Meredith’s insides were a mess of flutters and flips. Daniel’s ardor, his piercing gaze and earnestness were too much, too intense to take in. And, as she’d suspected, her attraction to this living, breathing version of himself was off the charts. She pressed her free hand against her midriff. Gee, it would be nice if she could breathe.
Finally he released her hand and took up the reins, lightly slapping the mules to get them moving again. It took several minutes of silence for her to calm down. She wanted to kiss him. Honestly, she wanted way more than kisses. How would this nineteenth-century man react if she took the initiative? She stared out over the stunning wilderness, not really seeing a thing.
“Lovely day,” she said.
“Hmm.”
She glanced at him. He looked as if lost in thought as well. Could it be his mind was on the same path as hers? “If you think about it, we’ve actually known each other for a while now. You did say your memories are coming back.” She’d have to thank Alpin for that at some point.
“Aye?” He cast her a questioning look.
“The letter writing experience was …” Heat once again surged to her cheeks. She’d never been one to start the ball rolling, but then she’d never been the kind of person who willingly embarked on an adventure on her own either. “Well, being together that way was extremely intimate.” She glanced his way. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
He brought the mules to a halt again and turned to face her. “Whatever it is you’re trying to say, lass … out with it.”
His eyes held a pleading, hopeful look that sent delicious shivers cascading through her. “All right, I will.” She grabbed the edges of his coat and tugged him close, planting her lips on his. He gasped, and then she found herself in his arms, his kiss tender and utterly, heart-meltingly sweet. She ached for more than sweet. Scooting close enough that their hips and thighs met, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Pressing against him as closely as she could, she sighed against his mouth.
That did the trick. Daniel’s groan echoed all the way to her already throbbing core. He tossed his hat to the flatbed of the wagon and drew her close. Deepening the kiss, he touched the seam of her lips with his tongue, and she opened for him.
The world was lost to her as he enveloped her in his strength and warmth. Surrounded by his unique scent, she melted against him. Desire surged through her in ever increasing ripples of need. Yes.
Several blissful moments passed as her heart pounded and her blood reached a feverish pitch. His kisses became more demanding, and his hands began to wander. The sound and the feel of his heavy breathing filled her senses and fanned the flames.
Finally, she did what she’d wanted to do since first laying eyes on him. She tangled her fingers in his hair. It was as soft and silky as she’d imagined, and she couldn’t get enough of the feel of his curls wrapping around her fingers. She couldn’t get enough of him.
Daniel pulled back. She followed, not wanting to stop. This elicited a low rumble from deep in his throat as he placed his hands on her shoulders.
“Whew … I never knew a kiss could be so … overpowering … all-consuming,” he whispered. “As much as I’d like to continue—and believe me when I tell you I definitely want to continue—we’ve things to do this morning.”
“Mmm-hmm.” Meredith drew in a long steadying breath and let it out slowly. Her mind reeled. Passion had exploded upon contact with him, a conflagration of desire and overwhelming sensation. She’d never felt like this with anyone else before, and she doubted she ever would again. What were they going to do? More to the point, what was she going to do? Oh God, I’m head-over-heels in trouble.
“Of course,” she eked out, straightening away from him. Several silent moments elapsed as they headed along the trail toward town, enough time that she began second-guessing herself. “I hope you don’t think less of me for being so forward,” she said.
“Ah, lass, I couldn’t possibly think any less of you.”
“Uhm …” She blinked a few times. “What?”
“Wait. Wait. That’s not what I meant.” His face reddened. “I mean nothing you could do would cause me to think less … argh. I hold you in the greatest esteem, and I …” His Adam’s apple bobbed and he cleared his throat. “Shite. I’ve made a muck of it and stepped right into the pile besides.” He huffed out a breath.
He was so flustered, and so obviously trying to dig himself out of that hole that she burst out laughing.
He gifted her with one of his sexy grins. “Ah, lass, you must know what you mean to me. Neither of us could hide our feelings while we wrote that letter, could we? I recall trying to talk to you about what was in my heart, and—”
“Yes, but that was then, and this is—”
“So much more grand and undeniably real? With all the complications standing between us, these feelings we share are disconcerting, aye?” His searching gaze held hers. “For right now let’s simply enjoy the day and each other’s company.”
She nodded mutely, and they continued on in silence. Enjoy the day, and don’t think about the future. Could she do that?
Her eyes widened as Garretsville came into view. The main road through town thronged with people, women with shopping baskets on their arms—some with small children in tow—strolled along the wooden walkways connecting the storefronts. Men on horseback or in wagons similar to Daniel’s moved along at a snail’s pace down the dirt road through town, or were parked next to places of business. Shops and businesses lined both
