“Why, that’s—”
“All too common,” he cut in. “I know what it’s like to be a kid who feels like an unwanted burden. I know how frustrating it can be to have to feel grateful for every crumb of attention or affection.”
Almost before she became aware of it, the bitterness in Scott’s eyes disappeared behind his usual lazy smile. “I’m only suggesting you let the kid know how you feel. Maybe give him a big hug every once in a while. He might stiffen up at first. Maybe he doesn’t think he needs or deserves hugs and kisses. But trust me, he does. And eventually, he’ll learn how to respond.”
The voice of experience again? Had there been someone at Lost Springs who had given Scott hugs even when he hadn’t realized he needed them? Or had he only wished someone would? And was Jeffrey really hungry for physical affection, even though he tended to draw back every time she reached out to him?
Scott held up both hands, palms outward. “I’m not trying to interfere between you and your nephew. It was just a suggestion, take it or leave it.”
She nodded. “I appreciate your advice. That’s why I asked you to spend time with him this weekend.”
He smiled and dropped his hands. “You didn’t exactly ask me. You paid big money for me.”
“Yes, I’m aware of that,” she replied dryly.
He reached out to touch her cheek. “I’d like to think you got your money’s worth.”
“I bought you entirely for my nephew. I’m quite satisfied with your efforts so far, thank you.”
He moved a bit closer. “You remember those fantasies we talked about earlier?”
Her throat tightened, and when she replied, her voice emerged as little more than a strained whisper. “Yes.”
“There’s one that’s been tempting me for two days now. And you know how I am about resisting temptation.” He’d leaned his head toward her as he spoke, so that his lips were only an inch or so from hers.
Though her lips were tingling like crazy, she tried to speak more firmly. “Then it’s a good thing I’m a pro at resisting temptation, isn’t it?”
His hands were suddenly on her shoulders, drawing her toward him. “Do you always have to be so cautious and practical?”
“Somebody has to be. In my family, I was the one.”
“Steady, sensible Blair. So...dependable.”
The word didn’t sound like a compliment the way he said it. She frowned, her lower lip protruding slightly in a way that felt uncomfortably like one of her nephew’s famous pouts.
Scott groaned. “That does it.”
Confused, she gazed at him. “What do you—?”
His mouth was on hers before she could finish the question.
CHAPTER SEVEN
MAYBE THE FUDGE ice cream had weakened her, undermined her defenses. Maybe sleep deprivation was clouding her mind, making her act in a way that wasn’t at all like her. Or maybe she just couldn’t wait any longer to find out what it was like to kiss sexy Scott McKay.
She rested her hands on his shoulders, clenching his T-shirt in her fists. Her lips softened beneath his, then parted, implicitly welcoming him inside. He promptly took advantage of the invitation, deepening the kiss until she was aware of nothing but that contact between them.
He slid his hands slowly down her back, fingertips tracing her curves through the practical cotton pajamas. He left behind little trails of tingles, filling her mind with images of what it might be like if there were not layers of fabric between them. Her pulse raced, and her knees went weak. Scott’s hands tightened on her hips, pulling her closer. Their thighs brushed, and Blair became aware that she wasn’t the only one who was reacting physically to the kiss.
He murmured his pleasure at her response, then changed the angle of the kiss to introduce her to a whole new level of sensation. And Blair melted into his arms like fudge ice cream left out in the sun.
She couldn’t have said what it was that shocked her back to reality sometime later. A sound, maybe. A mental kick from her common sense. Whatever the cause, she became suddenly aware of what she was doing-and who she was doing it with. She pulled herself out of his arms, stumbling a little but quickly righting herself. And then she simply stared at him, wondering what on earth had gotten into her.
“Oh, yeah,” Scott said after a moment, his voice gruff. “That was definitely one of the fantasies I’ve had in mind since I met you.”
She drew a deep breath into lungs that had been emptied by his embrace, trying to force coherent thought into her mind, which felt much the same way. “Now that we’ve gotten that behind us...”
“I can’t wait to do it again,” he finished, reaching for her.