Page 61 of Knox

“Used to watch the reruns with my dad in our basement. He had this scratchy old sofa in his den, and I’d lay across the top while he lay on the sofa, and we’d watch Festus and Miss Kitty and Marshal Dillon round up the bad guys.” She cocked her head. “You do sort of remind me of him. Tall, stern…”

“I was hoping for handsome. Maybe a little tough guy.”

She smiled, turning to look up at him. “That too.”

Really? And he didn’t know why, but something simply lit inside him, something fierce and bold and—

He kissed her.

Maybe he should have asked, but he lost himself a moment there as he touched his hand to her face, drew it to himself, and…

Shoot, it wasn’t a gentle, tentative, boring kiss either, but something long banked, a feeling he’d been harboring for a few weeks now.

He wanted her to belong to him. It felt primal and cowboyish and he knew that, but the way she’d sunk against him on the dance floor, and even the quiet surrender of her spirit as she sang—

He wanted to hold on to Kelsey and never let her go. To protect her and pull her into his world and curl every bit of himself around her and never let the world touch her.

And heaven help him, but he poured all of that into his kiss, holding her to himself, and yeah, losing himself a little into her touch.

She hesitated only a moment, and that’s when the thought hit him—definitelyhe should have asked.

He drew back. “Kelsey, I’m sorry. I—”

She met his eyes, her breath caught. “It’s okay,” she whispered.

Yes. Then she leaned into him, her arm curling around his neck, and when he kissed her again, her lips softened. Surrendering.

As if she wanted to belong here, in his arms, to him, too.

He wanted to slow himself, wanted to take a breath and just savor. But her hair tangled around him, through his fingers, and she smelled of the spring night, sweet and mysterious and tugging him in.

He almost didn’t realize it when he’d turned her, settled her back on the blanket, stretching out beside her, cradling her in his arms.

Almost didn’t realize it when he tucked one arm under her head, the other around her waist, deepening his kiss, molding her body to his.

But he was very aware that her arms curled under his shoulders, pulling him closer.

Oh, she tasted of the sweet lemonade, his mouth drinking her in. And for the first time in years, something ignited inside him, something powerful and alive and not at all safe. Or boring. Or perhaps even nice.

Because suddenly, the ghost of the guy he’d been woke up. Began to haunt him.

The guy who’d taken something that hadn’t belonged to him. He wasn’t that guy. Never again.

He pulled away, breathing hard.

Breathe, Knox.

Safe.

Her eyes were wide in his.

“Kelsey. I…” He swallowed, met her eyes. “I…” What? Loved her?

No, but…he could. Or…shoot. He was probably already on his way, conjuring up happy endings and a life for them on the ranch.

Right?

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get carried away there. I just…”