Back Where You Belong by Vonnie Davis Page A

pebbling beneath her camisole, he was affecting her, too.
    “Are you ready for my hello kiss, Lacy?”
    She swallowed and nodded.
    Oh, yeah, by the glazed look in her eyes, she was more than ready. He pulled her to him and took her in his arms. Gaze locked on hers, he slowly touched her lips with his and felt the first heady rush of passion.
    Sweet Jesus.

Chapter Eleven
    Her knees were going to give out.
    Lacy’s trembling hands fisted in Tyler’s white Western shirt so she wouldn’t slink to the floor. The man’s lips could turn her bones to jelly.
    Meanwhile, he groaned and pivoted, backing her against the counter with every inch of his muscled, hard body flush against hers—and several inches of him were delightfully hard. When his tongue touched hers, wetness pooled low.
    His hands moved behind her to cup her bottom. He rocked her against him, and colored lights exploded behind her closed eyelids. Oh, God, I’m going to have an orgasm right here at my kitchen sink. I’ll grin like a fool every time I wash dishes from now on .
    Warm lips trailed kisses from her mouth, across her cheek and down over her jaw line. By turns, he nipped and kissed her jaw and neck.
    “Lacy, you taste so damn sweet.”
    “Don’t talk. Just kiss me.” She rose on her tiptoes to meet him part way.
    Laughter rumbled in his chest, a warm, rich delightful sound that pleased her.
    “Oh, Sugar, coming from you, that’s rich.” He kissed her again, long and slow before pulling back. “Come on. If I don’t soon get you out of here, I’m liable to do something you’ll regret later.”
    “Which wouldn’t be a bad thing.”
    Right now, she wanted him to drag her down the hallway to her bedroom. Or maybe she’d drag him. The time to finish what their first kiss started weeks ago was now—or so her hormones cried.
    That slow, badass smile spread in a face still bruised. “No, it wouldn’t. I have a feeling when it happens between us—and it will happen—it’ll be a very good thing.” He extended his hand. “Come on. My daughter says I’m supposed to hold your hand tonight.”
    “Olivia gave you dating tips?” She laughed.
    He slowly maneuvered to the door. “What can I say? She worries about me. I date so seldom.”
    “Where are your crutches?” She just now noticed he didn’t have them.
    A snap of the fingers accompanied another smile. “Dang, I forgot them.”
    “Uh-huh, anytime a man uses ‘dang,’ you know he’s lying.”
    Tyler laughed the whole way to his pickup.
    Conversation on the way to the Lonesome Steer flowed easily enough. Lacy was happy she hadn’t prattled and said something stupid. She tried very hard to draw Tyler out just like Gus instructed. The easiest way, she found, was to ask questions about Olivia. Tyler beamed when he spoke of her.
    If only her own father had stuck around long enough to be a part of her life. Thank goodness for Grandpa. Grandma, too. Both had showed her unconditional love, just as it seemed Tyler did for his child. Her mother, on the other hand, had unconditional love and desire for meth—and it had killed her. For all she knew, her father was dead, too. Men had a way of rejecting her for one reason or another.
    The large parking lot was nearly half-full when they arrived. “Looks like we’ve come at a good time. Hungry?” Tyler asked after he’d parked the truck.
    She reached for her door handle. “Yes, I am.”
    His hand covered hers. “What are you doing?”
    Those talented lips of his hovered above hers, his masculinity magically stroking every cell of her being.
    Lord, he was a six-foot-three shiver waiting to gallop pell-mell up her spine. “I…ah…I was opening my door so I could get out.”
    He whispered gentle kisses, first to one side of her mouth and then to the other. “When you’re with a man, is that your job?”
    All the breath she’d been holding whooshed out, and she frowned. “Is this a trick question?” Gus told her allowing a man to do