Hot to Trot (Dancing in Texas #5)

Chapter Nineteen

CHAPTER NINETEEN

S CARLET LAlD LOW for the next several days. She tweaked a few scenes for the play, crafted a final script that she dropped off for the high school drama teacher to edit, and spent hours driving along country roads less traveled with the top of the convertible down, her hair whipping in the wind, and the sun caressing her shoulders. She simply gave her mind time to untangle and her emotions room to unknot.

By Thursday night when she’d pulled into the parking area of Phoenix ready to start full run through of the patched together play, she’d finally reached a decision about her and Adam. And that decision was to do absolutely nothing.

That’s right. Nothing.

She’d fought against her feelings for such a long time that not fighting felt just as exhausting. No solution lay on either path. But what she had concluded is the she wasn’t going to overthink it. Overthinking had gotten her nowhere, except lost without her dang cellphone.

So they were attracted to one another. Big deal.

And they liked each other. Didn’t mean much.

And they wanted more than what they had. People didn’t alway get what they want.

So that’s where she was.

Nowhere.

"Hello, black magic woman," Georges said, opening the door of the center. Cool air-conditioning and her actors met her as she stepped inside.

“Hola, Georges.” She dropped her canvas bag holding a few props that Rayne and Aunt Frances had whipped together, including the Magpie’s jewel. "Hola, guys. I wanted to talk to you about why is production is so important before we start our run-throughs tonight."

She delivered the speech Aunt Frances had inspired that day in the auditorium and had helped her perfect last night. For once, the guys paid attention.

"So you're saying this play is like us?" Miguel Two asked. "The community thinks this book is bad? And they thought the center was bad? Man, that's-"

"Don't say it," Scarlet warned, knowing some spicy language was forthcoming. "I'm pretty sure it's a rule violation."

"Then we gotta do this right, gringita." Tito nodded his head emphatically.

"Right." She handed out the final script, which consisted of five scenes adapted from the book. Brent had pulled some strings, gotten in touch with the author and received her permission for an adaptation. Scarlet wasn't a screenwriter, but she had been pleasantly surprised at how much she'd enjoyed translating the author's words and ideas into a script. "I've taken the liberty of highlighting each of your parts."

Tito frowned. "What about the cop?"

"Chief Hinton?"

"Yeah, he's doing this, too. He's Valken's servant, right? He eats the poison leaves from the fenberry tree and turns into another raven. That's the best part. When Marco kills him."

"You bloodthirsty pirates," Scarlet said, setting Adam's script on a chair with her bag.

The door to Phoenix opened and the man who'd haunted her thoughts stepped inside. Scarlet's heart sped up, beating like a thundering herd of Thoroughbreds around a racetrack. She wondered what he had been doing since they last spoke. Had he been trying to rationalize his feelings for her? Had he been wrestling over the dilemma of falling for the totally wrong person? Or had the ass made another list?

Falling…?

No, this wasn’t love. Not yet. Not even close.

Was it?

No.

She rifled through the tote, looking for the faceted jewel. Anything to look busy. To distract herself from the revolutionary thought that had invaded her mind.

"Hey, guys,” Adam said, weaving around scattered chairs as he approached. He didn't look at her. "Only a few days until we perform this. You guys ready?"

"I was born ready," Miguel Two said.

She looked up and Adam glanced at her. ''Are you ready?"

He seemed to be talking about more than the play.

She studied him as he stood beside men who had once mistrusted him. It had taken them several rehearsals, but finally they had come to an understanding. They weren't friends, but they weren't enemies. Adam looked out of place with his erect carriage, golden skin, and hair. His green eyes were steadfast, his jaw strong. So damned handsome. Was there any other man in Texas as good-looking as this one?

Not to her.

But the former gang members had figured out a way to tolerate Adam.

"Yeah," she said, with a smile. "I think I am."

He smiled. "Good."

The undercurrent was broken, and the guys began to rehearse. When it came time for Adam's character, he read the part with exactly the right emotion and emphasis. Scarlet had no role beyond providing the mysterious voice of the magpie. She read her lines with an upper-crust British accent, which amused the guys greatly.

They went through the scenes three times, then Scarlet called an end to practice.

As she stepped onto the porch with Adam, she paused to appreciate the evening. It was that magical time - the time when night chased the daylight away. Fingers of orange and pink clutched the horizon as the stars made their appearance almost one by one.

"Beautiful night," Adam said,

“Mmm,” Scarlet shouldered her canvas bag, “You sure like to talk about the weather a l0t.”

He gave a soft chuff. “Ingrained habit from my mother.”

"She a meteorologist?”

“No, she just likes to avoid talking about problems.”

