Sapphire Falls: Going Too Fast (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Big Easy Book 7)
Author: Carr, Mari
Date: 2016-05-17
Publisher: Kindle Worlds

Text copyright ©2016 by the Author.

This work was made possible by a special license through the Kindle Worlds publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by Erin Nicholas. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original Sapphire Falls remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Erin Nicholas, or their affiliates or licensors.

For more information on Kindle Worlds: http://www.amazon.com/kindleworlds

Going Too Fast

A Big Easy/Sapphire Falls story

Mari Carr

Dedication

This story is dedicated to Erin Nicholas.

Not only has she created a beautiful world called Sapphire Falls,
she’s made my world brighter as well through her friendship and support.

Chapter One

“It’s about time you got your ass to Sapphire Falls.”

Tacy Bradford grinned over her cup of coffee and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Her friend and former babysitter, Lauren Davis—Bennett, now that she was married—had been going on and on about her new hometown of Sapphire Falls for years, begging Tacy to come for a visit.

Unfortunately, Tacy’s crazy travel schedule with the U.S. women’s national soccer team had kept her too busy to ever squeeze in a stopover. Of course, all that changed when she blew out her knee during practice three months earlier. Now she’d been forced into early retirement and possessed only a skeletal plan of what the hell she was going to do with her life from this point on.

Actually, the entire plan included just one goal, this trip to Sapphire Falls for their annual festival. After that, she had no more direction than a feather in a tornado. She figured she might be more upset about that fact if she weren’t with Lauren. It was sort of hard to be down in the dumps with Lauren around.

She’d checked into the Rise & Shine Bed & Breakfast shortly after her dawn arrival in town. Tacy had taken a red-eye flight from L.A. to Omaha, rented a car and pulled into Sapphire Falls at first light. She suspected the sleepy town would have been more…well…sleepy if it had been a regular week, but this was festival week and the place was jumping. Even at eight a.m. on a Sunday.

So far Lauren had introduced her to her husband, Travis, and adorable baby girl—all three of whom had been waiting at the B&B to welcome her—and at least ten more people since they’d sat down to breakfast.

After Tacy stowed her luggage in her room, Travis took the baby back to the farm and Lauren took charge, dragging her to Dottie’s Diner, where she’d met so many people her head was spinning. She hoped there wasn’t a quiz later because apart from recalling that the redhead was Phoebe, and Mason was Lauren’s business partner, she couldn’t remember anyone else’s name or what they did.

Tacy wiped her mouth with her napkin, fairly certain she’d never eaten better home fries. The grease-to-potato ratio was spot on. Flying made her hungry, so she’d splurged, ordering a western omelet, home fries, wheat toast and orange juice. “So what happened to your big-city lifestyle? I thought Chicago was supposedly your paradise? Or was it D.C.?”

Lauren grimaced, though she didn’t look all that upset. “I guess you can take the girl out of the small town, but you can’t take the small town out of the girl. Mason moved a big chunk of IAS to Sapphire Falls and I fell in love.”

“With the town?”

“And Travis,” Lauren added with a grin. She and Mason owned a world-renowned agricultural engineering company that had broken ground on so many scientific advances, Tacy had lost count. Not that Tacy had been surprised by her former babysitter’s success. Lauren had always been super smart and creative. Plus she had an inner drive and go-getter personality that basically made it clear to everyone she met that she was a force to be reckoned with.

“How are your folks?” Lauren asked.

Tacy shrugged. “The same.”

Lauren chuckled. “In other words, they’re driving you insane.”

“Yeah. Since the whole knee thing, they’re scrambling, trying to figure out the next way I can find fame, fortune, glory and—Oh my God. It never ends with them.”

“I assume you aren’t planning to settle down back at home.”

Tacy snorted. “Hell would freeze over first before I made Longview my permanent address. My stuff is there for now, but I’m keeping the visits short. It’s been easy to get away with that, considering my doctor and the rehab are all happening in Los Angeles. Of course, that’s winding down now.”

“All better?”

Tacy nodded. “Yeah. Pretty much. Which means it’s time to make a move. And I have only one requirement for my new life. There must be no less than eight hundred miles between me and my parents.” She added a sinister tone to her voice when she referred to her parents.

“You’re an adult now, Tace. And the world is your oyster. You don’t have to do everything your parents tell you to.”

When Tacy looked back on her childhood, there was no denying the times she’d spent with Lauren were some of her happiest moments growing up. The only child of two overzealous, extremely strict parents, Tacy’s life was one long string of violin and dance lessons, soccer practices and games, cotillion classes, and study hours as they pushed Tacy to succeed in everything. When it became apparent she had a talent for soccer, the other interests fell away and her parents focused most of their time, energy and money on making her the world’s greatest player.

The only times Tacy broke free of the structured, rigid routine were when Lauren came to babysit. Those were the nights she got to stay up late, stuff her face with too much pizza and watch R-rated movies. Lauren was the coolest teenager ever, and for some strange reason, she thought Tacy was cool too. It went without saying Tacy had always adored her. They’d remained in touch through email and phone calls over the years, but they hadn’t managed an actual face-to-face visit in nearly six years. If Tacy had to find a bright spot to the whole career-ending knee injury, seeing Lauren again was definitely one.

“Oh, I know that. And believe me, I’ve stressed that fact to them too. The problem is I don’t really have any idea what I want to do now, so dear old Mom and Dad feel like they need to figure it out for me. Their current plan is for me to pursue a job in coaching. If my dad has his way, I’ll be the head coach of the next World Cup champs.”

“But you prefer no more soccer?”

Tacy wrinkled her nose. “Not if I can’t play.”

“So pick something else.”

Tacy sighed but didn’t reply. She had been thinking of something lately, but when she’d mentioned it to her parents, they’d looked at her like she had spouted a second head. While she knew Lauren would be more supportive, she still felt funny talking about what she really wanted to do.

She should have realized Lauren wouldn’t let the subject drop.

“You have no aspirations? Dreams? Hopes? I find that hard to believe,” Lauren pressed.

“I’m only twenty-six. I thought I’d have at least five more years with the team. Hell, Hope Solo is thirty-four and still going strong, and Abby Wambach made it to thirty-five before she retired.”

“Stop dodging. There’s something rattling around in that pretty head of yours, I can tell. So pretend you’re thirty-five, my age. What was your plan for life after soccer?”

Tacy stopped hesitating. She needed to talk to someone about her aspirations. Someone who wasn’t her parents. “I want to go back to school to study landscape design.”

Lauren’s brows rose. “Still like playing in the dirt?”

It was Lauren who had introduced her to gardening. While Tacy had never admitted it to anyone, the times she was outside, digging up weeds, planting flowers, creating beautiful, colorful beds, were the times she was most at peace. “I love it.”

Lauren was clearly pleased that she’d been able to share her love of something with Tacy. “I’ll hire you to work for IAS. You can plant in Haiti.”

Tacy appreciated the offer, but she wasn’t tempted. “Thanks, but I’m more interested in creating flowerbeds, not growing food. And I’m finished with travel. The next roots I put in the ground are going to be mine.”

“Did you tell your folks about wanting to go back to school?”

Tacy grimaced. “I did. My dad said it was a waste of my God-given talents and abilities.”

Lauren tilted her head. “What did I just say about—”

Tacy raised her hand to cut her off. “I know. I know. I’m not giving up on the dream because of that.”

“Then what’s holding you back?”

Nothing. Not really. Except the fear of failure. Going back to school after so many years was sort of terrifying. Plus, aside from the tinkering she’d done in the flowerbeds in her parents’ backyard, Tacy didn’t know if landscaping was more hobby than talent. She’d been raised on the precept that you only pursued something if you could be the best. “Me, I guess. What if I start the classes and can’t do it?”

Lauren’s eyes filled with sympathy. Her former babysitter was probably one of the few people who had ever really seen what Tacy’s childhood had been like. “Then you’ll pick something else. This is your time, Tace. Try a bunch of different things. Fail, succeed, quit, try again, do whatever feels right to you. You know, all those things that make you human.”

“Human.” This was why Tacy loved Lauren so. She walked through life without fear of making mistakes. Tacy wished she had even a quarter of her friend’s courage and self-confidence.

“Can you afford to go to school?”

Tacy had saved nearly every penny she’d made playing soccer, plus there had been some nice-size royalties from endorsements. It would take all her money, but she could swing it. If she could find the nerve to take that risk. “Yeah. I could.”

Lauren lifted her hands as if all Tacy’s problems were solved. “So there you go. Just do it.”

“Just do it? Go to college. Anywhere in particular?” Tacy joked, amused by Lauren’s Nike philosophy.

“You get a map and you circle the spot where your parents’ house is in Longview, Nebraska. Then you measure out eight hundred miles in every direction. Any school outside of the circle is fair game.”

Tacy laughed. “I think it speaks to my present state of mind when I say that actually sounds like a pretty solid idea.”

“Glad I could help.”

Tacy leaned back and sighed, feeling more carefree and happy than she had in months. She wasn’t sure her life was as settled as Lauren seemed to believe, but Tacy was willing to pretend they’d sorted out her future for a little while. She was tired of stressing out about it. She’d come to Sapphire Falls because she needed a break from her anxieties, her waning self-confidence, and her folks—not necessarily in that order.

“To be honest, my aspirations for this week aren’t much bigger than overindulging on caramel apples, kettle corn and deep-fried Oreos. Tell me about this festival of yours. Given the number of booths already set up in the town square, it appears to be a pretty big deal.”

“Oh, around these parts, it’s huge. There’s all kinds of stuff going on—rides, a kissing booth, a haunted house.”

“Haunted house? In June.”

Lauren nodded. “Yeah. It’s weird, but whatever. Just embrace the crazy and you’ll get along fine this week.”

Tacy giggled, but Lauren lifted a finger in warning. “And don’t accept any invitation to that haunted house from the local boys.”

“Why not?”

“Lots of dark corners. Fellas around here have learned how to take advantage of that with their girlfriends.”

“Would you happen to be one of those girlfriends?”

Lauren flipped her hair over her shoulder and shrugged. “No comment.”

“Which is all the answer I need.”

They both grinned as Lauren continued her list of festivities. “There’s also a dunk tank, petting zoo, beer garden—”

“Beer garden?” Tacy interjected.

“With craft beer, Tace. Not that cheap-ass shit you drink.”

Tacy took another bite of her omelet, silently deciding to eat breakfast at this diner every morning she was here. The food really was incredible.

Lauren continued her list. “There’s a 5K mud run too.”

“That sounds fun.”

“Can you do that with your knee?”

Tacy shrugged. “Maybe. If I take it easy. Might actually be good for me to give it a little workout.”

“And there’s a dance auction tonight to kick things off. I was hoping you’d let me sign you up for that.”

“Me?” Tacy asked. “Why?”

“Because I can list at least a dozen guys in town who would love to dance with a World Cup champion.”

Tacy narrowed her eyes. “I thought we agreed you were going to be low-key about my past profession.”

Lauren looked completely unrepentant as she confessed to breaking that deal. “It’s a festival. We like celebrities and you definitely qualify.”

“Seriously?”

As if on cue, they were approached by a tall, beautiful blonde who claimed a seat at their table without invitation. “Hey, Lauren,” she said, her gaze locked on Tacy.

Lauren grinned. “Perfect timing, Hailey. Feels almost like you were eavesdropping on us.”

Hailey rolled her eyes. “Even if I was, it took you long enough to get to the point.” The woman extended her hand toward Tacy. “I’m Hailey Bennett, Director of Business Development and Tourism in Sapphire Falls.”

“Bennett?” Tacy asked, looking at Lauren.

“For better or worse, Hailey is my sister-in-law. She married Travis’ brother, Ty.”

“Ah.” Then Tacy recalled the rest of Hailey’s introduction. “Director of Tourism?”

Hailey nodded. “There are a lot of wonderful things about Sapphire Falls that we hope will draw tourists, and the annual festival is certainly one of the biggest events. Folks who grew up here, but moved away as adults, often return to visit at this time of the year. Lots of people from surrounding towns take part in all the fun stuff we have going on—it’s sort of a nice kickoff to summer. And let’s face it, all of that is good for the local businesses because it increases sales in the shops, fills the rooms in the B&B, and sends lots of patrons to the bars and restaurants.”

Tacy looked at Lauren. “Is there a reason she’s telling me all this?”

Lauren laughed loudly. “Not really. Hailey’s just fond of the sound of her own voice.”

Hailey didn’t appear offended. “Bite me, Lauren.”

Lauren took a sip of her juice and then lowered the boom. “Some marketing may have gone out, advertising the fact that World Cup Soccer Champion Tacy Bradford would be attending the festival, in addition to Chase Hamilton and her husband, Ty, of course.”

“Ty?”

Lauren pointed her thumb at Hailey. “Ty won a silver in the Olympics, and Chase grew up here then became a famous actor.”

“Wow. That’s awesome. Those guys seem like much bigger celebrities than me.”

Lauren grinned mischievously. “Yeah, but Chase is trying to be incognito—like that will work—and Ty’s old news around here.”

Hailey snorted. “I’m going to tell him you said that.”

Lauren didn’t look worried as she continued speaking to Tacy. “You’d be the new celebrity this year.”

“And what exactly would that entail?” Tacy didn’t like the idea of riding around on some float and looking like a fool doing the queen’s wave. Lauren hadn’t mentioned a parade, had she?

“Oh, don’t worry,” Hailey said in a tone that didn’t reassure her. “Lauren said you were here for a relaxing vacation, so we didn’t fill your schedule with too many events.”

“My schedule?”

Hailey pulled a piece of paper from her handbag. “It’s pretty much the stuff Lauren already mentioned to you.” Hailey’s comment revealed she had been eavesdropping on their conversation, as she continued to explain their plans. “We were hoping you’d take a go in the dunk tank one afternoon, be one of the judges in the apple pie baking contest, pose for some pictures with people at the photo booth and participate in the dance auction. Other than that, you can just mill around and enjoy yourself.”

Lauren added to Hailey’s list. “I’ll warn you that there are quite a few people hoping to get your autograph. Would you be okay with that?”

Tacy nodded. She hadn’t been a star player on the team, so while she had signed the occasional autograph, she hadn’t spent much time in the limelight. Part of her was sort of pleased that anyone would even consider her a celebrity. She certainly didn’t see herself that way. “Sure. Why not? It sounds like fun.”

“Wonderful.” Hailey rose. “Hate to dash off, but there are a million things to do to get ready for the festival kickoff. It was nice to meet you, Tacy. I’m looking forward to hanging out with you this week.”

Hailey was gone before Tacy could respond.

“Is she always like that?”

“A whirlwind?” Lauren asked. “Oh yeah. Hailey has one speed—fast-forward. She’s actually pretty great. I think you’ll like her.”

Lauren looked around the diner. “In fact, chances are good you’ll like everyone here. Come to think of it…” Lauren pulled her phone from her purse and started tapping away in search of something.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m trying to see how far it is from here to Longview. It’s gotta be eight hundred miles. You can do online classes and stay here with us forever.”

Tacy laughed. “Forget it. You may have given up on your big-city aspirations, but I have not. Wherever I settle, it’s going to be a place with countless malls, restaurants, bars and an airport within spitting distance. Might help if it has a warm climate year-round so I don’t have to curtail my dirt-digging activities because of snow and ice. I don’t know how you can stand living so far away from civilization after making your break from Longview.”

