response his kisses evoked in her, she kissed him wildly, her fingers unfastening the studs on his shirt, finally pushing away the fabric. Wanting to touch him, she ran her hands over his warm, rock-hard chest, growing bolder when she heard him take a deep, trembling breath. He set her on her feet while he continued to kiss her.

      She felt his fingers at her waist at the back of her dress and then felt him tug down the zipper. He ran his hand lightly over her bottom and she moaned softly as her desire intensified.

      While he kissed her, his hands slipped lightly up her back and across her shoulders and then came down to push her red dress over her hips so it fell softly around her ankles.

      Tony stepped back to look at her. She wore only lacy bikini panties.

      His eyes had darkened to a stormy blue-green and he let out a ragged breath. “I’ll never forget this moment,” he whispered, and stepped to her to crush her against him, kissing her deeply, a kiss that made her feel wanted and loved. She knew she wasn’t loved by him, but he made her feel that way, as if he needed her more than he had ever needed any other woman.

      He showered kisses on her throat while his hands cupped her full breasts and his thumbs circled their tips. His kisses moved lower until his lips met one breast while his hands caressed the other.

      Running her fingers in his hair, she gasped with pleasure when his tongue circled her nipple. She was awash in desire, wanting him more than she had ever dreamed possible. She wanted his loving; she wanted all of him.

      She had made a decision much earlier to end this night before it led to lovemaking, and she’d stuck with it even as they flew back to Dallas. But now desire forced her to rethink her decision, instinctively feeling that this moment would not come again.

      Common sense told her that, come morning, they would go back, at least partially, to the arguments they had had all their adult lives. Tonight was special, a once-in-a-lifetime magical night that would never come again, and what they did tonight, all their loving, would carry no ties