“One of us ought to remind my brother to keep his priorities straight.”

“Go ahead,” she challenged him.

“Why me?” His question had a bitter edge.

“Because you’re family,” she answered simply. “Isn’t that enough?”

Parr’s glowering look told her that she’d crossed some invisible line. The problem was that she didn’t know which one.

All he could think of was how irresistible she was. She smelled of some lush, feminine perfume, a scent so enticing that he longed to see if she tasted as sweetly sensual. He had no right to touch her. She was his brother’s woman.

So why the hell wasn’t Bobby Joe here protecting what was his? Male instinct should have kicked in. It was for Parr.

“I want to taste you, Strawberry. I want to put my mouth on yours.”

The outrageous statement took her aback. She tried to swallow but couldn’t. A huge knot had formed in her throat, almost cutting off her breath.

“Parr . . . I . . . Look, just don’t. Please. This is hard.”

“Yeah. For me too.” Some unseen force held him back, still not moving any closer, still not touching her.

“Yes,” she sighed. She wasn’t agreeing to anything. But that softly breathed yes was a million miles away from no.

“I may be too rough,” he warned. “I’m not used to good girls like you.”

“It doesn’t matter,” she pleaded.

One big, dark finger touched her lower lip, running tenderly from corner to corner, pausing as her mouth gradually opened. “Your lips look so sweet,” he murmured. “So inviting.”

“Oh, Parr.”

“Do you want my mouth on yours, Strawberry?”

“Yes,” she begged, her quivering body leaning into his.

His finger moved from her lips, drawing a line down her chin to her throat, ever so slowly easing inside the collar of her blouse to stroke the upper swell of her breast. He was tormenting her with his sensual, patient lovemaking. She wanted him madly. Not even her erotic dreams had made her feel so wanton.

“Your heart’s wild,” he whispered. “So is mine. Feel.” He took her hand, placing it on his pounding chest. “Feel what you do to me.”

“Please . . . please . . . I can’t bear this.”

“You want me, don’t you?”

“Yes.” Why should she lie? He was already well aware of her half-crazed desire for him.

“Isn’t it about time you took her home, Bobby Joe?”

Alma’s voice came from the doorway, instantly freezing them to the spot. Neither spoke as his mother entered the room, but Parr removed his hand from Mary Beth’s body and stepped aside before they were caught in the act.

“Good Lord. It’s you. Where’s your brother, Parr?”

“He got a business call,” he replied. “Something about a late meeting or so I understand. I was just about to take Mary Beth home.”

“No . . .” Her voice was so faint that only Parr heard her, but his quick warning glance silenced her refusal.