The Texas Rancher's Family. Cathy Thacker Gillen

the immediate area, I’d have to guess yes.”

      The only upside of this situation was the sensuality of hearing her voice in the darkness, so soft and sweet and helpful. Mac had always loved a woman who was good in an emergency. He exhaled. “If that’s what this is, how long is it going to last?”

      “Thirty minutes.” As Erin’s voice came closer, he inhaled a drift of lilac perfume. “Maybe more. Maybe less.” Without warning, her palm hit him in the center of his chest.

      He savored her body heat. “And now you’ve found me.”

      “Sorry.” She dropped her hand, stepped back.

      He still couldn’t see her, but he could hear the uneven meter of her breathing. His body tensing with need, he inhaled the flowery fragrance of her skin and hair. He had to rein in his fantasies here. “Now what?”

      “The flashlights are in the kitchen.”

      Mac figured it would be better not to crash into anything else, especially something—or someone—soft and feminine and incredibly enticing. “Lead the way.”

      She touched his chest again, tentatively this time. “Take my hand.”

      He was glad she didn’t grope for his palm, given the difference in their heights. No telling what she might have found.

      He wrapped his hand around hers and fell into step behind her, or tried to. They hadn’t gone more than five paces when she bumped into something and stumbled back into him, knocking him off balance, too. They would have fallen if he hadn’t clamped an arm across her body and caught her against him, swift and hard. Unfortunately, the difference in their heights meant his forearm landed on the soft swell of her breasts.

      His reaction was immediate. “Sorry,” he murmured quickly, loosening his grip as soon as he was sure she was steady on her feet.

      Sensing her embarrassment in the silence that followed, he said, “I didn’t mean to, uh...”

      “Touch me that way?” she finished, with a trace of humor.

      Mac winced in the darkness. “Right.”

      Unfortunately, now he knew how warm and womanly her breasts felt. The memory would stay with him, probably all night. He shifted, trying to ease the pressure at the front of his jeans.

      “Put your hand out and take mine,” she commanded.

      When their fingers reconnected, he could feel the heat in her skin. “Let’s keep going,” she directed. “We’re almost there.”

      Mac sucked in a breath. “I’m right behind you.”

      They moved forward, Erin holding on to him with one hand, feeling her way forward with the other. Eventually, they made it down the hallway to the kitchen. She let go of him, and opened a drawer.

      Mac listened as she rummaged through the contents, muttering in dismay.

      “What is it?” he asked.

      Erin groaned. “The flashlights aren’t here! The boys must have taken them to play with.”

      “So now what?”

      Exasperated, she laid out their options. “Stay here in the kitchen and try and feel our way to the chairs at the table? Go back to the living room and wait it out there? Or try to make it up the stairs to bed. Without crashing into something and waking the entire household?”

      “Those are our only options?”

      She huffed. “Unless you can think of something else to do.”

      Actually, Mac could. Not, he reminded himself sternly, that making a pass at her was one of the options...

      This was a business situation.

      Or at least it had been...until they had started sharing personal stories and whiling away the time together.

      Then it had become something else.

      Something a lot more...treacherous.

      Erin groaned and let out a nervous laugh. “Forget I said that.”

      The gentlemanly side of Mac knew he should. Only trouble was, he wasn’t feeling particularly chivalrous right now. He was feeling...turned on. And she was, too, otherwise her mind wouldn’t have gone in the exact same direction his had.

      The direction that would land them in each other’s arms.

      “Actually,” Mac said gruffly, turning toward her and gathering her closer, “I don’t think I will.”

      Then, going on instinct, he slowly lowered his head.

      * * *

      ERIN HAD KNOWN this kiss was coming. Known it long enough to avoid being alone with him. But she hadn’t.

      Instead, she had invited it.

      Why?

      Because something about him attracted her and made her want to lose herself in him. In this.

      And lose herself she did, as she opened her mouth to the inviting pressure of his.

      He tasted so good. So dark and male. The strength of his chest pressed against hers. His thighs were rock hard, the rest of him just as impatient for more.

      And that, above anything, told Erin she needed to stop this. Now.

      Only she couldn’t.

      This was the most alive she had felt in a very long time.

      And had it not been for a sudden beam of light flashing across their bodies, who knew how long it would have gone on?

      * * *

      THE LAST THING MAC EXPECTED when he took Erin in his arms was to be busted by the intrusive beam of a flashlight.

      But that was what happened as Gavin walked into the kitchen and caught them pressed up against each other in a steamy lip-lock.

      Reluctantly, Mac broke off the kiss and lifted his head from hers.

      Dropping her hands from his chest, Erin stepped away.

      Gavin looked at his sister, his brow lifted in silent inquiry.

      She gazed back, angry and defiant. Not to mention embarrassed.

      “Everything okay here?” Gavin asked finally, shifting the plastic casing so the flashlight became a lantern.

      It was a minute ago, Mac wanted to say.

      Figuring this was family business—and he should stay out of it—he remained silent.

      “Do you know where the rest of the flashlights are?” Erin asked, her gaze averted from Gavin’s probing look.

      His body tense with a disapproval mostly directed at Mac, he nodded. “There are two in the cabinet above the washing machine. The rest are upstairs in the boys’ rooms, next to their beds.”

      Erin disappeared into the laundry room, then returned with two flashlights in hand. She handed one to Mac.

      “Are all the kids still asleep?” she asked Gavin.

      “So far. I even looked in on Nicholas. He’s snoozing away.”

      “Well...” Erin inhaled deeply, then turned and looked at Mac. “I’m going to call it a night.”

      He nodded. “See you tomorrow.”

      After she headed up the stairs, Gavin continued staring at him. “I gather you’ve got something to say?” Mac asked.

      “You guessed right.” A muscle worked in his cheek. “My sister’s been through enough. The last thing she needs in her life is another guy who’s not going to be around for the long haul.”

      Much as he hated to admit it, Mac knew Gavin had a point.

      “It was just