“I’m not worried about your rejection. I swore I’d never move to Sapphire Falls too and look at me now. I have a whole week to change your mind.”

Tacy started to assure her friend that wouldn’t happen when the front door to the diner opened, and the hottest guy she’d ever laid eyes on walked in. “On second thought…”

Lauren followed her gaze as the man walked to the counter and claimed a stool near the end.

“If all the guys in Sapphire Falls are as hot as that, I might be convinced to stick around.”

Lauren turned back to face her. “Sadly, we can’t claim him. I’ve never seen that guy before. Wonder if he’s here visiting relatives for the week.”

Before Tacy could respond, the man shifted on the stool, letting his gaze travel around the room. She licked her lips as she took in his thick dark hair and chocolate-brown eyes. He had laugh lines around his eyes and mouth that said he was no stranger to smiling, and he had the slightest shadow of a beard that told her he hadn’t shaved this morning. God, she was a sucker for a five o’clock shadow. His muscular arms were showcased in a T-shirt that fit him just right. Tacy hated guys who wore their shirts a size too small in hopes of showing off their physique. This man didn’t play that game. Hell, he didn’t need to. He was built perfectly.

She didn’t realize she was staring until his eyes met hers. Tacy knew she should look away, but she couldn’t. It was as if something came over them when their gazes locked and neither of them pretended to do anything other than what they were doing. Which was the most blatant checking-each-other-out in the history of flirting. He smiled and she returned it. Her cheeks flushed slightly when he winked.

Tacy was no stranger to attraction, but this felt different somehow. It was as though she’d been struck by a serious, almost crippling case of lust at first sight. Her nipples tightened, her pussy clenched, and she was suddenly very, very warm. If she’d been wearing more than a T-shirt and jean shorts, she would have been tempted to strip off a layer to seek some cooler air. Sadly, there was only one layer between her and her panties and bra.

Not that she minded showing him those. They were baby-blue silk with tiny white flowers and really cute.

Regrettably, the idea of taking off her clothing only added to her horny state, and she was overwhelmed by the desire to drag the man off the stool and back to her room at the B&B. Which was a ridiculous response.

The man was a stranger. A completely hot-as-hell, sex-on-a-stick, ohmigod, I-want-to-lick-him-from-top-to-bottom stranger.

Tacy wasn’t sure how long they would have continued the silent dalliance, but it ended when the waitress behind the counter asked the man if he wanted a cup of coffee. He turned to respond and Tacy was forced back to the present.

To Lauren, looking at her with an all-too-knowing smirk.

“I think maybe we should add something else to your schedule for this week,” Lauren said.

“Oh yeah?”

“There’s no cure on earth for whatever ails you like a good hard workout between the sheets, and something tells me that man would know his way around a woman’s body.”

“Are you suggesting I go pick up that guy for a one-night stand?” Tacy tried to feign shock or offense or something. She failed at all three, of course. Mainly because she was hoping Lauren would give her the green light to do just that.

Maybe like right now.

Damn. She needed to get a grip. Tacy rubbed her eyes and tried to shake off the lingering lust that had her heart beating just a smidge too fast. This was why she should have sprung for the more expensive ticket instead of saving money with the red-eye. She was overtired and not thinking clearly. If she didn’t manage to get in a nap at some point today, God only knew what sort of trouble she’d get into.

Problem was Lauren didn’t seem amenable to letting her escape. Her comment when Tacy put her bags in her room and mentioned lying down for a little while was simply to say, “You can sleep when you get back home. It’s festival time.”

Lauren glanced over her shoulder. The man hadn’t turned back around since getting his coffee. “I’m not sure I’d limit myself to just one night with him.”

“You’re a married woman.”

Lauren laughed. “Maybe so, but I can appreciate fine physiques. And that guy has it going on in all the right places. It’s something worth considering. After all, you’re only here for a week and it’s not like you’re looking for anything long-term. You said you wanted to let your hair down and relax. I don’t see why you can’t add hot sex with a stranger to that sugar-and-grease overload you’ve got planned. Just do it.”

The Nike advice again.

The old Tacy would have dismissed the suggestion out of hand, not because she didn’t like sex, but because there had never been time. Her focus had always been on the game.

Now her entire life had been flipped upside down in just a few months. It was obvious she was going to have to step out of her comfort zone and try some new things. It was the only way she could hope to forge a future that might bring her some level of happiness and contentment.

Maybe she could test those wings here.

In Sapphire Falls.

With him.

Chapter Two

Zac Lewis sat on the steps of a gazebo in the middle of Sapphire Falls and chatted with his foster brother, Justin, on the phone as he watched the world go by. He tried to lie to himself, tried to pretend he wasn’t looking for the smokin’-hot blonde he had seen in the diner this morning, and was instead taking in the scenery.

“Zac?”

“I’m still here.” Zac forced himself to forget about the woman and focus on the conversation with his brother. Ever since he’d borrowed the old RV Justin’s business—and life—partner Ned had inherited from his great uncle and taken off in search of the West Coast, his siblings had taken turns calling to check up on him. Apparently it was Justin’s day to make sure he hadn’t driven the hunk of junk he was calling home for six weeks off a cliff.

“Where are you again?”

“Sapphire Falls,” Zac repeated.

“Where the hell is that?”

Zac chuckled. “Bumfuck, Nebraska.”

“Jesus. How’d you end up there?”

“Just where the nose of the RV happened to be pointing today.” While that was true of most of his trip so far, his sojourn to Sapphire Falls had actually been a bit more intentional. He’d stopped for gas on the highway about fifty miles back and spotted a flyer promoting a festival, and decided to check it out.

He was a week and a half into what he was calling his six-week walkabout. Only he wasn’t walking, but driving.

Born and bred in New Orleans, Zac’s only venture out of the southern city was a few months ago when his brother, Noah, had been a finalist in a cooking show, and the family had scored a brief trip to Las Vegas. Touring the desert during that long weekend, Zac realized there was a big world out there, and at twenty-nine, he’d seen precious little of it.

Not that there’d been much help for that. Zac had come up with a life plan when he was sixteen and he’d never looked back. After graduating as valedictorian of his class in high school, he’d gotten enough scholarship money and financial aid to attend college. From there, he had been accepted to medical school. He’d just finished up his classes, passed the licensing exam, and was about to embark on a five-year residency at New Orleans East.

As such, he’d spent the majority of his life with his nose buried in a book. When he finally lifted his head and looked around, he realized there was a world outside the medical library. With a month and a half hiatus before beginning his residency, he decided to take advantage of the time—and the RV—and head west. He’d always had a desire to see the Pacific Ocean and Big Sur.

Because his life had been regimented for so long, he decided against mapping a course. Instead, he was rambling his way across the country, taking off-the-beaten-track highways, stopping whenever a place looked interesting, eating when he got hungry, sleeping when he got tired, and refusing to come up with a schedule or deadlines. Only ten days in and he was having the time of this life.

“Still loving the trip?” Justin asked.

“More than I can say.”

His brother chuckled. “Gotta admit, I’m jealous. Wish I’d done the same thing when I was younger.”

Zac rolled his eyes. “You’re not that damn old.”

“I’m pushing forty. I’ve got a business, a mortgage and a pregnant wife who probably wouldn’t enjoy spending her last trimester in a rickety RV with me and Ned.”

Zac was exceptionally fond of Justin and Ned’s wife, Bella. While she was only legally wed to Justin, those closest to the couple knew their lifelong vows had included Ned. “Yeah. I think you’re smart to stay put for now. At least until my little niece comes along.”

The trio was expecting their first child in July. Neither man knew who the biological father was, and they’d confided to Zac that unless it became medically necessary to know, they would never seek that knowledge. The baby belonged to all three of them. It was a beautiful union, and Zac couldn’t wait to hold the newest little Lewis.

“Just got back from Sunday supper at Mama’s house. You were missed, bro.”

The family had a standing date for dinner at Mama Lewis’ house every week. Zac had only missed a handful of times in the past, and now he’d missed two in a row. “Not going to pretend I’m not dreaming about Mama’s cooking. There’s only so much fast food, sandwiches and cereal one man can take.”

Although he had to admit he’d enjoyed his meal at Dottie’s Diner this morning. He’d been trying to save money by eating breakfast and lunch in the RV, then finding local places for dinner. However, sometimes if he was still on the highway and starving, he’d slide through a fast-food drive-thru simply for convenience’s sake.

“You’ll have plenty of time to catch up when you get back. Enjoy your time in Emerald City.”

“Sapphire Falls,” Zac corrected with a laugh. “And I will. Talk to you soon, Justin.”

“Later.”

They disconnected the call and Zac glanced around. He’d spent most of the day just roaming around the streets, checking out the booths and picking up some handmade jewelry for his sisters, Chloe and Dani, as well as Mama Lewis. All that was left was to find the caramel apple he’d been craving all day before returning to the RV for the night. While the festival was fun, he planned to hop back onto the highway tomorrow morning to see what else the Midwest had to offer.

As he walked to the booth with all the sweet treats, he searched the crowd once more for the blonde. He wasn’t sure what it was about her that had captured his attention, but the attraction he’d felt toward her had been instant and powerful. He’d eaten his entire breakfast in a half-hard state, and he’d been perfectly aware when she had risen and left the diner. She’d glanced back at him when she reached the door and he’d given her a subtle goodbye nod. They hadn’t spoken a single word to each other, yet it seemed as if they’d said volumes.

There were two people ahead of him in line so he filed into place and studied the menu. The booth was dedicated to all things sugar—kettle corn, cotton candy, funnel cakes, and caramel apples. Then he noticed there was just one more caramel apple on the woman’s pan. He hoped the people in front of him steered clear. His major reason for turning the RV toward Sapphire Falls had been in hopes of finding his favorite carnival fare.

Fortunately, the two customers before him chose other temptations.

“I’ll have a caramel apple,” Zac said when the woman asked for his order.

“You got the last one,” she confirmed as she took his money, and then went to grab the apple.

“Damn,” someone muttered behind him.

Zac turned, surprised to find the blonde standing right behind him. Her eyes widened when she realized it was him.

“It’s you,” she said.

He nodded. “Yep. And it’s you.”

The smile she gave him sent too much blood traveling south again. What the hell was it about this woman?

“Don’t suppose I could talk you into changing your order to a candy apple?”

Zac shook his head. “Nowhere near as good.”

She shot him a wry look that said she agreed wholeheartedly. “Probably best that I missed out. I’ve eaten more junk food today than I have in the past three years put together.”

He laughed. “That’s what’s great about a fair. Health concerns fly out the window.”

She tilted her head. “I love your southern accent. Where are you from?”

“New Orleans,” he replied.

“Oh! I love that city. I’ve only been once for a tournament and I didn’t get to spend nearly enough time there. It’s on the top of my list of places to go back to one day.”

“For a tournament?” Zac asked.

“Soccer.”

His mind flashed back to the flyer he’d seen advertising the festival. “You’re Tacy Bradford.”

She nodded. “Guilty.”

“Damn. I watched the final of that World Cup game. Y’all kicked ass.”

Tacy laughed, clearly pleased by his compliment. “Thanks.”

“Are you still playing?”

Her smiled faded briefly before she managed to paste on a sunny expression that didn’t fool him a bit. “Unfortunately no. I blew out my knee in practice a few months ago.”

“ACL?”

“Meniscus. Big tear. Second one in four years. The doctor suggested I not risk a third.”

“Probably good advice.” Zac glanced down. “You’ve had surgery to repair it?”

“Yeah,” she replied. “There was a lot of scar tissue from the first surgery, so my recovery took a bit longer. I just got rid of the brace a week ago. Still have some rehab to do, but it feels a lot better. Unfortunately, I’ve been dealing with pain in the other knee because it’s been supporting all my weight the past three months. I had arthroscopic surgery on it about six years ago. Basically, my knees are jacked.”

“Soccer’s a tough sport on knees. And ankles.”

“You seem to know a lot about it. You play?”

“No,” Zac replied, grinning. “Just finished up med school. About to start my residency to become an orthopedic surgeon.”

“No kidding,” she said. “Wow. What are the chances? I’m a regular customer when it comes to orthopedics.”

“Well, in that case, let me give you my card.” He stuck out his hand. “Zac Lewis.”

She accepted his handshake, but the moment her hand touched his, Zac felt a jolt of…something he couldn’t describe or understand. All he knew was he was overwhelmed by the desire to keep hold of her hand.

He wondered if she felt the same way because he noticed she didn’t seek to pull away from him. They stared at each other and her expression held the same curiosity that he felt.

Finally, he released her hand.

Tacy shoved her hands in the pockets of her shorts. “You have relatives in Sapphire Falls, Zac?”

Zac shook his head. “No. I actually just happened to be driving by, saw a flyer for the festival and decided to check it out. How about you? You from here?”

“No. I’m just passing through like you. I have a friend who lives in town and she invited me to visit. Are you planning to stay for the entire week?”

Zac had been ready to leave, but now… “Actually no. I intended to get back on the road tomorrow morning. However…”

“However?”

He thought perhaps there was a bit of hope in her expression.

“However, I’m rethinking that.”

Her smile grew. “Good.”

Zac was suddenly grateful his schedule wasn’t set in stone. Suddenly glad he’d made this detour to Sapphire Falls. Suddenly scrambling for a way to keep talking to her.

“Listen, Tacy—” He was about to ask her if she’d like to join him for a drink at the bar he’d just walked by, the Come Again, but his request was cut off when they were joined by another woman.

“There you are.” It was the same brunette he’d seen Tacy sitting with in the diner this morning.

“Hey, Lauren.” Tacy pointed to him. “This is—”

“It’s you!” Lauren said when she glanced in his direction. “The guy from the diner.”

Zac chuckled, secretly pleased Tacy’s friend recognized him. Maybe that meant the two of them had talked about him over breakfast. “Zac Lewis.”

“Lauren Bennett. Are you in town visiting relatives?”

He shook his head. “Nope. Saw a flyer for the festival at a gas station, somewhere near York. Thought I’d come check it out.”

Lauren’s brows rose. “Really? Wonderful. I’ll have to tell Hailey her advertising was effective. That’s a really cool southern accent.”

“New Orleans.”

“You’re a long way from home,” Lauren said.

Zac got a sense Lauren was checking him out for her friend. Not that he minded. He was hoping to convince Tacy to spend some time with him. At least until he could figure out what is was about her that had him as smitten as a kitten.

“I have six weeks before I start my residency.”

“He’s going to be an orthopedic surgeon,” Tacy added.

Lauren snorted. “That’s convenient.”

Zac agreed. “I’ve always wanted to see the Pacific Ocean, so I borrowed a friend’s RV and I’m ten days into a rambling trip cross-country.”

Lauren seemed interested in his journey. “And you ended up in Sapphire Falls. Amazing. We’re not that easy to find.” Lauren glanced at her watch and quietly cursed. “Damn. I really hate to break this up, but the dance is about to begin. You’re the third person up for auction.”

“Auction?” Zac asked.

Tacy grimaced good-naturedly. “I got drafted.”

