Page 37 of The Maverick's Homecoming

He was standing at her shoulder. She could feel the warmth of him so close.

“Hungry?” he asked.

She turned and smiled up at him. “Lately, I amalwayshungry.”

“Well, I’d better feed you, then, huh?”

His eyes always got to her. They seemed to see right down inside her. With Finn, she’d always feltknown, somehow. And in the best way, too. Because his eyes said he liked what he saw.

And what were they talking about…?

She set her half-finished glass of water next to his wineglass on the iron table. The late-summer wind blew down from the distant mountains. She could hear the soft rustle of the long prairie grasses.

“Kenz?” He said her name so sweet and low, on a whisper of breath.

“Hmm?”

“I’m glad you’re here.”

She knew what was coming. She could see the intention shining in his eyes and she signaled her eagerness for it with a secret smile and a hint of a nod.

His lips met hers, the softest breath of a touch. She felt the contact like a bolt of lightning, taking her over, lighting her up inside.

He was smiling, too. She could feel that smile against her parted lips and she waited for him to pull her closer.

But he didn’t. Instead, he brushed his mouth back and forth across hers.

She gave in first. With a small, hungry cry, she surged up on tiptoe. Sliding her hands upward over his big, hard chest, she clasped his wide shoulders and pressed her mouth firmly to his.

He groaned.

She laughed, the sound low and husky to her own ears as she parted her lips, inviting him deeper.

Now, she was the one groaning as he gathered her closer and kissed her harder. Their bodies were pressed together, her round belly against his belt buckle.

This, she thought.Finn and me, holding each other, kissing like our lives depend on it. Oh, I have missed this for too many long years…

She was about to grab his hand, drag him inside and straight to his bedroom…wherever that might be in this mansion of his.

But then, he gently clasped her shoulders and moved back a step.

She blinked and gazed up into his waiting eyes. “What now?”

He looked flushed and way too pleased with himself. “This is going better than I dared to imagine it would.”

That made her laugh. How did he do it? He charmed her so easily. She tried to look stern. “Don’t get your hopes up, mister.”

He smirked. “Hope’s not the only thingupabout me.”

She laughed some more, and scolded, “That’s not even funny.”

“Sorry.” He faked a contrite expression. “But you did laugh.”

“Okay, fine. It might have been alittlebit funny.”

He was looking kind of serious now. “Am I moving too fast?”

“Yes,” she replied. And then she admitted, “Although the truth is, a minute ago I was on the verge of dragging you off to your bedroom.”