Good Lord, what must he think of her? One minute they were enmeshed in a heated discussion, the next she was twining herself around him like a clingy summer vine. Like a teenager her first time out necking. Elizabeth Milton was known not only for her spirit but also her decorum, and yet this man ignited fires within her that had reduced her to little more than a puddle. She’d never felt more vulnerable.
More alive.
Sucking in a breath, she dropped her arms, which had remained around his neck, and took an awkward step back. As his heat receded, the cool of the shadowed night enveloped her. Trembling, she drew her coat close.
“No need to apologize,” she said in a thick voice. Avoiding his gaze, she shrugged. “Sometimes, when emotions run high, things happen.”
“I want you to know, I don’t make a habit of dragging women into my arms like that.” He ran a hand through his hair, looked around. Out the corner of her eye, she saw him crack a lame smile. “Must be something in the air.”
She closed her eyes and withered. If she could turn back time and wipe out these past few moments, she’d do it in a blink. That she’d surrendered so completely was bad enough. Did he need to rub in the fact that he regretted it, too?
“Daniel, please don’t worry that I’ll give another moment’s thought to it.” She tilted her head and drawled, “I have been kissed before.”
He didn’t reply, didn’t move. Only his eyes glittered in the moonlight as time stretched out and, growing increasingly edgy, she wondered whether he would ever leave or call her bluff and announce she might have been kissed, but never like that.
But then he exhaled, took a look back over his shoulder toward the house and nodded once before he walked away. “Take care.”
Her pulse beating in her ears, Elizabeth watched Daniel walk away down the path until his silhouette disappeared into the night. A few moments later, the engine of his SUV kicked over. She waited, alone in the shadows, until the rumble had faded clean away. Then she dropped her head into her hands and, cringing, cursed herself for a fool.
How could she confide in a near stranger such personal information? When he’d confronted her regarding the morality of her parents’ will, why hadn’t she laughed it off rather than grow defensive? She knew her own mind. She did have a choice. She did.
And then …
Oh God, then there was that kiss.
The nerves that were bunched tight in her belly kicked then knotted again. She’d given herself over to the thrill of that uninvited caress so quickly and completely it frightened her—and, in some strange way, it comforted her, too. That embrace was the kind a woman would still recall in her twilight years. The kind that would cause her eyes to drift shut and chest to heave a contented sigh.
Setting off down the path bordered on either side by flowering sage, Elizabeth touched her lips, thought back on the dizzy pleasure and found she was smiling. Daniel might think he had some God-given right to force his opinion where it wasn’t needed, but he still was the finest specimen of the male species she’d ever come across. Not simply because he was more attractive than most billboard models, or that he seemed to naturally dominate any space he inhabited. Despite their differences—and there were a few—she enjoyed his company. His sexy, deep laugh. It was silly, useless, and yet she couldn’t help but wonder …
What if his home had been Texas or hers New York? What might have been if they’d had similar backgrounds and goals? What if, instead of apologizing for his roguish behavior, he’d hauled her back in and demanded she kiss him again?
When Elizabeth entered the house through the back patio door, she stopped dead in her tracks then let out a breath. She should have known she’d have company.
“I thought he liked my cooking,” Nita said with a slight frown. The older woman held two cups in her hands.
“He said to thank you for the beautiful meal. Now, if you’ll excuse me,” Elizabeth said, withdrawing a pin and shaking out her hair as she headed for her room, “I’m tired.”
“Good idea. I mean, will you look at the time. Past nine o’clock.”
Elizabeth served Nita a fond but stern glare as she passed. “It’s been a long day.”
“That’s all right. That’s fine.” Nita stared at the ceiling as if she had nothing better to do. “If you don’t want to tell me what happened …”
Elizabeth held her looping stomach and groaned. “You don’t want to know.”
“I’m the best listener in and around these parts.” With an understanding smile, she presented the cups of hot chocolate. “Made ‘em when I heard his car.”
Knowing when she was beaten, Elizabeth lowered herself onto a nearby settee.
She took the cup her friend offered and held the warmth between her palms. But rather than spill all about her time outside with Daniel, something even more important begged to be voiced.
“Were you surprised by my parents’ will? Did Mom ever speak to you about it?”
“To my mind, it was more your dad’s idea.” Nita sat back and rotated the cup around in her work-worn hands. “The ranch was built up through his side of the family. Grandpa Milton was a hard man. Always talking about the responsibilities your father would need to step up and accept once he passed on. Guess your father had that in mind when he drew up that clause.”
“He should have known I’d never give up the ranch. This is my home.”
“You were always one to see where adventure might take you.” She lifted the cup to her mouth. “Maybe things haven’t changed so much.”
Elizabeth knew the point Nita was making. She couldn’t argue that the idea of experiencing something different and exciting had encouraged her to invite the New York architect here tonight. And, admittedly, matters had got a little out of hand when their opposing opinions had clashed and heated emotions flared.
But a kiss in the dark was far from running away and turning her back on her duty.
“I would never let my parents down,” she said to herself as much as to Nita. Never.
And yet sometimes … Trying to swallow the lump caught in her throat, Elizabeth concentrated on her cup. “Do you ever wonder whether that caveat in their will was fair?”
“I don’t know if that’s the question you should be asking.” Nita tipped forward. “Beth, you’d still have plenty to live on if you decided to walk away. One thing’s a constant. Nothing ever stays the same.”
“In these past years, I’d never thought beyond living here, giving it my best, making it work. One day I’d like to marry, have a family.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Elizabeth found a smile but then sobered. “Would my parents expect me to put the same ultimatum in my will?” She’d taken on the challenge to hold on to where she’d come from, who she was. But could she pass that heavy baton on to her own daughter or son? Would they hate her for it if she did?
When the lump in her throat grew all the more, Elizabeth growled at herself. “Lord, I’m all muddled tonight.”
“A good-looking man will do that to you. A nice man, too, seems like. Intelligent,” Nita went on, matter-of-factly. “Amusing—”
“Daniel Warren’s life is in New York City,” Elizabeth cut in, pushing to her feet. “Anyway, we’ve known each other a day.”
Nita nodded as if that must be a consideration. “Do you know I was almost married?”
Elizabeth sat back down. “You never mentioned.”
“I was with a bunch of girlfriends at a nightclub in Dallas, celebrating my twenty-first.