I won’t give up on you. I’ll come visit you in Texas, or New York—whatever it takes. No matter where you go or who you try to become, I’ll still love you. Leaving won’t stop that.”
He loved her—the Lakota part, the white part, the messy way those two parts blended together. It was a simple fact that time and distance wouldn’t change. He knew who she was, and he loved her anyway.
She might never truly be prepared for this man, but screw it. Winging it had its advantages, too.
She spun in his arms and kissed him. Oh, she’d missed his lips, missed being in his arms. But more than physical, more than sexual, she’d missed him. How could she have thought she could live without him?
He lifted her off her feet and swung her around. The hum got louder until suddenly he was laughing. “Stay,” he said, resting his forehead against hers.
“I broke my lease. I don’t have any place to live.”
“Live with me. Stay with me.” He kissed her again. This time, it packed more of a wallop, making her insides fluttery and melty at the same time. “I need you, Josey. Marry me.”
“I need you, too.” To pretend she didn’t was foolishness embodied. If Ben walked beside her, willing to put one foot in each of her two worlds… She grinned. The journey was always easier with someone walking next to her.
A muffled cheer went up from inside the school. Josey broke away from Ben enough to see that, while no one had overheard their conversation, about thirty faces were pressed to the windows. Her cheeks got hot, only adding to the feelings running rampant. “We have an audience.”
“Yeah.” Billy’s voice boomed across the grass. “You guys look like you can take it from here, so Bobby and I’ll just be going.”
Sweet Jesus, she’d forgotten about the other Boltons, too. Everyone had seen them kissing. Strangely, it didn’t bother her as much as it used to. In fact, it felt just right.
“Always a pleasure, Ms. White Plume. Catch you later, Ben,” Bobby shouted as Billy flipped up the trailer’s door. The two of them hopped into the truck and took off.
Now some of the kids were banging on the glass, and Jenny’s face appeared in the window of the door. “We’ve got to get out of here,” Ben said. He took her hand and pulled her toward her car.
Except there wasn’t room for both of them in there. She yanked him toward the bike. Mom could leave the school van here and take Josey’s car home for the night. She and Ben could come back and get it tomorrow. “Your place. Take me to your place.”
He pulled up short and kissed her again—a kiss full of promises, a kiss that delivered them.
“Our place. Come on, Josey. Let’s go home.”
*
See what’s next for Billy and Bobby with the continuation of The Bolton Brothers in September and November 2013! Available only from Harlequin Desire
Keep reading for an excerpt from A Conflict of Interest by Barbara Dunlop
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One
It was inauguration night in Washington, D.C., and Cara Cranshaw had to choose between her president and her lover. One strode triumphantly though the arches of the Worthington Hotel ballroom to the uplifting strains of “Hail to the Chief” and the cheers of eight hundred well-wishers. The other stared boldly at her from across the ballroom, a shock of unruly, dark hair curling across his forehead, his bow tie slightly askew and his eyes telegraphing the message that he wanted her naked.
For the moment, it was investigative reporter Max Gray who held her attention. Despite her resolve to turn the page on their relationship, she couldn’t tear her gaze from his, nor could she stop her hand from reflexively moving to her abdomen. But Max was off-limits now that Ted Morrow had been sworn in as president.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” cried the master of ceremonies above the music and enthusiastic clapping that was spreading like