the smile curving her delectable mouth. “If you want to run get a sword, I’ll fall on it for you.”
“That’s not what I meant,” he said tightly and wondered why in the hell it bothered him so much that she wasn’t bothered.
“Just what did you mean then?” she asked as they came up on the low, three-foot-high brick wall that surrounded the backyard of the Colonel’s house.
He grabbed the regulation cover off his head and ran the flat of one hand across the top of his high and tight haircut. For the first time in too many years to think about, he almost wished his hair was longer. At least then, he’d have something to grab hold of and yank.
“I don’t know what I meant. All I’m sure of is, I don’t get you at all.”
“Ah,” she said and he heard the smile in her voice. “The mystery that is Lilah Forrest.”
“You are that.”
“Because I didn’t swoon or run off screaming into the fog because of one kiss?” Lilah shook her head and stared up at him. Her knees had quit shaking and she was pretty sure her heart wasn’t going to climb out of her throat. But her stomach was still pitching and quivering with excitement and it felt as though every one of her nerve endings was standing up and shouting, “Ooh-rah!”
She shook her head. “If that’s the case, then you think either very highly of yourself or very little of me.”
“Neither,” he said. “You’re just…surprising, is all.”
“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
“Not sure about that, either.”
“You’ll let me know when you figure it out?”
“You’ll be the first,” he promised. “But don’t hold your breath. You’re only going to be here four weeks and something tells me it’d take years to understand you.”
“And sometimes,” she said softly, thinking now of her father, “not even then.”
A moment later though, she pushed those thoughts aside. They were old aches and there was no need to reexamine them again tonight. Besides, she’d much rather think about what had happened to her only a few minutes ago.
Granted, she wasn’t exactly the most experienced woman around, but Lilah had the distinct feeling that even if she had been, Kevin Rogan’s kiss would have stood out from the crowd. The man was an absolute master at lip manipulation. She ran her tongue across her bottom lip as if she could still taste him there and just the thought of that sent a shiver of expectation shooting down the length of her spine.
She wanted to kiss him again and even admitting that silently, she knew just how dangerous this was. After all, he was career military. A Marine, for pity’s sake. A man, for all intents and purposes, exactly like her father. The two of them were like peas in a pod as far as their views, their goals and no doubt, the kind of woman they approved of. And that kind of woman was definitely not her kind. She’d been the bane of her father’s existence for as long as she could remember. She had no reason to think that Kevin Rogan would be any different.
How could she be interested even slightly in a man hand-chosen by her father? This had never happened before. Every other time her dad had tossed a Marine in her path, she’d either frightened them off or been bored silly.
Wouldn’t you know that the one time she’d come prepared—armed with a pretend fiancé—that would be the time she’d meet a man who set off alarm bells throughout her body? The key word in that sentence being alarm. If she had any sense, she’d go inside and tell her father that she couldn’t stay after all. Then she’d pack up and go home to San Francisco. Back to the world where she felt comfortable and wanted and respected.
But she knew darn well that she wasn’t going anywhere.
Not after a kiss like that.
She wanted another one and then, maybe, another one after that.
And giving in to that thought, she looked up at him, went up on her toes and slanted her mouth against his. He went rigid, as if suddenly called to attention. But electricity hummed between them, lighting up Lilah’s insides and pushing her to go for more. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tilted her head to one side, giving him more and silently asking him to return the favor.
Moments ticked past and still she waited for a response. When it finally came, it was more than she had hoped for. His arms went around her middle, his hands fisting at the small of her back, pulling her tightly to him. She felt his need pulsing through her as he parted her lips with his tongue and reclaimed her mouth.
Lilah sighed into him and she heard him swallow a groan that rumbled up from deep in his chest. He yanked her flush against him and instantly she became aware of the rock-hard proof of his desire for her. A flicker of something damp and hot and unbelievably exciting settled and pooled deep within her and Lilah wanted nothing more than to give in to it.
His breath puffed across her cheek, his warmth and strength surrounded her. The silence of the night crept close, making their rapid heartbeats and ragged breathing the only sounds she heard.
Then he tore his mouth from hers and stared down at her with wild-eyed, deep-rooted shock. But despite the denial she knew was coming, he couldn’t disguise the passion she saw in his gaze. Not to mention the fact that his body was telling her all she needed to know about whether or not he wanted her.
“Why’d you do that?” he demanded, sliding his hands from her back to her upper arms. His fingers pushed into her flesh, but in spite of his strength, or maybe because of it, his grip was still gentle. “Didn’t we just say that it would be better if we both forgot about that other kiss?”
“Actually no,” she said, and took a deep breath in a futile attempt to slow down her heartbeat. “You said that.”
“Whatever.”
“And,” she went on as if he hadn’t spoken at all, “I figured if you’re going to forget something, might as well make it memorable.”
“Memorable? If it’s memorable, you don’t forget.”
“Good. I don’t want to.”
“What kind of game are you playing?” he asked, releasing her and taking a long step backward.
“Who’s playing?” she asked and locked her knees to keep them from liquefying.
“Look,” he ground out, “you’re here for a few weeks. You’re my Commanding Officer’s daughter and you’re engaged to some poor guy who probably thinks you’re missing him.”
She imagined Ray, no doubt at home, having dinner with Victor and not giving her a second thought. Ah, the old “tangled web” parable about deception had just risen up to bite her in the rear.
If she told him that she wanted him, then she was a cheating fiancée. If she told him the truth, that she wasn’t engaged to Ray, then she was a liar. Hmm. No way to win there.
Which was probably for the best, she told herself as her blood cooled and her brain cleared. No matter how good a kisser Kevin Rogan was, the plain fact was that there
