Texan’s Wedding-Night Wager / The Oilman’s Baby Bargain: Texan’s Wedding-Night Wager. Michelle Celmer

Cara said, feeling the zipper of her jeans expanding a bit. She was slender and, at five foot eight, she could afford to eat a decadent dessert once in a while.

      Kevin stood and reached for her hand. With fingers entwined, they entered the cottage, climbing the steps, their boots scraping the wooden floors. Cara made a quick tour of the quaint cottage, noting the rustic stone fireplace, cozy chintz sofa and several swag-draped pane windows. “It’s lovely here.”

      “It was the groundskeeper’s home at one time. TCC let it go to ruin, practically. I renovated it and now it’s available—”

      “For impressing your dates?” she blurted, in a teasing tone.

      Kevin whipped around and grabbed her by the waist, bringing her flush up against him. “You have a mouth on you, don’t you?”

      Cara pulled her head back to look at him fully. “You always liked my sassy mouth.”

      Kevin’s gaze devoured her mouth. He cupped her head with one hand and pulled her close, his lips so near. “I still do.”

      Cara’s heart pumped double time when he kissed her. He tasted of robust wine and warmth. He tasted familiar and fine. He tasted of all the sweet things in her life she missed. “Kevin.”

      “I love it when you whimper my name,” he said between kisses.

      “I didn’t whimper,” Cara protested mildly. Kevin cupped her derriere and tugged her in. Hip jamming hip, she felt his desire, rough against rough as their jeans brushed.

      Kevin nibbled on her throat. “Really? Guess I’m gonna have to do something about that.”

      There were times when Kevin hated his methodical mind and this was one of them. Every instinct he possessed told him to seduce Cara, here and now, and take advantage of the remote, romantic cottage setting. But Kevin had a plan in mind, and the culmination of that plan had to happen later rather than sooner.

      He’d kick himself tomorrow for his damnable obstinate nature and pay the price of losing out on a wild night of sex with his wife. Yet all wasn’t lost. He needed more from Cara tonight and he’d take what little his plan allowed.

      He nipped at Cara’s lips over and over, sweeping his tongue through her mouth with frenzied heat. A little tiny moan escaped her throat that sent Kevin’s straining erection into overdrive.

      With an effort that took all of his will, he pulled away from her to look deep into her eyes. Her hazyblue surrender unnerved him.

      He needed to touch her and feel the softness of her skin, caress the firm mounds of her perfect breasts. Nothing was going to stop him, his plan be damned.

      “Baby,” he murmured, licking the soft center of her throat. “Let me touch you.”

      She trembled and whimpered helplessly.

      Kevin kissed his way down to the first button of her blouse. With nimble fingers, he undid that button, then the next and the next. Her breasts, cupped in white cotton, spilled out, an invitation he couldn’t ignore.

      He palmed her breasts and closed his eyes, relishing the remembered feel of her, the way she fit so completely in his hand. His thumbs simultaneously caressed both erect tips, her nipples straining against her bra, until Kevin freed them from the torture.

      “Ohh,” she moaned, leaning closer to him with a need he knew he couldn’t satisfy tonight.

      “You feel as good as you look, baby. As good as I remember,” he murmured.

      Kevin bent his head and kissed the tips of her breasts, first one, then the other. Always responsive to his touch, she arched back and Kevin drew her deep into his mouth, suckling and teasing the rosy buds with his tongue.

      He wanted to take her here and now, to ease the desire straining against his jeans, to begin to rectify four years of wanting her, despite his anger. It was hard to back off, to pull away from what she offered and what he wanted, but Kevin was determined to see his plan through.

      “Did you hear that?” he asked quietly.

      Breathlessly, she replied, “You mean the pounding of my heart?”

      Kevin smiled and kissed her lips. “No, outside. Something spooked the horses. I’ll go check.”

      Cara appeared a little surprised by his quick dismissal. He turned and walked out the front door. Behind the house, the horses calmly waited. Kevin leaned against the cottage wall, beside a hibiscus vine in full yellow bloom, and shut his eyes. “Harder than I thought,” he whispered.

      He waited just a few moments, until his breathing slowed and his internal thermostat cooled down. Then he untied the reins of both horses and guided them toward the front of the cottage. Cara waited on the porch steps. “False alarm,” he said. “Must have just been a coyote howl off in the distance.”

      Thankfully, Cara had buttoned her blouse and straightened her unruly, honey-blond hair. He only had so much willpower where his wife was concerned. He tilted his head and sighed, without falsity. “We should go. It’s getting late.”

      Cara blinked a few times, then nodded. “Of course.”

      Kevin helped Cara onto Dream Catcher and then bounded up onto his horse. They headed to the TCC stables in silence. Once they were safely back at the entrance, Kevin glanced at Cara. “We never had dessert.”

      Cara broke her silence with an acknowledging light in her eyes. “We’ll have to lie to the chef and tell him it was fabulous.”

      He dismounted, then reached for her and, once again, she slid down the horse and into his arms. Kevin stared deep into her eyes, holding her loosely around the waist. “It was fabulous.”

      Cara searched his eyes. She had questions, but Kevin had only one answer. He kissed her soundly on the lips, tasting her once again. “Have dinner with me tomorrow night. I’ll make up for the dessert we missed.”

      “How can you do that? I’m sure the chef is on to bigger and better things.”

      He chuckled, knowing Cara was messing with him. “Easy. I know what you crave.”

      Cara jammed her hands to her hips and shook her head in denial. “I bet you don’t.”

      “Oh, no? Hot fudge over chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and a dozen cherries.”

      “Tasty’s?” Cara’s smug expression changed to one of longing. “I haven’t had Tasty’s for—”

      “Four and a half years? I took you there for your birthday, remember?”

      A thoughtful look crossed her expression and she smiled sadly. “Yeah, I do remember.”

      “So, how about it? Burgers and dessert at Tasty’s tomorrow night?”

      Cara opened her mouth, then clamped it closed with a quick snap. He could always tell when she waged a war of decision in her mind.

      “Don’t overthink it, babe. Just go with it.”

      The comment opened her eyes wide and she made a quick decision. “Okay. But, Kevin,” she began in a solemn tone, “maybe we shouldn’t get in over our heads. We both know why I came to Somerset.”

      “Oh, don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten.”

      “G-good.”

      “But I’m not making any promises.”

      Cara’s mouth tightened into a frown.

      Kevin planted a brief kiss over her down-turned lips. “Come on, I’ll drive you back to the hotel. You can think about Tasty’s all the way home.”

      Cara didn’t think about Tasty’s all the way back to her hotel. She thought about Kevin. He’d touched her in ways she hadn’t allowed another man since they’d split up. Sensual images flashed vividly in her head. Her body still prickled. Nope, no man since