Sleepless in Savannah by Rita Herron Page A

his arm and ushered him to the door. He had his answer.
    He stalked to his truck, wishing like hell that he'd never kissed her. Because that one kiss made him crave another.
    But even though he couldn't have that kiss, he couldn't leave her and Lucy alone to unsuspecting predators.
    No, he'd park his Blazer a safe distance away but close enough to watch the house, and grab some shut-eye. At least if he fell asleep, he'd be close enough to reach her if something happened at her house. Surely he'd hear if someone broke in, if she screamed for help. He'd drive home early in the morning, shower, and make his breakfast meeting with Reid and the owner of the new development he and Reid were trying to win bids on.
    And if he didn't sleep, maybe he'd figure out why Sophie was driving him crazy, and how to put an end to it.
    * * *
    "I had a great time today, Reid." Lucy toyed with the curly ends of Reid's hair, scraping her fingers into the thick mass. His six-foot muscular body in tight denim had driven her insane with lust all night.
    "Me, too." Reid's gaze dropped to her mouth. "You sure you don't want to come back to my place?"
    "I can't. Sophie will be home tonight. We need to catch up." She ran a hand over his arm, smiling when his muscles bunched beneath her touch. "Girl talk."
    "Right." Reid maneuvered the Tahoe down the street, and Lucy spied the pansies and day lilies dancing in the evening moonlight. The entire suburbia feel gave her the willies. Home. Responsibility. Kids. Boredom.
    She already missed the excitement of Vegas, the bright flashing lights, the dinner shows... although the Salty Breeze had been a surprise. And River Street with all its shops and restaurants on the water was romantic. She'd actually envisioned herself and Reid taking one of the carriage rides. It really wasn't like her to be so mushy.
    The front end of a Blazer caught her eye in the side mirror and she squinted, frowning when she noticed a man sitting inside. The vehicle was parked in the shadows of a huge Spanish moss-covered tree, the branches nearly shading it from view. Sophie had always told her to be careful and watch out for perverts in Vegas.
    But a pervert had parked on Sophie's street here in Savannah and was watching her house.
    "Here we are." Reid parked in the driveway to Sophie's house and killed the engine. "Thanks for the evening, Lucy." He curled his hand into a ball, then brushed his knuckles against her cheek. A shiver chased up her spine.
    "Thank you. I'd like to see more clubs."
    "Then we'll do it again while you're here?"
    "Absolutely." She traced a finger along his jaw, intrigued by his husky voice. "You're pretty hot on the dance floor."
    His voice grew even lower, humming with masculine want. "You have some great moves yourself."
    If only he could come watch her show at the Palace. She bit back her comment, realizing she'd been on the verge of confiding in him her part in the Diva act.
    But Sophie would kill her.
    His eyes skated over her face, a heartbeat stretching between them before he dipped his head and claimed her mouth. Lucy gave in to the kiss, loving this bad-boy wildness. Reid was misplaced in Savannah; he needed to be in Vegas with the action instead of in this sleepy Southern town. One kiss led to several, the heat between them fogging up the windows. Reid was everything a lover should be, bold, wild, passionate, primal. She played a teasing game with his tongue, seeking, yearning, dancing around the flames of desire that erupted.
    Too bad her older sister was waiting inside.
    Already dreading the behave-yourself-Lucy lecture Sophie would no doubt greet her with, especially if she'd been watching through the window, Lucy slowly pulled away.
    She finger-combed her tangled hair into some semblance of decency and tried to erase the whisker burns from her cheeks by licking her fingers and dabbing the moisture across the abrasions.
    Before she climbed from the Tahoe, she kissed Reid one more time, this one long