Lover Beware

near the corners of his mouth. Intriguing, tempting little dents. He had the kind of smile that invited long drugging kisses, hot, melting together….
    “Sarah!” Hannah hissed her name. “The temperature just went up a hundred degrees in here. You know you can’t think like that around us. Sheesh! One day with this man and your entire moral code has collapsed.”
    Sarah considered arguing, but she didn’t have much of a defense. If Damon hadn’t been such a gentleman and stopped at just kissing, she might have made love to him. All right, she would have made love to him. She should have made love to him. She lay awake all night, hot and bothered and edgy with need. Darn the man for having chivalrous manners anyway. She smiled and touched her mouth with a feeling of awe. He had kissed her most of the night. Delicious, wonderful, sinfully rich kisses…
    “Sarah!” All three of her sisters reprimanded her at once.
    Sarah grinned at them unrepentantly. “I can’t help it, he just affects me that way.”
    “Well, try not to throw yourself at him,” Abbey urged. “It’s so unbecoming in a Drake. Dignity at all times when it comes to men.”
    Hannah was looking out the window. She wrinkled her nose. “Kate, when you open the door for Damon, do let the dogs out for their morning romp. They’ve been cooped up all night, the poor things.”
    Kate nodded and obediently waved the dogs through as she greeted Damon. “How nice to see you, Mr. Wilder. Sarah has told us so much about you.”
    The dogs rushed past Damon. He leaned heavily on his cane, watching the large animals charge the sheriff, who was making his way up the path. Just as the man reached the gate, it swung closed with a loud bang. The dogs hit it hard, growling, baring their teeth, and digging frantically in an effort to get at their prey.
    “This isn’t funny, Hannah!” Jonas Harrington yelled. “I was invited by your sister and I showed up as a favor. Stop being so childish and call off your hounds.”
    Hannah smiled sweetly at Damon and held out her hand. “Pay no attention to the toad, Mr. Wilder, he comes around every now and then playing with his little gun, thinking he’s going to impress the natives.” She yawned, covering her mouth delicately. “It’s so boring and childish but we have to humor him.”
    Sarah whistled sharply and the dogs instantly ceased growling, backing away from the fence to return to the house. When the animals were safely by her side, the gate swung open invitingly and the sheriff stalked through, his face a grim mask, his slashing gaze fixed on Hannah.
    “What happens if you don’t humor him?” Damon asked.
    “Why, he throws his power around harassing us with tickets for speeding,” Hannah said, holding her ground, her chin up.
    “You were speeding, Hannah. Did you think I was going to let you off just because you’re beautiful?” The sheriff shook hands with Damon. “Jonas Harrington, the only sane one when it comes to Baby Doll’s true character.”
    Hannah flashed him a brilliant smile. Her sisters moved closer to her, protectively, Damon thought. “Why not, Sheriff? All the other cops always let me off.” She turned on her heel and walked away.
    Kate and Abbey let out a collective soft sigh.
    “You gave my sister a ticket?” Sarah asked, outraged. “Jonas, you really are a self-centered toad. Why can’t you just leave her alone? It’s so high school to keep up grudges. Get over it.”
    “She was the one speeding like a teenager,” Jonas pointed out. “Aside from feeding me to your dogs, did you have a real reason for inviting me up here?”
    Taunting laughter floated back to them. “Don’t flatter yourself, Harrington; nobody wants you here.”
    As Jonas Harrington stepped into the house, the ivy hanging from the ceiling swayed precariously and a thick ropy vine slapped him in the back of his head. Jonas spun around, his hands up as if to fight. He shoved the plant away from him and stormed into the living room, muttering foul curses beneath his breath.
    Damon was behind him and stopped immediately, looking warily around the room, then back to the ivy. “Do your plants eat your visitors often?” he asked with grave curiosity as he pushed the vine away from him with his cane. Gingerly he walked around the masses of greenery.
    “Only the ones who are mean to my sisters,” Sarah replied.
    Without warning, startling both of them, Damon suddenly reached out, caught Sarah by the