“A penny for your thoughts,” he said.
“You wouldn’t want them even for free. There has been nothing professional about tonight. This is breaking my own rule.”
“You have rules for your life?”
“Only where you’re concerned,” she replied with a tilt of her head. “There’s something about your devil-may-care attitude that makes me toss caution aside, too. I need some rules to cover dealing with you.”
“You know that’s a challenge.”
“I have no intention of flinging challenges at you.”
“Tell me that you haven’t enjoyed the evening.”
“You know the answer to that one, so don’t be smug about it.”
“I wouldn’t think of it.”
“When you finish dealing with this mansion and the things inside, what will you do?” she asked.
“Go back to my regular life, running the family company, which is a full-time job and one I like.”
“Then you understand how I feel about my work.”
As he talked, they reached the gates of the mansion. With a wave to the gatekeeper, Jared drove to the rear of the house. Landscape lights illuminated the area, and Jared draped his arm across her shoulders as they walked inside.
They entered through the back hall into an entryway, and then he directed her to the kitchen.
“We can have a nightcap, cocoa, wine, coffee. What’s your preference?”
“Just ice water,” she answered, setting down her purse on the granite counter.
They sat in the living area adjoining the kitchen and talked, innocuous conversation about first one thing and then another, things she knew she wouldn’t even remember in the morning. Underneath the conversation was a running current of awareness that they would kiss good-night.
Anticipation built until she stood and told him that she needed to call it a night. He followed her upstairs and stopped at the door of her suite.
“You know I had a great evening. Thank you for dinner,” she said. When he placed his hands on her waist, her heartbeat quickened as she looked up into his eyes.
“I remember some words about kisses tonight. So at least I can kiss you good-night.”
“Against all sensible judgment. We shouldn’t, and we both know it,” she whispered, though she wanted the opposite of her words.
“I know no such thing. Let me show you that you really don’t, either.” He slid his arm around her waist to draw her closer, then he bent down and paused, his gaze on her mouth.
She inhaled, trying to catch her breath. She expected his kiss, wanted it, her body thrumming with anticipation as her lips parted. “Jared,” she whispered.
Then he edged closer to brush her lips with his.
The moment her mouth touched his, she closed her eyes. All she could hear was her drumming heartbeat. She wound her arm around his neck. At last...the kisses she had dreamed about, had tried to forget.
Kisses that were even better than she remembered.
Four
She opened her eyes to look into his. In those depths of green, desire blazed, making her heart pound. While heat filled her, she went weak-kneed, clinging to him. The six years since their last kisses seemed to vanish.
She wanted him as if it were still that long-ago night when they had made passionate love for hours. She had wanted him then because he was the most exciting man she knew, the best looking, the most fun to flirt with. She hated to admit to herself that he still fit those descriptions. They had fire when they were together, an electrifying passion she had never found with anyone else.
As he leaned over her, his arm tightened around her, and he kissed her hard.
