Chapter 27

27

Gene Hiller backed her into her room and before Chantal could even think to protest, he had her down on her bed. Her arms opened and she reached for him. Just like that.

Apparently, all it took to have her give him exactly what he wanted was a single look. “What are you doing?”

“Whatever I can get away with. But I’m pretty sweaty. You probably don’t want me all over you.” He cupped her cheek with one hand. “So kiss me, and then we can get back out there. Before your daddy or those brothers of yours find me in here.”

“Done this kind of thing with girls before?” Well, she suspected he had. Gene Hiller had a reputation, after all.

Her fingers toyed with the hair at the back of his neck. She liked touching him, she decided. He felt big and strong and real. Even if he was pure trouble to a woman like her.

A thrill of excitement went through her when his hazel eyes darkened. As he looked right at her. Her. For a moment, she felt like she was the only woman in the world. This man…was doing something to her.

Something she never would have believed would happen even a month before.

Yet having him in her bedroom felt somehow…right. And not so strange at all.

Exciting. Yes. But strange…no.

Because it was Gene. And she’d known him her entire life. A big part of her thought she was safe with him somehow, maybe? “Gene…what exactly are we doing here?”

“That’s a question I’d like answered myself, young lady.”

At the question behind them, Gene jerked back. Chantal gasped.

Then got the giggles at the shock on his face. The guilt.

But he didn’t answer Genny at all.

There she was riding to Chantal’s rescue once again—right on time.

Thank goodness for Genny Hiller.