LITMIR.BIZ

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damn it, he was. He wanted her something fierce, almost enough to ignore his duty, their friendship.

      Like the coward he was, he sat at the far edge of the bed.

      “Look, Kate,” he said quietly, clasping his hands together and putting his elbows on his knees. “I understand why you’re hurt and angry. But the guy’s obviously a jerk and isn’t worth you doing something foolish that you’ll regret later.”

      “Must I repeat that I’m not a kid anymore? As far as your patronizing tone—” She abruptly stopped, her expression guarded. “What did you mean? Why should I be hurt and angry?”

      Mitch cursed himself. He tried to think of something quick to cover his slip, but he was at a total loss.

      “Why do you think Dennis is a jerk? You haven’t even met him.” Suspicion clouded her face and she stared hard at him, as if looking for a clue.

      He shrugged. “You two obviously had a fight.”

      She raised herself to one elbow, oblivious of the quilt slipping from her body. Her gaze stayed fixed on his until guilt got the better of him and he had to look away.

      “You saw—Oh, no.” Her words ended in a whimper. She shoved back the quilt, kicking it free of her legs and tried to crawl out of the bed. She managed to get one foot on the floor.

      Mitch lunged and caught her around the waist. “Katie, wait.”

      “Let me go.”

      “Hear me out.”

      “You were right. This was a mistake. Please.” Her voice caught. “I have to go.”

      He tightened his hold, bringing her quivering body to rest against his chest. Selfishly, he was glad he couldn’t see her face. The pain he knew was there would tear him up inside. “Stay.”

      “I can’t.”

      He settled back and drew her onto his lap. “I promise I won’t touch you. I know you don’t want to go back and face your brothers. You think I’m an insensitive idiot…”

      A strangled laugh broke from her lips, and she sniffed. “I’m okay. Really.”

      “I’m not. What if the rustlers come back? You want to leave me here all alone?”

      She twisted around to look at him, amusement gathering in her watery eyes. “You’re a dope.”

      “Yep.” He smiled and hugged her closer. “Stay the night. We can talk if you want to. I’m still your friend, Katie, and you shouldn’t be alone. Stay.”

      3

      “EXCUSE ME, but five minutes ago you asked me what the hell I was doing here.” Kate tried to sound spunky but she sounded more like a whipped puppy.

      Mitch chuckled. “Sorry, must be getting old. A beautiful woman wants my company and I fold just because I’ve been driving for two days.”

      She sighed. “Don’t, please.” She struggled to get off his lap, but his arms tightened around her.

      “What did I say?”

      “When I was twelve you could’ve patronized me and I still would’ve thought the sun rose and set on your ass. Fifteen years later, I’ve had enough of patronizing men, thank you very much.”

      He snorted. “Explain how I was patronizing.” He sounded genuinely perplexed, and maybe even irritated.

      She smiled sadly. “Okay, so maybe you are just being a nice guy. A friend. But honestly, you don’t need to soothe my wounded ego, okay? I’m a big girl. Dennis is a creep, and I’ll get over this.” Amazing how saying his name managed to slice through her. She didn’t love him. That truth had slowly revealed itself to her over the past couple of weeks, and then come to a head tonight. But his betrayal still hurt. Did he have no respect for her at all? Why hadn’t she seen that?

      If she weren’t so exhausted, she probably would’ve had the good sense to have already changed out of this ridiculous outfit and sneaked back home and into her room before anyone knew she’d left. Glancing down at the skimpy black teddy, she winced. No matter what she’d thought, this had never been a good idea. As a cocky high school jock, Mitch had been out of her league even before he’d left town.

      Since then, he’d worked as a personal trainer to the rich and famous, a bodyguard for a gorgeous TV star, and last Kate heard he’d gotten his pilot’s license and now flew a private plane for a rich developer in Miami. She’d bet her brand-new SUV that the man had a beautiful young daughter who’d begged daddy to hire Mitch. He was simply one of those guys who women found charming, and no matter what, he’d always landed on his feet. And Kate was, both literally and proverbially, simply the girl next door.

      Catching him off guard, she quickly pushed off his lap. Being cradled against him felt far too good, and even though she’d managed to keep the tears at bay, she didn’t trust herself to remain composed.

      “Kate.” He caught her hand.

      She stood there, wondering where she’d dumped her clothes, feeling terribly exposed. “Would you turn around, please?”

      “Nope.”

      She turned to glare at him. “Mitch.”

      His gaze ran down the front of her, and she instinctively jerked her hand away and folded her arms over her chest. He cupped her waist and drew her closer. Then using one finger, he lightly stroked the upper curves of her breasts, where they plumped above the black lace and protection of her crossed arms.

      She froze, barely able to breathe.

      “You’ve turned into a beautiful woman, Kate. A very desirable woman. Don’t think for one moment I wouldn’t want you lying beneath me. But I’d be a bigger jerk than Dennis if I took advantage of you now.” He lowered his hand, his gaze touching the tops of her breasts before meeting her eyes.

      For a second, she had trouble finding her voice. The way he looked at her, she could almost believe that he found her desirable. Almost. “Like I said, you’re a nice guy.” To her astonishment, her eyes started to burn. Damn him. She’d been holding it together. She spun away from him, furtively swiping at an errant tear. “My clothes…I don’t know where I left them….”

      “Ah, Katie.” He scooped her up from behind and carried her back to the bed. The gentle way he handled her renewed the threat of tears. She did her best to hide her face as he laid her down on the sheets. “Move over.”

      She felt like a big clumsy oaf trying to scoot her fanny to the other side, where the bed had been pushed up against the wall. He tucked the quilt around her body, and then sat at the edge of the mattress and pulled off his boots. Leaving on his clothes, he stretched out beside her on the small bed. He didn’t try crawling under the sheets or the quilt, but punched the pillow under his head before giving her another look.

      “You okay?”

      She nodded, sincerely hoping her nose wasn’t too horribly red. “This bed is too small for you as it is. I shouldn’t—”

      “Come here.” He shifted, so that he could slip his arm under her neck and around her shoulders. He brought her close enough that she could lay her cheek on his chest. “Are you more comfortable?”

      She hesitated, and then curled tentatively toward him.

      “Are you sure you—”

      He reached to switch off the lamp and then picked up her arm and put it in a more comfy position around his waist. Giving her shoulders a light squeeze, he said, “I’m sure.”

      She smiled wryly. “You don’t know what I was going to say.”

      “I figured you were going to tell me about that crush you had on me.”

      She gave a startled laugh and lifted her head. Moonlight washed in through the parted

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