J.M. Stewart

“He held his hand out, palm up, watching her with soft, penetrating eyes, deep, dark eyes that called to her the longer she stared at them. “How ’bout you give me the benefit of the doubt every once in a while, hmm? I’d like a chance to prove I’m not that stupid kid anymore.”

“I don’t want to go home yet.” He twisted at the waist and patted the seat behind him. “Take a walk on the wild side with me.”

“If you continue to touch me,” he said, his eyes flashing, searing into her, “you’re going to end up in this tub with me.”

“Before she could ponder what on earth he meant or come up with a proper response, he took their charade a step further.He kissed her.”

“The man was potent to her system, her very own drug.”

“Those baby blues slid over him, from his chest to his feet and back up, as if he were merchandise she hadn’t yet decided to buy. “I need a man.”Jackson bit back a miserable groan. The woman would be the death of him.”

“Unable to help himself, he offered her a smile and stared into those eyes as he tapped his mouth. “I think you missed.”

“She rolled her eyes to the ceiling, clearly telling him what she thought about his need to protect his pride.He leaned down, his face inches from hers, and tapped a finger against her lips, somehow managing to ignore their softness and the overwhelming desire to taste them. “You’re going to owe me for this one, I think.”

“You’re my best friend’s kid sister, Ang. I’ve known you since you were eight.” He ducked his head, dragged his hands through his hair with all the frustration winding through him. “Christ, if your brother finds out, he’ll have my hide.”

“Doubt filled her eyes. “What are we betting for, anyway?”He hadn’t thought about that, but it took his brain all of three seconds to come up with an answer. He knew damn well what he wanted from her. Had for years.“A kiss.” The words slipped from his lips before he could stop them, but once out, he didn’t want to take them back. “One kiss after you come back and see she’s all right.”

“How old are you?”“Old enough to know better, but still young enough to do it again.”

“Seeing you with that guy tonight made me nuts, because every bone in my body says you’re mine.”

“Or else I may do something I’m pretty sure you’ll hate me for in the mornin’.” The low huskiness of his voice washed over her like a heated caress, sending shivers down her spine, and obliterating whatever defenses she’d manage to build against him.”

“I promise I don’t bite.” He winked at her.That earned him another throaty laugh. Then she bent over him, hands braced on his thighs, her luscious mouth inches from his. The heat of her palms singed his skin even through his jeans. Her warm breaths puffed against his lips as she stared him dead in the eye. “What if I do?”

“How do you look at your best friend the same way again when you know the flavor of his mouth?”

“She hadn’t come for any of that. She came for him. Twenty feet in front of her, leaning back against the waist-high bar, stood the man she’d spent all day tracking down—the infamous Dillon James. The man who would soon have the power to take away everything she held dear.”

“It was her turn to hold him up.”

“For what it’s worth”—he rose from his seat, moved around the table and bent over her, whispering in her ear as he pressed a kiss to her cheek— “I like you better in a pair of worn jeans, and I think you deserve someone who appreciates what he’s got. Not someone out to have a good time.”