From This Moment On - By Debbi Rawlins Page 0,51

would take them back to Blackfoot Falls.

Her hand still rested on his thigh. She could feel the muscle bunch when he applied the brake. “I wanted you to know how special tonight was for me,” she said. “That’s why I told you all that. I wish I hadn’t gone overboard— I don’t know, it felt good to let it out. It’s the first time I’ve told anyone.”

“I’m glad it was me.” He caught her hand when she tried to pull it away and put it back on his thigh. “Garrett’s a damn fool but I can’t say I’m sorry he blew it with you,” he said as they passed the last two motels on the outskirts of town.

If he had planned on a more intimate night, she’d screwed that up. She’d treated him like a friend, not a lover, and she’d never had a man play both roles in her life. And, dammit, Trace made a really great friend. Although she still wanted to find out if she was right about what kind of lover he’d be. She’d sure thought about it often enough.

She held back a sigh. “Hey, can we listen to some music? Matt said they have radio stations here.”

“Yep.” Trace turned the knob and a country song blasted from the speakers. He lowered the volume. “We’ll have reception for about thirty minutes. Go ahead, find something you like.”

Thank God. She was sick of all the country music people played at the bar. After a few seconds of button pushing, she settled on a classic rock station. “This okay with you?” She looked over to find him smiling. “What?”

“I do enjoy your enthusiasm.”

She thought for a moment and laughed. “Matt wanted to kill me by the time we reached Blackfoot Falls. On the trip back we had rules about how many times I was allowed to change stations.”

Trace’s grin widened. “No rules in this truck. Go for it.”

“Ah, you really know how to sweet-talk a girl.” She turned to face him and curled up in the seat. She wasn’t the type to daydream or replay events over and over in her head, not since she was a teenager, anyway. But tonight would live in her memory for a very long time.

They’d been driving awhile when Trace flipped on the interior light and looked over at her.

She blinked. “What are you doing?”

“Getting another eyeful of that dress. Kind of a shame it has to come off,” he said, watching her carefully.

Her breath caught. “And that would be...when?”

12

“THIS ISN’T HOW I planned tonight.” He shook his head at himself. She was staring at him, looking as confused as he felt. “I want you, Nikki. That’s not news, I know. But I swear I had every intention of taking the evening nice and slow...have dinner, show you around...return you to the Lone Wolf...”

“You do realize we left Kalispell a while ago.” A small smile lifted her lips and made her eyes sparkle.

“Of course I know.” He tried not to sound irritable. “I had to get us out of town before we passed one more damn motel and I did something stupid.”

Laughing softly, she scooted closer. “I was really hoping for stupid.”

His heart worked overtime. “Yeah?”

Nodding, she slid her palm up his thigh.

He checked the rearview mirror, saw there were no other cars and slowed to make a U-turn.

“Wait.”

No way he’d misread her. But he brought the truck to a complete stop and met her eyes.

“Are we closer to Kalispell or Blackfoot Falls?”

“About the same. Maybe five minutes less to get home.” He saw where she was headed with this. “No privacy, though.”

She stroked his thigh, her heat penetrating the thick denim. The side of her hand brushed his fly, and he gritted his teeth. “Five minutes will seem like forever,” she said, leaning over and kissing him. “And I bet we find lots of privacy.”

“Not if you want a bed,” he said, but he’d already released the brakes and was picking up speed toward Blackfoot Falls.

“You have a blanket in that big cargo box you keep in the back?” She reached up to flip off the light, letting her breast graze his arm.

Trace’s laugh came out hoarse. “You’re killing me.”

“Sorry.” Sighing, she laid her head on his shoulder. “Can’t this truck go any faster?”

Later he’d be pissed at himself for stepping on the gas and ignoring caution. But right now he was thinking like her. The sooner they got to Blackfoot Falls the better, and he knew the perfect place. Pretty