an ass. Angel should refuse to marry him. She deserved a whole lot better than the likes of him. The man had no idea how to treat a lady.
Rowdy stopped walking, since the barn door stood open before him. Emerald had disappeared, but Rowdy hadn’t noticed until now. Nor had he detected the sounds of night all around—cattle mooing, the hoot of an owl, the far-off call of a coyote, the faint screech of the windmill churning in the breeze.
His back stiffened. Other sounds filtered to his ears as well. An excited but faint hoot, followed by hushed giggles. Evidently Emerald had found Tanna. Rowdy swallowed a lump the size of a coal train and walked into the barn.
What would he do when he found Angel? He sure as hell couldn’t kiss her—not with the way his loins throbbed, screaming for release. Dragging his hand through his hair, he let out a growl. The devil was probably chipping ice right now—hell had to have frozen over. Nothing was different. He was still Rowdy McGuire and she was still Angel Clayton. But the moment he’d seen Milner trying to kiss her, he’d accepted the inevitable. He was in love. And there wasn’t a thing he could do about it. Nothing changed the fact that he’d never be the refined gentleman she deserved, but right now, he would trade his soul to be such a man.
He moved into the barn and stopped near Templeton’s stall, instinctively knowing that Angel was hiding beside her horse. Rubbing the animal’s nose, Rowdy all of sudden felt as childish as the game, and whispered, “Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
Her giggle was so soft, so sweet, that he cracked a genuine smile. Without making a sound, he lifted the latch and shouldered past the animal. Templeton swung his head around and pushed Rowdy farther into the stall.
The space was empty, but draped on the top board was a clump of material. He picked it up. Recognizing the blue dress, he glanced over the rail. “Angel?”
The hay rustled.
Rowdy sucked in his stomach at the way his loins bucked. In a swift bound, he climbed over the wall and lowered himself onto the pile of sweet smelling hay.
“Now that you’ve found me,” she whispered, “what are you going to do with me?”
He really had no choice. Right now he had about as much control over his body as he did over a tornado. He knelt down and ran a finger along the curve of her smile. “Kiss you.”
“Mmmm. Please do,” she whispered.
The moment they connected, his lips to hers, the world exploded. The muted darkness heightened his desire, and the way her charming body responded to his touch made his hands go wild, stoking the curves of her breasts and the flatness of her stomach.
Even though they’d been separated for only a few minutes, it was like he’d been gone for a lifetime and just found his way home. Her body seemed so familiar. He knew every spot that wanted his touch. Her arms wrapped around his neck and her fingers thrust into his hair. She parted her lips and he deepened the kiss, craving the taste of her.
His body quivered as Angel’s response mirrored his. The kiss went on and on. It was as if he’d dived into a deep, rapid river and couldn’t quit swimming until he reached the other bank.
When he lifted his head, gasping for air, she arched her spine. “I can’t breathe, Rowdy. Please loosen my stays.”
He had no choice but to do what she asked. With his gentle tug, the bow came loose, and he worked his way through the crisscrossing pattern the little string made up her back.
Angel stretched, sighing. The movement forced the material to slip downward, revealing the loveliest breasts ever created. He stroked one, amazed by how his touch brought the nub to life. He kissed it, then the other one, valuing each one with deep down gratitude. His hands slid down her back, into the waistband of her pantaloons. Unexplainable pleasure seared his fingertips as they met the silky skin of her bottom.
She tugged his shirt out of his waistband.