LITMIR.BIZ

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phone call?”

      “At the club, you said you couldn’t stay because you had a phone call?”

      “Oh, yes.”

      His little white lie to explain why he couldn’t go inside. Once you started with this stuff it was hard to stop.

      Still, he didn’t want anyone to greet him with a hearty “Hey, Justin” until he’d had a chance to dig himself out of this hole he’d gotten into.

      “I forgot about that call. But no matter. The world will continue to turn on its axis.”

      “I’m sorry to be a distraction. I don’t want to get you into trouble.”

      Her look of concern touched something inside him.

      “You are the best distraction I’ve ever encountered and I’d face all kinds of trouble to spend an evening with you. Tell me more about the natural history of Somerset. Were there dinosaurs around here?”

      The sparkle in her eyes made him lean forward so he could enjoy their glow. “Absolutely.”

      Alicia was sure Rick’s eyes would glaze over when she told him about the dig she’d helped out on last summer. Instead, his interest seemed to deepen with each detail she revealed.

      Those intense blue irises stayed fixed on hers as she described each bone they unearthed, and how they had preserved and stored them for reassembly at the museum.

      If she wasn’t mistaken he seemed…fascinated.

      The candlelight flickered over the hard planes of his handsome face while he asked intriguing questions and actually listened to her answers.

      Which only increased the turmoil of excitement in her stomach. How could anyone be this wonderful?

      He’d said he pushed papers for a living, but his tan suggested time spent outdoors and the athletic cut of his body belonged to a man of action. There was clearly more to discover about Rick Jones.

      But everything she’d learned so far had her dangerously close to falling in love with the man.

      Her dessert fork clinked against her glass as she set it down too hard.

      They’d known each other less than three weeks. She had no intention of actually falling in love with him or anyone else. But you didn’t have to be in love to kiss.

      Her mouth twitched at the prospect of pressing her lips to his. His mouth was wide, mobile, with a way of lifting slightly higher on one side than the other like he had a naughty secret.

      “I have a secret.” His words took her by surprise, as if he’d spoken her thoughts aloud.

      “You do?” Her pulse quickened.

      “I had something made for you.” His blue eyes twinkled.

      Alicia stared at him. “What?” She hoped it wasn’t freaky lingerie with slits in strange places. Maybe now she’d discover the dark side of Rick Jones. There had to be something horribly wrong with him, didn’t there?

      Rick reached into his pocket, which really set her heart pounding.

       Of course it’s not a ring, you idiot. He barely knows you. Stop watching so many old movies.

      He pulled out a jewelry box.

      He laughed at her expression. “Don’t panic. It doesn’t bite.” That wicked dimple deepened as he handed her the box over the remains of their pecan pie.

      Alicia took it with shaking fingers and tried not to look like he’d just given her a stick of dynamite. She flipped the lid.

      A single blue gem attached to a fine silver chain sparkled against white velvet. A bold five-pointed star shone through the glittering facets.

      “Texas topaz! Oh, my goodness, it’s lovely.”

      The sparkly stone was almost the same haunting blue as Rick’s eyes.

      “I found the stone years ago on a trip into the Texas Hill country. The rock-hound friend I was with couldn’t believe I found a gem like this on my first try. I never knew what to do with it.”

      He glanced down at the box in her hand. “When you told me you worked at the natural history museum, I knew I’d been saving it for you. I had it cut at a place downtown.”

      “Julie’s Gems? Julie’s been my biggest supporter in saving the historic buildings.”

      “That’s the place.” He grinned. “And I noticed you wear blue a lot. It kind of matches the dress you have on.”

      Alicia tried not to melt into a puddle on the floor. “You are without a doubt the most thoughtful and generous man I’ve ever met.” She couldn’t keep emotion out of her voice. “It’s beautiful. Let me try it on.”

      “I’ll help you.” He rose and rounded the table.

      Alicia stood, smoothing out the skirt of the simple silk dress she’d changed into for dinner.

      She did wear blue almost every day. It had always been her favorite color.

      She lifted the single flawless gem out of its box and dangled it on the pretty chain. Pleasure and anticipation tingled through her as Rick moved behind her.

      His spicy and intriguing scent wrapped around her, and she could feel the heat of his skin through their clothes. His fingertips brushed hers as he took the delicate necklace, and Alicia suppressed a shiver of delight.

      He lifted the delicate chain around her neck and fastened the clasp.

      “Let me see.” With a deft movement of his hands he spun her gently toward him. Their eyes met and a flash of something passed between them.

      Pure lust, probably.

      Not being experienced, Alicia couldn’t put a name to any of the sensations pouring through her.

      Only inches separated her from Rick and as they stood facing each other, the space between them seemed to crackle with energy.

      Rick held her gaze. “Magnificent.” His eyes rested not on the finely cut gem, but directly on hers, as if the compliment was intended for her rather than the jewel.

      Alicia’s lips parted, but no words came out. Instead, she stared at Rick’s lips, issuing a silent invitation for them to join hers.

      Their mouths met in an instant, lips crushing together as their arms slid around each other. Alicia heard a slight moan issue from her mouth as the warm, firm pressure of Rick’s kiss sent a wave of pleasure rippling to her toes.

      Their tongues touched, tentative and gentle, asking a sensual question.

      Rick’s broad hands closed around her waist, firm and steady. Her fingers reached up into his silky dark hair as their kiss deepened. Her breasts crushed against his chest, nipples hard with desire as he pulled her tighter into his embrace.

      His thin polo shirt separated her from the taut muscle of his chest and suddenly she longed to strip off the layers of clothing between them. To feel his skin against hers.

      Rick pulled his lips away slowly. The sensation hurt. She’d longed for this kiss and waited and hoped…And now it was over. But the ache of longing hadn’t diminished. It throbbed—stronger—deep inside her.

      Alicia drew in a sharp breath. “Thank you.”

      “For the kiss?” Rick tilted his head, bemused.

      “For the necklace.” Heat rose up her neck. “But the kiss was lovely, too.”

      And hopefully, just the beginning. Would he invite her into his room to spend the night? She hoped so, but how could she make that clear without being forward?

      She’d spent so much time trying to keep boys’ hands away from anything below her neck that she had no idea how to encourage Rick in

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