My heart nearly stopped beating. Tiny prickles raced across my skin, and warmth crashed through me, culminating between my legs.

What would Ryan Steel think if I answered his question honestly? If I said no, no one had ever done that to me before, because I had never let it happen? What would he think of a thirty-two-year-old woman who had never been kissed? He’d run as far as he could in the opposite direction. Which, as attracted as I was to him, was probably the best thing for both of us. So I decided to be honest.

“As a matter of fact, no.”

He touched my cheek gently. Everything in me screamed at me to flinch, to go running, but something deeper told me to stay. Something deep within the core of me. Something I’d never felt before.

You’re safe here. Safe with Ryan Steel.

Should I trust this soulful voice that spoke to me without words?

“Your skin is so soft,” he said, lightly thumbing my cheek.

No reaction to the fact that I told him I’d never been kissed?

“You’re beautiful,” he said. “Very, very beautiful.”

Beautiful. Another first tonight. No one had ever told me I was beautiful.

No one I cared to remember, that was.

I closed my eyes and inhaled. If only I could bottle this feeling, save it for eternity, stay on this beach forever and remember the feeling of being kissed, of being told I was beautiful.

But this was real life, not fantasy. And this was Ryan Steel, someone completely out of my league.

How I wanted to believe him. How I wanted to sink into his arms and find an escape.

But I wasn’t beautiful.

Ryan was wrong. He was reacting to what his sister and the others had created. This wasn’t the real Ruby. This was a mirage.

I picked up Jade’s sandals and stood.

“Hey,” he said. “Sit back down. Please.”

“I can’t do this,” I said.

“Do what? We’re not doing anything. Don’t be afraid.”

But I was afraid. I was afraid of the feelings he stirred within me. Feelings I had suppressed for far too long. Feelings so long buried that I’d foolishly believed they’d never surface again. I had learned to keep myself under the radar, to keep myself from being attractive to men by my clothing, hair, and makeup choices. Yes, some men had come on to me in the past despite my precautions. Up until now, I had never met a man I wasn’t strong enough to resist. But Ryan Steel?

No woman had that much willpower.

“I’m sorry.” I turned and walked briskly away.

When I heard him follow me, I began to run. He’d never keep up with me running in sand. Not in those black dress pants. And I doubted he was as used to running as I was. I did sprints for fun. No, he’d never catch me.

But he did.

I screamed when he grabbed my arm.

“Shh.” He turned me around to face him. “It’s okay. You don’t have to run from me. I won’t hurt you.”

“You already have,” I said.

He touched my cheek again, and again heat coursed through my veins. His touch felt good. It felt…right.

“I’m sorry. It’s just… You look so beautiful in the moonlight. Your lips are so soft, glistening.” He grinned. “So I’m sorry. Not for kissing you. But for frightening you.”

“You must think I’m naïve.”

“Maybe in a way. But I think in other ways you’re far from innocent.”

He had that right.

He continued, “I think you’ve seen things that no one should have to see, Ruby. And I’m sorry about that.”

“I’ve been through nothing compared to what your brother has.” My words were true. I had escaped my father. Barely, but I had. I’d worn a few bruises and scratches, but I had escaped his molestation.

I hadn’t let a man touch me since.

I hadn’t thought I’d ever want to.

But as I looked into Ryan Steel’s brown eyes, his dark hair a mess, the tail of his shirt flapping lightly in the soft midnight breeze, his muscled chest and abdomen apparent underneath the soft cotton…

I wanted to be touched.

And that scared the hell out of me.

I pulled away from him. “I can’t do this.”

“You’re not doing anything. We’re just standing here.”

“You…kissed me.”

“I did. And were you serious when you said no one had ever kissed you before?”

Thank God for the darkness. My cheeks were burning so hot that I knew they were bright red.

“That isn’t any of your business.”

“Fair enough.” He let go of my arm. “Walk with me?”

“I’m heading back to my room.”

“It just so happens I have a room in the same house you do. Since we’re going to the same place, maybe we can walk together.”

“I suppose.” The truth was I didn’t want to leave him. I desperately yearned for his touch, his kiss, his…things I hadn’t allowed myself to think about.

“Good.”

He didn’t try to take my hand, but he did take Jade’s sandals. “I’ll carry these for you.”

Suddenly I felt like a juvenile, with the cutest boy in school offering to carry my books.

That had never happened, and it wasn’t happening now. Ryan Steel was so far above anyone who could be considered the cutest boy in school. Ryan Steel was a fucking god.

“Would you like to meet for breakfast tomorrow?” he asked.

“I was going to get up early and go work out before breakfast.”

“Great. How would you like a workout partner?”

I couldn’t help myself. A laugh escaped my throat. Ryan Steel had no idea how hard I worked out.

But I looked him over. Clearly he was in great shape. Maybe he could keep up with me. I guess we would see.

“Sure. I’m attending the six a.m. yoga class, and then I’m heading to the fitness center for some lifting. Then breakfast after that. Sound good?” No way would he be getting up at six a.m.

“Sounds great.” Then he laughed. “You look surprised.”

“I didn’t think you were the type of guy who would be up at six a.m.”

“Have you forgotten that I help run a ranch? My normal rising time on work days is five a.m., Detective.”

I couldn’t stop the smile creeping up on my lips. “All right, cowboy. Six a.m. it is.”

We didn’t talk much for the rest of the walk, and in about fifteen minutes we had reached the bungalow that housed our party. It was a six-bedroom house. My room was on the second floor, but Ryan’s was on the first. Like a gentleman, he escorted me up the stairs.

“It’s been a pleasure, Ruby.” He leaned in toward me and gave me a chaste kiss on the cheek.

All my instincts told me to grab him, drag him into my room, and take him into my bed. Never mind the fact that I wouldn’t know what to do with him once I got him there.

I doubted an instruction manual was needed though. I knew everything, but I was all theory and no practice. What I didn’t know, I was sure he did.

Maybe I should’ve had a little more wine…

“I’ll knock on your door tomorrow at a quarter to six. Be ready.”

He smiled. God, he was gorgeous. “I will be.”

He turned, and I watched his well-formed ass amble down the hallway to the staircase.

It was late, nearly one in the morning, but I was still on Colorado time. So I fired up my laptop. Time to see if I could locate dear old Dad.