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realize
it. Best of all, his honest and shy demeanor was refreshing,
compared to overbearing guys like her ex.
    The bartender, a round Hispanic man who
looked like a good-natured grandfather, came to their table. “These
are from the man over there.” He jerked his head toward the other
end of the empty bar as he sat a beer and a margarita on the bar,
then followed their gazes to the vacant stools.
    “Weird. I saw him there a minute ago. Oh
well, he paid already, so enjoy.” He smiled and walked away.
    Ian’s right hand trembled and moved toward
the beer. He covered it with his left.
    Brie placed a hand atop his. Mmm. Big, strong
hands. “Are you all right? You’re a little pale.”
    “Fine, fine.” His Adam’s apple bobbed.
    “Well, Buster sounds like a sweet boy. I hope
I can meet him sometime,” Brie said, pushing a lock of hair behind
her ear.
    He licked his lips, which drew her gaze from
his shaking hands to his full mouth.
    “I’m sure you will.” His shyness fled as he
spoke. “I like you a lot.” He brought a knuckle to her chin.
    “I like you too.” A strange vibration,
different from her usual tingle, began in her skull. Don’t flip!
Not here. Not in front of Ian. She didn’t want to have to lie
to him.
    But she didn’t flip. Instead, her body
burned.
    Brie hoped her face didn’t show the sudden
and almost unexpected thoughts running through her mind. How would
his strong arms feel, pulling her close? Would his lips be as soft
and warm as they looked?
    She picked up a napkin and fanned her warming
cheeks. What was wrong with her? She’d never had thoughts like this
about a relative stranger before Ian had walked through the door.
Except perhaps for in her dream, or vision, or whatever it had
been. Of course, she’d never before had this sense of having known
someone she couldn’t possibly know.
    It wasn’t in her nature to be that forward but now she wanted to be. She wanted to stand up, straddle
his lap, and kiss him hard. The draw was almost more than she could
bear.
    Ian leaned in, placed a knuckle beneath her
chin, and pulled her mouth up. He rubbed his lips across hers in a
gentle caress. For a moment, they shared a breath, in and out. Then
he deepened the kiss. His tongue met hers in gentle exploration,
and desire made her skin crackle with need. Something about him
called to her like no man ever had before—the familiarity comforted
and electrified her at the same time. She wrapped her arms around
his neck and sighed.
    He ran his hands up and down her back. The
gentle caress lit a fire inside her. A simple kiss shouldn’t have
such power.
    She moaned and leaned into him, pressing her
breasts against the firm wall of his chest.
    “You two are going to have to take it
somewhere else.”
    Brie broke off the kiss, glanced toward the
bartender, and smiled apologetically. “Sorry.”
    “You want to get out of here?” Ian’s gaze met
hers, all embers and flames, like something from a dream.
    Brie nodded, entranced again. Ian stood,
swiped his card to pay, and held out a hand. Brie all but floated
with him toward the door. Her fingers curled in his hair as his
truck raced along the road. She desired him, and had since he first
walked into the restaurant, but now it was as if something pushed
them toward the next step. Things were moving faster than nature
intended. The buzzing in her head screamed it, but her body, and
even her heart, ignored the protest. She was ready for orgasm, and
in spite of the unnatural feeling driving her, she couldn’t bring
herself to fight it. She wanted him, wanted this.
    She kissed his neck, moisture building
between her thighs. In moments, though she knew it must have taken
longer, they pulled up to a cabin-style house. Then he was at her
door and helping her down from the seat before she realized he’d
moved.
    Ian’s mouth met hers again as they glided up
the walk. She couldn’t stop herself from touching him. Not even for
a minute. He tripped on