Free The Diva Diaries by Karen Anders Page A

in his chest.
    Somewhere in the deep recess of her mind where memories lived, she must have known this bliss of skin on skin and a man’s dark, stubbled face against hers, this yielding to the mellifluous flow tingling through her.
    But if her mind held such a memory, how could she have forgotten the experience? How would she have been able to separate herself from the thrilling buzz along her skin, the yearning to get beyond the silken barrier of skin to the core that beckoned?
    Fear, like ice water, flooded her veins and she let go of him. Cupping his face, she brought it up to her. “You understand what this would be, right?”
    He looked at her, confused, his eyes glazed. Her heart turned over. He looked so vulnerable she didn’t want to say the words, but they had to be said. She couldn’t have him believing there could be anything more. She couldn’t bear to hurt him.
    His eyes cleared and she smiled at the slash of wicked danger in the night.
    â€œSex, darlin’. Just sex. Is that what you want to hear?”
    He drew away and tucked in his shirt and she wondered if he needed something to do with his hands so he wouldn’t reach for her again.
    â€œThat’s right. Not love, not friendship. Lust, sex, getting our groove on. Whatever you want to call it.”
    Jenna saw him retreat and part of her wanted to cry, but he had to be on the same page as she was. Her gran had wanted Jenna to read the diary to discover that this kind of passion was possible. Jenna realized now she’d found it, here in Sam’s arms. She wanted it with him, but it had to be on her terms. He would have to agree.
    â€œDamn, Jenna, you know how to kill the moment.”
    â€œDon’t worry. I’ll still respect you in the morning,” she jeered, knowing that she would do more than that, but she couldn’t let on.
    His melting smile turned up the corners of his mouth. “That makes it easy on me. Temporary sex with a fancy city gal suits me just fine.” His words were tough and struck hard, but she didn’t buy them. The sound of his impassioned voice when he’d told her he wanted her made her heart tighten with an ache she’d never experienced before. He was using them as a defense mechanism. It was something she understood and accepted.
    â€œThat’s all I can give.”
    â€œTell you what, darlin’, since you’re trying so hard to convince me, why don’t you decide when and where and let me know?”
    She rearranged her dress just as she heard the scuff of boots on gravel.
    â€œSam. That you?”
    Sam bent down, retrieved his Stetson and jammed it on his head. “Yeah, what is it, Tooter?”
    She could hear the frustration in his voice.
    â€œJust wanted to tell you it looks like the calving started, too. Black Beauty dropped a fine, strapping fella.”
    â€œThanks, Tooter. Let’s go have a look.” Hegrabbed Jenna’s elbow and escorted her none too gently to the house. “I reckon you can make it from here.”
    She lifted her chin. “I reckon I can.”
    He was the kind of man who wasn’t down for long. She could see it in the set of his broad shoulders. As easy and as lazy as a long, hot summer day, that smile had returned and, with it, a healthy dose of trouble.
    â€œWe’re straight, city gal. But before you lay that pretty head down on your pillow tonight, why don’t you think about the reason you’re trying so hard not to like me?”
    â€œI’m not trying that hard.”
    He laughed and she couldn’t help herself, she was charmed down to her toes. Damn him, she wanted to kiss that laughing mouth.
    So she did. Just grabbed the back of his neck, angled her head under the hat and kissed his startled mouth. Then she looked him in the eye. “Mmm, you are starting to grow on me,” she said, before she licked her lips. She turned and sauntered into the house, smiling when she