I took my hat off, using it to check my breath. I smiled. Minty fresh and clean, just like the rest of me.

Oh, I'd taken about three showers since leaving the stables. Cold ones. Not that it did a damn thing to dampen my urges, but I was fresh as a damn daisy.

My fingernails were trimmed. My shave was as close as it got. My hair was combed and parted. I was ready to come callin'.

Hell, all I needed was a bow wrapped around my cock. Which was still aching for the girl inside the house. I stood on Pheonyx's front porch and whistled. All I had to do was some sweet talkin' and I'd be spending the night in heaven.

I hoped so anyway.

I knew redheaded women could be ornery, but she'd surprised the hell out of me with that slap. I'd probably deserved it, but it didn't change a damn thing about what had happened between us.

We had chemistry. With a capital 'C.'

The kind they wrote stories about. Anthony and Cleopatra. Romeo and Juliet. Bonnie and Clyde.

I frowned at that last one, hoping she didn't keep a gun in the house.

For all I knew, she might still want to shoot me.

I cleared my throat and rang the bell. Phee's place was a very pretty, very charming, very Southern looking house. It wasn't huge, but it was well maintained, with white painted trim and roses climbing up the porch rails.

A couple of rocking chairs completed the picture.

I could see us out here, sitting together and sipping lemonade. We'd need to take a break from all the other stuff we were doing inside. Naked, filthy stuff. And lots of it.

"Who is it?"

"You know damn well who it is. You saw me drive up."

I'd seen the curtains twitch. She knew I was out here. I waited. And waited a little bit more.

Finally the door opened.

Oh my word.

My little hellcat stood there, dressed in the girliest little nightgown and bathrobe I'd ever seen. It was white with pink roses and green leaves. The robe had ruffles around the neckline where I could see white lace peeking out.

I glanced down and noticed how short the outfit was. Those long tanned legs of hers were bare, all the way up her thighs. And her cute little tootsies were stuffed in fuzzy slippers.

My mouth went dry. This was worse than the damn bikini. That made me think of the beach. This made me think of getting her right into bed.

And all the things we could do once we got there.

Hell, I didn't think I'd make it to the bed at this point. I just wanted to make it past the front door.

There was something so innocent and sweet about the way she looked. I wanted to steal that innocence. I wanted to make her mine.

And I wasn't just talking about tonight either.

"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes."

She crossed her arms and scowled at me. She looked tee'd off. Pissed, but still way too pretty for this world.

"You said you didn't like the way I looked! You called me a hussy!"

My jaw dropped. What the hell was she talking about now?

"Hell no! I did not."

"You did! You said I'd have to wait!"

I braced my arm against the door, realizing she had yet to invite me in. I put my boot in the doorframe, just in case she tried to slam the door in my face. I smiled, real friendly like.

"I just meant we'd both have to wait for the grand finale."

She tossed her head and stared over my shoulder, refusing to look at me. I sighed. I was going to have to do some wheedlin, looked like.

"I was angry about the straps. And I was jealous."

She made a scoffing sound. But she didn't slam the door. Not yet anyway.

"Jealous? Of Luke?"

"I never had to watch you flirt with anybody before. I didn't like it."

"Well, I guess I decided I didn't want to be the only twenty-two year old virgin in Texas!"

Right after she dropped that bomb she tried to slam the door. I caught it. Then I stepped inside.

Her cheeks were bright red as I shut the door behind me. Then I locked it.

"What do you think you are doing?

I stared at her, breathing hard.

"Getting us some much needed privacy."

"Why?"

"You're really a virgin?"

She frowned and looked away. Like she was embarrassed. Like she was ashamed.

She nodded and my heart sang. This gorgeous, precocious, willful woman had never been touched. Not by any man.

Not until me.

I hung my hat on a row of hooks by the door.

"Well, I think it's time we remedied that situation."