Lauren gave a more detailed explanation. “The first night of the festival, we hold a dance auction. We have a few local celebrities—and this year Tacy—who agreed to dance with the highest bidder. Were you planning to join the party?”

“I…am now.” Zac did a mental calculation, trying to recall how much money he had left in his wallet. He was determined to be the high bidder for Tacy’s dance.

“Good.” Lauren turned and led the way as the three of them set off toward the dance. Along the way, Lauren gave them an insider’s look at Sapphire Falls, pointing out the blue lampposts with speakers in them, the photo booth on the edge of the square, and Borcher’s Booze.

Zac made plans to check out the liquor store tomorrow. Lauren had piqued his interest in trying the strawberry Booze. Sounded a bit like moonshine. If it was as good as she proclaimed, he’d take a couple jars back to New Orleans to share with his brothers.

When they arrived at the dance, he waved goodbye as Lauren dragged Tacy toward the stage. The auction appeared to be underway, an auctioneer calling out prices and hopefuls raising their hands to join the bidding.

It was a good thing Lauren had found them when she had, because Tacy was onstage within minutes of their arrival. He watched as several men entered the bidding early. Zac studied his competition, biding his time.

The auctioneer had been just about to seal the deal, selling Tacy’s dance to some muscle-bound farm-boy type. There was no way Zac was going to let that guy win. He raised his hand at the last minute, adding twenty bucks and a caramel apple for the lady to the last bid.

Several folks around him laughed at his extra incentive.

The farm boy looked surprised as he considered his opponent. Zac held his gaze, letting him know he had no intention of losing. After just a moment, the man good-naturedly nodded his head in defeat, and then looked back to the auctioneer. He shook his head and Zac was declared the winner.

Zac had been struck over and over today by how nice everyone in this town was. He hadn’t passed a single person who hadn’t said hello or welcomed him to Sapphire Falls. He’d run into some lively cast of characters who called themselves the Blue Brigade earlier. They had given him a card that told him to shake hands with and introduce himself to a stranger.

The random guy who had been walking by at that time—Travis—was clearly a local. He caught a glimpse of the card in Zac’s hand and took the impromptu introduction in stride.

Zac couldn’t imagine such a thing flying in New Orleans. Not that there weren’t friendly people in his hometown. It was simply that there were a lot of eccentric, offbeat, and even sketchy, stay-the-hell-away types, and as a whole, locals were more guarded until they knew a person.

Tacy grinned widely as she left the stage and joined him. “You realize I would have danced with you later for free?”

Zac handed her the caramel apple. “Call me greedy, but I want all your dances tonight.”

Tacy didn’t seem to mind his forwardness, but she still teased him. “And you think one little old caramel apple will guarantee that?”

“Will it?”

She nodded. “Oh heck yeah.”

The music began—an old Elvis tune—and Zac grasped Tacy’s hand.

“Hang on a second.” She pulled away to place her apple on the table where Lauren was sitting with a little girl on her lap, and then she returned.

The moment her hands landed on his shoulders, Zac realized that even if he danced every single dance with her tonight, it still wouldn’t be enough. He pulled her closer thinking that—odd as it seemed—he felt the same way as Elvis, as if he couldn’t help falling in love with this woman.

Tacy didn’t appear unaffected either. A fact she confirmed when she spoke. “Is it weird that I feel like I know you?”

He shook his head. “No. I feel the same way. Maybe we knew each other in a previous life.”

He’d meant his words as a joke, but Tacy didn’t laugh. Instead, she seemed to consider the supposition. “I like that idea. Makes it sound like we’re soul mates and we’ve managed to cross generations, worlds, lifetimes to find each other.”

“Are you looking for a soul mate, darlin’?”

“Isn’t everyone?”

Until that moment, Zac hadn’t been. It wasn’t that he wasn’t interested in romance, love, sex, marriage and kids. Eventually. All of those things were certainly on his list, under the heading Someday.

He’d been so focused, so intent on becoming a doctor, everything else had taken a backseat. Zac had dated. And he’d indulged in more than a few sexual affairs. He was only human, after all, and a man had needs. But he’d kept serious emotion out of it. Because there hadn’t been time.

“You went quiet.” Tacy was looking at him, still waiting for an answer. “Didn’t mean to freak you out or anything.”

He was freaked out. Not by her question, but by what it revealed. This trip had opened his eyes to how many places, how many adventures and opportunities he’d let pass him by as he kept his eyes on just one prize. Now he was forced to add love to the list. Until holding Tacy, he hadn’t realized how much he’d wanted someone to share his life with.

Zac placed his cheek against the top of her head as they continued to dance. “We must have been soul mates in another life because now that you’re here, I realize how much I’ve missed you.”

She leaned back a few inches, looking up at his face. “That’s the most romantic thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

“You caught me on a good night,” he joked, trying to find a way to lighten the moment, to put them back on steadier ground. He never acted like this on first dates. Hell, this wasn’t even a first date, was it?

Regardless, he never came on this strong. Must be all the fresh air, rich food and lack of deadlines. He was acting loopy with all this relaxation and freedom.

Tacy rested her head against his chest as he tightened his grip, molding their bodies together. She didn’t resist the closeness, despite the fact they were virtual strangers.

Or maybe they weren’t. If they weren’t soul mates, there was no denying they were kindred spirits. There was something in her eyes that told him she was just now recognizing the same deep-seated loneliness he’d found within himself.

She felt good in his arms. Zac couldn’t remember the last time he’d danced with a woman. God, now that he considered it, he was pretty sure it was senior prom.

The song came to an end, a faster tune taking its place. He and Tacy simply continued to sway, finding their own rhythm through the next three songs.

Tacy was the first to step away. “Getting kind of warm in here. Want to go for a walk?”

Zac nodded. He was feeling the heat as well, but it had nothing to do with the actual temperature at the dance and everything to do with the effect she was having on his libido. “Yeah. I’d like that.”

He stood near the exit as Tacy said goodbye to Lauren, who was slow dancing with the man he’d met earlier on the street, Travis. The couple glanced his way. Lauren winked, while Travis offered him a friendly smile. Both responses surprised him.

In the Lewis clan, the men were far too protective of the females. His sisters, Chloe and Dani, had been forced to endure as their older brothers, Caliph, Justin and Jett, subjected their dates to some serious third degrees. He and Noah had been younger than the others, so they’d mainly just watched. And learned.

While he knew he was a decent guy, he couldn’t believe Lauren and Travis would let her leave the dance with a complete stranger. Then again, he couldn’t imagine Sapphire Falls had much crime. Knowing this idyllic, modern-day Mayberry, the law probably never dealt with anything more serious than someone keeping a fish that was too small or hunting out of season.

“You ready?” She had retrieved her caramel apple and held out her free hand to him.

He took it, enjoying the warmth of it as they stepped out into the crisp night air. Zac glanced up at the stars. “Never see a sky like that in the city.”

Tacy looked up as well. “It’s beautiful here. First time in Nebraska?”

He nodded. “With the exception of Vegas, this trip is my first time anywhere.”

“Really?” She seemed fascinated by that information, and he figured he was a bit of an anomaly to someone like her, who’d traveled all over the world. Her next comment confirmed that. “Sometimes I feel like I’ve been everywhere. And nowhere. Despite all the places I’ve traveled to, I didn’t see much more than the hotels and the stadiums. Kind of a waste, now that I think about it.”

“You’re still young. Start over. Maybe my friend will let you borrow his RV and you can take your own hobo adventure.”

She laughed. “I love what you’re doing. It’s so cool.”

He lifted one shoulder casually. “The trip is just my way of making up for lost time. Doing things I never had the chance to do.”

Tacy studied his face as they walked. He liked the way she wasn’t shy around him. She didn’t demur or avoid his eyes. Instead, she looked him straight in the face and didn’t bother to hide her thoughts. “Like what?”

“I’ve lived a fairly single-minded existence for the past decade or so. Focusing on achieving my career goals. Now I’m at a place where I find I have some regrets about the things I’ve missed.”

Tacy blew out a long sigh. “I can relate to that.”

“How so?”

“Soccer has been my life since, well, forever. Without it, I’m sort of stuck, trying to figure out who I am, what my purpose is now.”

“Sounds like we’ve both been walking the straight and narrow for a while. I’ve spent the last week wondering if there’s more to me than just medicine. Talking to you has made me realize exactly how much I’ve missed.”

“What do you mean?”

“With the exception of you, I haven’t danced with a woman since high school prom.”

Her eyes widened. “No way.”

“What can I say? I’m a pretty boring guy.”

“I don’t buy that for a minute. The fact that you had the guts to hop in an RV and head west with no real aim tells me you’re far from dull. I wish I had your sense of adventure.”

“Don’t sell yourself so short, Tacy. None of us are just one thing. Something tells me you could do anything you set your mind to. Soccer was one passion. You’ll find a new one soon enough.”

He probably shouldn’t have used the word passion while talking to her because it sent his mind straight to the bedroom. Zac was struggling to keep his cock under control after holding her so closely during the dance. He didn’t want to scare the poor woman away this soon in the game.

She smiled appreciatively. “You’re going to be a great doctor, Zac. You have an amazing bedside manner.”

Great. That didn’t help either.

Zac considered himself a gentleman, but right now, he was having a hard time keeping all his thoughts about Tacy pure. She was truly beautiful, with long trim legs, a slender build, a bright smile and the most expressive eyes he’d ever seen. Plus she smelled like sugar.

Time to deflect, to distract himself. “So tell me about yourself.”

He and Tacy meandered around the town square no less than a dozen times, talking until the wee hours. She reminisced about winning the gold in the World Cup, about the parties, parades and celebrations that followed.

Then her stories turned to her childhood. The dance had ended hours ago, the rides and booths closed down. Even the lampposts were silent, the music shut off.

And still they walked. She told him about her parents, their ambitious goals for her, the pressure to constantly succeed. He’d been outraged on her behalf, upset for the little girl she’d been, the one who hadn’t gotten a carefree childhood.

“God. I feel like I’m the only one talking. How about you? What do your folks do?” she asked.

Zac sucked in a deep breath. As a rule, he didn’t talk about his childhood. Not the earlier stuff anyway. However, he loved talking about the Lewises. “I was in the foster system.”

Her forehead creased with concern. “Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. My experience was positive. My brother and I were taken in by the most amazing woman on the face of the earth. Mama Lewis took us away from a bad situation and provided a wonderful home.”

Tacy smiled. “She sounds great.”

“You have no idea. Before her, I didn’t have a clue what it meant to feel secure, safe. She gave me and Noah a home, a family, unconditional love. It was because of her I had enough confidence to follow my dreams and study medicine.”

He hadn’t meant to reveal so much, but Tacy was easy to talk to. Words he’d never spoken aloud just seemed to fall out around her.

“How old were you when you moved in with her?”

They were entering forbidden territory. Zac hadn’t talked about his mom to anyone in years, with the exception of Mama Lewis, and even that hadn’t been much.

Unlike his brother, Noah, he’d remained in touch with their real mother. He knew it was ridiculous, but there’d always been a part of him that believed he could save her. As the years passed, he’d realized that was more and more unlikely. Regardless, he checked in on her monthly. He never gave her actual cash, but he took her food. He’d learned the hard way that no matter how hungry she might be, any money he gave her would go to feed her addiction, not her stomach.

“When I was fifteen.”

“It must have been tough for you before that.”

He couldn’t go into those details. That was a time he refused to revisit, even in his own mind. He just shut it out. “I lived.”

Tacy looked as if she wanted to ask more, but mercifully she let it drop. She glanced at the B&B. They’d walked past it three times already on their rambling stroll around town. Each time, they’d stopped, kept talking, and before they knew it, they were taking another lap around the square.

“This is my stop.”

“Yeah.” Zac looked at his watch and winced. “Damn. Three a.m. Didn’t mean to keep you out so late.”

They had run into her friends, Lauren and Travis, when they were leaving the dance. He’d overheard them making plans to meet for breakfast at Dottie’s Diner at eight a.m.

Tacy shrugged. “I’m used to getting up early. Most of our workouts started at the crack of dawn. Are you still planning to leave tomorrow?”

He shook his head. Zac wasn’t sure what was going on between them, but he wanted more time to explore it. “No. I think I’m going to stay a little longer.” Maybe the whole week. It would cut into his West Coast time, but he didn’t doubt it would be worth it.

“Good.”

The genuine pleasure on her face was more than he could resist. Zac reached out, cupped her cheek and kissed her.

He’d kissed his fair share of girls, but none of them—not one—impacted him like Tacy.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, her breasts pressing against his chest. He tightened his hold on her, moving his hands to grip her hips, to pull her more firmly against him.

She tasted like apples and sugar, remnants of the caramel apple they’d shared. His tongue swiped against hers, exploring the warmth of her mouth.

Tacy ran her fingers through his hair, turning her head so that he could deepen the kiss. Zac didn’t have a clue how long they stood there. It didn’t matter. He didn’t want this to end. Ever.

She was the first to pull away, to suck in a deep breath. “Wow. Not sure, but I think I might have seen some fireworks there.”

He chuckled, her openness and humor inviting. “Me too. It’s been a while since I’ve actually kissed anyone. Was afraid I might be a little rusty.”

“I think it’s like riding a bike.” She looked over her shoulder at the inn, and he thought he saw something like regret on her face. Was she sorry to leave him? To see the night end? He knew he was.

“Well,” she started.

“What’s on the celebrity’s agenda for tomorrow?” he asked. “Need an escort?”

Her face brightened. “There’s a softball game, but I’m not playing in it. Not sure my knee is ready for that. So I’m free. I was hoping we could ride the Ferris wheel and check out the haunted house. And maybe after…”

She flushed as her words faded away.

“After…” he prompted.

“I was hoping you’d give me a tour of your RV. My parents weren’t campers—tent, RV or otherwise. Always wanted to see the inside of one of those.”

The idea of having Tacy alone in his RV was going to wreak havoc on his self-control. Even now he was rock hard and hurting.

But he’d only met her a few hours ago. And Tacy wasn’t the sort of woman you had a one-night stand with. She was too sweet, too nice…too special.

Unfortunately, they were living on borrowed time—approximately seven days’ worth—and then they were heading in different directions to places unknown. He needed to make every second of it count.

Maybe he was going too fast. But the way he saw it, they didn’t have any other choice.

So it was going to be life in the fast lane this week. After so many years of plodding along in slow motion, he liked the idea of a whirlwind.

With Tacy.

In Sapphire Falls.

Chapter Three

Tacy didn’t even bother to dim her smile as she and Zac sat side by side atop the Ferris wheel. The sky was bright blue without a single cloud to mar the vivid color. The late afternoon sun was shining but not blazing too hot, and there was a slight breeze that had their seat swaying gently.

Up here, she could see forever, could take in the beauty of this quaint little town, nestled in the midst of the sea of green farms that surrounded it. The carnival was hopping, loads of people milling around below them, playing the games, eating junk food, laughing and talking. The soft strains of Frank Sinatra singing in the background of all the normal fair sounds simply added to the ambiance, the sheer magic of the moment.

Of course, the fact she was sitting next to the sexiest southern doctor she’d ever met didn’t hurt either.

Tacy had felt like a teenager on her very first date last night as she and Zac spent hours just walking and talking. He’d been completely engaged, interested in hearing what she had to say, and when he spoke, she found herself equally enthralled.

