“Come on in, I’m almost ready.” She held up a foot, wiggling bare, red-tipped toes. “I
need to go find some shoes.” Waving him into the living room, she admonished the
dogs to be quiet.
     Instead of staring at Cassie, like he wanted to, Mike looked around. “I like your
living room.”
     Cassie glowed with pleasure. “That’s right, you haven’t seen it since I moved in. I
think it’s very soothing. I’m glad you like it.”
    Mike nodded. The decor wasn’t quite what he expected from Cassie. He’d thought
she’d have gone for bright, bold colors. The soft, peaceful green walls, its rich fabrics
and plush furniture exuded elegance and grace. It felt a lot more restful than his stark
white apartment above the club.
    “I’ll go grab some shoes and be right back.” With a smile she headed down the hall.
She turned back for a moment. “Don’t try to pet the brown dog. She’s cranky.”
    Mike didn’t answer; he couldn’t. He found himself mesmerized by her curvy behind
wriggling seductively as she walked away. A pair of form-fitting jeans, one of those
short-legged jobs with the fancy ribbon on the bottom, showed off her shapely calves
and those trim, sexy ankles. Her feet were bare and enticing. And that top…okay, it
might be casual, but the red top showed too much creamy skin and cupped her breasts
so tightly.
    Damn. He wanted to follow her right into her bedroom. This wasn’t good.
    He sat down, and one of the dogs jumped onto his lap. Don’t pet the brown one. Did
that apply when the dog sat on him?
    He didn’t like having it that close to his privates. Especially since his groin felt tight
from his reaction to Cassie. Gave the mutt too much of a target. Maybe if I just push it
away.
    “Augh!” The dog nipped his hand when he tried and he leapt off the couch,
knocking it off him and onto the floor. All three dogs rushed him, barking furiously.
    Rubbing his hand, he snarled at the nasty mutt. The noise level escalated. Before
he knew it, Cassie stood next to him, telling the dogs to hush. They all obeyed, except
for the little nasty brown thing, who yipped one more time before retreating to a pillow
under the coffee table.
    “Your dog bit me.”
    Cassie frowned. “Suzy? I told you not to pet her.”
    “Well, you didn’t tell me what to do when she sits on me.” He studied his hand,
looking for damage.
    “Naughty dog. Don’t bite,” she admonished Suzy. To Mike, she said, “I’m sorry,” Did
he see a tiny smile? She’d better not be amused by this. “Suzy has a split personality.
The Pom part of her wants to be nice, sweet and friendly. But her Chihuahua
half…well, it tends to make her a bit―”
    “Vicious?”
    “Well, that’s one way to put it. Quite frankly, her nickname when we’re alone is
Bitchy.” They shared a smile. “Here, let me look at your hand.” She grasped it and lifted
it up, revealing two faint red marks. “Oh, Mike, I’m sorry.”
     Without warning, she brought his hand up to her mouth and planted a kiss, a
lingering, hot moistness that flamed his senses. He leaned forward, caught a whiff of
her hair, a light citrus scent that brought visions of her in the shower, and he stifled a
groan. Just then, she lifted her mouth, and her eyes met his.
    “Does it still hurt?”
    Hurt, no. Ache, hell, yes. Couldn’t she see that? But she’d only meant his hand. Not
the rest of his anatomy.
    “I’ve been thinking,” he said, knowing his voice sounded too husky, too filled with
need.
    “Yes?” She stroked her thumb over his palm, slowly, sensuously. He could imagine
that same thumb stroking another part of his body, swirling the same circles over his
hardened flesh.
     Those lips beckoned to him, called him, told him to sink into her, forget about their
differences, forget that she’d break his heart, that she’d be all wrong for him.
    “Perhaps we do need some practice.”
    He leaned down, his mouth hovering above hers.
    Just another fraction of an inch, and he’d taste heaven.


    Cassie held her breath, waiting for that first touch, that flash of fire in her veins. She
could feel his rapid, shallow breath on her lips, fanning her need for him. She shivered
in anticipation as his aftershave, subtle and spicy and mixed with that special male
aura, drifted to her.
    He’s taking too long. She leaned into him, her breasts pressing against his hard
chest.
He jumped back as if she’d pinched him, catching her as she toppled over. Setting her
upright, he retreated, then grasped her hand, tugging her toward the door.
    “C’mon. I don’t think we need practice, after all.”
    “Mike―” she began. What on earth happened here? One moment, she’d been
millimeters from kissing him again, something she could become addicted to. The next,
she found herself outside as Mike made sure the door locked behind them. Then he
bundled her into that oversized testosterone advertisement he called a ride, and pulled
away from the curb as if he couldn’t get away fast enough.
    Or the evening over soon enough.
    She arched a brow. “Are we in a hurry tonight?”
    He stared straight ahead, both hands wrapped in a death grip on the steering
wheel. “We’re doing this to convince others that we’re an item. We can’t do that by
staying at your place.”
    Ah, she understood now. He was on the run from her. Well, she might not be able to
keep a guy, but at least she could have fun making this one squirm.
    “But think of the talk we’d start if your truck sat outside my place all night long.”
    Deep red seeped up his face. “I don’t think we need to get carried away,” he said,
his voice sounding strained. “We only have to keep up appearances.”
    “So that’s the goal.”
    He nodded, and she could see the relief on his features. “Yeah. That’s the goal.”
    “Okay, I think I can handle that.” Loosening her seatbelt, Cassie slid toward him,
then wrapped herself around Mike’s arm. Lying her head on his shoulder, she made
sure her breast pressed into him. He immediately stiffened.
    She wriggled up against him, loving the feel of him. She rubbed her cheek against
his solid shoulder, snuggling closer.
    “What the heck are you doing?”
    “Why, being a couple, of course. This way, anyone driving by and seeing us will
know we’re an item. Clever, huh?”
    His voice came out a strangled bark. “Yeah, clever.”