She watched him. His eyes darkened and he lowered his head to kiss her. His lips, when they touched hers, were warm and soft. He brushed them against her mouth, then returned to press more firmly.

Kissing a man wasn’t at all as she’d expected. Warmth pooled low in her belly and all thoughts flew from her mind except for this man and their kiss. She grasped his shirt in her fists and pulled him closer.

His tongue slid across her lips. Without thinking—for how could she?—she opened her mouth. He probed her tongue with his and she gasped.

He pulled away and smiled down at her. "You kiss like a virgin."

"There’s the best of reasons for that. I’m not like the women on your television who go with any man who asks."

He pushed a lock of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. "You’re not like the women anywhere. Perhaps that’s a good thing."

The heat of a flush burned her cheeks and she looked down and turned away. "But here I am in your mother’s home and kissing you like a brazen hussy. It’s sorry I am I’ve dishonored her hospitality."

He turned her back toward him. "Just as she hoped. Why do you think she hurried off to do the dishes so suddenly? Or why she slipped away to bed without saying goodnight?"

Deirdre looked toward the kitchen. No light showed. In fact, this room wasn’t all that bright. Blossom must have turned off the overhead fixture when she left. "She wanted us to kiss?"

He smiled at her and slid his hands around her back. "She couldn’t have been more obvious if she’d issued written instructions."

"You need no instructions. I’d say you could write the directions yourself."

He laughed. "Thank you, ma’am."

She sighed and pulled away. "But if I want to remain a good girl, I’d best be going off to my room. Otherwise, the temptation of your kisses will have me leading you astray."

"That would be . . . interesting to say the least."

"Something to save for another day." She smiled up at him. "You’ve had a couple you said had been interesting."

"That’s right. Good night." He kissed her forehead.

She turned to go, then looked over her shoulder at him. "Kisses are much nicer on the lips, aren’t they?"

"Depends who’s involved, but in this case, yes. Much nicer."