So much so, she’d woken up excited and energetic, despite the fact she hadn’t managed more than a few hours’ sleep. And she’d been thrilled to discover he was awake and thinking of her too when he texted to see when she wanted to meet.

Zac had joined her and Lauren for breakfast and they’d been together every moment since then. The more she learned about him, the more her infatuation, her attraction grew.

He was a fascinating man, to have achieved so much when he’d clearly come from such a rough beginning.

And when he’d kissed her…

Oh man. That kiss last night had knocked her socks off. Perfect amount of pressure, tongue, and his hands gripped her in just the right places. She’d had good kisses and she’d suffered through some shitty ones. Zac’s was, by far, the best ever.

In fact…

She turned to face him at the same time he looked at her. Her gaze landed on his lips, and she noticed his stare was in the exact same place.

“I’m going to kiss you, darlin’.”

She licked her lips as she grinned. “That’s funny. I thought I was going to kiss you.”

They moved toward each other without another word. And just like that, Tacy was blown away. Again.

She was vaguely aware of when the Ferris wheel began to move again. She sort of thought she heard some catcalls and whistles when they whizzed by, closest to the ground, but none of that mattered. Not the view. Not the public display of affection. Nothing.

She was Tacy Bradford, former soccer player. A woman with no job, no home, no clue. And she didn’t give a damn because she was kissing Dr. Zac Lewis at a carnival.

The kiss might have gone on forever if not for the interruption of someone clearing their throat nearby. She and Zac both turned their heads in unison, surprised to find themselves face-to-face with the carnie running the ride. He was amused and patiently waiting for them to debark.

“Sorry ’bout that,” Zac said in a tone that was far from sorry.

The man lifted the bar securing them inside the car and they got out. Tacy giggled as Zac warned the man they would be back later with double the tickets. He wanted a longer ride.

The man chuckled as he tipped his head, drawing her attention to his dusty ball cap emblazoned with the words Midway Magic Carnival Supplies on it. “I’ll be waiting.”

Zac took her hand as the two of them debated their next move.

“We could grab something to eat from a booth now,” he suggested. “Or head over to the haunted house first, and then hit the diner for a sit-down supper.”

She grinned at his twang as he rolled his eyes. Tacy found it hard to resist mimicking some of his more southern sounds. Zac didn’t take offense. Instead, he turned it up a notch for her entertainment. “We can see if Dottie will whip us up some shrimp and grits.”

“Hey, there you are.” Lauren walked up with her daughter, Whitney. “Heard you two just put on quite a show on the Ferris wheel.”

Tacy laughed. “Dear God. There’s no way you could have heard that already. It literally just happened.”

Lauren shrugged. “News travels at a normal pace in Sapphire Falls. Gossip flies at the speed of light. Softball game is about to start. I’m heading over to watch. Wanna join me?”

Zac looked at Tacy, clearly leaving the decision up to her. She loved how considerate he was. “Maybe we’ll meet up with you later. Right now, we’re going to check out the haunted house.”

Lauren’s eyes narrowed as she studied Zac more closely. “Ferris wheel and haunted house? You sure you’re not a local boy, Zac?”

Confused by her question, he asked, “This accent doesn’t prove that?”

Tacy giggled. “Apparently the local guys have learned how to incorporate the Ferris wheel and haunted house into their seduction routines.”

Zac wrapped his arm around Tacy’s shoulders. “Thanks for the tip, Lauren.”

Lauren rolled her eyes as she waved. “Go have fun. But be warned. You get too carried away and I’ll know about it before you manage to get to the ball game.”

“We’ll behave,” Tacy promised.

“Don’t write checks you can’t cash, sweet pea,” he teased Tacy, before looking at Lauren again. “We’ll be discreet,” Zac amended as Lauren’s loud laughter caught the attention of several people walking by.

“Text me later, Tace. Let me know if you two want to meet up for dinner with me and Travis.”

They waved goodbye, Lauren heading for the game as they took off for the haunted house.

Zac claimed her hand. She loved the feel of his fingers looped through hers. It made her feel safe, protected, cared for. Probably strange emotions considering she wasn’t in danger, but after a lifetime of fending for herself, this one simple act—holding hands with Zac—had her longing for so much more.

“Am I the only one who thinks a haunted house in June is strange?”

Tacy paused as they passed one of the craft booths. “Oh, I love that scarf. Remind me to come back,” she said as they continued walking. “Lauren says they all know it’s weird to have a haunted house this time of year, but I think they keep it going because the local boys don’t want to have to find some other way to get a girl they like alone in a dark room. Guess they’re fans of the tried and true.”

“Well, when you put it that way, it’s not so weird after all.”

Zac handed the man at the door their tickets to enter, then grinned when Tacy wrapped her arm around his waist, clinging to him tightly.

“Scared already? We haven’t even walked in.”

“I’m going to warn you right now. Stuff like this gets to me. People jumping out of dark corners. Loud, unexpected noises. Every horror movie ever made. I’m the girl who closes her eyes, screams and startles easily. I’m probably going to look like a lunatic.”

“Then why are we here?”

Tacy gave him a flirtatious smile. “I’m hoping you’ll take advantage of my irrational fears.”

“Challenge accepted.”

They walked in together as Zac wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Not going to lie. I like playing the role of protector. I haven’t been in a haunted house since I was a teenager.”

“Man, you really have been in a rut.”

“Yeah. Just needed to find a pretty girl to help me break free.” He looked around the dark room with the scary music playing. “Oh yeah. This place is great.”

“Figures you’d like it. I bet you’re the type who loves horror movies too.”

Before he could reply, a zombie seemed to detach itself from what Tacy had thought was a blank wall, approaching them with a loud groan.

She jumped at least five feet in the air and screamed.

Zac laughed as he quickly guided her away from the horrible creature and into another room.

While she’d feared how she would react, she had actually believed she could control it better. After all, she knew none of this was real. “Shit. That was embarrassing.”

“It was ador—”

Before Zac could finish, a spider dropped from the ceiling right in front of her. Even though her brain said fake, the rest of her reacted instinctively.

“Oh my God! Motherfucker!” She dodged behind Zac, gripping his shirt so tightly she was in danger of tearing it right off him.

Zac batted the plastic thing away and pulled her farther along, not bothering to loosen her grip on his shirt. “Maybe we should walk faster. Get this over with. I’m starting to worry about you, darlin’.”

“I thought I could handle—”

The sound of a witch cackling loudly filled the room and Tacy screamed in outright terror.

“That’s it.” Zac reached out to open a closed door nearby. He pushed her inside, following quickly before shutting them in.

Tacy gazed around the dim room. “Um, Zac. I think this is a closet.”

“Yeah. I thought you might like a breather before we go back out there and try to find the exit.”

Her heart was still racing, her hands shaking, but now that she knew nothing was going to come at her, she was beginning to relax. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”

She released a long breath just before Zac stepped closer.

“Besides, I seem to recall a challenge being laid down earlier.”

Tacy laughed softly. Obviously she stood corrected. There was something coming at her in here too. And it made her heart race even faster.

The difference was this time she wasn’t afraid. Not even a little.

She lifted her arms to his shoulders as he bent to kiss her. Three kisses in, and every time, he took her breath away. Zac kissed her as if she mattered, as though she was special.

There was no denying the intensity of the kiss, but there was also a gentleness behind it. She appreciated that care as much as it drove her nuts. She felt as if he was holding back.

This time when their lips parted, she decided to test the waters. She nipped at his lower lip, slowly increasing the pressure until Zac pulled away.

There was a tiny, frosted window in the far wall, but there appeared to be a large tree blocking the sunlight from streaming in. As such, the room was painted in a dim gray that left her and Zac in shadows. Nevertheless, she could still make out his hungry expression.

She’d surprised him. And aroused him.

“You wanna play rough?” His voice was deep, husky, that gorgeous southern accent adding even more wetness to her already-damp panties. Tacy hadn’t had sex in one year, two months, three days and a handful of hours. And sadly, it hadn’t been much to write home about.

Zac set her body on fire. Her nipples were tight, her pussy clenching. She feared one touch from him in the right spot and she’d spontaneously combust.

God. She was so tired of finding her own lukewarm orgasms. Tired of being alone. Tired of feeling out of control.

Everything she’d known, planned, and expected in life had been blown to bits in one stupid fall.

Maybe she didn’t know where she was going in the future, but she knew exactly what she wanted right now. And it was Zac.

“Yeah,” she replied. “Rough is good.”

Zac closed his eyes at her response. She wasn’t sure if he was turned on, praying or overwhelmed. All three ideas described her current state of mind fairly well. She liked the idea that he might feel the same.

When his lids lifted, she was treated to the sexiest, horniest look ever cast her way.

“We’ve only known each other a day. I was trying to be a gentleman.”

Zac wasn’t saying anything that hadn’t crossed her mind every second since they’d struck up that conversation over caramel apples. Perhaps if they’d met under normal circumstances, they would have moved at a steadier, slower pace. Gone on a few dates, spent several weeks talking on the phone and texting, taken the time to get to know each other before jumping into something sexual.

But this wasn’t a normal situation. Zac was only here for a few more days and then he was on the road again to Big Sur, and then his future as a doctor in New Orleans.

As for her, her life was one big question mark. All her belongings were packed in boxes in her parents’ garage in Longview as she tried to figure out what came next. Maybe if she weren’t in such a state of flux, of utter confusion, she’d be better able to figure out what it was about Zac that was pushing all the right buttons and making her act so out of character.

Her gut told her it was vacation brain. Both of them were taking a break from real life and stress and…common sense. People did things on vacation they would never do in their everyday lives. Scuba diving, zip lines, luaus on the beach, making out with a sexy doctor in the closet of a haunted house in June.

“Zac?”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t care how long we’ve known each other. And I don’t mind that it’s moving way too fast. I just really, really want to be with you.”

He didn’t reply, didn’t smile. As far as she could tell, he didn’t even take a breath. Instead, he pressed his lips to hers firmly and gave her the kiss she’d been waiting for. The one that told her everything she needed to know. Zac might be a sweet, patient, funny, easygoing doctor on the surface, but underneath, he was a bad boy.

His hands gripped her head, turning it so that he could take the kiss from scorching to hotter than the surface of the sun instantly.

Tacy dug her fingers into the muscles of his upper arms, searching for something to hold on to, something to keep her from dissolving into a puddle of goo at his feet.

As they kissed, Zac pressed her back three steps until he had her caged against the wall. It was a move worthy of Hollywood, and it drove the temperature in the tiny space up another twenty degrees.

Zac kept one hand on her head, using it to direct the kiss as the other slid lower, skimming over all the parts of her body that desperately wanted to be touched. He palmed one of her breasts, squeezing the flesh, pinching the nipple.

She kept trying to break free of the kiss in search of some much-needed air. She was light-headed, dizzy. Zac granted her no reprieve, his mouth taking hers relentlessly, beautifully.

Tacy moaned when his hand moved lower, reaching down to grip the hem of her miniskirt. She’d thrown the thing into her suitcase at the last minute, not really expecting to wear it. She was a jeans-and-shorts kind of girl. This morning, she’d been grateful to have something pretty…and sexy to wear for him.

His fingers traveled beneath the material, tickling the tops of her thighs, journeying closer. God. So close to the place she really needed to be touched.

Finally, Zac released her lips. “Open your legs, darlin’.”

It was the third time he’d used that term of endearment and when spoken with that accent of his, it was deadly to her libido. No one had ever bothered with a sweet nickname for her like that. Always a tomboy and a jock, she wasn’t viewed by guys as the type of girl worthy of something so cute, so panty-melting adorable.

Her thighs parted almost of their own volition and Zac took immediate advantage. He tugged her panties aside, his fingers sliding along her slit.

His eyes met hers and she blushed. She was soaking wet. She might be more embarrassed by that if Zac wasn’t looking at her as if she was the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

“You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever met.”

She smiled. “I’d be more flattered if you hadn’t admitted to spending the majority of the past eight years in the library.”

Zac chuckled. “I think librarians are hot.”

“Zac?”

“Yeah?”

“Start with two fingers.”

“Fuck me,” Zac muttered. Then, he granted her request, driving two fingers inside her as deep as they would go.

Tacy’s head flew back, her eyes drifting shut, as he thrust the fingers in and out. He took her with the roughness she’d always dreamed about, but had never managed to find. Her hips moved in time as she sought more stimulation, more…

“God, more.”

Zac’s thumb found her clit, stroking it firmly as his fingers still moved inside her.

And then she stiffened, her back arching as the unexpected orgasm struck her like lightning.

“Holy shit,” she whispered as her body trembled so hard her bones rattled. “Fuck.”

Zac’s fingers remained buried deep inside her, but he no longer moved. Instead, he gave her time to find her bearings, to recover.

What the hell had just happened?

One minute she was enjoying the festival with a stranger, the next she was in a dark closet with a guy’s hand up her skirt.

“I’ve never come so quickly,” she admitted, not bothering to hide her amazement. Orgasms had never been all that easy for her to achieve. They typically took a bit of work on the part of both her and her lover.

Zac slowly withdrew his fingers, kissing her as he did so.

She shivered, the final traces of her climax rumbling through her. “I—”

Tacy wasn’t sure what to do next. She wasn’t a selfish lover, but the truth was, while Zac had rocked her world, she hadn’t done the same for him.

A scream outside the door caused them both to jerk slightly. God. They were in a haunted house. In a closet with an unlocked door. Anyone could open it and catch them.

Though she hadn’t spoken her concerns, Zac seemed to have an inside track on her thoughts. “This probably isn’t the best place for us to continue. What do you say we try to make our way out of this haunted house without you having a heart attack and get something to eat?”

She glanced down. Even in the dim light, she could see the outline of his erection pressing against his jeans. “What about—”

He kissed her before she could finish her question. “And after supper, I’ll give you that tour of my RV. If you’re still interested.”

She loved the way he was giving her a choice. Even after what they’d just done, he was giving her a way out if she wanted one.

Tacy was familiar with the concept of a southern gentleman—thanks to Gone With the Wind—but she’d always believed that ideal had disappeared right after the Civil War.

“I still want the tour.”

Zac sighed. “Not gonna pretend I’m not glad to hear that.” Then he paused. “Wait, do you just want to see the camper or…”

He let her fill in the blanks, which she did with a laugh. “I want the full tour. And maybe a sleepover after.”

Zac cupped her cheek. “Just so you know, keep saying stuff like that and I’m not going to have any choice but to fall in love with you.”

Her heart literally skipped a beat at his sweet confession. She was fairly certain she was halfway to falling for him too. “You won’t hear an argument from me.”

“Let’s get out of here.” Zac took her hand and led her from the closet. A group of three teens were making their way through the haunted house and the entire group jumped back and screamed at their sudden appearance. Obviously they thought she and Zac were part of the entertainment.

Tacy jumped as well, and Zac laughed. “Sorry ’bout that,” he said to the kids before guiding her from the room. She managed to make it through the rest of the scary tour without screaming, but it was a close call.

Once they made it back out onto the main street, Tacy’s phone beeped. She glanced at the text. “Lauren wants to know if we want to meet up with her and Travis at the diner for dinner.”

“It’s up to you. I know you’re here to visit your friend and I’ve been monopolizing your time.”

