In Over His Head

He stopped dancing. 'I take safety very seriously.'

'I'm sure you do. But you can't control the actions of a Brahman bull and you can't control the sea.'

He held her by her upper arms, his eyes steady on hers. 'I'll admit I'm not the sort of man to sit around on my hands, but is that the sort of man you want?'

'The point is, I've already had the sort of man who didn't know fear. I can't go through that again.'

'I know fear. At the risk of sounding arrogant, it's what made me so good at what I did. It kept me sharp and focused. I just never allowed it to overwhelm me or stop me.' He cupped her face between his palms. 'And if you think I don't feel fear right now, telling you I want to explore these feelings we have, you are dead wrong. I'll come right out and admit it. I'm afraid of the way you make me feel. Afraid that you won't feel the same way about me. And scared spitless that you'll let your fear overwhelm and stop you-stop us-from finding out where this could lead.' His dark eyes searched her face. 'Are you going to do that, Lexie? Or are you going to look that fear in the eye and kick its ass? Do you really want to ask yourself down the road what might have been?' Leaning down, he gently kissed her. 'I know I don't,' he whispered against her lips.

Good Lord, he could probably sell matches to Lucifer himself. She should run, not walk, away from him. From his persuasive words and compelling eyes and coaxing kisses. But she couldn't move.

Resuming their gentle swaying to the seductive music, he said, 'C'mon, Miss Lexie. Let's date and see what happens.' A smile curved his lips. 'Sure, we like each other now, but who knows-maybe after a few dates we'll realize we really don't care for each other at all.'

Fat chance. Maybe he'd decide that, but she had a sinking feeling that she'd most likely end up with her heart battered and bruised. Still, his question echoed through her mind. Do you really want to ask yourself down the road what might have been? No, she didn't. But fear of what could lie down the road settled like a brick in her stomach. And fear won. Dam it, she hated when that happened.

Still, did it really matter if they hung the title 'fling' or 'dating' on themselves? No. He'd suggested 'a few dates.' That sounded temporary. Temporary fling, temporary dating-as long as she remembered that the operative word was 'temporary' there shouldn't be a problem. Probably.

Clearing her throat she said, 'Well, since you put it that way… I'm going to kick fear in its ass. Wanna date me, cowboy?'

'Like you wouldn't believe.'

Chapter 9

'Dating him is the smartest thing you've done in years,' Darla proclaimed at lunch the following afternoon after Lexie had brought her up to speed on the Josh situation.

Lexie could only stare. A good ten seconds went by before she located her voice. 'What? What are you saying? You're supposed to be the voice of reason. The anchor keeping me from floating out to sea. What happened to 'repeat after me, this is only a fling'? Where's all those 'fun, wild and temporary' rules?'

Darla popped a crispy French fry into her mouth and shrugged. 'I was wrong.' Before Lexie could recover, Darla leaned forward and looked her directly in the eye. Or at least Lexie assumed it was directly in the eye-it was hard to tell since they both wore sunglasses.

'Look, Lexie. From everything you've told me, Josh is great-and I don't just mean in the sack, although even with your stingy lack of juicy details, I gather he is.' She raised her brows for confirmation, and after Lexie nodded, Darla continued. 'So you'd be crazy not to date him. How many handsome, thoughtful, kind, generous, polite, talented, smart, sexy guys-who are single and straight-and just happen to be world-class rodeo stars cross your path? Good God, woman, you've discovered a diamond in the tar pits. Thank your lucky stars and enjoy it.'

'But what about the fact that he's leaving here in a few weeks?'

'Maybe if the dating goes well enough, he won't leave.'

A tiny spark of hope flared in Lexie's heart, but she ruthlessly extinguished it. 'Of course he'll leave. He owns a ranch in Montana. He can't just not go back. He has responsibilities.'

'Just more to like about him,' Darla said. 'He's responsible. And owns his own company.'

'Yeah. Several thousand miles away.' Leaning back, Lexie dragged her hands through her hair. 'And yes, he's great, but he's also a daredevil. Look at this crazy idea to sail the Mediterranean -'

'Lexie.' Reaching across the frosted-glass table, Darla squeezed Lexie's hand. 'It's really not all that crazy. In fact, based on what you told me about him and his dad, it's actually very sweet and sentimental.'

'I know, but-'

'And he is taking every precaution, learning to swim and sail first. It's not as if he just jumped into a boat without any preparation.'

'I know, but there's also the matter of his success. Don't get me wrong, I think it's wonderful, but you didn't see how all those people flocked around him that night we went out. Tony never even came close to that level of celebrity and look how it changed him.'

Darla pursed her lips, clearly considering her words, then said, 'I see your point, but just because Tony did something doesn't mean Josh will.'

'I realize that. But can you blame me for being cautious? Concerned? Hell, for being scared to death?'

'No. In fact, if it were me, I'd be terrified. But the bottom line is, you're falling in love with Josh. And no one ever said love wasn't terrifying. And from everything you've told me, he's falling for you, too. You can't just throw that away without giving it a chance.'

'And when my heart gets broken-what am I supposed to do then?'

'Maybe it won't get broken. Maybe you'll fall so deeply in love with each other that there won't be any obstacle you can't overcome together.'

'Or maybe-and much more likely-he'll hightail it back to Manhattan and take my heart with him.'

Darla nodded in commiseration. 'A frightening prospect, but, Lexie, you need to look that fear in the eye and kick its ass. Josh could be the guy. Wouldn't it be worse to walk away now and never know? Do you really want to ask yourself down the road what might have been?'

In spite of her knotted stomach, Lexie couldn't help but laugh. 'Good grief, are you sure you haven't met Josh? You sound just like him.'

'No, I haven't met him. And needless to say, I'm dying to.'

Lexie checked her watch. 'You could get your wish. He mentioned that he might come down to the pool around lunchtime and swim some laps.'

'In that case, I'm glued to my chair. Does he know you're here at the Marine Patio?'

'No. I mentioned I was meeting you for lunch, but didn't say where.'

'Well, I hope he puts in an appearance soon. I can't stay much longer. I have a listing appointment at two o'clock. Which reminds me, I heard a rumor this morning that your piece of land could be coming on the market soon.'

Lexie's heart stuttered. 'How soon?'

'Possibly by the end of the month. I'll tell you the minute I know any…' Darla's voice trailed off, her attention captured by something behind Lexie. 'Don't look now,' Darla whispered, 'but the most divine man is standing behind you, in the breezeway leading to the lobby.'

'Tall, dark hair, aura of confidence, heart-stoppingly attractive but not in a pretty-boy way, body to die for?' Darla lowered her designer shades and stared at Lexie over the tortoiseshell rims. 'Oh. My. God. That's your cowboy?'

Lexie took a quick peek over her shoulder, noting Josh, dressed in dark blue swim trunks, beach towel casually looped over his broad, bare shoulders, making his way from the lobby toward the pool. The mere sight of him set her pulse on 'flutter.' 'That's him.'

Darla laid her hand on Lexie's forehead. 'You must be running a fever. You had to even think about dating that man?'