Page 42 of Texas Kissing

I walked over to her and took her hands. “Now, I don’t know how you do it in the big city,” I told her, “but out here, this means we gotta get married.”

She looked up at me, eyes huge.

“Joke,” I told her.

Her face relaxed and she sort of shook herself, like,of course it was.But for just an instant there, I’d thought I’d seen a flash of...disappointment?Shit. I’d misjudged her again. She always seemed so distant, pushing me away—I’d just been kidding around, letting her know I wasn’t some hick who’d get all clingy, and it had backfired.

“But you’re not going to do your disappearing act again, are you?” I asked.

She shook her head, but in a very doubtful way.

“Lily,”I grated. “Don’t run out on me again. I got a lasso and I know just how to use it.”

“I have to go,” she muttered, and pulled away.

I grabbed her by the hand and pulled her up short, then dragged her across the floor towards me, her sneakers sliding on a bed of hay.

I pulled her into my arms, lifted her up off the floor and kissed her. After a second of resistance, she opened her lips and allowed it, and then I felt her melt. I relaxed. Everything was going to be okay. I hoped.

“I’m serious,” I whispered in her ear. “You run off again and I’m going to have to teach you a lesson.”

She squirmed against me and nodded. Then she was sliding down out of my arms and hurrying out of the barn.

I stood staring at the door for a long time after she’d gone. In theory, I should be celebrating. The sex had been the best ever, just how I’d imagined it. And if she wanted to keep it casual and just show up for sex and then disappear...wasn’t that what I wanted? Wasn’t that what every guy wanted?

But something wasn’t right—about the way she’d reacted, after the sex, and on a deeper level, too. Something in her past. Something that kept scaring her away.

I was worried about her.

I couldn’t remember when I’d ever worried about a girl, before.

34

Lily

I stumbleddownstairs to the bathroom, only just making it to the toilet before I threw up.Isn’t morning sickness meant to only last a month?

I ran my hands over my huge, swollen belly. The last eight months had shot by. I still hadn’t told Bull.Why hadn’t I told Bull?

My whole life was in ruins.

The sound of a car engine outside sent me waddling over to the door. Three black BMWs were pulling up. My blood turned to ice water. I recognized the type of car. The first man out was Antonio and the second was my uncle, followed by a small army of goons. They started towards me.

They’d found me. I’d been invisible for two years, but the baby had made me noticeable.

I jumped down out of the bus and tried to run away down the creek bed, but I could only manage a stumbling walk, hands holding my stomach, terrified that I’d trip. I was so worried about the baby. Howwas I going to protect it, if I couldn’t even protect myself?

They’d catch me and now they’d want Bull and the baby, too. I’d brought them into my life and I was going to get them all killed. How could I have been so irresponsible?

Footsteps behind me. Expensive leather shoes pounding through the dust. Hands caught my arms—

35

Lily

I heavedin a massive lungful of air and sat up in bed.

Everything was still and quiet. I sat there in the darkness for a few seconds, terrified the nightmare was going to come back. My hands searched my belly. No swelling.