Tacy was touched by his thoughtfulness, and torn. She had come to Sapphire Falls to catch up with her old friend, but her body was still thrumming from the orgasm she’d just had, and the greedy, selfish, ohmigodgimmemore side of her was having a hard time deciding.

Her phone beeped again and she laughed.

Zac glanced over her shoulder and chuckled as well. “I like Lauren.”

Lauren had texted Unless you’ve had a better offer. If so, we can meet for breakfast. No. Zac is hot. Make that lunch.

Tacy texted back, not bothering to hide her response from Zac, who clearly approved. “Diner for lunch.”

Lauren’s reply was one word. Squeeeeeeeeeee!

Zac reclaimed her hand and they walked through town to the campground just across the highway. “I have some snacks in the RV that might tide us over until tomorrow. And if not, we can come back later and grab a late meal.”

They meandered along the park’s path, past quite a few RVs, all tricked out and clearly here for the week’s festivities.

When they reached Zac’s, he turned to her. “This is me.”

Zac didn’t have the camper’s awning rolled out, no beach chairs or card tables with food, or wood in the fire pit. It actually looked as though he was ready to fire the thing up and roll out of town. Which reminded her that he had only remained in Sapphire Falls in order to spend today with her.

What were his plans for tomorrow? And the day after that? Tacy knew he was looking forward to seeing the West Coast and his vacation time was limited. Could she really ask him to stay the entire week?

Once again, she was struck by the fact that she’d only known this man twenty-four hours. It seemed like longer.

“Zac,” she said softly.

“If you’ve changed your mind, we can turn around right now and I’ll walk you back to your friends.”

He’d misunderstood her reticence.

Tacy shook her head. “No. That’s not what I want. At all.”

“What’s wrong, Tacy?”

She let go of her inhibitions. She was here to live in the moment, to let go of the anxiety that hadn’t left her since she’d given up her place on the team. Worrying about the future wouldn’t keep it from coming, so she couldn’t let those fears ruin right now. Because right now was pretty damn awesome.

“Nothing’s wrong, Zac. Can we go in?”

Chapter Four

Zac sensed something was bothering Tacy, but whatever it was, she didn’t seem inclined to share. He walked to the camper door, unlocked it and waited as she stepped inside.

“Hey. This is really great.” Tacy spun around slowly, taking in his temporary home as he remained by the door and watched her.

“Yeah. It’s not bad, is it?”

“Nice of your friend to let you borrow it.”

Zac shrugged. “Ned is actually more like family. He and my brother, Justin, are partners in a marketing firm and best friends. They’re also…” He paused, wondering what Tacy would think of his brother’s marital dynamics. They didn’t really broadcast the unorthodox relationship to strangers, but everyone in their close circle of friends knew that Justin was in a committed ménage relationship.

“Also?” she prompted. Then her face cleared. “Oh, are they dating too?”

Zac shook his head. “Not exactly.”

Her confusion was adorable and he couldn’t resist tapping her crinkled-up nose as she waited for him to explain.

“They’re both married to the same woman.”

Her frown deepened. “That’s not legal.”

He lifted his hands, palms toward her. “Bella is legally married to Justin, but committed to both him and Ned.”

Tacy looked intrigued. “And it works? They’re all happy?”

“Yeah. Expecting their first kid in a month or so. Truth is, my foster sister, Dani, is in the same type of relationship.”

“Ménages run in the family?”

Zac chuckled. “Not for all of us.”

“Not you?”

“No. Not me.” Zac had seen Justin with his partners, and Dani with hers, and he’d been fascinated by the dynamics and happy that his siblings had found not one, but two people to spend the rest of their lives with. However, Zac had always known he was destined for coupledom, not a threesome. “Why? You interested in trying something like that?”

Tacy was quick to shake her head. “Good God, no. Not that there’s anything wrong with it for them. I’m just…well…I’ll be lucky to find one person willing to put up with my crap for a lifetime. Can’t imagine there are two such patient souls roaming the earth.”

Zac knew she meant her words as a joke, but something told him there was a thread of truth buried in the comment as well. Did she really believe herself difficult? Unlovable? Because he hadn’t found a single flaw in her yet.

Granted, it had only been a day, but he’d spent far less time with other women and found plenty to keep him from pursing another date with them.

“Wait. Did you say Dani? You don’t mean Dani Lewis, the singer?”

Zac nodded. “Yep. That’s her. For the record, I’m also related to Jett Lewis, the writer and my other brother, Noah, just won the grand prize on the TV show Food Fight. That was why I traveled to Vegas. The whole family went to see him in the finale.”

Tacy’s mouth hung open for just a second before she managed to close it. “That’s incredible. And your other siblings?”

“Chloe’s a photographer and Caliph is one of the best tattoo artists in New Orleans. A family full of creative types. Until you get to me.”

She grinned. “No artistic ability?”

“Can’t draw stick figures, and I seem to be the only person on the planet who can’t get a clear shot with a basic camera phone.”

Her delight grew as she continued to tease. “Can’t sing? Play an instrument?”

“Nope. And before you ask, I can’t write or cook up a storm in the kitchen either.”

She sighed heavily. “Such a shame. Well, looks like barring all that, you really had no choice but to settle for a boring career in medicine and becoming a surgeon.”

He reached out to grab her, wrapping her in a playful hug as he messed up her hair, much in the same way he would his sisters whenever they teased him. “Yeah. I’m a real disappointment to my family.”

She wrestled her way out of his grip, laughing loudly. “I bet you are. Probably just a matter of time before they start cropping you out of the family photos. No one wants to admit they have an orthopedic surgeon in the family.”

Tacy escaped his next attempt to pull her close for a tickle. Instead she began backing away from him down the narrow hallway. Zac continued to chase her, pleased with her direction. She was headed straight for the bedroom.

She didn’t stop moving or giggling until her knees hit the edge of his bed unexpectedly and she tumbled to her back. The laughter ended with a gasp when she realized where she was. And that he was standing above her.

Tacy looked around the room, and then pushed herself up to a sitting position. “Big bed for an RV.”

“Yeah. Didn’t appreciate that fact until just this minute.”

He sat down next to her, but didn’t touch her. He wanted to give her a chance to decide if this was really what she wanted. She had said as much in town and even just outside the RV a few minutes ago. But he also understood feelings could change when faced with the moment of truth.

When she didn’t balk at his closeness, he decided to test the waters, reaching out to run his fingers through her thick blonde hair. “You’re so beautiful, Tacy.”

She smiled shyly. “So are you. I mean…”

He enjoyed her flushed cheeks. Zac knew she wasn’t inexperienced, yet there was an innocence to her responses that triggered his desire to care for her, to take things slow, to protect her.

“Are you leaving tomorrow?”

Her abrupt question took him off guard. Then he understood her reticence outside. He shook his head. “Hadn’t planned on it. I’m not sure what’s going on between us. I mean, I’m as sensible and boring as they come, and I know deep inside we’re moving too fast and in the end, we’ll be heading in different directions. Regardless, I can’t make myself leave. I want to spend the rest of this week with you.”

“You do?” Her tone was the perfect blend of surprise and pleasure.

“What do you say we throw caution to the wind?”

She tilted her head. “Whirlwind romance?”

Zac had never pictured himself as the romantic type, but he’d been forced to endure enough chick flicks with his sisters and Mama Lewis that he figured he could pull it off. “Sounds good to me.”

He thought his response would please her, but instead she bit her lip nervously. “Zac, I’m not sure when I’m going to get the chance to…” She glanced behind her at the bed.

“Chance to?”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a long-term boyfriend. And even when I did date a guy for longer than a few months, the relationships were long-distance, which meant they always felt more like a string of first dates. I’ve never had a chance to…”

Again the pause. “Spit it out, darlin’. You’re not going to scare me away, no matter what you say.”

“I’ve never had a chance to experiment in bed.” Her words came out in a rush, so quickly he almost didn’t understand what she said.

When he finally puzzled them out and let them soak in, he fought not to readjust his pants. His cock had gone from merely stiff to rock-hard concrete in two-point-one seconds.

“Experiment how?”

Tacy’s gaze was averted, her attention seemingly focused on her hands, which were clenched in her lap. “Nothing too wild.”

“Give me an example.”

Her cheeks moved out of the pink range into flaming red. Even so, he liked that—despite such a short acquaintance—she trusted him enough to ask.

“No one’s ever made me come so quickly. Or even, you know, on their own. I’ve always had to help my orgasms along. But you…”

She was obviously recalling their time in the closet.

“You seem to know how to. I mean, you’re really good at…” Tacy released a frustrated sigh. “I don’t want just missionary. And I don’t want you constantly asking for permission or if I’m okay. And I sort of like the idea of being taken…hard. Roughly.”

He frowned, his assumptions about her innocence confirmed. Then he felt annoyance at her past lovers. What kind of man could look at Tacy and not want to possess her, claim her? “Christ. What kind of guys have you been sleeping with?”

Tacy looked at him curiously. “What do you mean?”

“You’re not exactly asking for anything weird here, Tace. I was expecting you to start listing kinky stuff when you said you wanted to experiment.”

“What do you mean by kinky?” She looked way too interested in that explanation. His cock thickened even more. Fucking jeans were killing him.

“We’ll get there. Eventually. For now, I want you to stand up and take your clothes off for me.”

She looked surprised by his request. “You’re not going to undress me?”

Tacy was used to mild lovers, sweet guys. It dawned on him she didn’t want romance. She wanted the complete opposite. Which was a lucky break for him. Romance would have been a challenge. Domination, meanwhile, fit him like a glove.

“I’m not going to ask again.” He kept his voice low, making sure to lace it with just enough threat.

Zac kept his eyes on her face, making sure that she really did want what she’d just asked for. The change in her expression was almost instant. Her embarrassment, her discomfort faded and her eyes softened. He held his breath for one, two, three beats, and then Tacy rose from the bed, reached for the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head.

Zac sucked in a deep breath. She truly was gorgeous. He forced himself to remain on the bed, praying for the patience to let her finish the task on her own. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to run his hands and lips over every inch of her.

Tacy shimmied her skirt down, kicking it and her shoes off. Her bra and panties matched. God, he loved matching sets.

Tacy’s underwear was surprising girlie. Pale pink, silky. The bra was one of those push-up types that showcased her breasts perfectly.

She hesitated for only a moment, until he captured her gaze. “Keep going,” he said, his voice gentler. He didn’t want to scare her. Couldn’t stand the thought of her changing her mind now. He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted a woman.

Her bra fastened in front and with one quick flick, it was open. She slid the straps over her shoulders and dropped the silk to the floor. Then she took a deep breath and shed the panties as well.

Zac had slept with some lovely women, but Tacy put them all to shame. Her body was trim and toned. He studied her knee, evidence of her recent surgery catching his attention. She had clearly gone to a good surgeon. She wouldn’t have much of a scar.

“Playing doctor?” she teased.

He chuckled. “Shit. Yeah.”

She laughed and he was struck by how easy it was to be with her. Tacy wasn’t hard work. He didn’t have to put on airs or try to impress her.

“Now what?” she asked breathlessly.

And just like that, the air in the room thickened as he considered what Tacy wanted. What he wanted.

Zac stood and reached out, pulling her toward him. His hands skimmed along her arms, then her sides and her hips. Tacy shivered, though not with cold. Her skin felt too warm for her to be chilled.

He cupped her breasts, weighing the firm flesh with his palms before tightening his grip.

Tacy sighed, her eyes drifted closed.

Zac couldn’t resist a taste. Bending forward, he captured one nipple between his lips and sucked hard. Tacy’s hands flew to his hair.

He continued to increase the pressure until she cried out, the sound a beautiful blend of pleasure and pain.

“If I do anything you don’t like, tell me to stop.”

Tacy nodded. “Okay.”

“I’m going to test your limits, darlin’. Gonna take you. Rough and hard.” He repeated her request.

Her fingers tightened in his hair. “Please,” she whispered.

It was all he needed to hear. Zac twisted her toward the bed, pushing her onto her back on the mattress. He came over her, kissing her with all the strength, all the desire he’d kept tamped down.

Tacy responded to everything. Her tongue stroked his. She nipped at his lower lip, pulled his hair, and her nails scored his skin through the thin cotton of his T-shirt.

Zac held her face in his hands, turning it so that he could deepen the kiss. Tacy’s legs parted and she wrapped them around his hips, gyrating against him.

Zac pressed into her, letting her feel his cock, still trapped inside the denim.

“Take off your clothes,” she murmured against his lips, unwilling to break the kiss as she spoke.

He reached down with one hand, working the button and zipper on his jeans free as Tacy struggled to get him out of his T-shirt. Through it all, they continued kissing, neither willing to part for even a second.

They fought with his clothing for several minutes before they finally broke for air. Zac knelt above her and finished tugging off the shirt she’d only managed to get halfway up his chest.

“How do you get a body like that in the library?”

Zac chuckled. “Did I mention the gym was next door? Made it convenient for study breaks.”

He was tempted to begin the kissing again, but the pain of keeping his cock contained was becoming too much to bear. The problem was Zac knew the second he freed it, he would be hard-pressed to keep himself from taking her.

It was apparent her past experiences had come up lacking. He didn’t want to add his name to the list of lackluster lovers who’d spent time in her bed.

Regardless, something had to give. He shoved his jeans down, but kept his boxers on. Then he did a mental eye roll. Yeah. That wasn’t going to help.

Fuck it.

He pulled off his boxers, and then joined her on the bed once again. Tacy added fuel to the fire when she immediately reached for his dick, encircling the flesh and stroking.

“God, Tace. You keep doing that and this will be over way too fast.”

She didn’t relent or respond. Zac let himself enjoy her touch for a minute more, and then he grasped her wrist and pulled her hand away.

“Put your hands above your head, darlin’.”

She looked as if she’d complain, so he shot her a serious look that told her he wasn’t kidding. “You can put them there of your own accord or I can tie them to the headboard.”

Tacy licked her lips. “Is that what you mean by kinky?”

“You like the idea of bondage?”

She nodded. “I think…” She slowly lifted her arms, placing them on the mattress by her head.

The idea of bondage turned her on, but that took trust. This thing between them was still too new. He was glad to see her exercising caution. Maybe they’d revisit the idea at the end of the week.

Zac tried to ignore the way his chest tightened when he considered how short their time together was.

“Good girl,” he whispered, kissing her quickly. He straddled her waist, grabbed her wrists and dragged them higher. While she wasn’t ready for real bondage, he sensed the idea of being held captive turned her on. And her quick intake of breath when he held her hands to the bed proved it.

When he bent lower, she lifted her face, clearly expecting him to kiss her again. Instead, Zac ran his lips along her cheek before sucking her earlobe into his mouth. Her breathing grew heavier and she struggled slightly to move her hands. She was used to touching. It would be hard for her to lose the use of her hands. He squeezed her wrists as a warning to hold still.

Zac dragged his mouth along the side of her neck, licking her soft skin. Tacy tried to move her lower body, clearly ready to advance the game. He reached back and lightly tapped her upper thigh as a warning.

“Stop trying to control things, Tacy.”

She blinked rapidly, her eyes seeming to lose focus. God, she really did like the idea of being dominated in bed.