“And I’m a problem”

His smile was warm. "Haven't you been since I first laid eyes on you? From the very beginning, you pecked at my defenses. I had no recourse but to surrender."

"I don’t want to be the woman who tears you down, destroying who you are. You make me sound like a plague, and I'm not, I'm a woman. I'm not defined by anything other than that."

"Nope, you're, not."

''And I’m not a job, You can't pick who you'll fall in love with, like it’s from an applicant pool.”

"No, you can’t.”

She narrowed her eyes. "You're being awfully agreeable."

''Because I'm done with fighting what I feel for you. And I no longer want to hold on to my idea of what life should look like. I’ve sorta set an expectation that can’t be met.” He nudged her with his elbow. "Come on. I’m trying to go with the flow here. That’s hard for me.” He reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew a paper. "I got this today.''

He held it out to her.

She took it. It was a court document. She quickly scanned the missive. "I'm done?"

"I signed off on the paperwork this afternoon. The judge got a call from the Texas State Trooper's office about your visit to the hospital, and it seems your unsolicited community service warmed her heart enough to shorten your sentence. You've already completed twenty hours and the rest was suspended."

The enormity of that hit her. "l can leave Oak Stand?"

"If that's what you want." Something flashed in his eyes. He didn't want her to go.

She should go.

It might be best.

But there was the matter of the play next week. When she'd first arrived, Rayne had accused her of not finishing what she started. If Scarlet left Oak Stand now, the six guys inside would be left with no direction. And what of the play itself? She'd wanted to bring healing to the community still split over the censorship of the book.

And beyond those reasons, the most important one was Adam. How could she leave him?

"I can't leave yet,” she said, passing the paper to him.

"You can't?"

"No. The play is next week. We have to show Oak Stand the phenomenal acting skills these guys have developed.”

He shifted his gaze from her, staring at Banjo as he ran along the fence on the scent of something. "The play. Of course."

She resisted the urge to physically reach out to him. "Did you think there was some other reason to stay?"

His gaze clashed with hers. "Actually I did."

"What would that be?”

"This." He stepped toward her and covered her mouth with his. Sheer elation flooded her body as she opened her mouth to him, slid her hands up his shoulders to his short hair. Sweet desire awakened as it had the first time he kissed her, except this time there were no bars in the way. And no looky loos staring. Just the night and this man.

Liquid heat pooled in her stomach as he wove fingers through her hair, angling her head so he could deepen the kiss. His tongue traced her bottom lip before plunging inside, then withdrawing to tease. She groaned, tugging him closer, holding him tighter.

"Yo. Get a room," Marco called through the door they'd neglected to shut all the way.

Scarlet laughed against Adam's mouth, but he didn't stop kissing her.

Finally, he pulled back and gazed at her. "Was that enough?"

His kiss had drugged her. "Enough what?"

"Enough for you to stay awhile?"

"You're pretty persuasive, Chief Hinton."

"I've got more tricks up my sleeve if you need more persuasion."

She gave him a heated look. "I might take you up on that, but where would that leave us?"

"I'll show you," Adam said, taking her hand and tugging her toward the drive. Banjo looked up and wagged his tail, but he didn't leave whatever he chased. Adam's hand felt so right in hers. They'd spent so long not touching, not giving in to what they both wanted, she delighted in the simple contact.

When Adam reached the bright yellow Corvette, he dropped her hand and reached into the backseat, withdrawing a quilt and picnic basket. "Mind if we take your car? The guys are detailing the 'Vette tomorrow."

"Go where?"

"I want to show you something."

“Oh, really?" she drawled.

His huff of laughter echoed around them. She loved the sound against the empty vista.

"'I love that your mind is halfway in the gutter."

"I can easily toss it all the way in." She looped her arm through his. He tossed his keys to Georges, who, true to form, had appeared out of nowhere. "I think Georges must work with Aunt Frances."

"I won't even ask," Adam said. "Keys? I’ll drive if it’s okay?”

She handed him her keys, tossed her bag in the back then slid into the passenger seat. Adam cranked the engine and they roared down the driveway.

As they, sped down the highway, Scarlet didn't speak because the moment felt too sacred, somehow tender, so no need to ruin it with nervous chatter. Adam handled the car as if it were an old friend, taking the curves smoothly, winding over the empty Texas backroads with ease. They came to a cattle gap, rattled over it, then proceeded down a bumpy dirt road around a thick stand of trees. The view opened up to reveal a small pond glittering in the soft moonlight.

“Oh,” she breathed, "how pretty."

"I bought it when I first moved to Oak Stand, thinking one day I'd build a house out here. It's only ten acres, but perfect since I can't even pretend to be a farmer." He pulled onto a stretch of grass and killed the engine.

