Free A Buckhorn Bachelor by Lori Foster

the lake, letting the dock hide them.
    Gasping every breath, so incredibly close, Isabella wanted to cry. Her broken breaths sounded with disappointment and her body throbbed with need.
    She hid her face against Adam’s neck and struggled to catch her breath.
    Adam stroked her back. “I’m sorry, Issy. So damn sorry.” He glanced over the dock and cursed. After a quick soft kiss to her mouth, he freed his hands from her and let her feet drop to the muddy bottom of the lake. “Stay here. I’ll take care of it.”
    â€œAdam?” she whispered.
    He paused.
    Even though she’d been the one about to climax, he looked as turned on as her. Color slashed his cheekbones and his dark eyes burned.
    Isabella swallowed. “You don’t want to hide again?”
    â€œNo.” He tucked a wisp of hair behind her ear. “Never again.”
    She hadn’t expected that, but she nodded. “They already saw you?”
    â€œI don’t think so.” His hand settled against her cheek. “But I’d just as soon everyone know that I’m here, with you.” He kissed her softly. “And why.”
    Her heart tried to lodge in her throat. “Oh.” She wanted to ask why, but said only, “Um...Okay.”
    Grinning, he said, “How about you keep that agreeable mood? I’ll get rid of these guys and get right back to you and then we’ll see what else you might agree to.”

CHAPTER SEVEN
    T HE SLIGHT BREAK while Adam spoke to two fishermen gave Isabella a second to think.
    She’d been grossly unfair, and she knew it. Without any real honesty between them, she’d roped Adam in, making him think he’d be no more than a sexual fling for her. He assumed they could indulge a brief hook-up and then each go about their respective business, interacting at the school in a platonic way as usual, existing in the same small county without a single note of hard feelings.
    He had no clue that it would kill her to let him go. He didn’t know that, with Amber’s help, she’d targeted him specifically.
    Noel Poet’s words kept ringing in her head: Don’t play so long that Adam mistakes your sincerity for an amusing pastime .
    Physically, she wanted him. No way would she deny him now. But he had to know how she felt.
    He deserved the truth.
    She loved him, had for a while now, and it was past time he knew it, too.
    While Isabella removed the band in her hair and slowly dunked her head beneath the cool water, the two fishermen indulged in idle chitchat with Adam. He appeared to know them, and didn’t seem to mind when they made a few assumptions about finding him at her dock.
    In fact, he encouraged them to see the truth.
    â€œSo you’re helping her with yard work?”
    â€œIt was as good an excuse as any to hang around,” Adam said.
    Hearing that, Isabella went still.
    The men laughed, wished him luck in winning her over— ha! —and finally moseyed on.
    But they were no sooner gone than another boat showed up, this time a pontoon with Turley and the fireman she’d met at the carnival. She didn’t remember his name, but Adam helped remind her by saying, “Turly, Bear. How ya’ doing?”
    Bear, that’s right. How could she have forgotten that?
    â€œWhere’s Isabella?” Bear asked.
    In a not-so-nice tone, Adam replied, “Why do you ask?”
    Turly laughed. “A day late and a dollar short, Bear.”
    â€œIs that so?” Bear asked, presumably to Adam since that’s who answered. “Did I miss my chance?”
    â€œYou never had a chance,” Adam told him. “For damn sure, you won’t get one now.”
    Clinging to a dock pier, Isabella blinked. She had no idea how to take that. Staking a claim? On her ?
    But...for how long?
    With the brief moment of privacy, she’d gathered a modicum of control. There was no reason to leave Adam to deal with the men on