Zac’s sexual preferences and hers were in perfect harmony. There was no bigger turn-on than taking a strong, independent woman to bed and finding a sweet submissive lingering beneath the surface.

He scooted lower, caging her knees between his thighs as he released her hands. She started to lift them, but he shook his head.

“Leave your hands there.”

She studied his face, clearly trying to decide if she should test his limits.

He held her gaze and decided to test a limit or two of his own. “Disobey me and I won’t hesitate to flip you over and spank that pretty little ass of yours.”

Her eyes widened, then that same heavy-lidded look returned as his words soaked in. “New fan of dirty talk. Just sayin’.”

Zac grinned. “I’ll take that under advisement.”

He moved farther down then shifted until he was kneeling between her ankles. Tacy jerked slightly when he ran his tongue along her slit.

“Oh my God.”

Finding her clit with his thumb, he tasted her once more.

Tacy’s hips lifted from the mattress, seeking more. He dipped his tongue into her opening and applied more pressure on the tight nub of her clit. She came apart. Just like that.

He found it difficult to believe her assertions that her orgasms were hard to achieve. Every time he touched her, she went off like a bottle rocket. He glanced up her body to see her hands balled into fists, but still resting where he told her to keep them. Her face was flushed, her eyes closed, and her chest rose and fell rapidly.

Slow and steady be damned. He was staying the rest of the week and if he had his way, he’d spend every fucking minute of it right here. In this bed. Naked. Sweaty. Buried deep inside her.

He moved quickly, grasping a condom from the small nightstand drawer. Ned had pulled him aside when he’d handed him the keys for the RV and confided he’d stocked the drawer. At the time, Zac figured that nicety a waste of money. Now, he was grateful for the kindness.

Zac donned the condom as Tacy slowly stirred, as she returned from wherever her orgasm had sent her. “Ready for another?”

She blinked rapidly, and then nodded. “Does that make me greedy?”

He kissed her and placed the head of his cock at her opening. “No, darlin’. Not a bit.”

He pressed in with one steady, relentless push, not stopping until he was buried to the hilt. Tacy wrapped her legs around his waist, the position allowing him to go even deeper.

They groaned in unison and then, he gave up all semblance of control. He withdrew and returned, gaining speed with each thrust.

Tacy had asked that it be hard, rough. Thank God. Zac wasn’t sure he could have given her anything else. He wanted her too much. She was warm and wet, and she made the most adorable little sex squeaks he’d ever heard.

Over and over, he moved inside, until he felt her inner muscles clench, tighten, grip his dick almost painfully. Her orgasm triggered his own. He jerked roughly as he filled the condom.

Tacy’s cries filled the room as she said his name. “God. Zac. Yes. Holy shit.”

He held himself above her on his elbows, trying to keep his weight off her, as he fought to catch his breath.

“We’re doing that again,” he announced several minutes later.

Tacy’s laughed turned to a groan—her pussy clenching—when he slid out and fell to her side. “Amen.”

They lay side by side for several moments, both of them staring at the ceiling. He reached over to find her hand, linking her fingers with his.

He turned to look at her. “Stay the night.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

“Stay here with me all week.”

Tacy smiled. “Okay.”

Chapter Five

“Gotta say, Tace. When I suggested you hook up with Zac, the hot doctor, I had no idea you’d take me so literally.”

Tacy rolled her eyes as she sat on the tailgate of Travis’ truck, watching Zac and several locals from Sapphire Falls pass a bottle of Borcher’s Booze around the bonfire.

She’d spent the last three nights in Zac’s bed. Tacy had lost count of how many orgasms she’d had. They’d indulged in missionary, doggy, and 69, as well as sex against the wall, on the kitchen table, and even outside under the stars.

It was absolute insanity. She had known the man four days. Just four damn days, and he’d turned her world upside down.

“Earth to Tacy.”

Tacy looked over at Lauren and gave her a sheepish grin. “Sorry. Drifted.”

“Yeah. Lost in a haze of good sex seems to be your standard state these days.”

“I’ve been a terrible guest, haven’t I?”

Lauren laughed good-naturedly. “I wanted you to come to Sapphire Falls to relax and enjoy yourself. To shrug off that anxiety that’s been following you around lately. I’d say you’ve done just that. So you’ll hear no complaints from me.”

“He’s amazing.” Tacy sounded like a lovestruck teenage girl with stars in her eyes, but she didn’t care.

“I hate to be the wet blanket, but you realize it’s Thursday, right? Time is sort of running out on,” Lauren waved her hands around, “whatever this is.”

Tacy couldn’t find a word to define the whatever, so she left it alone. “I know.”

“Do you think you’ll see him again?”

Tacy shrugged. “He lives in New Orleans. And I’m essentially homeless at the moment. Besides, we don’t really…” She was embarrassed to finish her thought. They’d connected that first night, sharing a little bit about their childhoods, but since then…well. Uncomfortable confessing that apart from some surface-y type conversations and a shit-ton of rocking-the-camper sex, she and Zac didn’t know each other as well as they should, given the way she was starting to feel about him.

“Talk?” Lauren supplied with an amused grin.

Tacy nodded. “I can’t really explain it. We have a great time, walking around, taking in all the festival events, but the second we’re alone, the clothes are on the floor and we’re going at it like he’s been away to war for ten years.”

Lauren handed Tacy her cup and she took a small sip of the Booze, the alcohol burning all the way down. She wasn’t sure how the locals could stomach the stuff. It packed a punch.

“So maybe the two of you should spend a little time getting to know each other—in a nonphysical way. You’ve clearly established you’ve got the sex thing in common. Might be a good idea to see if you’re compatible in other ways. Find out who he’s voting for in the next presidential election. Shit like that tells you a lot about a person.”

Tacy made a face. “Oh man. You’re not kidding.”

“I think he’s proven he’s worth the effort.”

He had, which prompted Tacy to speak her main concern. “I’m sure he is, but to what end? What am I working toward here?” Tacy worried part of her reason for not pushing to learn more about Zac was because she feared what would happen at the end of the week. What if she fell hard for the guy, but he wasn’t interested in more?

Neither of them discussed future plans. Why would they? They’d gone into this treating it like some fun weeklong summer fling. He hadn’t asked her for more than this week. And she hadn’t offered more. Now, she was starting to fear she might want more. She just wasn’t sure how much.

“If it’s just a shits-and-giggles thing, then by all means, ignore my advice and just keep having fun. But I’d hate to see you hold back from a really great guy simply because of geography. The last thing I ever planned to do was settle in a small town. Travis changed my mind about that. Like you said, you’re free as a bird. And New Orleans is an awesome city. I wouldn’t mind having a friend to stay with there come Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest time.”

Tacy took another sip of the Booze, tipsiness be damned. “I’ll keep your future happiness in mind as I debate following some guy I just met halfway across the country.”

Lauren winked. “You’re a good friend. If it were me and the sex was that damn good, I’d be taking a closer look at the whole package. You don’t want to let a few years go by and find yourself constantly wondering if he was the one and you let him slip away.”

Tacy could totally see that happening. Maybe she did owe it to herself to see if this instant attraction had the possibility to lead to something more. “Great. As if I didn’t have enough questions to sort through in my life.”

After that first night, they’d sort of managed to talk about everything except themselves. And for Tacy, that holding back had been intentional. She thought it would protect her heart, but that clearly hadn’t happened. At all.

Lauren patted her knee sympathetically. “Look on the bright side. You could start talking and realize he’s a complete tool. That would make things really easy.”

Zac Lewis was not a tool. In fact, Tacy was fairly certain he had all the characteristics to be her Mr. Right. Which would really suck if he didn’t feel the same way about her. Regardless, Lauren was right about regrets. Tacy didn’t want any. Not with Zac. “Okay. So tonight, before happy naked time, I’ll initiate a conversation, get to know him on a deeper level.”

“You can start now.” Lauren hopped off the tailgate of the truck as Travis approached her. The party was starting to break up.

The river party was taking place on Lauren’s friend Phoebe’s property. When Phoebe had issued the invitation to Zac and Tacy to join them, she’d told Zac to just drive his RV out and park it in the field for the night, so they could enjoy the Booze and not have to worry about driving.

Since Tacy had given up her room at the B&B two days earlier, her suitcase was parked next to Zac’s bed. She was surprised how much she loved staying in the camper.

Zac was only a few steps behind Travis. “I told Phoebe we’d put the fire out before heading back to the RV. Thought maybe you’d like to hang out a little longer.”

She would. There was something very peaceful and romantic about sitting next to a bonfire. Even one that was dying down.

Add in the babbling of the river, the singing of the crickets and the gentle breeze rustling the leaves, and Tacy was fairly certain she’d found heaven.

“Sounds great.”

She and Zac bid Lauren, Travis and their friends goodbye, then reclaimed the two beach chairs they’d carried down from the RV.

“This place is incredible,” Zac said, mimicking her thoughts exactly.

“It is.” She paused, wondering how she should initiate the get-to-know-you conversation. Would he think it weird if she started asking a bunch of personal questions? Before she could chicken out, she just dove in.

“Tell me about your family.”

Zac tilted his head, his forehead creased in confusion. “The Lewises? What do you want to know?”

“You always talk about Mama Lewis. Was there a Papa Lewis?”

He nodded and his instant smile told her he adored the dad as much as the mom. “Yeah. Huge giant of a guy. He’d been a boxer in his younger days. Toughest man I’ve ever known. He was away from home most of the year. Worked on an oil rig for months at a time. Died of a massive heart attack about six, seven years ago. Damn. Can’t believe it’s been that long. It was a rough time for all of us, losing him so unexpectedly.”

“You said you went to live with Mama Lewis when you were fifteen?”

“Yeah.”

“Were you in the foster care system before that or with your parents?”

Zac fell silent. Tacy bit her lip, suddenly sorry for starting this conversation. The problem was she felt extraordinarily close to Zac. It was preposterous, considering their short acquaintance and how little she truly knew about him. Regardless, she felt like—deep down—she really did know him.

“I haven’t talked about my mom to anyone in years. Except for Mama Lewis.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

“No,” Zac cut her off mid-sentence. “Don’t apologize. I’d like to tell you about it. We haven’t talked much about personal stuff, have we?” He gave her a wicked grin that let her know he was perfectly aware of exactly what had kept them virtual—and intimate—strangers.

“I guess I’m curious. I find myself wanting to know everything about you.”

Zac gave her a smile so genuine she felt tears sting her eyes. “I want the same. I’m fascinated by you, darlin’.”

She closed her eyes to stem the happy, touched tears. God, she was not the weepy type. Ever. She’d sat through P.S. I Love You and The Notebook without shedding a tear. Her teammates had teasingly called her a heartless bitch. Truth was tears had always been treated as weakness in her family. If she got a stitch in her side or a cramp in her leg, her father had scolded her for getting weepy and told her to play through the pain. After a while, she’d sort of forgotten how to cry.

“I’m hardly fascinating.”

Zac scoffed. “You’re kidding me, right? You’re interesting, funny, cute, and sexy as hell. If that doesn’t make you fascinating, Tacy Bradford, I don’t know what else would.”

“Damn,” she whispered.

“What’s wrong?”

“I really want to talk to you, learn more about you, but when you say stuff like that, it’s very difficult for me not to jump on board and fuck your brains out.”

Zac’s loud laughter filled the quiet night. “Standing invitation to hop on anytime, darlin’.”

“I like the way you call me darlin’. No one’s ever really given me a pet name.”

“I’m sort of glad to be your first on that…and the other thing.”

Zac still marveled at the fact she’d struggled to have orgasms with her past lovers. Probably because he only had to call her that sweet nickname with that sexy southern accent of his, blow in her ear twice and she was coming hard enough to shake the ground more than a stampede of cattle.

They fell silent for a few moments, both staring into the dying fire.

“My mom was a drug addict, crack, heroin, shit like that,” he started.

She had just decided she wouldn’t push him for the story, not wanting to make him uncomfortable or sad.

“Oh.” It was a lame response, but really…what else could she say to that? No child deserved to grow up around something like that.

“I only have a vague memory of our lives before she got addicted. It was just her and me for three years. Then my brother, Noah, came along. She’s never told either one of us who our dad is. Or I guess I should say dads. I’m pretty sure we don’t have the same one. She wasn’t always hooked on drugs. At first, she worked in a liquor store. A neighbor in the apartment next door looked after us. But then Mom lost the job and the woman who took care of us died. Someone introduced her to coke. After that, most of the years I can remember are of her strung out. Prostituting for money that she would spend on drugs. I learned to grab as much of the cash as I could without her noticing after she and the johns passed out. Used that to feed me and Noah.”

“Jesus. Zac.” She failed to keep the tears at bay. Her heart shattered as she considered how hard his life had been. It made it even more incredible to see the man he’d become today.

“Hey, it didn’t kill me, so no tears, okay?” He stood up, reaching out for her and Tacy went to him. He sat down in the sand and tugged her in between his legs so that she could rest her back against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her tightly. “That’s better. I missed touching you.”

“Was that really your life until you were fifteen?”

Zac shook his head. “No. Not exactly. The state stepped in when I was twelve and Noah nine. Teacher spotted a nasty bruise on Noah’s side. He’d gotten hit by one of my mom’s boyfriends for breaking a glass in the kitchen.”

Tacy bit her lip, trying not to cry any more. “What an asshole.”

He chuckled, but the sound wasn’t a happy one. “Yeah. There were a lot of assholes in and out of our apartment. We got put in the system. First home they sent us to was almost as bad as the one they’d pulled us out of. I grabbed Noah after three months there and ran. Cops found us, put us back in foster care. That was when we met Mama Lewis. She was one of the few foster parents willing to take both of us. I’d made it pretty clear to the social worker that Noah and I were not getting split up.”

“But I thought you said you went to live with Mama Lewis at fifteen?”

“We stayed with Mama Lewis off and on for two years. My mom was trying to get straight, doing everything the court asked. It looked like she was going to pull herself out, get off the drugs. I’m no different from any other kid, I guess. I wanted to be with my mom, and I resented the hell out of the system and Mama Lewis for keeping me away from her.”

“What changed your mind?”

“My mom managed to convince the court to give us back. She stayed clean for exactly eight weeks.”

“Shit,” she murmured.

“Yeah. And when she fell off the wagon, she fell off hard. That was when she started doing heroin. The johns were back in her bed, the cabinets were empty and I stopped believing in…well…basically everything. I was an angry little prick blaming the world for all the shit in my life. Started smoking pot, stealing, drinking, doing everything wrong.”

“I can’t imagine you like that. Not even for a second.”

“It didn’t last long. We’d only been back with my mom about six months. She’d passed out after a party with some random guy. Always the same routine. Stoned and sex. I was feeling like a badass and thought I’d rob the guy. He woke up. Beat the shit out of me.”

“Oh my God. Bad?”

Zac’s arms tightened around her, but the response seemed to be unconscious. He was reliving a bad time in his mind. “Pretty bad. Noah ran to the neighbor’s house and called Mama Lewis. She showed up with Justin, Caliph and Jett, the police and an ambulance not two steps behind her.”

“Hooray for Mama Lewis.”

Zac kissed the back of her head. “You can say that again. Spent a couple days in the hospital and then I went home.”

“Home?”

