Page 15 of Texas Kissing

I fell into my seat and picked up where I’d left off. But working didn’t vent my anger or quiet my brain.Stupid!I trimmed an edge that wasn’t quite straight.Idiot!I checked the printing.Moron!I tested the hologram.Stupid, idiotic, moron acting like a freaking teenage girl—

I threw down the passport and stomped to the kitchen to get coffee, adding lots of milk so that I could drink it immediately. I stood there glowering at my own reflection in the darkened window, glugging the entire mug. I resisted the urge to hurl it at the floor.

It wasn’t Bull. Or it wasn’tjusthim. Yes, he’d been cocky and presumptuous and annoying as hell. But that washim—that was what he did, every day. Judging by what I’d seen at Lucky Pete’s, his brand of dim-witted, over-muscled arrogance was exactly what the local girls wanted. I couldn’t blame him for beinghim. The person acting out of character was me.

Anddim-wittedwasn’t fair. The slow talking andthat broad accent were misleading—I’d seen the sharp intelligence in his eyes. He wasn’t dumb...just stubborn as hell.Simple,in the good sense of the word. Uncomplicated.

Pretty much the polar opposite of me. One of the many reasons we’d never work.

Why the hell had I gone there in the first place? What had possessed me to sit with him and drink with him and—Dear God!—ride a freaking bull in front of him? I leaned against the counter, put my palms over my eyes, and groaned at the memory.

It was an infatuation. That’s all it was. It was just because I’d been sleeping alone for so long. A simple maintenance problem that could be taken care of with a long bath and a vibrator. In the morning, I’d feel much better.

I decided that I’d finish off two more passports. They were Russian ones, for Luka, the arms dealer, and Russian ones were easy—it wouldn’t take more than a few hours.

Luka.I’d met him a handful of times over the last few years. With his chiseled jaw and his sharp suits and that accent... Not my type, but he was gorgeous in his own way. I hadn’t seen him in months—he was probably busy bedding one of his Russian blondes. Life seemed to be one long party, over in Moscow.I bethe’snever had to go on the run,I thought miserably.

Yes. A few more hours of work and then I’d get in the tub. I’d hit my...ahem,reset switchand everything would be just fine.

When I sat down again, though, I found I couldn’t concentrate. The caffeine hadn’t really kicked in yet and the combination of tiredness and frustration hadme frowning at the little bits of paper and rubbing my eyes. Even with my magnifying glass, I couldn’t seem to align things quite straight. Nothing would stay in its proper place.

I rested my head on my forearms and gave a silent scream. I knew that this was coming from somewhere deeper down. This wasn’t just about Lucky Pete’s or a stupid bull—eitherbull. It was about the limitations I’d placed on my life, that night in New York when I’d made my decision. It was about the path I’d chosen to keep everyone else safe.

I had to convince myself that I didn’t really like him. That it wouldn’t work. That the whole thing was stupid. Because the alternative—that I wanted him and could never have him—that was too painful to think about.

I only intended to close my eyes for a few seconds. But sleep dived on me from a thousand feet, plunging me down into the depths.

Sleep is the time when the memories of New York sometimes stirred, uncoiling and lunging up at me as nightmares. But I’d cried all my guilt and pain out, for tonight. So something else took their place, something deeper, warmer and more primal.

As the caffeine finally kicked in, stirring up the day’s memories to swim around me, I dreamed.

13

Lily

“Oh, Mary. You have such a lovely home,” said Peggy-Sue.

I smiled at our little homestead. I’d always liked it here. Close enough to town that I could easily ride in to see friends or attend my quilting circle, yet far enough away that we were private. Green fields and a river and a couple of horses. Everything we needed. “Come inside,” I told Peggy Sue. “I’ll fix us some iced tea. And then you must help me package up the slates and chalk for the start of school tomorrow. Those children won’t teach themselves.”

Just as we sat down, though, the door crashed open. “Woman!” bawled Bull. “I’m going to root you like you’re a mare in heat.

“Husband!” I squeaked. “We have company!”

“Oh my!” yelped Peggy-Sue.

Bull ignored us both. He picked me up and threw me over his shoulder, carrying me towards the bedroom. Then he kicked the door closed behind us and tossed me on the bed. My long skirts flew uparound my hips revealing all sorts of complicated petticoats and bloomers. I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to get them off.

Bull filled his fists with lace and cotton. With one heave of his powerful shoulders, I was bared.

I stared up at my husband, panting. He was shucking his pants down his thighs and brandishing himself in one hand, moving towards me. The hot press of his manhood parted my sex and—

14

Lily

“Heavens!” I said and opened my eyes.

Reality slowly oozed back. But my mind was still awash with a safe, snug little house and a big, strong....husband?!