Seduction, Westmoreland Style - Brenda Jackson [42]
“Would you like to go outside with me for a spell?”
Rick’s words invaded her thoughts, which was a good thing since she was about to melt from all the heat McKinnon’s look was generating. She broke eye contact with McKinnon to glance up at Rick. “No, I don’t want to go outside, Rick. I like being inside much better. Besides, I’m the guest of honor and it wouldn’t look good if I went missing.”
He shrugged. “Who cares about these people.”
Her frown deepened. “I do. Most of them are friends of my father’s.”
Seeing he had ticked her off, Summers tried to backpedal into her good graces. “I didn’t mean it that way…” he protested. “I can certainly understand if now isn’t a good time, but before the night is over maybe we can slip—”
“May I have this dance?”
The deep, husky voice had both Casey and Rick turning around. Rick’s surprise quickly transformed into annoyance. “Where did you come from, McKinnon? I thought you’d be out of town until sometime tomorrow.”
McKinnon gave a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “See what happens when you think, Summers,” he said. He turned to face Casey and held out his hand to her. “Will you dance with me, Casey?”
“No, she won’t dance with you. As you can see, she’s with me,” Summers all but snarled.
“Is that a fact?” McKinnon asked, holding Casey’s gaze.
Knowing there wasn’t a decision to make, Casey placed her hand in McKinnon’s. “Welcome back, McKinnon, and I’d love to dance with you.” She then turned to Rick. “Excuse us, please.”
Casey could feel the heat of Rick’s anger burn her back when she walked off but at the moment she could care less. And when McKinnon pulled her into his arms, threaded his fingers possessively with hers, Rick was nothing more than a very blurred memory.
It seemed McKinnon had timed it right; a slow number was playing and she couldn’t imagine being anywhere but here, in his arms as they swayed slowly to the rhythm of the music. That wasn’t true, she decided quickly. She could imagine being somewhere else with him—in his bed. After he’d left that night, after doing all those wondrous things to her body, she had laid there, too overwhelmed to move.
She had done a lot of thinking over the three days since he’d been gone. She wanted McKinnon Quinn. Pure and simple. There didn’t have to be promises of forever-after or any pretense of something that wasn’t there. At least not on his part since she knew how she felt. She loved him. All it took was waking up that next morning, remembering that special intimacy that had taken place the night before and knowing he was somewhere miles away that made her accept what she’d been trying to deny. Regardless of how he felt about her, she could admit that she loved him and unlike her mother, she wouldn’t pretend about what wasn’t there. Instead, she would accept what she could and be happy.
When the music came to an end, he leaned down and softly whispered, “Would you step outside with me for just a minute?”
His dark eyes were filled with so much heat that it almost singed her spine. Unlike when Rick had asked her that same question, she’d felt no hesitation when giving McKinnon her response. “Yes.”
Taking her hand, he led her out the door. Once they were on the porch, he tugged her closer, slipped his hand around her waist, and he led her somewhere only he knew. This used to be his home, she thought. The place he’d been raised as a child. He knew of secret places and she had a feeling that tonight he intended to share one with her.
“This is a good spot,” he said, coming to a stop on the dark side of the barn, away from prying eyes. He turned her in the circle of his arms.
“A good spot for what?” she asked as shivers of awareness and desire caressed her skin.
“For this.” And then he leaned down and captured her mouth while gathering her closer into his arms. Their kisses seemed to always get hotter and hotter, more intense, bolder and more