Free Rocky Mountain Angels by Jodi Bowersox [romance] Page B

felt her pulse jump. Getting him out of her bedroom was crucial. She gave a tug, and he rose and followed her through the doorway. “I will not let you kiss me on my bed, Eli Rhodes.” She took the empty mug out of his hand and set both his and hers on a small end table. I’m not really sure I should ever let you kiss me again.
    His kiss in the car had certainly taken her by surprise, but what surprised her even more was how much she had wanted it to happen again. Her resolve concerning romance with Eli had slipped down the drain sometime in the middle of the most gentle kiss she had ever experienced, but that didn’t mean all her reservations went with it.
    They must have shown on her face, as Eli had released her hand and was putting on his coat. “How about a friendly, good night kiss?” He stepped toward her, gently grasped her arms, and kissed her on the forehead.
    Mari felt a longing sweep over her for those lips to be on her lips, those arms to enfold her and draw her close, but the fear of a broken heart at the hands of this charmer kept her hands and her lips to herself.
    He gave her a smile before leaving her alone for the night.
    Mari stared at the closed door for a minute then spun around and, with determination, headed to the kitchen to find something to eat. She opened the freezer looking for lettuce and the crisper looking for croutons. She cut off the end of her fingernail slicing a tomato and nearly poured soy sauce on her salad instead of Italian dressing.
    Finally she sat down at the table and put her head in her hands. Oh, Eli, what have you done to me with just one kiss?
    ***
    After spending the afternoon with Mari, Eli was lying on his bed feeling as tight as a jaguar ready to spring. Ben had given him one of his dirtiest looks when he came in, and Eli had actually felt sorry for the kid. He knew why Ben was attracted to her, and unless he was reading her all wrong, Ben didn’t have a chance.
    Eli was used to getting any girl he wanted, but this time he wanted more than a night. He wanted nights and days and months and years. Patience wasn’t his best trait, however; he wanted it all now. Leaving when he did had been imperative.
    Kissing her had tested the waters, but it was also a test for himself. Could he touch her, care for her, help her without demanding more? He’d never sat on a bed with a woman before yesterday without it being part of a seduction. And he had never yet set out to seduce a woman and been disappointed.
    He closed his eyes and thought about her sweet, moist lips on his.

Chapter 6
     
    Mari was pushing the last of her salad around on her plate, lost in thought. She had been doing nothing but thinking ever since Eli had left—thinking about life, about direction... about Eli.
    She had dated quite a bit when college was a new thing for her, but as she had gotten older, the college students she shared classes with got younger. And she hadn’t met a man yet that was someone she’d want to spend her life with, any more than she’d found a career she wanted to spend her life with.
    When she first met Eli, he was easy to dismiss as a charming playboy. Someone who was nice to look at and maybe joke around with, but you’d never let yourself fall for him. He had heartache written all over him.
    But the last two days had been different.
    Yeah, he was still charming and flirtatious, but there was something more. Comparing personal spaces yesterday had started out as a game, but Eli had taken it a step further and actually seemed to care about what he “read” in her chaotic decorating. And buying her art was something she never expected.
    She put fingertips to her lips. His kiss had been so gentle and giving, and it had nearly turned her insides to mush. Does he really care, or is this just how suave men like him operate to get women like me—women who are totally inexperienced—into bed?
    Elbows on the table, she closed her eyes and massaged her forehead with the heels of