Colton's Surprise Family. Karen Whiddon

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      Chapter 2

      When Damien came around to her side of the booth and leaned over her, Eve’s heart skipped a beat. As he bent close, she froze, feeling the way she imagined a deer in the headlights of a hunter’s truck might feel.

      And when his lips slanted over hers…she melted.

      For a second, she allowed herself to revel in the feel of him, the taste and wonderful masculine scent of him, before gently pushing him away.

      “Don’t do that,” she said, her voice shaky.

      Damien leaned back, but didn’t move away. Dark eyes glittering, he gave her a slow smile. “Why not?”

      “Because I can’t get involved with you.”

      “But you want to.” Again he moved closer, making her pulse kick up once more.

      “Yes,” she admitted, licking her lips. “But I can’t get involved with you or anyone right now. In any way, shape or form.”

      Just like that, his expression shut down. Moving stiffly, he pushed himself to his feet. “I understand.”

      He thought she was refusing him because he’d been in prison.

      “No, you don’t. Believe me.”

      “Whatever.” Draining the last of his beer, he set the mug back on the table with a thud. “I’ll go take care of the bill. You have a nice night, Eve.”

      Watching him walk away, she knew she should just let him go. “Wait,” she called, causing both the bartender and Damien to look at her.

      She shot the bartender a glare that had him turning away, suddenly busy with rearranging something behind the bar. Since Damien made no move to come back to her, she rose and walked to him instead. “If you’d just let me explain—”

      “You don’t have to.” He cut her off, flashing her a twisted smile. Cramming his cowboy hat back on his head, he grabbed his coat from the coatrack and headed out the door.

      Inexplicably close to tears, Eve watched him go. Then, avoiding the bartender’s gaze, she grabbed her coat from the booth and made her way outside into the swirling, blowing snow.

      Outside, the snowstorm seemed to be gathering strength. She hurried to her vehicle, shivering against the blustering wind.

      Her Ford Explorer was old, but she kept it well-maintained. There was no reason for it not to start, but when she turned the key in the ignition and got only a quiet click, she knew she was in trouble.

      Just to be sure, she tried again.

      Nothing.

      Breath blowing plumes in the frozen air, she checked her watch. Ten o’clock. Nothing to do but go back inside the Corner Bar and see if the bartender would give her a ride home.

      It was either that or call someone to come get her, and then she’d have to explain why she’d been at the bar drinking by herself.

      Cursing under her breath, she pushed open the car door. The icy wind hit her like a slap to the face, making her raise the hood on her jacket as a shield. Hunched against the cold, she made her way back in the direction she’d come.

      “Car trouble?” Damien Colton appeared out of the darkness, snow dusting his hair and shoulders.

      Miserable, she nodded. “It won’t start.”

      “Mind if I take a look?”

      She handed over the car keys, watching as he attempted to start her car with the same results. “It’s either your battery or the alternator. Either way, it’s too cold and stormy to do anything about it tonight. I’ll give you a ride home and you can deal with your car later.”

      “Great.” She followed him to his pickup. At least now, he’d have no choice but to listen to her explanation.

      The first thing she realized when she saw his truck was that it looked awfully familiar. “Is this the same—?”

      “Truck I had back before I got convicted? Yes.” He unlocked the passenger-side door and opened it for her, waiting while she climbed up before closing it.

      The cab of the older truck had a bench seat. Thoughts of what she and Damien had once done on that very same seat made her flush warmly.

      Once he’d gotten in, she watched as he started the engine, waiting for him to elaborate.

      When he didn’t, she sighed. “Look, about what I said earlier—”

      “No need to explain.” He cut her off brusquely. “You of all people don’t owe me anything.”

      “I owe you an explanation. I don’t want you thinking the reason I—”

      Muttering a curse, he slammed on the brakes, sending the pickup into a spin on the snowy roads. They did a nearly perfect donut, ending up facing the same way they’d been going. Damien inched them forward, until they were on what appeared to be the shoulder of the road.

      Then, while she still reeled with shock, he reached for her, yanking her up against him and capturing her mouth. He kissed her long and hard and deep. When he raised his head, Eve couldn’t find her breath.

      “What was that?”

      “Me proving to you that you want me.”

      “I never said I didn’t.” She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. “I said I couldn’t be in any sort of relationship with anyone right now.”

      “Relationship? Hell, I don’t want a relationship.”

      Confused, she looked at him, so brooding and dark and dangerous. “Then what do you want?”

      “Sex,” he said, his tone harsh. “I just wanted to have sex with you.”

      Stunned, she couldn’t think, couldn’t speak, couldn’t move. “Sex?” she finally repeated. “Wow, you certainly don’t believe in sugarcoating it.”

      “Why call a spade anything other than a spade? I want you, Eve. You want me, too, I can tell. Neither one of us is attached right now and we’re both adults. Why not?”

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