“Mama Lewis’ house became home to me from that day on. She saved my life. Saved me. I straightened my ass out, stopped being such a punk, started studying, started believing in family and love and second chances.”

“And your mom?”

Zac blew out a long sigh. “Still alive. Still in New Orleans. I see her about once a month. Take her food. She’s…well…she hasn’t changed at all.”

Tacy wasn’t sure how to reply. He took his drug-addicted mother food every month? Even after the hell she’d put him through growing up?

This was why she didn’t want to get to know Zac. Because just like that, she fell completely, spectacularly, head over heels in love with him.

And it only took four days.

She twisted around, cupped his cheek in one hand and kissed him. Zac deepened the embrace, the two of them kissing as if their lips had never touched before.

When they broke apart, she gave him a soft smile. “I’m never complaining about my parents again.”

Zac laughed softly. “It’s not a contest, Tace.”

“I’ll admit I’m jealous of your siblings. Sort of sucks being an only child. Always thought life would have been a lot more fun with a brother or a sister.”

“I’ll share mine. I’ve got plenty of them.”

“I guess I used to believe maybe my parents wouldn’t have put so much pressure on me to constantly succeed if there had been another kid in the house. They were living vicariously through me—exclusively through me. Would have been nice to have someone to share that load with.”

“Why do you think your folks felt the need to do that to you?”

Tacy shrugged. “My dad had always dreamed of playing baseball in the major leagues, but he never made it beyond college ball. Said he wished he’d had more support from his parents.”

“Is that what they call it? Support? Because it sounds like it was a lot of pressure.”

She sighed. “I’ll be honest. I’ve seen some amazing places and done some incredible things. I wouldn’t have had those opportunities if it hadn’t been for my parents pushing me so hard.”

“Why do I feel like there’s a ‘but’ coming?”

“But sometimes I wonder if this is the life I would have chosen for myself. Growing up, I wasn’t really given options. And now…”

“Now you have to decide for yourself what you want.”

Tacy ran her hand through her hair, pulling it away from her face. “I don’t have a lot of experience with making my own decisions. What if I mess up?”

Zac reached for the strand of hair she’d just moved and twirled it around his finger. “You won’t.”

It was a simple assertion, but somehow, knowing he believed in her went a long way toward setting her mind at ease.

“What do you want to do?”

She didn’t hesitate to share her dream with him. She told him about Lauren introducing her to gardening, how much she loved creating beauty from the things she planted in the ground. About her desire to go back to school and her fear of failing.

Zac listened intently and, like Lauren, he offered words of encouragement, bolstered her with his belief that she could do anything she set her mind to. He was good for her, managing to help her overcome her wavering confidence. She’d never had a problem believing in herself until the fall. Since then, her self-assurance had taken a hit. Zac and Lauren had helped her find her footing again, and suddenly she wasn’t as worried about going back to college.

“So see?” he said. “You’re a hobo at heart too. You’ve already planned your next adventure. You’ll go back to college and hook up with a frat boy.”

She laughed. “There will be no frat boys. Wait. God, you weren’t in a fraternity, were you?”

He shrugged. “Boring guy, remember? Besides, I was working two part-time jobs just to ensure I wouldn’t be in debt for the rest of my life. Wasn’t much money or time left over for the fun stuff.”

His words provoked that same pang in her heart, the one that ached for how hard he’d had to work to accomplish all he had. The same pain that told her she didn’t want to say goodbye to him in a few days.

It was on the tip of her tongue to mention that end date. To ask him what he thought would happen next, but he spoke before she could find the nerve to voice her concerns.

“Wanna head back to the RV?” he asked.

She nodded, taking the coward’s way out. He’d mentioned her hooking up with a frat boy, and while she knew that comment was a joke, she was struck by the impression he wasn’t too bothered by that idea.

Together, they dumped river water on what was left of the bonfire, making sure it was out completely. Then they returned to the RV, hand in hand. Neither of them spoke, both lost in their thoughts.

Tacy’s mind was racing over a million different things. Zac’s painful childhood, Mama Lewis saving him, his drug-addicted mom, the fact it was already Thursday. Her heart was beating fast, not so much in anticipation of sleeping with Zac, but because her emotions were all over the place.

She’d come to Sapphire Falls intent on mapping out a plan, considering her next move. She thought that would simply involve deciding what she wanted to do for a living and where she wanted to live.

Now she was trying to figure out how—God, if—Zac could fit into that plan.

When they entered the RV, they walked straight to the bedroom. Though they’d only spent a few nights together, they’d established some patterns, eased into comfortable routines.

Tacy turned to face him as they stood at the foot of the bed. Her chest was tight—with anticipation and fear. There were so many things she wanted to say to him, but how could she? This whole thing was going way too fast. What if she told him she had feelings for him—serious feelings—and he looked at her like she was crazy? Telling someone you loved him after only a few days was insane. Wasn’t it?

If Zac was feeling any reticence, it didn’t show. Instead, he acted like he had every other night. He tugged her T-shirt over her head in one fell swoop. She’d eschewed a bra and worn her bikini top underneath. He made short work of that as well, untying the laces holding it on and dropping it to the floor.

After that, she stopped worrying about everything. When she was with Zac, like this, the whole world disappeared. It was just the two of them, living in the moment. And nothing—not one damn thing—mattered right now except this.

She added his shirt to the pile of discarded clothing, and then they each stripped off their own bottoms. Within seconds they were naked. And in one second more, they were on the bed, Zac caging her beneath him as he kissed her lips, her neck, her breasts. He didn’t stop until his mouth hovered just above her clit, his hot breath tickling the sensitive skin there.

He ran his tongue along her slit, and then pressed it against her clit as he pushed two fingers deep inside her. As always, his rough touches triggered her arousal, every nerve tingling as she lifted her hips to grasp more.

Zac added a third finger, increased his pace, and just like that…she was flying. When she returned to earth, he was laying next to her. She expected him to have a condom in hand, ready to go. Instead, he was looking at her, studying her face.

“That was amazing.”

His grin told her he was pleased. “Our time is running out.”

And then, her peaceful, easy feeling was shattered. “I know.” She wondered if he’d mention what happened next. Would they simply say goodbye on Saturday or would he want to see her again?

“I think we should make the most of it.”

She nodded slowly, trying to ignore the pain in her chest. Dammit, she was going to leave this town with a broken heart. She just knew it. “Okay.”

“You said you wanted to explore sexually. Test some limits.”

Tacy had said that. And they’d already broken through more than a few barriers. “The kinky ones?” She ignored the voice that said she was a fool to stay here, to fall deeper and deeper under his spell, but there was also the impractical, horny Tacy who wanted to put her body in his oh-so-capable hands and steal a few thousand more of those incredible orgasms. After all, she’d need as many memories as she could make to keep her warm through the lonely nights to come.

He kissed her cheek gently. “Yeah. The kinky ones.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“Thought we could start easy. Two options. I’d like to spank you. Or I’d like to tie you up.”

“So…it’s an or? Not an and?”

Zac groaned, a deep-throated growl that sent shivers of need along her spine. “It can be an and.”

She bit her lip as she considered his request. She wanted both things. Badly. Then she remembered what he’d said. “And these are the easy kinky things?”

He chuckled. “You’re adorable. This week is going too damn fast.”

Tacy wished he’d stop saying that, stop pointing out the inevitable ending. “I know,” she whispered.

Zac leaned close and kissed her. “If you hate it, you say stop.”

“Okay,” she agreed, knowing she wouldn’t want to. No matter what they did in bed, Zac had a way of making her toes curl with delight. He was a thorough, attentive, talented lover. He knew what to say, where to touch her, how to drive her out of her mind. It was addictive.

Zac left the bed briefly, rifling through the small closet. She sat up and watched as he tossed two neckties onto the bed.

“Ties? On vacation?”

He shrugged. “Wanted to be prepared.”

“For bondage?” she asked without thinking.

He laughed. “God, no. I wasn’t sure if I’d find a nice restaurant to try or a church to attend.”

“Oh.”

“The bondage option just turned out to be a lucky circumstance.”

She rolled her eyes, grinning widely at his humor. “So how does this work? I just let you do all these naughty things to me?”

He studied her as she sat on the bed. “No one said you had to be complacent.”

Her interests in his offer piqued even more. “So I can fight you?”

Something in her tone must have given her away because Zac’s eyes darkened with lust, his face suddenly dangerously seductive. “Oh yeah. You could definitely try.”

The man had her number, knew exactly how to spark her competitive nature. “I don’t try, Zac. I succeed. Remember?” She gave him back just enough cheek to make sure he felt the same need to win that she did.

“You’ve never come against an opponent like me, darlin’. So here are the rules. You’re welcome to fight me as much as you want. Give it everything you’ve got. And when,” he stressed the word, “I subdue you, you’re mine. Completely. To do whatever I want.”

She bit her lip as she considered the offer. She wanted that. Truly. But there was something sort of terrifying about that “whatever I want” taunt.

He must have noticed her sudden reticence. “How do you stop me, Tacy? Truly stop me.”

“By asking.”

He nodded. “I’m not going to hurt you in any way you’re not going to love.”

She suspected—no, she knew—that was true. He’d proven his skills every single time they’d been together. “Not much room to move around in here.”

“We can take it back outside if you want. I can even give you a head start.”

She laughed nervously at the offer to run around naked in a field with Zac chasing her.

Tacy shook her head. “Here is fine. I prefer being able to see the bad boy coming.”

“We’re going to have to work on your fear of haunted houses and horror films.”

Tacy moved away from him, rising so that the bed was between them. “Ready?”

“Set,” he answered.

Her gaze flew around the room. She hadn’t been kidding about the tight space. She figured she had a fifty-fifty shot at making it to the kitchen area. And then what?

She laughed as she shouted, “Go!” Who was she fooling? She wanted him to catch her.

Tacy darted for the narrow corridor and made it a couple steps in front of Zac. She had no doubt he’d let her have that victory. He obviously understood as well as she did how quickly this chase was going to end.

She made it to the front of the RV, and then twisted. Zac blocked her path back to the bedroom. Which left her two options—flight through the door and out to the field. Or to stand and fight. It didn’t matter how strong she was. Zac had half a foot and about fifty pounds of sheer muscle on her.

So she went with the element of surprise. Darting out the door.

There was a full moon to light her way, and she ran with absolute, unbridled delight through the field. She was barefoot, but the grass was green and soft. She’d never in her life imagined doing anything so scandalous. She felt wild, reckless, free. She was halfway back to the river when Zac caught up to her. His large hand wrapped around her upper arm, twisting her toward him. She started to stumble and feared this chase was going to end painfully, but Zac turned at the last minute, tugging her onto his chest as he took the brunt of the fall.

“Are you okay?” she asked breathlessly.

“Caught you.”

Tacy tried to break free of his grip, but as she suspected, he’d captured her. And he had no intention of letting her go.

Zac managed to smoothly pull himself—and her—up from the ground. She dug in her feet when he started back toward the RV. She gasped when he lifted and tossed her over his shoulder as if she weighed no more than a sack of potatoes.

She couldn’t help it. She giggled. Zac hesitated for a moment then his laughter mingled with hers. He was going for some sexy capture fantasy, and she was ruining it with the happiness she couldn’t contain no matter how hard she tried.

Once they returned to the RV, Zac set her back on her feet, but kept hold of her, guiding her to the bedroom again.

She tried to twist out of his grasp, but the man was nothing if not determined. She expected him to push her to the mattress and tie her up. The mere thought of that had her pussy clenching in excitement. So she was surprised when he sat down first and pulled her facedown over his lap.

Shit. The spanking. She’d forgotten that part. Her horny mind had latched onto the sight of those two ties on the mattress and the rest had faded away. He’d promised to stop if it hurt and she knew he’d stand by that.

Tacy jerked when his hand caressed her bare ass gently.

“Nervous?” he asked, though he clearly knew she was, given her reaction.

“I was the queen of vanilla when you met me. What do you think?”

“I think you were made for this.”

She didn’t have time to consider that assertion before his hand rose, coming down harder this time. While it stung, she suspected he was holding back, letting her test the water first.

And there went another little piece of her heart.

Tacy decided to reward his kindness. Glancing up at him over her shoulder, she feigned a bored expression. “Is that the best you’ve got?”

Like her, Zac seemed hard-pressed to resist a dare. Probably a result of growing up in a house full of siblings.

He spanked her again, and this time, he put some force behind it.

“Ow,” she yelled.

Zac landed two more without pausing. She started to take him to task, to tell him he was hurting her, but then she remembered the word. All she had to do was say stop.

She never even considered it. Not when he added another hard smack to her upper thigh. Actually, that was the moment when things stopped hurting and went a bit fuzzy. Her inner muscles clenched, the spasm more painful than the spanking. God, she needed him to fuck her. Like yesterday.

And hard.

Tacy fought to rise from his lap, determined to straddle it and sink down on the hard cock pressing against her hip.

Zac held her down firmly.

“Dammit, Zac. Let me up. I need you. Need you to fuck me.” Her demands came out in harsh breaths.

He didn’t give way. He landed half a dozen more smacks, varying the strengths and locations. They only drove her arousal higher.

Her body was on fire—her ass from the spanking, the rest from sheer, unadulterated horniness.

“Please. God. Please.” If she had any pride left, she sure as hell couldn’t find it. Didn’t want to.

Zac finally relented. He lifted her from her lap, but rather than move them onto the bed, he cuddled her, kissing her cheeks gently. “You’re perfect, Tacy.”

No one had ever told her that. Not once. And the crazy thing was, when she thought about it, that was all she’d ever tried to be. The perfect daughter. The perfect player.

Zac was the only one to make no demands other than for her to be herself, to be happy, and that was what he found perfect.

She swallowed down the lump forming in her throat and silently prayed tonight would never end. Mercifully, he didn’t see her expression, didn’t notice the impact he’d just had on her.

Instead, he moved her slowly to the center of the bed. He grabbed one of the ties and bound her hands together above her head. Zac didn’t bother to restrain her to the headboard, didn’t use the other tie.

Once he had her hands where he wanted them, he caged her beneath him, kissing her as if his life depended on it. She understood the passion, that overwhelming desire to take as much as she could grab.

His fingers tightened in her hair, pulling it until her scalp stung as he kept kissing her. She pretended it was the stinging that sent tears to her eyes, but she knew better. Knew exactly why she was crying.

She blinked them away, refusing to let him see.

“Tacy,” Zac murmured against her cheek. “God, darlin’. I need you so much.”

She listened as he pulled on the condom, parting her legs so that he could come inside.

He thrust in with one hard motion that sent stars whirring behind her closed eyelids. Zac didn’t hesitate to take what they both wanted. Over and over, he pushed. Then, just before she came, he withdrew and flipped her to her stomach. Tacy went up on her knees, her head and hands still pressed to the pillow as he pounded into her from behind.

She urged him to go faster. Harder.

He wrapped his arms around her, gripped her breasts, squeezed them roughly as she shoved her ass against him with all the force she could muster. It still wasn’t enough.

Zac withdrew again, flipping her onto her back once more. “Want to see you. See your face.”

He kissed her as he returned to her body. She wrapped her ankles around his waist, but it wasn’t enough. Lifting her bound hands, she placed them around his neck, tying herself to him.

