She studied the crowd, hoping her brother or Beverly would rescue her from rambling Randy. When he said, “I like you, Caroline, you’re a good listener,” she’d had enough. The idiot didn’t even know her name. “Will you excuse me?”
“The bathrooms are down the far hallway,” he said helpfully.
But Carolyn left through the front door. Ignoring the lewd stares and drunken comments, she cut around the side of the building where it was dark and blessedly free of people.
She paced, wishing she hadn’t come, wondering how long she’d be stuck with Randy while Thomas messed around with that Millie person, who he hadn’t even bothered to introduce her to.
Maybe she should just go wait in the car.
Unsure what to do, she continued to pace.
“You’ll wear out them pretty shoes if you keep doin’ that, sugar.”
Carolyn whirled around.
Carson McKay leaned against the side of the building, his white shirt a beacon in the darkness. As she walked toward him, she noticed the red glow of a cigarette in his hand as he brought it to his mouth and puffed.
“I didn’t know you smoked.”
He exhaled and dropped the butt to the ground, extinguishing it with his boot. “There’s lots you don’t know about me. So did your family fill you in on what bastards the McKays are?”
“No.”
“Didja even tell them you were with me? Or did you keep that to yourself because you were embarrassed?”
“Did you tell your family that you asked a West to marry you?” she volleyed back.
Carson studied her. Or at least she thought he did; she couldn’t read his eyes beneath the brim of his hat. He pulled his flask out of his pocket and drank. But he didn’t say a word.
As much as she didn’t like Randy’s constant chatter, Carson’s silence wasn’t any better. She backed up. “See you around, Carson.” She turned, intending to head back to the parking lot.
“Your butt looks good in pants.”
She froze. Then she faced him. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. So keep walkin’ away from me real slow like, so I can enjoy the view.”
Carolyn erased the distance between them in six angry steps. “I oughta hit you again.”
“I don’t recommend you try it.” He lifted his head and met her gaze—the heat in his eyes should’ve sent her running. “I thought maybe I’d exaggerated how beautiful you are, especially after I learned your last name. But I’m standin’ here, starin’ at you like a fool because your beauty struck me dumb for the second time.”
The thing was? The man was completely sincere. He watched her with a sort of awe she found very appealing. “That makes up for the butt comment.”
He smiled that full out dimpled grin and her belly fluttered. “Oh, I meant every word of that, too.”
Being this close to him…didn’t seem close enough.
Hold on, sister. You don’t know this man.
But I want to know him.
“Carson. What are we doing?”
“I don’t know about you, but when I saw you talkin’ with that guy and dancin’ close with him, I wanted to break his face so I had to get the hell outta there.”
That matter of fact, almost possessive tone sent a spike of heat through her. “If you want to hit him, aim for the jaw. Maybe that’ll shut him up.”
He smiled and reached for her hand. “That bad?”
“The worst. My brother Thomas invited me to hang out tonight and then ditched me with him.”
“Getting ditched seems to be a habit of yours.”
“But I’m the one doing the ditching now. He’s inside. I’m not.”
His fingers drifted across her knuckles. “Didn’t seem like you wanted to ditch him during the two songs you danced together.”
“You saw that?”
“Haven’t been able to keep my eyes off you from the moment you walked in.”
“I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“Had nothin’ better to do. I was tryin’ to take my mind off this beautiful blonde I met night before last.”
“Were you looking for another woman to distract you?”
“Maybe.” Carson brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “Would me bein’ with another woman bother you?”
“Yes, it would bother me.”
He tugged her and she fell against his body. “Then maybe you oughta be my woman and I’ll only be with you.”
Carolyn tilted her head back to say yes, and found Carson’s mouth descending on hers. He tasted so good, so male. The trace of tobacco and whiskey just made the kiss more intoxicating.
Then his hands were sliding around her hips and down to her behind. She felt the imprint of every one of his fingers pressing into her flesh as he palmed her cheeks.
Carson changed the angle of the kiss, taking it even deeper. She followed his lead, letting her fingers curl into his hard pectoral and wrapping her other hand around the back of his strong neck.
His scent, his taste, his touch, if she lived to be a hundred she’d never forget this moment.
She made a small protest when he finally slowed the kiss. But he didn’t let go of her. “Carson, I don’t—”
“Ssh, just let yourself settle.”
How did he know? Was he feeling just as untethered as she was?
Those strong hands slid back up to her hips. “You are the very definition of temptation.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be.” He rubbed his lips across her hairline at the top of her forehead. “So you really didn’t tell your family about me?”
“It’s none of their business.”
“I like your feisty side.”
“Did you say anything to your family?”
“Just to my brother Cal. He thinks I’m crazy.”
She frowned.
He smooched her mouth. “Let’s talk about something else.”
“Like?”
Carson pushed her hair over her shoulder. “Like when are you comin’ home with me.”
Somehow she kept her jaw from hitting the ground. She’d told him about her life so he had to know she had zero experience…
Wait a second. Maybe that’s why he was interested in her. He “collected cherries” as her friend Cathy called it. She stepped back. Way back. “I…I have to go.” Then she turned and fled.
Carolyn didn’t get far. A strong hand circled her arm and jerked her around.