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epithet.
    â€œYes,” she declared. “And someone has to make it right.”
    â€œAnd you think that’s you ?”
    â€œNot me alone, of course, but there are a lot of people who care about wildlife and the environment.”
    â€œSo you’re one of those green-living crusaders.”
    His mockery put her further on the defensive. “Maybe I am, but certainly no more zealous than you are.”
    He grinned. “So you’re actually saying we’re alike .”
    She exhaled an exasperated huff. “Don’t twist my words. There’s a huge gulf of difference between you and me. I like animals alive , and you like their heads on a wall.”
    â€œThat’s not fair and you know it. I’ve always been surrounded by animals. I was raised with dozens of dogs, cats, and horses. They’ve been a huge part of my life.”
    â€œThen how can you hunt? I just don’t understand it. Why kill wild animals when we raise millions of domestic ones for consumption?” She opened her mouth to sound off again and then closed it with a sigh. “I’m not going to convince you anyway, am I?”
    â€œNope. And there’s no sense wasting any more breath on it. Let’s just agree to disagree.”
    â€œIf we avoid all the things we disagree on, what’s left to talk about?”
    â€œWe’ve hardly exhausted all the possibilities.”
    â€œNext exit. Turn right,” she instructed. “Then left at the second light.”
    They drove another mile in protracted silence.
    â€œTurn here,” she said. “It’s the first house on the left.”
    He pulled into the drive, put the truck in park, and cut the ignition.
    â€œThanks for the ride, Reid. It was kind of you.” She reached for the door.
    â€œWait a minute,” he stalled. He didn’t want her to go. Not yet. Although her opinions annoyed the hell out of him, her big green eyes drew him in. He’d never felt this kind of contradictory attraction before. Politics be damned; in this moment nothing mattered but his desire to taste her again. “Don’t go yet. I want to try an experiment.”
    Her gaze narrowed. “What kind of experiment?”
    â€œA simple one. I bet if we tried real hard we could find a number of things we can agree on.”
    She snorted. “I doubt it. We stand on opposite sides of every issue as far as I can tell. Besides, what’s the point if we have to try ? Most people connect over common interests and shared views. We have none of those.”
    â€œBeing on different sides doesn’t necessarily make us enemies. Good people are allowed to disagree. Some of the best solutions to the hardest problems result from differing minds coming together, meeting in the middle. Humor me, Haley. How about we just start with one thing and see if we can’t build on that?”
    His gaze honed in on her mouth. He moved closer, close enough to feel her soft, sweet breath caressing his face. He waited. He’d made his intent clear. The next move was hers.
    â€œLike what?” she whispered, licking her lips.
    There it was again, that subtle invitation.
    â€œThis,” he answered.
    * * *
    His lips met hers in a soft exploration that asked, rather than demanded. She didn’t stiffen or retreat this time, but leaned into him by fractions. His mouth was gentle, tender, and teasing, as if savoring the kiss. She couldn’t help responding to the warm, wet slide of his lips. Despite their differences, her body had been thrumming with anticipation the entire drive, even secretly craving this.
    He slid to the center of the bench seat, cupping her nape, and angling his head, but still made no effort to exert total control. Instead, he coaxed with small flicks and darts of his tongue. It seemed he was right after all. It was possible to meet in the middle. She opened to him with a sigh. He drew her sideways onto his lap, deeper into the