Zac didn’t take her to task for moving them. She wasn’t even sure he’d realized she had. He keep thrusting in, going deeper than she’d thought possible.

Then he lifted her knees, threw them over her shoulders and showed her exactly how deep he could go.

She screamed when her orgasm came, but Zac didn’t stop moving. He pounded harder and she took it. Needed it. If this was all she could have, she would steal every ounce of pleasure and pain and hoard it in her memories for the rest of her life.

Her climax had only started to wane when the second overtook her. God, could orgasms lap each other?

She trembled roughly, her body on system overload. Zac couldn’t resist this time. He fell too.

“Tacy. Jesus. Darlin’.” Every word came out with a rough grunt, punctuated by one, two, three more hard thrusts into her body before he stilled.

He kissed her, neither of them seeking to part despite the undeniable heat in the room. It was steamy, humid, almost sweltering, but she didn’t care. Didn’t want him to leave her.

Zac broke the kiss, his hands holding her cheeks as he looked deeply into her eyes. “Soul mates,” he whispered.

She didn’t bother to hide her tears at that. She let them fill her eyes and she let him kiss them away.

He was her soul mate. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind she would have spent centuries searching for this man again.

She was in love with him. God. Love.

And she thought the haunted house had been terrifying.

Chapter Six

Zac knew Tacy wasn’t in the bed before he even opened his eyes. Hell, he could tell she wasn’t in the RV at all. It was too still, too quiet. He couldn’t quite explain it to himself, but there was an energy in the air whenever she was around. It was a silly thought, but it was the only way he could describe it. His body seemed to know whenever she was within a fifty-foot radius, and it responded.

He’d never experienced anything like it before, but he liked it. A lot.

He liked Tacy a lot. Maybe more than like. When he’d told her about his childhood last night and she’d looked at him with those compassionate eyes, he’d lost his heart to her. The whole damn thing fell out of his hands and into hers. Which was crazy.

God, he could imagine Tacy’s response if he took her hands in his and told her he loved her. She’d think he was a nutjob. Who fell in love in less than a week?

He knew. Those clinging guys who could never hold on to a girlfriend because they were making plans to introduce her to the parents and proposing within forty-eight hours.

Yet that was what Zac wanted to do with Tacy. He wanted to take her home to Mama Lewis. Wanted to invite her to Sunday supper and introduce her to his big crazy family. God. They’d love her.

Caliph and his girlfriend, Jennifer, would show her their ink. Chloe would want to get a picture of the two of them together. Noah and Mama Lewis would compete to impress her with their gumbo, teasingly forcing her to tell them whose was the best. After dinner, Dani and her boyfriends, Aiden and Bryson, would pull out their guitars and they’d all sing along to every song they’d ever loved. And then they’d sink deeper into the well-worn couches in front of the big screen as Justin, Ned and Jett cussed out whichever team or ref was currently pissing them off. He wanted to see her there, wanted her to be a part of his family.

Dammit. He pushed the insanity deep inside and opened his eyes. His vision confirmed what he already knew. He was alone.

Glancing at his phone, he discovered he’d slept late. It was nearly noon. Perhaps she’d decided to let him sleep in and had gone to breakfast with Lauren. Apparently there was a mud run today, though he and Tacy had decided to skip it. Originally she had planned to do it, but he wasn’t sure her knee was up to it, and the only kind of dirty he planned to get was with her, between the sheets.

He started to text her when he spotted a piece of paper on her pillow.

Zac,

Have to cut trip short. Heading back home today. Unexpected emergency. Had a wonderful week. I’ll text you later.

Xo,

Tacy

What the fuck was that?

Did she seriously just cut and run, say goodbye in a damn note?

Hell no. Hell fucking no.

Zac rose and quickly tugged on a pair of khaki shorts and a T-shirt. There was no way he was letting Tacy leave without saying goodbye. In person. Jesus. After all they’d done together, she owed him at least that much.

No. Now she owed him more than that. He wanted an explanation for the note. She wasn’t callous or thoughtless, so clearly something had spooked her. Scared her.

But what?

It sure as shit wasn’t the sex. Last night had been incredible. Hotter than hell. And Tacy had felt that too. She’d loved every single second she was tied up and she’d begged him to spank her harder.

His mind raced over everything they’d said and done, but nothing triggered any alarms. If anything, he turned a corner last night. The attraction he’d felt for her changing into genuine emotions—friendship, attraction…love.

Love. Zac sank down on the edge of the bed. He’d fallen for Tacy over the course of this week, but last night was the first time he had admitted it to himself. What if Tacy had made the same discovery?

Her life was in a major state of flux right now and he’d just added another wrench to the works.

He needed to find her, to talk to her. He fired off a text, asking where she was, but that act proved futile when he heard her phone beep. She’d left the thing on the nightstand next to her side of the bed.

While that find made him happy—surely she wouldn’t leave town without her phone—it didn’t help him find her in the meantime. He didn’t have Lauren’s number, or anyone else’s in town for that matter.

Zac grabbed the keys to the RV from the table and started the vehicle. They were parked in a field in the middle of nowhere. The nearest house was Phoebe’s, so he’d start there. He had no idea how much of a head start she had on him, but he prayed she was still in Sapphire Falls.

He parked the camper in front of Phoebe’s house, not bothering to shut off the engine. After knocking on the door several minutes and glancing around back, he had to admit no one was home.

His next stop was Lauren’s house. Once again, the place was deserted. Clearly everyone was at the mud run. He returned to the town limits and reclaimed his same spot at the campsite before jogging toward the square. He had absolutely no idea where the mud run was supposed to happen. He consulted with one member of the Blue Brigade and learned the run was over, and most folks were cleaning up by floating down the river in tubes.

The river he’d just been parked beside. He sighed in frustration.

Tacy hadn’t planned to do the run, but Lauren’s husband, Travis, had. He did a quick sweep of the booths and rides just to confirm Tacy wasn’t there, and then decided to drive back to the river.

Panic set in when he returned and realized he didn’t have a clue where these tubers got in and out. He forced himself to sit on the bank and calm down. He needed to think rationally. Driving all over Kingdom Come was getting him nowhere.

He took a deep breath and considered everything they’d said last night, the confidences they’d shared. When he found her, Zac needed to have a plan. He grinned when he considered what he would say to her.

Then he flipped on his phone and started doing a Google search. He had quite a few things to say to Tacy Bradford. If she’d left town, he’d follow her. To hell with Big Sur and the Pacific Ocean. His rambling trip suddenly had a purpose, a set-in-stone schedule.

Once he found what he was looking for, his gaze swept over his surroundings.

He’d just wasted two hours searching for Tacy, and he was in the exact same place he’d started. What he needed to do was stop moving around. He clearly wasn’t going to find her out here, so it was best to head back into town and ask around.

He’d start at the Come Again because he needed a drink. Big time.

* * *

“Oh my God, I’m such a freaking idiot,” Tacy repeated, her head in her hands.

Lauren was kicked back in her chair at the Come Again, watching her over the rim of the giant margarita she’d just ordered. Tacy’s sat untouched in front of her on the table, though getting drunk certainly seemed like a good idea at the moment.

“So what did the note say again?”

Tacy crinkled up her face. “Stupid shit. Something about an emergency and leaving early and thanks for the week. Why did I do that?”

“Panic.”

Lauren’s answer was succinct and there was no question in her tone. Her friend was right. She’d panicked. In spectacular fashion. Then she’d acted like an idiot, leaving him a note. A note, for God’s sake!

“He must hate me.” Tacy could only imagine how Zac would have felt waking up to find the bed empty and that horrible note on her pillow. “It was a terrible thing to do. Who says goodbye like that? And after such an amazing week?”

“He doesn’t hate you.”

Tacy didn’t acknowledge Lauren’s comment. Instead, she just buried her head deeper in her hands. “To make it worse, I left my phone in the RV. That’s why I couldn’t call you.”

After leaving the RV this morning at the crack of dawn, Tacy had walked the almost-five miles to Lauren’s house. And she’d cursed herself for being an absolute idiot the entire way. Upon arriving at Lauren’s, she’d discovered her friend gone and recalled the mud run.

Fortunately, Travis’ parents had passed her as she’d begun the trek to town. Her knee had started to hurt from so much walking and she’d been limping. The lovely couple had picked her up and driven her to town. Once there, she discovered she’d missed the mud run. Her first instinct had been to sit down and have a good old-fashioned cry right in the middle of the festival. Instead, she’d headed straight for the haunted house. She’d find some dark corner for her breakdown and if she was terrified out of her mind, it served her right for acting like such an idiot. She’d remained there for a long, terrifying hour, letting the tears fall without bothering to hide them, before daring to return to the carnival.

Mercifully, she’d found Lauren almost immediately. Her friend had taken one look at her stressed-out, freaked-out, tear-stained face and dragged her directly to the Come Again for drinks.

“Do you think you left your phone there subconsciously? Looking for a reason to go back?” Lauren asked.

She shook her head. “No. Believe me, I wasn’t thinking that clearly. Left my favorite T-shirt and a pair of flip-flops too. What am I going to do, Lauren? I have no excuse for my behavior.”

“Of course you do.”

For the first time since sitting down, Tacy looked up and faced her friend, blowing out an exasperated breath. “I have no excuse. I’m going to tell him. Good God, how do you look at a guy you’ve known a handful of days and say, ‘hey, by the way, I’m totally in love with you’? He’ll think I’m a lunatic.”

Lauren grinned and Tacy realized her friend wasn’t looking at her, but over her shoulder.

“Why don’t you turn around and test that lunatic theory?”

Tacy winced at the sound of Zac’s voice. She didn’t move, didn’t take her eyes off Lauren’s face. “How long has he been behind me?”

Lauren scrunched up her face and pretended to consider her question. “I think you were saying something about being a freaking idiot. Was that it, Zac? Freaking idiot?”

“Yep. Freaking idiot,” he repeated.

The humor in his tone was the only thing that gave her the courage to stand up, turn around and face him. That, and the fact he and Lauren were having a lot of fun at her expense. “You’re both assholes.”

Zac laughed and there wasn’t a trace of anger on his face.

Every ounce of regret and fear that had consumed her today vanished.

He reached for her. “I owed you a little payback for running out on me this morning. I’ve driven all over this damn town looking for you.”

She walked over to him, taking the hand he offered, loving how warm and strong it was. “I was hiding in the haunted house.”

Zac tugged her toward him, wrapping her up in a tight hug. “Damn. That was a serious panic attack. You’re limping.”

“Sort of overdid it on the walking today.”

He shook his head, his eyes concerned. “Tacy.”

“I’m so sorry, Zac. I don’t usually overreact like this.”

He took a small step away and cupped her cheek. “I don’t understand why. You’ve been in love before, right?”

She nodded. “Yeah, but it’s never felt quite this intense. Or happened so quickly.” She paused and then narrowed her eyes. “Why aren’t you bothered by what I’m saying and trying to escape?”

He placed a soft kiss on her cheek. “Because I’m in love with you too. I’ve been in my own state of sheer panic all day, afraid I wouldn’t be able to find you.”

“So we’re both crazy?” she asked, suddenly feeling about a thousand pounds lighter.

“Apparently.”

“What do we do now?”

He shrugged. “You hop in the RV and come see Big Sur with me.”

She laughed. “That really would be insane.”

“You don’t have anywhere to be for the next few weeks, do you?”

She shook her head. She didn’t have one single plan. And his sounded awesome. “Nope. Nowhere to be.”

“So it’s settled.”  Zac seemed to subscribe to Lauren’s life motto. Just do it.

“Okay. Then what?”

“If things go the way I’m hoping, I’m going to convince you to come back to New Orleans with me to meet Mama Lewis.”

“I’d like to meet your family. A lot.”

“They’re gonna love you, darlin’.”

“And then?”

He didn’t hesitate to reply, and it occurred to her she hadn’t been the only one thinking—and dreaming about the future. “I’ve got this little apartment a few blocks away from the French Quarter. I was thinking maybe you’d like to stay there with me for a while.”

“A while?”

“As long as you want.”

“Do you know if there are any schools in New Orleans that offer a landscape design degree?”

He grinned. “I just happen to know for a fact there are. Did a bit of Internet research this afternoon.”

She sucked in a breath, relieved, thrilled, amazed that he’d actually been planning for a future with her. “That sounds awesome. If you don’t mind putting up with an out-of-work, stressed-out college student for a while.”

He shrugged good-naturedly. “I don’t mind that if you don’t mind I’m buried in a mountain of college debt and my hours at the hospital are bound to be long.”

“I don’t mind.”

“I figure once you’ve tasted the beignets, I’ll have you twisted up in my web forever.”

“You’re going to win me over with doughnuts?”

“And powdered sugar.”

She laughed. “You realize you had me at caramel apple, right?”

Zac kissed her, a quick, hard, passionate one that made her heart race. The good kind of racing, though. “I love you, Tacy. And maybe folks will say we’re being reckless or crazy or going too fast, but I don’t care.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss…with interest. “Fast, slow, standing still. I don’t mind which way we go, as long as it’s together.”

About the Author

Writing a book was number one on Mari Carr’s bucket list and on her thirty-fourth birthday, she set out to see that goal achieved. Too many years later, her computer is jammed full of stories — novels, novellas, short stories and dead-ends and she has nearly eighty published works.

Virginia native and high school librarian by day, Mari Carr is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller of contemporary erotic romance novels. Join her newsletter so you don't miss new releases and for exclusive subscriber-only content. Find Mari on the web at www.maricarr.com | Facebook | Twitter | Email: carmichm1@yahoo.com

Big Easy series

If you enjoyed Going Too Fast, be sure to check out the other books in the Big Easy series.

Other Titles by Mari Carr

Big Easy:

Blank Canvas

Crash Point

Full Position

Rough Draft

Triple Beat

Winner Takes All

Trinity Masters:

Elemental Pleasure

Primal Passion

Scorching Desire

Forbidden Legacy

Hidden Devotion

Elegant Seduction

Sparks in Texas:

Sparks Fly

Waiting for You

Something Sparked

Off Limits

Second Chances:

Fix You

Full Moon

Status Update

The Back-Up Plan

Never Been Kissed

Say Something

Compass Brothers:

Northern Exposure

Southern Comfort

Eastern Ambitions

Western Ties

Compass Girls:

Winter’s Thaw

Hope Springs

Summer Fling

Falling Softly

Individual Titles:

Erotic Research

One Daring Night

Assume the Positions

Do Over

Tequila Truth

Rough Cut

Happy Hour

Power Play

Slam Dunk

Just Because:

Because of You

Because You Love Me

Because It’s True

Cowboys:

Spitfire

Rekindled

Inflamed

Lowell High:

Bound by the Past

Covert Lessons

Mad about Meg

Wild Irish:

Come Monday

Ruby Tuesday

Waiting for Wednesday

Sweet Thursday

Friday I’m in Love

Saturday Night Special

Any Given Sunday

Wild Irish Christmas

Wild Irish Boxed Set

June Girls:

No Recourse

No Regrets

Madison Girls:

Kiss Me, Kate

Three Reason Why

Boys of Fall:

Free Agent

Red Zone

Wild Card

Scoundrels:

Black Jack

White Knight

Scoundrels Boxed Set

Foreign Affairs:

Princess

Cowboy

Master

Hands