With the swiftness of a man born and raised in the dangerous Florida Everglades, Rick moved to her, wrapping his fingers lightly around her neck. He lingered there, waiting. She should have stiffened, backed away, but she didn’t.

<br> <br>

The scent of hard work and dirt assailed her. How familiar it was.

<br> <br>

How it turned her on.

<br> <br>

She grabbed him, pulled him closer then parted her lips and was rewarded by the strong flick of his tongue over her teeth. The simple motion was a possession, one she wanted, one she’d ached for too long.

<br> <br>

Amber arched into the embrace of the man she’d fantasized about for months then tried so desperately to forget. The solid plane of his wide chest pressed into hers. Her body melded completely, wonderfully to his. From his lips, delivering a demanding kiss, to the unmistakable hard press of his arousal, she remembered every taut inch.

<br> <br>

Rick lifted his mouth to whisper into her ear. “Back for a more?”

<br> <br>

The husky whisper sent shivers down her back. Yes, she did want more. She looked up. A smear of dirt ran across his cheek. Sweat trickled over his sun-darkened skin. When her gaze met his, she saw the unmistakable desire that matched hers.

<br> <br>

With his thick fingers still curling around her neck, he glanced at the ground and then asked, “Do you want to do it here? Or take the time to go up to the cottage?”

<br> <br>

This was not the way things were supposed to go.

<br> <br>