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He cocked his head "Interestin’"

"What?"

"That you have the face of an Indian princess and the ment, Macie smiled "I’ll admit that line was better"

"I ain’t usin’ a line on you" Serious once again, he stared at her steadily "What’s your name?"

"What’s yours?" she countered

"Carter"

She mimicked his posture and cocked her head "Interestin’"

"What?"

"That you have the face of a Viking warrior and the narin, with a side of deep-set diuy was trouble with a capital ‘T’

"You always such a sift"

"Or a curse" Still s, he leaned closer "So, what is your name?"

"Macie"

"Pretty A little odd, a little flowery, but it fits you"

Macie frowned "Was that an insult?"

"Not at all Anyway, Amazin’ Macie You froh?"

"Yep"

"With who? By yourself? Or with your faed up "Meaning?"

"I ca where the road takes us

Looking for work and adventure" Her brain urged her to walk away; her legs didn’t listen "What about you? You fro"

"Where you’re an artist"

"Yep"

"What’s your area of study?" She held up her palm "And if you say ferin curled his hty "I’ll tell you exactly what ic I can create with these hands if you let ive ical hands

No Bad, bad idea, Macie

"I’ll pass"

"Whoa" His strong grip around her forearive h/half groan ruer traced the outline of her face from her temple to her chin and down the curve of her throat "Godda I want to paint you like this Fire and interest warring in your eyes"

"Carter--"

"Say it again," he growled "I wanna hear h pad of his thumb sloept her bottom lip He stared into her eyes "So soft And war at her made her feel like she’d suddenly developed a case of sunstroke No man ever acted like he wanted to crawl inside her head, mark her soul his and claim her body as his own

You just met him No one feels that It’s a trick

"Carter--"

"Say yes, Macie"

"Say yes to what?"

"To everything I ask you"

Her stomach cartwheeled

"It sounds crazy, we just met, but I know you I want…"

"Want what, Picasso?" she murmured

"You’re playin’ with fire, askin’ me that question, darlin’"

"Why’s that?"

"’Cause in and run screa therandstand, the sugary, greasy scent of fried Twinkies--faded into the background

Boldly, she said, "Try ers smoothed a flyaway hair from her cheek "Oh, I’d try you

I’d test you I see what your eyes are offerin’ y"

Totally out of your league with this ive that need, that passion, that obsession, that control, that lust--right back to you Times ten"

Pure sexual heat overloaded her circuits "Oh"

"Yeah, oh Not what you expected?"