Page 67 of The Best Thing He Never Wanted

“I’ll only worry if you don’t.”

“All right, then. I’ll tell you. But I’m warning you first—it’s not bullshit, so it might be too much.”

She waited.

“I’ve had relationships. Probably won’t surprise you to hear I haven’t done too well at them. But you and me…” He touched two fingers lightly to the center of her chest, then to his own. “This thing, whatever we are. It means more to me already than any of them did.” He frowned, apparently giving that statement serious consideration. After a moment, he nodded slowly. “You know I won’t bullshit you; it’s true. You got to me already, Bea.”

She couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “Well, that’s…” She shook her head. “I’m glad you told me. Thank you.”

He tightened the arm that was still around her waist. “I’m not gonna say you’re welcome, because it’s not something I did on purpose. And I’m not saying it just to please you. I’m telling you the truth, woman. That’s all.”

She slapped his arm. “Would you stop calling me woman?”

A low chuckle rumbled through him. “You don’t like it?”

“I don’t think I do, no. It might simply be an English-versus-American thing, but… woman...” She trailed off. Perhaps she was being silly. When she looked back up into his eyes, they were shining with amusement.

“What do you think I should call you, then?”

“I don’t know. Maybe lady is better than woman. It feels a little more dignified, at least.”

His hand came up to curl around the back of her neck again. He leaned close, his lips brushing her ear as he asked, “How about darlin’?”

That word! She melted against him. She couldn’t have stopped herself if she’d tried. “Blane!”

He chuckled again. “Figured you liked that one.”

“I more than like it, you terrible man. And you know it. You know the effect it has on me.”

He cocked an eyebrow and somehow looked even more appealing—and sexy—with that mix of confidence and humor in his eyes. “Didn’t know for sure, but I was hoping.”

“Well, I’ve given myself away now. You can use it against me anytime you like.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

She went up onto her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. She’d intended it to be brief, but even this she couldn’t have called a peck. There was too much in it, especially when his hand flattened against the small of her back and he held her there while the kiss deepened again.

When they finally broke apart, she turned to lean against the railing and look out over the valley. She wanted to imprint the moment on her memory. All of it—this wonderful man, this wonderful night, the warm darkness with the cicadas gone drowsy around them, and the sweet scent of jasmine drifting on the air.

Blane stood behind her and braced his hands on the railing on either side of her. Shivers ran down her spine when he bent to kiss the back of her neck.

“You really are a terrible man.”

He chuckled. “You complaining? Thought you liked it.”

She turned around to face him. “You know what I mean.”

“Yeah, darlin’. I do.”

He looked out over her shoulder. “Even in the dark, it’s a hell of a view you’ve got here.”

She pressed her lips together, then said the thing she hadn’t been sure she would. “The view from the balcony upstairs is even better.”

She held her breath, and for a moment it felt as though he did too. He met her gaze and held it without a word.

She gave him the slightest nod and reached for his hand. Her heart was pounding as she tugged lightly on it. For one absurd second, fear flickered through her—what if she’d read this wrong? What if he didn’t want to come with her?

Then he stepped away from the railing and followed her inside, and the fear disappeared so completely she almost laughed. What replaced it was pure anticipation.