A Dangerous Love

She swallowed down a lump in her throat. She had to act as if she were returning from a long walk . . . nowhere near his pick-up point. She sauntered up the drive, trying to appear casual.

Giddon met her as she neared the house, eyeing her suspiciously. "Kind of late for a walk, isn't it?"

She smiled stiffly. "It's cooler this time of the day."

He reached out and plucked some stick-tights from her sleeve. "Are the weeds getting a little high along the drive?"

Her mouth went dry and she involuntarily licked her lips. Did he guess? "I saw some flowers in the woods and went to look at them."

He studied her face with mocking eyes, and his mouth twisted into a humorless smile. "And you didn't pick them? You're an unusual female."

He wasn't buying it for one minute. She had to come up with something better than that. "I don't believe in picking every flower I find in the woods," she said with feigned disdain.

He nodded, the topaz eyes probing hers suspiciously. "You'll have to show me these beautiful flowers. I must have missed them."

Her face was hot and cold by turns. He wasn't sure she had seen anything, or surely he would have accused her. She pretended to stifle a yawn. "It's late, and I'm tired." She tried to step around him, but he stopped her with an iron grip on her arm.

He was standing close and she looked up into his face, acutely aware of an increasing pulse which wasn't entirely due to the dangerous situation. His grip on her arm loosened and she stiffened as his hand slid up to her throat. His long fingers traced her jaw to the hair on the back of her neck. She felt an unwelcome rush of excitement and reached to push his hand from her hair. The masculine smell of him, the way his big hands caressed her cheek so softly . . . hands without calluses. If only she could believe he wasn't involved in anything illegal. Unfortunately, the evidence pointed in the opposite direction.

He stepped closer, slipping his other hand around her waist, and pulled her gently against him. As strong as he was, it would be useless to resist. Besides, her lack of response in the past had been far more effective.

His head bent down and warm lips claimed hers in a kiss that questioned her interest. She waited for him to release her, but his lips moved across her cheek and down her neck with soft caressing kisses. Her heart pounded. He couldn't help but detect her wild pulse. His persistence was taking its toll, and when his lips found hers again, she responded involuntarily. He groaned and pulled her firmly against his body, his kiss becoming passionate.