Love, Diamonds, and Spades (Cactus Creek #2)(18)

Flashing that special little frown that seemed to be reserved for the many, many instances when he was irrationally worrying over her. “Sweetheart, I’m serious, you need a brighter porch light. Better security.” Peering at the door, he added, “And you need a stronger door lock—this one has to be decades old. It’s not so much the case here in Cactus Creek, but break-ins do happen.” He frowned deeper. “I’m going to bring by a new knob and deadbolt set for you tomorrow. One of Lia’s brothers is a security whiz. I’ll have him get me something state-of-the-art.” After jiggling the door knob again, and scanning the dark side yard for any suspicious shadows, she half expected him to get out his phone and call Lia right now.

Holy hell, the man was so unbelievably cute.

She sighed. “You don’t know how hard I’m trying not to kiss you right now,” she whispered softly, trailing her eyes up all six-feet-plus of his gorgeous, sculpted body.

That effectively erased his adorable frown.

Leaving in its place, a sizzling hot look she felt spark and tingle across every inch of her skin.

He stared at her for a split second before exhaling roughly and taking three steps forward, slowly backing her up until she felt the door touching her shoulder blades.

Palms flat against the door, he effectively caged her in.

“Folks are going to talk if I kiss you,” he murmured, inches away from her lips.

She didn’t doubt it. If she wasn’t mistaken, a car just slowed down in front of her house. That’s when she realized what he was doing. He was blocking her from any nosy onlookers.

Dang it, the man was just so sweet.

She gazed up at him and said the first thing that came to mind. “If you kiss me, just so we’re clear, you’re not coming in this house afterward. It’ll be just kissing.”

Lips twitching to the side, Rylan shook his head. “If I ever find these so called men you’ve dated in the past, I’m kicking all their asses. Every single one.” Then his mouth curved up into a full-blown smile as his hands flattened against the door behind her. “And sweetheart," he murmured, his lips grazing her ear, "I happen to like ‘just kissing.’”

Oh lord. With him, she had no doubt she’d like that too. Very, very much.

“Now it’s my turn.” He drew back and tilted her face up to his, pinning her with a single look so hot, so possessive, so male, she had to grip his shoulders to keep from melting on the spot.

His eyes burned hotter at the touch. “If I kiss you, just so we’re clear, I’m not waiting two days or playing any of those other dating games." He slid both hands up to cradle her face gently. "I’m calling you tomorrow."

“That okay with you, sweetheart?”

Was what okay? Did he ask her a question? Everything was getting so hazy. God, he smelled good. What on earth was he waiting for?

He bent down and repeated his question in her ear. “Can I call you tomorrow, honey? Just to talk and see how your day is going?”

Seriously? The gentleman thing? Was the man trying to slay her heart on the spot? “I gave you my number. It was pretty much implied,” she replied, trying not to shiver when she felt his lips ghost down her neck.

“That’s not the same thing as you wanting me to call you.”

His lips were finally on her skin and he was still talking.

“Do you?” he asked as his mouth skimmed back up to her ear. “Do you want me to call you?”

“Yes. Okay, yes. I’ve wanted you to call me even before I gave you my—”

His lips captured hers before she could finish.

Goodness, the man could kiss.

He slanted his mouth to deepen, dominate the kiss. An erotic web of electricity blanketed over her, made her skin tingle as she felt his tongue slip past her lips and explore, tease, torture.

And all the while, his entire body covered hers, wrapped her in a cocoon of hot, hard muscles carved to perfection.

He tugged her hips closer and moved a hand up to cup the back of her neck as he took control of the kiss, deepening it until she whimpered, slipped her hands under his shirt—

“Hi Rylan! Hi Mom!”

Quinn almost jumped right out of her skin.

Penny, hand in hand with Cooper, gave her an apologetic look. “Just so you know, we made A LOT of noise coming up the walkway.”

They did?

One look at Rylan confirmed he hadn’t heard anything either.

That was a hell of a kiss.

Penny was smiling ear to ear as she gave Rylan a thorough once-over. “I’m Penny, by the way. Quinn’s sister.”

Rylan offered her his hand—always the gentleman—and replied warmly, “I’ve heard a lot about you from both Quinn and Cooper. Your babysitting stories are pretty legendary.”

She beamed. “I do my best.”

Rylan chuckled. “Well, they’re both lucky to have you.”

Penny sighed, head nodding as if he were the smartest man in the world. “I tell Quinn that every day.”

Uh oh.

Poor Luke. Quinn was pretty sure she was going to have to break the news to him that he now had to compete with Rylan for Penny’s utter adoration.



*



IT WAS NEARLY one a.m. when Rylan managed to disentangle Cooper’s octopus grip on his neck and move him from the rocking chair to the bed.