Fugitive Heart - By Bonnie Dee Page 0,13

the Old Place. I’m sorry she didn’t tell you. Everyone knows you’re crazy about the house. It’s not like a real sale, though. Some hinky land contract deal, which will probably fall through.”

Nick rolled his eyes. She must think he was deaf or brain-dead.

“It’s fine, Mrs. Greely. Really, I don’t mind.” Ames spoke in her normal voice.

“But are you seeing him? Sharing a blanket and all.” Mrs. Greely’s whisper was even louder than her regular voice.

Ames shifted. “It’s fine,” she repeated.

Time to save Ames from the annoying gossip. Nick twisted back to face the ladies. “Is there somewhere we can buy popcorn?”

Ames immediately got to her feet. “No, but Billy’s ice-cream truck might be parked at the edge of the park.”

Mrs. Greely pulled herself up, taking her time. “It is. You two go on and get a Fudgsicle. I’ll see you later.”

It was a clear threat.

As she strolled off, Nick looked down at his phone and acted slightly worried. “I just got an important message. I should probably go.”

“I didn’t hear the phone buzz,” she said. “Never mind. That’s okay—you can go. I know you came to Arnesdale for a retreat. It was nice of you to come into town.”

Her “don’t mind me; I’ll sit here in the dark” tone made him point out, “You didn’t like the movie anyway.”

“True enough,” she said cheerfully. Not forced cheeriness. She shook out the blanket briskly.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

She stopped folding the blanket. “What for?”

“I mean for running out on you like this.” He pushed back his cap and scratched his forehead. Why was he groveling?

“It really is okay.” She enunciated each word carefully, as if he didn’t get English. “I have other stuff to do at home. You intrigued me, and I wanted to get to know you, but I will survive if you’re not interested.”

“But I am.” The words came out before he could stop them.

“I dunno, Sam. You do seem interested in my family, for some reason.”

Damn. He would have to cancel any career plans as a spy. Before Ames could say more, maybe voice her curiosity, he took the blanket from her, dropped it on the ground and pulled her behind the nearest tree, one with a wide trunk that shielded them from the view of the gossips in the park.

“I’m sure interested in you.” He’d distract her the best way he knew how. He didn’t want to scare the woman, only get her out of sight of the nosy neighbors and show her his interest. No lie that he wanted her—it’d be easy to convince her. He backed against the tree and pulled her close. She came straight into his arms, face raised.

Her eyes remained wide open, studying him. “Hello.” She licked her lips, obviously nervous, but the sight of the tip of her tongue provided an invitation he couldn’t resist.

“Yeah, hello.” He bent his head to kiss her.

Her full, warm mouth was soft under his lips, and oh yes, she let him slide his tongue just a small way in. She tasted like cinnamon and apples. Delicious.

He touched her back, slid his hands down her arms, then laced fingers with hers for a second before going back to explore her curves.

The kiss deepened. He twisted his head and cupped her skull. Too bad gripping her ass and hoisting her up against his erection was out of the question, except, whoa, she seemed to be doing fine without his aid. Hell, yes, she’d turned into a needy, writhing woman, and if she didn’t stop with those breathy moans and that way of rubbing herself against him, oh God, he might eventually embarrass himself.

Panting, he put his hands on her shoulders and held her off. “Okay. Okay.” He spoke just to give himself a verbal slap to wake up from the crazy desire.

She was a shadow in the darkness under the tree. Her teeth gleamed for a moment in the flash of a smile. “Better than okay,” she murmured huskily, but then she pulled back. “My turn to say sorry.”

“What for?”

“I kind of launched myself at you.”

He laughed. “Honey, that was some fine launching. Good thing we’re out in public, or we’d be blasted right out of our clothes and onto the nearest horizontal surface.” Although that might not be necessary. He could imagine taking her standing up, and groaned at the thought.

Ames pounced and wrapped her legs around his hips. Their mouths met again.

Nick rested his back against the tree at an angle and used his body to