9

      THE PRESSURE OF HIS LIPS STOLE far more than Annie’s breath. She found herself leaning on him, as if to hold herself up and also to make sure this wasn’t all in her head. He was solid against her, strong enough to carry her, and she’d been alone so long, shouldering everything.

      A moment later, she parted her lips, opened her mouth in invitation, urging him to enter. He tasted incredible, nothing she could point to like beer or chocolate…it was more masculine than that. Maybe it was his clean scent—he’d showered and changed and this was him without hay and goats and horseflesh.

      Her moan rose as he ran his hand under her hair. He cupped the nape of her neck, holding her steady while he changed his angle, and kissed her so thoroughly she shook with the need for more.

      Gripping his upper arms, she made sure he didn’t move while she pressed against him, her right breast, her thigh. His hand slid down her back, stilling in the small curve above her behind. Then he pulled her closer, and it was so overwhelming her head fell back as she gasped.

      “No,” he said, kissing her jaw, the curve of her neck, then back up until he found her mouth again. A quick nip on her bottom lip was followed by a thrust of his tongue, then a whisper of breath without touching at all as if they were trying out kisses to see what fit. Every one of them was perfect.

      Each kiss and touch brought increased awareness that she was tasting Tucker, that the moments she’d imagined in her fantasies were becoming reality. She’d let him break the shell of her abstinence, and she knew the amazing shocks running through her body, making her squeeze her legs together, would cost her.

      Dizzy with greed, she let the thought go, chased it away when she pried one hand free so she could touch his chest. If only she could reach under his shirt, feel his skin and hair and run her tongue over his nipples and hear the sounds he’d make.

      Instead, like a cell door closing, approaching laughter slammed between them. She jumped away from him so quickly she almost tripped.

      Tucker steadied her with his large hands. Thank God the lighting in the back lot was crap because her face felt as if it was on fire. The laughing people had nearly reached them, and she hoped they didn’t recognize her.

      “I should let you get home,” Tucker said, releasing her completely.

      She nodded. “The board meeting’s at one o’clock. At Sadie’s Watering Hole. The bar. It’s impossible to miss, seeing as it’s the only one.”

      “Ah, holding the meeting where there’s alcohol. Attendance should be good.”

      She got the truck keys from her jeans’ pocket. “Oh, you have no idea. The board members are…eclectic.”

      “I look forward to it. You don’t need me to come in the morning? To Safe Haven, I mean?”

      “You don’t have to, no. I mean, if you want to…”

      “I should use the time to take care of some business.”

      She looked at him, only then realizing she’d kept her head down since they’d stopped kissing. “Of course. Okay, then. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

      He leaned forward as if to kiss her again, but she sidestepped him and grabbed hold of the truck door handle. Luckily, he caught himself in time and moved away so smoothly no one would have ever guessed his true intent.

      “Night.”

      He distanced himself further. “Good night.”

      Her fingers shook when she tried to insert the key into the ignition, but she made it out of the parking lot without mishap. He was in her rearview mirror until she turned onto Main Street.

      Regret didn’t truly hit until she reached the highway.

      FOR THE THIRD TIME IN THE PAST fifteen minutes, Tucker had to reread the email from his attorney. The memory of Annie in his arms kept intruding. Followed swiftly by recrimination and doubt.

      It was a quarter to eleven, mere hours from when he’d kissed her, and despite the work that was piling up and his assistant becoming increasingly hysterical over Tucker’s botched schedule, he couldn’t get his thoughts straight and figure this mess out. Because he’d crossed a line, for better and for worse.

      First and foremost, there was no doubt in his mind that the woman he’d kissed was not some criminal mastermind who’d willfully stolen money that should have gone to charity. However, a lot of questions remained unanswered, and that bothered him.

      He was determined to clear his brother’s name, absolutely, but now he wanted even more to understand everything that had happened to the funds and who was behind the embezzlement.

      Was there more he could be doing on that score? He put his head in his hands, waited for a brainstorm, for something he’d missed, but George was following up on every thread Tucker had found.

      Second, Tucker wasn’t going to inform the D.A. about finding Leanna Warner until he not only understood what had happened, but had evidence to back up the truth. Period. He was not going to wrench her away from Safe Haven until they had some solid information…enough, at least, to get her out of hot water and to clear Christian’s reputation. He may not be able to stay with her until he and George put together a complete picture. But he had his own plane, and flying to Montana wasn’t a hardship. And with telecommuting, he could work from practically anywhere.

      Which reminded him that he had to call his mother in the morning, even before he called to check in with George. What Tucker wasn’t sure about was letting her or Christian in on what was happening.

      No, he’d stick with his decision. The fewer people who knew about Annie, the better. For now. She wasn’t going anywhere. Not with a new foal coming. And she’d never desert the animals. Not unless her back was up against the wall. He’d seen how much she cared in her eyes, in her plans, in her passion. But more than that, he’d seen it in her actions.

      There was so much to distrust about people. Words were easy and glib And to trust blindly was an idiot’s game. Tucker might be a fool for wanting Annie so badly, but he wasn’t being stupid about who she was.

      He believed in her. And he would be proven right.

      He opened his eyes as an idea came to him. He wouldn’t decide yet whether to act on it, but it was interesting. Very interesting.

      His cell, already plugged in and charging, rang. His mother’s name came up on his display, and he couldn’t hit Talk fast enough. It was late, Texas time. “Mom?”

      “Are you coming home tomorrow?” she asked quietly.

      “No, I’m not. I’m sorry. I’m not certain when I can be back.”

      “I see.”

      Her sigh felt like a slap. The only kind she would give him, the kind that hurt deep and long. “Did you go out with Andrea tonight?”