Forcing one foot in front of the other, she trudged out of the lodge and up the path to the main residence. Pink, yellow, red and white roses bloomed around the walkway leading up to the door, and she breathed in their heady scent. Nausea swirled in her stomach.
God, why did she have to jump to obey Dillon‟s orders? She wasn‟t a kid anymore. She dreaded the initial reunion with Dustin, had hoped to put it off for as long as possible—if not completely—until this weekend was over. One drama at a time please.
Drawing in a deep breath, she raised her hand and pressed the doorbell. She waited for two minutes and then hit the button again. She leaned her forehead against the oak door and tried to calm her ever present nerves. How would Dustin react when he saw her? Did he really know she was coming? And what would he think when he found out she intended to stay for good?
“Guess nobody‟s home,” she mumbled.
The door swung open, and she lost her balance with a startled squeak. She reached out to grab something, anything to stop her descent, and latched on to a pair of denim-clad hips. The material slipped down and with it, she landed on her knees, face- planted against a very masculine crotch. The tip of his cock peeked from the front of his red plaid boxers. Heat flooded her belly and moisture pooled in her panties in response to his arousal. The
familiar scent of leather and sandalwood tickled her nose.
Dustin. Memories of a night over a decade ago filled with sweat-lathered bodies on the bank of the creek swam before her eyes. She shivered. All it would take was the slightest turn of her head and…
“Not that I‟m complaining about your enthusiasm, honey, but you‟re a little too far to the left,” a familiar, deep masculine voice teased.
She looked up into Dustin‟s amused face. That crooked grin hit her in the gut with lust so fierce she wanted to toss away caution and jump him right there. Mortified, she pushed away and leapt to her feet. Dammit, of all the impressions she could have made, falling face first into his cock was not the way she intended to go.
Heat burned in her cheeks. “Dillon needs you at the lodge.” She turned on her heel.
“Wait.” He gripped her hand. “Aren‟t you going to say hello or anything?”
Shannon shook her head, keeping her gaze locked on the safety of the door. “I can‟t talk to you with your…your thing exposed. Pull up your pants, for God‟s sake.” Only he could make her feel like a blushing virgin.
His laughter vibrated through her breasts, and her nipples hardened against the lace of her bra. “Well, darlin‟, my exposed thing never bothered you before. But if you insist…”
The rustling of denim against skin teased her imagination and whetted an appetite she hadn‟t known in a long time. She squeezed her eyes shut, blocking out the image of his cock saluting her.
“You can turn around now.”
Drawing in a deep, calming breath, she did. He‟d fastened the button-fly of his jeans, much to her relief. But the exposed V of his pelvis was too distracting for her peace of mind. She focused above
the waistline and on his face. Hazel eyes were emphasized by small lines around the edges. A strong jaw was softened by full lips. Gone was the boy she‟d fallen in love with. In his place was a man who could very well destroy her if she let him get too close.
“Hello, Dustin.” Shannon forced a smile and resisted rubbing her damp palms against her thighs. “Dillon asked me to let you know you are needed at the lodge.”
His eyes smoldered, and the corner of his mouth kicked up. “So you said.”
She gave a tight nod. “Right. Well.” She lifted a shoulder in an awkward gesture. “I had better get to the cabin. Have to get ready for tonight.” She swiveled toward the door. “Nice to see you, Dusty.”
“Welcome home, Shay.” Welcome home, indeed.
Had coming back to this place been a mistake? She was tempted to tell Carolyn she could have Gran‟s farm because she wanted more than anything to escape back to New York City where she could lose herself in the hustle and bustle of the big city. And even though it might be the coward‟s way out, she wanted to escape the history and heartbreak of Dumen Ranch.
