Texas Proud and Circle of Gold (Long, Tall Texans #52) - Diana Palmer Page 0,27

have the sophistication to even pretend that she didn’t like what he was doing. Her fingers tangled in his thick, cool, wavy hair. She loved what he was doing to her. She couldn’t hide it.

And he loved that about her. He loved that she felt the same attraction he did, and that she was innocent, untouched, vulnerable. She needed someone to take care of her. He needed someone to take care of. Since his grandmother’s death, there had been nobody in his life to fill that need. Bernie’s disability didn’t put him off in the slightest. It made him feel protective.

Which made him slow down. He was taking things too far, too fast. He drew back very slowly, his dark eyes intent on her face, her eyes half-closed, her pretty mouth swollen, her body warm and soft in his arms. She radiated tenderness.

“It’s been a long time since I felt like this,” he whispered at her lips, brushing them with his own. “And even then, it wasn’t so sweet.”

She smiled against his mouth. “I’ve never felt anything like this,” she confessed softly. “Not with anybody.” She grimaced. “Not that there’s ever been anybody, except a boy who kissed me at a party when I was sixteen.” She sighed. “That was just before he said he liked me a lot but he didn’t want to get involved with a crippled girl.”

“You aren’t crippled,” he said shortly. “You have as brave a spirit as anybody I ever knew. You’re strong and capable. You’re a woman with a disability, not a disability that’s female. If that makes sense.”

“You mean, I have a disability but it doesn’t define who I am,” she translated.

He smiled. “Yeah. It’s like that.” He searched her pale green eyes. “I don’t mind it. I told you about my grandmother, that she had it, too. Somebody who minds it isn’t interested in you the right way. He’s looking for somebody more...casual.”

She knew what he meant. Her fingers went up to his face and traced it while she studied him with fascination. “I never knew anybody like you,” she whispered.

“I never knew anybody like you,” he replied, and he was serious. “I can’t imagine how I missed seeing you when I was here before, three years ago.”

“I heard about you back then. I was working for a firm of attorneys. But people just said you were helping your brother-in-law with some case,” she added.

That might be a good thing. He wasn’t sure how she’d feel if she knew the truth about him, about exactly why and how he’d helped the Grayling girls.

“You don’t know much about me,” he said after a minute.

“That’s okay. You don’t know much about me, either,” she replied.

He grinned. “Don’t tell me. You’re a spy and you have a trench coat in your closet back in the boardinghouse.”

“Don’t you dare tell a soul,” she chided. “They’d send people to sack me up and take me away.”

“I’d never do that,” he said softly, and he smiled. “Not in a million years.”

In the back of his mind, he was hearing a song recorded by Meatloaf about doing anything for love. He sang softly, a little off-key.

She caught her breath. “It’s one of my favorite songs,” she confessed. “Did you see the video?”

“I did. I watch it on YouTube sometimes.” He laughed. “It’s one of my favorites, too. What other sort of music do you like?”

Just as she started to answer, there was a gentle rap on the window.

Startled, Mikey let go of Bernie and put her gently back into her own seat before he powered down the window.

Cash Grier was standing there with a very knowing smile on his face, in his uniform.

“I have not been speeding in your town, and I never even jaywalked,” Mikey began. “Besides that, we are outside the city limits.”

Cash chuckled. “That’s not why I’m here.”

Mikey just waited.

Cash grimaced. “We’ve had a development,” he said. “Nothing major. But Paul wants to talk to you, at the house.”

“We just got here,” Mikey said, visibly disturbed. “Can’t it wait?”

“Sorry. No, it can’t. Paul said to bring Bernie with you,” he added with a smile in her direction.

“Oh.” Mikey brightened. He turned to her. “Okay with you?”

She grinned. “Okay with me.”

“We’ll catch the movie another time,” Mikey promised. He turned back to Cash. “You headed that way, too?”

Cash nodded. “You’ll have two other cars following behind you, as well.”

“Following us?” Bernie asked, concerned.

Cash and Mikey exchanged a long look. Mikey shook his head, just a jerk, but