Mystery Date (Harlequin Blaze) (23 page)

It seemed the most natural thing in the world when he brought her even closer to him, reaching down with his hand to his cock so he could guide it into her as she slid over him.

As he entered her, she made a chest-deep noise, surprised and satisfied at the same time. Her gaze met his, because this was the first time...

The only time he’d fallen for a woman since he’d faded away from life.

But Leigh had brought him back, and she rocked against him, gazing into his eyes the whole time. He didn’t look away—couldn’t look away—as they moved together in a dance far more intimate than the one they’d shared on the San Diego ranch.

Notes, slamming into him...coming faster, shaping themselves into a song he didn’t recognize but, all the same, he swore was familiar. Faster...wilder. The song wasn’t stopping, and neither were they as he pulled Leigh down into a soul-searing kiss, taking as much of her as he could get while she strained, labored, arched up with a cry—

She came, and he wasn’t too far behind her, in the throes of a blinding whirl of sound and fury.

Stronger, faster, until the sounds somehow turned into something he could see, bright and hot, throbbing, blooming and firing into him—

His orgasm consumed him, taking everything he had as he collapsed back onto the bed, bringing Leigh with him, stretched over his humming body. She pushed back his hair, her skin dewy, watching his face, smiling.

“Adam Morgan,” she whispered. “Good to meet you.”

He smiled, too, wrapping her in his arms, knowing just who he was for the first time in too long.

Epilogue

“
H
IDE YOUR EYES,”
Adam said.

As he led Leigh into the stables of his San Diego ranch, she pressed her hands over her eyes, depending on him to guide her inside the building. Adam had promised her surprises, and they’d never stopped coming during the months they’d been together.

“Stop peeking,” he said.

“I’m not.” But she was. She decided to obey him, though, squeezing her fingers tighter to show him she could be trusted.

When she heard the nickers of the horses in the barn, she thought that there were more than usual, and she couldn’t resist a moment longer, removing her hands just as Adam stood in front of her, putting a stop to her progress.

Adam dressed in the cowboy duds he’d been wearing ever since they’d moved onto this property where they’d had so many good times together. Where they’d finally taken off the blinders and found each other.

“You’re making me wait,” she said.

He took her face in his hands, smiling down at her. Her heart zapped around in her chest like a ricocheting bullet.

“Happy four-month anniversary, Leigh,” he said, stepping out of the way.

In a stall, a chestnut quarter horse stood, checking her out with big brown eyes.

Leigh let out a squeal. “You didn’t!”

“I did.” Adam patted the male on the neck, rubbing it. “He goes along with your Bessie Blue. I figured everyone on this place needs some company.”

Next door in her own stall, Bessie presented her head, asking Leigh to rub her neck. Leigh went over to her sweetheart, reassuring her thoroughly before heading to the new boy.

“What’s his name?” she asked Adam.

“I figured I’d leave that up to you.”

“Buddy Blue. It has a nice family ring to it.”

“Sounds good to me.”

“Thank you so much for this!” She went into her man’s arms. Not only had he given her Bessie as a gift right after they’d declared their feelings for each other, he’d also converted his home in Cambria into business offices where Beth was now headquartered.

It was time to let go of the past, he’d told her. Time to start a new life with her and her alone.

Number one, Leigh thought, kissing him until she couldn’t breathe anymore. She had no doubt she came first with Adam and always would.

Even when their kiss was done, he swooped Leigh up into his arms. “You happy?”

“I am. But you’d better put me down before you strain yourself.”

She was kidding about the few pounds she’d put on after cooking decadent meals for him every week, but his gaze still adored her every time they were together.

The games hadn’t ended with them. Now they were just...safer, Leigh thought. At least as far as their emotions went. They still had their adventures, like the skinny-dipping night in the swimming hole on Clint’s ranch after Dani and Riley had taken their vows in front of their families and friends. Or like the toys they played with every weekend after both of them had gotten all their work done and come home to be together again.

