Page 74 of The Mountain Echoes

There’s heat in every step.

She’s not being coy. She’s not trying to hide how she feels.

The lights overhead flicker across her face—cheekbones flushed, eyes dark with arousal.

We slip off the dance floor together and into the shadows outside The Rusty Spur.

The bass thumps, but in this moment, everything narrows down to her.

I kiss her.

It’s not soft. It’s not tentative.

It’s releasing days of tension. Heat. Possibility.

Her hand grips my shoulder hard.

Mine slides into her hair.

We kiss like we’re still dancing, moving against each other.

When I pull back, she blinks at me.

She’s surprised at how good that was.

So am I.

“You’re something else.” I brush a strand of hair from her cheek. “Strong. Smart. Gorgeous.”

Her gaze hardens slightly, like she doesn’t trust the compliment.

“Not unattractively?—”

“I’m sorry for sayin’ that. I was attracted to youthenand…I behaved like an asshole.”

“You did,” she agrees.

“I won’t do it again,” I promise.

She studies me in the dim lights spilling out from the bar, and after an interminable time, nods once. “Okay.”

She believes me!

I swoop down again.

CHAPTER 17

aria

“You given my proposal any thought?” he murmurs, his mouth leaving hot kisses on my cheek.

I stiffen. He feels it.

I push him away and walk down a gravel path, arms crossed, trying to breathe through the heat in my chest, when I hear boots crunching behind me. I don’t have to turn to know who it is.

“Maverick, don’t,” I say sharply, but my voice cracks.Dammit.

“What the fuck was that?” he demands.