"I've never brought anyone here. It's my secret place, a place where I get away to think. l've been out here for the past few days." He faced her.

"I probably drove right past you. I spent most of my thinking time riding around in this car."

His face remained expressionless. "So what did you conclude?"

"Nothing. Other than this is not about just sex."

"No, it's not about sex." He kissed her gently. "It's about way more than sex. I didn't bring you here to ravish you. I'm tired of all the prying eyes around town. I love Oak Stand, but there isn't much privacy to be had."

She touched her tongue to her lips, savoring his taste. ''This would be easier if it was only a physical thing. And so you know, I’m not opposed to being ravished. I hear it’s all the rage these days.”

He folded her into his arms, brushing his lips against the hair at her temple. The were soft and the moment remained tender. She tilted her face to his and he met her lips with his. The caress said more than "I want you," and the pleasure of knowing that wrapped around her like a cashmere blanket. She brushed her fingers through the short hair at his nape and opened herself up to him, physically and emotionally.

He broke their kiss. "I have wine.''

'You don't have to get me drunk to score."

He shook his head. "I didn't bring you here to score."

"You don't want to score?"

He opened his eyes. "I'm not stupid. I'd never turn down the vampire queen."

"Smart man. Let's have some wine."

Adam climbed from the car, grabbing the blanket and basket, pulling her with him. Crickets and the occasional sound of a barn owl were their only companions. The grove of trees hid them from the road, and, for once, Scarlet thought she could dig being a country girl. Moonlight, summer grass, and a hot, willing man. What more could a woman want?

Adam chose a dry spot and spread out the quilt. Scarlet slipped off her flip-flops, then sank onto the cover as he busied himself with uncorking the wine and setting out strawberries, grapes, and chocolates. Feast laid out, he pulled her into his lap.

She took the plastic glass of wine from his hand. "You're pretty good at seduction."

He sobered. "It doesn't have to be seduction. Honestly, I was going for romance."

"Mission accomplished. I can't imagine anything more romantic than this." She took a sip, savoring the rich cabernet on her tongue. The surface of the pond sparkled in places as the katydids started a serenade. He kissed her. He tasted like spicy wine when she opened her mouth to him, and it caused an intense wave of desire to crash over her. He tasted like just what she needed.

“Mmm, Adam," she groaned as his hands moved over her, sliding from her hip to her shoulder, tipping her onto the quilt. He took her glass and tossed it onto the grass, following with his own glass. Adam covered her leg with his, still cradling her head. His mouth was soft, yet demanding. She met his passion with that of her own, running her hands over his shoulders, down his back, and back up to the scruffiness of his jaw. She allowed her fingers to move along his lean cheek, memorizing every detail.

“Would seduction be okay, too? I don’t really want you to stop.”

He worked his way from her mouth toward her ear. "I thought that's what I was doing.”

She smiled at the branches above her and pulled him even harder to her, shifting the mood from sweet to searing. Adam tugged her T-shirt up, cupping her breast through the lacy bra as his mouth began a journey down her neck.

She lifted her body and yanked her t-shirt over her head. But she didn't stop there. She wiggled out of the shorts and kicked them aside, too. Then she lay before him in the black lace bra and matching panties she'd tempted him with the night they’d played games in the inn's backyard.

“Holy shit,” he groaned, tracing one of her ribs with a single finger. “You’re better than I imagined.”

She inhaled the night air and watched as his gaze devoured her flesh. He stroked her as if she were a great treasure and he the fortunate man who'd discovered her.

“Beautiful." He breathed against her shoulder, dropping kisses and working his way to the lace that held back her breasts. "You smell like summer, like heat and flowers."

"That's my name," she breathed, reaching for him, drawing his mouth to hers. "My real name is Summer."

He smiled against her lips before tasting her again. "But you are much more a Scarlet. Hot, vivid, and-" he tugged her hair “-colorful.”

She tugged his T-shirt from his waistband. "I'm ready to see what you tempted me with that night at Serendipity."

He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it on top of her abandoned one. She ran her fingers over his chest. “Oh, you workout. You workout hard.”

“I box. And run. And lift weights. Yeah, I workout.” She felt his smile against the top of her breast.

She licked his collarbone because it was right there and so tempting.

“Hell, don’t do that.” He grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head.”You’ve already got me like a schoolboy, ready to come in my shorts.”

"You're not wearing shorts."

But Adam wasn't paying attention to her flirty words. His focus was on her body. His mouth moved down, blazing a path over her skin, igniting unquenchable fire in its wake. He used the entire arsenal available - lips, tongue, teeth, and those magnificent hands as he unclasp the front fastener of her bra and feasted like a man who’d finally unbuttoned himself.

