Page 11 of Texas Made
“Is Jaclyn’s car there?”
He looked out the back of the barn to see her red Corvette. Damn, he really wanted a chance to drive that car. Obviously, he was more of a horse person than a car person but that car really revved his motor. “Yeah, it’s there. Why?”
“Can you go check on her? I’ve been calling her for the last hour and haven’t been able to get her to answer.”
“Maybe she turned off her phone. Maybe,like me, she doesn’t want to talk on the da—stupid phone.” If there was one female who tempted him to cuss in her presence that female was his sister Damaris. “They’re not working on the barn today, so she’s probably not at the main house, but maybe you should check.”
“I will if she’s not at the cottage. Just go check on her. I’ll bring home your favorite ice cream if you will.”
“Make it a half gallon ofDulce de Lecheand you’re on.”
“You got it. Call me back.”
He walked over to the cottage grumbling. Still, he loved ice cream and he hadn’t had any in over a week, so it would be worth it. Besides, seeing Jaclyn wasn’t exactly a hardship. He knocked on the door and got no answer. Knocked again and the same thing. Turning the knob, he opened the door and stuck his head inside to the entryway. “Jaclyn? Are you here?”
“I’m in the kitchen.”
He walked in, turning right into the living room/kitchen area. She stood at the stove at the far end of the room, stirring some kind of concoction. Bottles and containers of liquids and powders lay all over the counters. There was a small table in the “dining room”—the part of the living room nearest the kitchen. More stuff lay on it. Along with more bottles there were tubes of some sort and a Bunsen burner with a glass beaker poised over it.
She wore an apron, not frilly but plain, white, and serious. Her hair was pulled back into an intricate braid. Sometimes he braided some of his horses’ manes but they were just plain old braids. Nothing fancy. Hers was very pretty but it had the effect of making him want to undo it and thrust his hands in her hair and kiss her until she came undone. Just like hehadn’tdone when he’d had the chance yesterday.
Damn, Marshall, get a grip.
“What are you doing?”
She glanced at him and smiled. “Experimenting.”
“With?”
“Lipstick. I’ve added an ingredient that I think will make lips really soft but it needs further testing. I need help, though.” She gave him a considering glance.
“Can’t you test it on yourself?”
“Of course. But the problem is, I’m not sure it’s kiss proof.”
“Kiss proof?”
“Smudge proof, kiss proof.” She lifted a shoulder, picked up a small pot and dipped her finger in it before rubbing it on her mouth. Her lips glistened, a soft, tempting red. Mesmerized he stared at her mouth.
“What do you think?”
Think? He was supposed to think with her lips all moist and rosy and right there begging to be kissed?
Jaclyn stepped closer. “Want to help me with my experiment?”
“Help?” Apparently he could only repeat words. What was it about her that short-circuited his brain?
“In the interests of science, you know.” Taking another step, she put her arms around his neck and looked up at him. “Well?”
Oh, hell. Why not? She wasn’t nineteen anymore. She was plenty old enough to know what she was doing. And if he was honest with himself, he’d been wanting to kiss her from the moment he’d seen her again. He’d been struggling against the desire for days. Especially yesterday, when he took her riding. He bent his head and covered her mouth with his. She was right. Her lips were amazingly soft. Her mouth opened and she touched her tongue to his. He met hers with his, teasing, tempting hers to follow. She gave a tiny moan and melted against him, her arms tightening around his neck.
The longer they kissed the more crazy thoughts ran through his mind. He wanted to strip off her shirt and bra and fill his hands with her bare breasts. Feel the nipples harden as he toyed with them. Put his mouth on her nipples and suck until she was as hot as he—
His phone rang. He came up for air and stared at Jaclyn, holding her wrapped in his arms still. “That’s Damaris,” he said huskily.
“Oh. Um, I guess you should answer it?” She didn’t sound any too sure of that.
He nodded, let her go, and pulled his phone out of his back pocket. Still looking at Jaclyn, he answered. “Yeah.”
