Read Online A Match Made In Texas by Anne Marie Novark - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Anne Marie Novark
Tags: Diamondback Ranch#3
Ads: Link
for miles. At least, you can in the daytime."
A couple of minutes later, they came out of the trees. Low sagebrush and cactus surrounded the trail. The canyon stood in quiet majesty. Stars hung in the black sky, the moon a giant ball suspended above.
"Wow," Theresa said. "I've always thought the canyon impressive. But this . . . this is magnificent. Thanks for sharing it with me, Amelia."
"I knew you'd like it." The little girl smiled and rocked back and forth on the heels of her feet. She stuffed her hands in her jeans, then glanced back toward the trees. "Um, I'm going to go get a drink. I'll be right back."
"I'll come with you."
"No! I mean . . . you can't really appreciate the beauty of the canyon in only two minutes. I won't be long." Amelia retraced her steps along the trail, walking quickly, almost running.
Theresa shook her head. She didn't know what had gotten into Amelia. Turning toward the canyon, she took a deep breath. The air was nippy. Good thing she was wearing a heavy jacket. She'd wait about five minutes. If Amelia hadn't returned by then, she would start back.
A slight commotion on the pathway sounded on the cold breeze. Someone must be coming to view the canyon. She watched the archway beneath the mesquite trees, ready to greet whoever it was with a smile.
Her heart missed a beat when Austin McCade stepped into the clearing. He looked startled to find her there. After surveying the area, his eyes narrowed.
"I thought I made it clear about using Kelsey to arrange meetings with me? I thought I made it clear what would happen if you didn't stay away from me." He walked toward her, stalking her like prey.
Theresa didn't like the look in his eye or the tone of his voice. A sliver of panic whisked along her nerve endings. There was nowhere to turn. Nowhere to go. The path ended abruptly, dropping down to the canyon below. She didn't think Austin would actually hurt her. He was civilized, after all. At least, she hoped he was.
"I didn't arrange this." No way would she tell him who was responsible for the meeting. For some reason she didn't want to betray Kelsey. "And I've been trying to keep away from you all evening." She lifted her chin. Her heart was thumping like mad.
"Obviously, you haven't tried hard enough," he said. "Here we are. All alone. In the moonlight." He stood close to her, his hot breath steaming in the cold air.
"We won't be alone for long," Theresa said, resisting the urge to step back. "Amelia will return any minute. She went to get a drink."
"Kelsey hauled Amelia away to sing around the campfire. She won't be back anytime soon."
"Then maybe we should go back, too. People will wonder where we are." Theresa tried to move around him.
"Not so fast." He grabbed her shoulders and jerked her roughly against him.
Through the thick layers of their jackets, Theresa felt the powerful heat from his body. The hard muscles pressed into her soft curves. A thrill chased down her spine. Was he going to kiss her?
"I want you," he said, his voice harsh. "I don't want to, but I do. I haven't wanted a woman like this since Deborah. I shouldn't want anyone like this. She was my wife, damn it! I loved her." He gave her a little shake.
"I'm sorry." Theresa tried to pull away, but his grip tightened.
"No, you're not," he said. "You've been going to great lengths to throw us together. You want me as much as I want you."
He heard her gasp as his mouth closed over hers. Not able to resist the soft feminine body in his arms, Austin kissed her hungrily. He felt starved for this woman. Their passionate embrace a few weeks before had fueled his imagination and desire. He wanted more. Had to have more of her. And God, she tasted good. Felt good. He wanted to forget why he shouldn't be kissing her. He just wanted to lose himself in her. In the sensations carrying them along.
For a moment, Theresa held herself stiffly,
A couple of minutes later, they came out of the trees. Low sagebrush and cactus surrounded the trail. The canyon stood in quiet majesty. Stars hung in the black sky, the moon a giant ball suspended above.
"Wow," Theresa said. "I've always thought the canyon impressive. But this . . . this is magnificent. Thanks for sharing it with me, Amelia."
"I knew you'd like it." The little girl smiled and rocked back and forth on the heels of her feet. She stuffed her hands in her jeans, then glanced back toward the trees. "Um, I'm going to go get a drink. I'll be right back."
"I'll come with you."
"No! I mean . . . you can't really appreciate the beauty of the canyon in only two minutes. I won't be long." Amelia retraced her steps along the trail, walking quickly, almost running.
Theresa shook her head. She didn't know what had gotten into Amelia. Turning toward the canyon, she took a deep breath. The air was nippy. Good thing she was wearing a heavy jacket. She'd wait about five minutes. If Amelia hadn't returned by then, she would start back.
A slight commotion on the pathway sounded on the cold breeze. Someone must be coming to view the canyon. She watched the archway beneath the mesquite trees, ready to greet whoever it was with a smile.
Her heart missed a beat when Austin McCade stepped into the clearing. He looked startled to find her there. After surveying the area, his eyes narrowed.
"I thought I made it clear about using Kelsey to arrange meetings with me? I thought I made it clear what would happen if you didn't stay away from me." He walked toward her, stalking her like prey.
Theresa didn't like the look in his eye or the tone of his voice. A sliver of panic whisked along her nerve endings. There was nowhere to turn. Nowhere to go. The path ended abruptly, dropping down to the canyon below. She didn't think Austin would actually hurt her. He was civilized, after all. At least, she hoped he was.
"I didn't arrange this." No way would she tell him who was responsible for the meeting. For some reason she didn't want to betray Kelsey. "And I've been trying to keep away from you all evening." She lifted her chin. Her heart was thumping like mad.
"Obviously, you haven't tried hard enough," he said. "Here we are. All alone. In the moonlight." He stood close to her, his hot breath steaming in the cold air.
"We won't be alone for long," Theresa said, resisting the urge to step back. "Amelia will return any minute. She went to get a drink."
"Kelsey hauled Amelia away to sing around the campfire. She won't be back anytime soon."
"Then maybe we should go back, too. People will wonder where we are." Theresa tried to move around him.
"Not so fast." He grabbed her shoulders and jerked her roughly against him.
Through the thick layers of their jackets, Theresa felt the powerful heat from his body. The hard muscles pressed into her soft curves. A thrill chased down her spine. Was he going to kiss her?
"I want you," he said, his voice harsh. "I don't want to, but I do. I haven't wanted a woman like this since Deborah. I shouldn't want anyone like this. She was my wife, damn it! I loved her." He gave her a little shake.
"I'm sorry." Theresa tried to pull away, but his grip tightened.
"No, you're not," he said. "You've been going to great lengths to throw us together. You want me as much as I want you."
He heard her gasp as his mouth closed over hers. Not able to resist the soft feminine body in his arms, Austin kissed her hungrily. He felt starved for this woman. Their passionate embrace a few weeks before had fueled his imagination and desire. He wanted more. Had to have more of her. And God, she tasted good. Felt good. He wanted to forget why he shouldn't be kissing her. He just wanted to lose himself in her. In the sensations carrying them along.
For a moment, Theresa held herself stiffly,
Similar Books
