LORETTA DIDN’T KNOW what possessed her to ask Deacon to kiss her. Some form of temporary insanity, probably. But right now his mouth was on hers, hard and insistent, and felt nothing like it had back in high school.

This was the way a man kissed a woman. This was the way a woman wanted to be kissed. It was a dizzying, toe-curling kind of kiss that let a woman know the man who kissed her knew exactly what he was doing, exactly what he wanted.

She knew what she wanted, too—a lot more of this. She grabbed his shirt and hauled him closer, rewarded with his groan. He snatched her hair in his fist and deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth with his tongue until she thought she might collapse from the overwhelming sensations. His work-hardened body pressed against hers, and his free hand drifted down her back to cup her butt, drawing her close to his erection.

Maybe it was the wine that made her feel light-headed, but she was more inclined to believe it was Deacon. He’d always had an effect on her, even as a boy.

Deacon wasn’t a boy any longer. He was all man, and she wanted him. And when he pulled his lips from hers, his mouth traveling down her throat, she let out a whimper.

Yes. She needed to get Deacon into her bedroom. Her nipples were tight points of need, and every part of her quivered.

“Deacon.”

He responded with an “Mmmm” as he continued to kiss his way along her collarbone and shoulder.

“Let’s move this to the bedroom,” she said.

He stilled for a second, then lifted his head and stared at her. The desire in his eyes only served to drive hers higher.

He kissed her again, wrapping his arm around her, but this time, the kiss was gentler, as if his own internal storm had calmed. Hers, on the other hand, still raged out of control. And when he pulled his mouth from hers and took a step back, she knew they weren’t headed toward her bedroom.

“Loretta, I think we need to take a step back.”

She inhaled a deep breath. “Okay. I understand. You don’t want this.”

He moved into her and took her hand, pressing it against his hard cock. “I think you know better than that. I want this. I want you. But I don’t think tonight is the right time.”

She lifted her gaze to his, saw the dark passion flaring in his eyes. “Why not tonight?”

“Because I think a part of you is alone for the first time in a long time, and you don’t want to be. And maybe I don’t want to be just a bed warmer for you tonight.”

She opened her mouth to object, then closed it. Was that what she was doing? She had to admit, with Hazel gone, and her all alone at the farm, the loneliness had hit her harder than she’d expected. Was she reaching out to Deacon—enticing him into her bed—for all the wrong reasons? “You might be right about that. At least partially.”

“Secondly, I just don’t think I’m ready yet.”

She wondered what he wasn’t ready for. Ready to forgive her? To open up old wounds? Or to start up something with her that might end badly again? They’d already covered some deep topics tonight, and she was suddenly too tired to delve any further.

She nodded. “That’s fair. I’ll walk you out.”

Otis had gotten up and wandered toward her, so he went outside with them. Deacon walked beside her, but he didn’t hold her hand or touch her in any way. She had to admit that left her feeling cold and a bit out of sorts.

But when he got to his truck, he turned to her. “I can come by tomorrow at noon and we can throw the ball around a bit before softball practice.”

At least he wasn’t pushing her away. “That sounds good. And thanks again for the work you did and for helping me out today.”

“Anytime.” He started to get in the truck, then stopped, turned and came toward her, drew her against him, and kissed her—a long, deep kiss that fired her up all over again. When he let her go, he said, “You know, it’s taking all the willpower I have to walk away from you tonight.”

That, at least, made her feel a lot better. “I’m not the one who stopped.”

His expression was filled with regret, with passion. “Yeah, I know. I’ll remember that when I have to take a cold shower because my dick’s hard and I can’t sleep.”

Her lips curved. “Good night, Deacon.”

“Night, Loretta.”

She watched him drive away, then sighed once he was out of sight.

Deacon had been right about one thing—she was lonely. But had that been the catalyst for the kiss? She didn’t think so. She’d been lonely before and hadn’t once asked some guy to make out with her. No, this had come from something else—a need she had for Deacon.

She didn’t quite know what to do about that.

Otis did his business, then came back to sit at her side. She rubbed his head.

“Ready to go to bed, buddy?”

He looked up at her with total adoration in his eyes.

“Yeah, I miss Hazel, too. Come on, doofus. You can sleep in my room tonight. But don’t eat my shoes.”

She held the door open for Otis, then walked inside and shut the door.