The Marshal's Hostage - By Delores Fossen Page 0,71

afraid if you’re thinking too clearly, you’ll leave again.”

She tilted her head to the side and stared at him. “You think the only reason I’ll stay is if you keep me hot? Well, here’s a news flash. Looking at you gets me hot. So technically, I never think clearly around you.”

“Looking at me gets you hot?” he asked and tried not to smile. Heck, he failed at that, too.

She pushed her fingers against that smile. Frowned. And then moved her fingers so she could kiss him right back. But she didn’t just kiss him. Joelle could play dirty, too, and she slid her body right against his.

In all the right places.

The kissing and touching were so good that Dallas wanted to haul her onto his desk and do things to her that he’d never considered doing in his office.

Later, he might.

But for now, he obviously had to finish that explanation.

Hard to do, though, with Joelle nibbling at his mouth and sliding her hand down his chest.

“Will you go on a date with me?” he asked.

Her mouth moved into a slow smile. She nodded. “I’d love to.”

That was a good start, so Dallas went through the list of grievances she’d spelled out for him a few moments earlier. Except this one was a lot bigger than a date.

“I’m also asking you to stay,” he tossed out there. “If that’s not possible, then I can see about getting a transfer to Austin—”

She shoved her fingers against his mouth again. “You’re asking me to stay? Here? In Maverick Springs?”

He moved her fingers so he could answer. “Yeah. I know it’s not Austin, but—”

“I want to stay,” she interrupted.

“You do?” Dallas tried not to sound too surprised, but he was. He’d expected to have to argue that point.

She nodded. Kissed him again in that idle way that only Joelle and a siren could have managed. “Maybe I can open a law practice. I figure you owe me a lot of dates, and that’s the way to collect on them.”

“Good move.” He liked the way she thought. The way she kissed. The way she touched.

Hell. He liked everything about Joelle. Always had. And that’s why he moved on to the next item on his mental list.

“Sixteen years ago I should have asked you to be my girlfriend. Or go steady. I should have asked,” he said.

Aw, heck. The tears popped back into her eyes, and he had a moment of panic that he’d blown it. But then she went sliding back into his arms and kissed him. It was hot, needy and everything he’d come to expect from a Joelle kiss. He wanted to get caught up in it. Caught up in her.

On his desk, since it was close and convenient.

But sex was going to have to wait.

Something he thought he’d never hear himself say when it came to Joelle.

“One more thing.” Dallas looked her straight in the eyes. “I’m asking you to marry me.”

She sucked in her breath so fast that she coughed. Oh, man. Obviously, Joelle hadn’t seen that coming, and he was about to launch into the most important argument of his life to convince her why she should say yes.

“Yes,” Joelle blurted out before he could argue. But then she shook her head. “Wait.”

“You can’t take it back.” And he played dirty again and kissed her until neither of them had any breath left.

She pulled back, gasping a little. “I don’t want to take my yes back. I just want to know why you’re asking.”

Oh. He got it then. She wanted the words. The ones he’d been too young and stupid to give her sixteen years ago.

“I’m in love with you, Joelle.”

Tears again, but he was pretty sure these meant everything was okay, that she wasn’t taking back her yes.

“Good. Because I’m in love with you, too.”

Dallas hadn’t expected those words to go through him with the heat and intensity of Joelle’s kisses. But they did. In fact, the words did more than that. They warmed him. They soothed him.

They made him happy.

And before now, before this moment, he wasn’t sure he ever had been. Not completely. Not like this. That feeling slid through him. A feeling that he figured he’d get to experience for a long time. As long as Joelle was with him.

“You were never practice,” he whispered to her.

She blinked. Shook her head. “Then what was I?”

“The same thing you are now. Joelle, you’re the love of my life.”

And to prove it, Dallas pulled her to him and