Carolina Moon

came up, I told Dwight to get her off my back, to tell her I was having a hot affair or something.”
    “With me?” She wondered steam didn’t stream from her ears. “Why, of all the—”
    “I didn’t say you,” Cade broke in. “I imagine Dwight just picked you out, as we were in your place at the time of the conversation. You want to jump somebody, jump him. But personally, I don’t see what you’re all het up about. We’re both single, we’re seeing each other—now, we are, Tory,” he added, before she could argue the point. “And if Lissy wants to think things between us have progressed to what would be a natural stage, where’s the harm?”
    She wasn’t sure she could speak. He was amused. She could see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice. “You think this is funny?”
    “Not so much funny as anecdotal,” he decided. “Makes for an amusing little anecdote.”
    “Anecdotal, my butt. Lissy’ll have this spread all over the county, if she hasn’t already.”
    The crows came back, circling. “Oh well, now, there’s a tragedy. Maybe we should issue a press release denying all.”
    She made a sound, something perilously close to a growl. When she whirled away, he took her arm, held her in place. “Just simmer down, Victoria.”
    “Don’t you tell me to simmer down. I’m trying to establish a business, a home here, and I don’t want to be the subject of back fence gossip.”
    “Back fence gossip’s the fuel that powers up small towns. You’ve lived in the city too long if you’ve forgotten that. And if people are talking, people are going to stroll into your shop to get a close-up look. Where’s the harm in that?”
    He made it sound gentle, reasonable. “I don’t like being gawked at. I’ve had enough of being gawked at.”
    “You knew there’d be some of that before you came back here. And if people want to gawk a bit at the woman who’s caught Cade Lavelle’s eye, all they’ll have to do is look at you to see why.”
    “You’re turning this around.” She wasn’t entirely sure how, but she knew she wasn’t on solid ground any longer. “Faith was in the shop when Lissy made her announcement.” He did wince, which gave her some satisfaction. “There, not so cheerful about it now, are you?”
    “If Faith’s going to poke at me about it, and she won’t be able to resist, it’s about time I got something out of it.” He tightened his grip on her arm, tossed his sunglasses on the ground beside them. Then brought her a step closer.
    Alarm bells shrilled, and her hand slapped against his chest. “What are you doing?”
    “No need to jump out of your skin.” With his free hand he cupped the back of her neck. “I’m just going to taste you.”
    “Don’t.” But his lips were already skimming over hers.
    “Won’t hurt. Promise.”
    He kept his word. It didn’t hurt. It soothed and aroused, it eased and it stirred up those needs she’d locked so carefully away. But it didn’t hurt.
    His mouth was soft, gentle, coaxing hers to taste. As he was. Warmth spread into her belly even as ropes of tension and awareness tangled together. And as that mix rose up toward her heart, he eased back.
    “I had a feeling,” he murmured. His hand continued to rub and stroke the back of her neck. “Had it the first time I saw you again.”
    Her head was spinning. It wasn’t a sensation she enjoyed. “This is a mistake. I don’t—” She stepped back in defense and felt something crunch under her heel.
    “Damn, second pair this week.” Cade only shook his head over the broken sunglasses. “Life’s full of mistakes,” he went on, and kissed her again, lightly. “This doesn’t feel like one, but we’re just going to have to see it through to find out.”
    “Cade, I’m no good at this sort of thing.”
    “Which sort? The kissing sort?”
    “No.” Her own laugh came as a surprise. How could he make her laugh when she was terrified? “The man-woman thing, the relationship thing.”
    “Then you’ll just have to practice.”
    “I don’t want to practice.” She could do nothing but sigh when he pressed his lips to her forehead. “Cade, there’s so much you don’t know about me.”
    “That goes both ways. So let’s find out. It’s a nice evening.” He slid his hand down to hers. “Why don’t we go for a drive?”
    “This isn’t dealing with the issue.”
    “We can stop and get something to eat when the mood strikes.” He turned her, rather elegantly