Once Bitten, Twice Shy

She shook her head. He'd nail your hide to the wall."

He stiffened. "He might try."

She laughed. "Somehow I get the idea he'd be taking on more than he could handle." She stepped closer to him. "But I wouldn't want to take a chance on losing you."

He smiled down at her, the dark eyes beginning to twinkle.

"Why not?"

She wrinkled her nose. "As if you didn't know. I think you knew before I did. Because I love you."

He drew her close in an embrace. "That's what I've been waiting to hear."

For a moment she lay her head on his chest, enjoying the smell of him and the feel of his hands on her back.

"Carmen," His voice was soft and husky.

She lifted her head and gazed into those delicious dark chocolate eyes.

His hands slid up her back in a slow caress that made her heart beat wildly. Warmth flooded her entire body so quickly that it was almost painful. Her breath came quickly as she leaned back into his hands. Never had she felt such an intense and thoroughly delightful emotion. Was this love?

When his lips found hers, the world ceased to exist around them. Her hands operated on their own as they pushed against the inside of his shirt collar and snaked up to his neck. Pressing against him, she forced his lips down on hers.

The magical moment was long, but not long enough. Alex was the one who finally broke the embrace - and spell.

"Let's go to my room," he said in an emotion-packed voice that was barely above a whisper.

His room? What were they doing? What was she thinking of - arousing him that way?

"Not now," she said, disentangling herself from his searching hands. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I was just so . . ." Aroused would have been the ideal word, but certainly wouldn't have defused him.

Stuffing trembling hands into her pockets, she took a step back from him. "Inexperienced," she finally supplied.

His chuckle was soft. "I'm looking forward to experienced."

For the next half-hour they walked together and talked about her plans for a horse ranch. In the few hours remaining before his departure, her head was so far in the clouds that she didn't even notice he said nothing about marriage. It wasn't until after he left and Katie jokingly asked if they had set a date, that she remembered. Even Katie looked apprehensive at her hesitation. Maybe she didn't want her wedding day overshadowed by theirs. Carmen shrugged.