“Yes,” he breathed at the sight of her bare breasts. His touch was reverent. “You’re the loveliest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“I bet you say that to all the vampire queens.”

His teeth flashed white agains the night and then there was no more smiling. There was only pleasure, pain, and a sweetness she’d forgotten.

"Please," she groaned as he teased her through the lace panties. "Adam, please."

He glanced up and gave her a most wicked smile. Then he shucked his jeans, sliding them off with the boxers. Then he kicked them off, not even bothering to fold them which told her everything. Satisfaction that she’d driven him to such a frenzy flooded her.

And then she didn’t have time to think because her uptight, buttoned up police chief was built like a freaking Greek god. Like, bite your lip and fan your face hot. How in all that was holy had he hidden this from everyone. Total crime.

And somehow he was more delicious lit by the moon. Hard and unyielding, a marbled statue in the softness of a summer night. He peeled her panties from her hips, down her legs. But before he allowed them to join the other clothing strewn on the grass, he feathered a kiss through the hair at the juncture of her thighs, and his tongue tasted her, light and quick.

She wanted more. She tugged his hair.

"Ah, not yet. Not yet."

She tugged harder and he laughed against her belly.

"Adam," she pleaded, stroking his shoulders.

How dare he be so bad?

He pulled her to him, allowing their naked bodies to touch completely for the first time. The heat between them intensified as her breasts pressed to his chest, him hard against the softness of her belly. Even their feet intertwined. He insinuated one of his legs between hers, applying delicious pressure where she needed it most. She whimpered.

He smiled.

Damn, he knew exactly what he was doing. He was on a mission to drive her insane. "Are you punishing me?"

He bent his head and sucked one of her nipples into his mouth. Then he glanced up with a wicked look. “Someone shouldn't have crumpled her speeding ticket and thrown it into a fast-food bag.”

Then he dipped his tongue into her belly button.

“Oh, you're a wolf in sheep's clothing, huh? Pretend to be righteous, but exacting revenge at the right moment."

He slid down and did something spectacular with his tongue and she lost the ability to communicate for a few minutes.

When he lifted his head, he said, “Are you complaining about my method of punishment?"

“No, I’m thinking about how soon I can get another ticket for speeding.”

His lips twitched and went back to teaching her why crime sometimes paid.

It so paid.

AFTER brINGING SCARLET to a splendid climax, Adam took a moment to treasure the taste of her on his lips, the feel of her soft body beneath his hands, the sound of her panting in his ear.

He'd never experienced a woman who was so damn sexy. He'd been with many, but none he'd wanted like this one, none he’d felt his heart tilting toward. Scarlett Rose had caught him well and good.

No more playing around. He needed to sink inside her, bind her to him in the way males had been claiming their mates throughout time. For there was one certainty he knew. Scarlet Rose had been made for him.

He rolled her to her side, kissed the crook of her neck, tasting the salty sweetness of her perspiration. Lust sank its teeth into him. He reached for the picnic basket and found the condom he’d slipped into the pocket of the lining. He continued to cup her breasts, nip her neck, and drop kisses as he sheathed himself. Then he nudged her leg up over his, moving his hips forward as he tilted her pelvis back toward him. Then he slid home.

Her eyes flew open and she twisted her head to look at him. ''That was-"

He started to move, his hand on her hip, moving her as he sank into her.

“Oh, my…Adam.” She clamped a hand over his as she arched her back and moved with him. “You’re good at this.”

"I wasn't always such a Boy Scout,” he said, capturing her breast in the hand he curved beneath her ribs.

She hooked her leg back over his knee and he slid the hand he’d had on her hip down to that sweetness between her thighs, working her again.

“I love…I love…that…you’re not a….Jesus…”

“Nope. Adam,” he whispered in her ear as he increased his tempo.

He felt Scarlet tighten around him, tipping over into that sweet abyss where there was nothing but pleasure and tempo. Then she did something that brought a protest to his lips. She pulled herself from him, pushed him back onto the quilt, and climbed on top of him. He snapped his mouth shut as she lowered herself, sheathing him in the heat of her body.

“Oh, Go-” He couldn't finish because she'd begun to move.

“Nope, Scarlet.” She leaned down and nipped his ear as she channeled her inner vixen, tossing those long, red tresses over her shoulders, breasts bouncing in the moonlight as she taught him a lesson about playing games with a temptress.

And he loved every millisecond of that lesson. Within minutes, his cry met hers as they both catapulted into mindless bliss, riding wave upon wave of sheer pleasure until Scarlet collapsed onto his chest.

Then nothing more was heard, except them gasping for breath with the accompaniment of the sounds of the countryside.