But no matter the game, she had no doubt that he would always reveal himself to her, inside and out. He was her Adam, through and through.

“You’re light as a feather,” he said as he kept lifting her.

She laughed, secure in the fact that he would think she was beautiful even if she gained everything back—which she wouldn’t. But still.

She bent down to kiss him again, and they disengaged only when Bessie and Buddy moved closer, nuzzling each other.

“Fast friends,” Leigh said.

“More than friends. They’ve already taken a shine to each other.”

“Not more than I’ve taken a shine to you.”

He let her slide down the rest of his body—hard muscles, lean length...promises, promises.

She leaned against him, wrapping her arms around his waist, bringing him in even closer. “I met you here, too, in the stables. The real Adam. Did you ever think...?”

“That I was going to fall head over heels for you? Yeah. Because I already had. It just took me a while to realize it.”

“I think I knew that first night. There was something about you that no one else I’d ever met had.”

“Money?”

“No.” She squeezed him.

He caught his breath, laughing. “A sense of mystery?”

“Maybe. But there was also a feeling.... Call it women’s intuition, but I heard a tenderness in your voice even then.”

“Can you hear it now?” He bent to her, whispering against her lips. “I love you, Leigh.”

She couldn’t miss it. “I love you, too.”

As he kissed her, she heard a million whispers in her head and in her body, colliding, then melting together, meant to be.

Meant to become one.

He lifted her to him again with his strong hands, still kissing her until everything blossomed between them into a flare so bright that she forgot all of the darkness that’d been there before.

Into the light, she thought as he kept kissing her.

And into a beautiful future.

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from
The Devil She Knows
by Kira Sinclair!

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1

Sweetheart, South Carolina,
the home of happily-ever-after

D
EVLIN
W
ARWICK BLEW
past the ornate sign with its elegant gold scrollwork. He didn’t bother to hide his curling scowl. Please. The only happily-ever-after he’d ever gotten was the day he’d left town.

Hitting the gas, Dev pushed his shiny red pickup past the speed limit. He watched the needle creep to fifty, sixty and head straight for eighty. He didn’t care. He wanted the speed. Let Sheriff Grant pull him over. Unlike the last time they’d tangled, at least the officer would have a legitimate reason to hassle him.

With the windows rolled down and heavy metal cranked loud, Dev enjoyed the anticipation. The citizens of Sweetheart had no idea what was about to hit them. He’d waited a long time for this moment.

He’d left—been run out of town was more like it—ten years earlier with everyone’s condemnation ringing in his ears. There was nothing the citizens of Sweetheart hated more than a scandal, although they certainly ate up the gossip that came with it. He’d given them plenty of both.

His grandfather had kicked him out. He’d lost the only family he had left. The irony was that he hadn’t actually committed the crime they’d tried and convicted him of in the court of public opinion.

But now he was back. Successful, despite their predictions that he’d end up a drug addict or a felon, just like his dad.

He was going to enjoy this.

Dev pulled into the driveway of his grandfather’s house and sat with the motor idling. There was always the inn....

But, he reminded himself, the past didn’t live inside these walls. Neither did his grandfather, who’d died four years ago. Dev hadn’t even known he was sick.

The darkened windows mocked him, reminding him that he was completely alone. The house was his now, not that he’d seen it since the night he left.

It hadn’t changed.

The facade was well maintained, but there were still signs of wear and tear. The house was at least fifty years old and had been well used. No doubt the second stair to the porch still creaked. The shutters needed repainting. Maybe he’d take care of that while he was here.

At least the front landscaping was immaculate. He paid enough money to keep it that way. Trimmed shrubs filled the space behind the stone retaining wall. He’d missed the amazing shade of blue of his grandmother’s hydrangeas by a couple of months. No matter how hard he tried, he could never quite get the same color. Her rosebushes in the back might have late blooms, though.

The few memories he had of his grandmother all involved her kneeling on the ground, her hands deep in dirt. For a little boy, furious and lost, the quiet moments they’d shared in the garden had been a lifeline he’d desperately needed.