Date: 2015-07-30 04:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Contemporary Romance; Erotic Romance; Romance; Erotica; Suspense; Contemporary; Thrillers; New Adult; Fiction
Description: Even nice girls have needs. Erin starts using matchmaker Luxxor Limited, not realizing that the company is truly an escort service. She meets a series of hunky men, but the dates are disappointing. She wants a man that will awaken her senses, challenge her thoughts, and rev up her body. She gets more than she bargained for when Luxxor sets her up with another client, lawyer Colton King. Her big brother’s best friend. Erin has always lusted for Colt. Dark, muscled, and brooding, he was her first teenage crush. Now he’s her favorite fevered fantasy. He’s just never taken notice of her before. Sh
Publisher: Tiger Eye Productions, LLC
Rights: All Rights Reserved

Courting Innocence

KIMBERLY DEAN

A division of HarperCollinsPublishers
www.harpercollins.co.uk

Mischief

An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers

1 London Bridge Street

London, SE1 9GF
www.mischiefbooks.com

An eBook Original 2015

1

Copyright © Kimberly Dean 2015

Kimberly Dean asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

Ebook Edition © 2015 ISBN: 9780008148768

Version: 2015–06–09

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Epilogue

More from Mischief

About the Publisher

Chapter One

October 23, 7.00 a.m., 55 degrees.

It was going to be a beautiful autumn day, even if she wasn’t getting married.

Erin blew out a breath that beat across her lips. She eyed her bedroom door. The forecast predicted sunshine and moderate temperatures. The leaves on the trees outside would be blazing with colour. Now, she just had to face it.

‘Eye of the tiger.’

She’d been dreading this day for a month – ever since the whole thing had been called off. Once she had powered through the next 24 hours, she could finally move on. To what, she had no clue, but she was bound and determined to find out.

She was even excited about the possibilities.

Fluffing her damp hair, she headed for the kitchen. Quiet sounds met her ears the moment she stepped out into the hallway. Jason and Sienna must already be up. Her roommate and her boyfriend had spent the night here, and Erin knew why. They hadn’t wanted her to be alone.

She sighed. She was so tired of people tiptoeing around her. Maybe that would end after today, too.

She turned into the kitchen with a ‘good morning’ on her lips.

All she got out was a ‘guhhhh’.

Her eyes sprang open in surprise. No wonder she’d heard only soft sounds and no talking. Her friends’ mouths were currently involved in something infinitely more pleasurable.

Heat streaked through Erin unexpectedly. That was one more thing that wouldn’t be happening today.

Her wedding night.

Her toes curled in embarrassment, but she couldn’t stop watching. Jason had Sienna trapped against the kitchen counter. The kiss they were sharing was hot, with Sienna arching back until her head nearly bumped against the cabinets. Jason had his hand shoved under the tank top of her pyjamas and was playing with her breast intimately. Sienna wasn’t being shy either. She had one hand in Jason’s hair and another wrapped around…

‘Oh, my,’ Erin squeaked.

The two sprang apart as if she’d just pulled a fire alarm.

‘Erin!’

‘Shit!’

Jason bumped into a chair, and Sienna knocked her purse off the counter. It went flying and hit the floor with a resounding thud, sending its contents everywhere.

‘I’m sorry,’ Erin gasped. She turned to leave, but bumped into the wall.

‘No, no.’ Jason was fast. He caught her wrist and stopped her. ‘My bad. I shouldn’t have started anything.’

‘We weren’t thinking,’ Sienna said in a rush. She straightened her clothes and ran a hand through her hair. Gathering it together, she looked around for her ponytail holder. She spotted it on the counter by her hip, but Jason got to it first. He put it in his pocket and pulled his girlfriend close again.

‘Erin doesn’t want us celibate,’ he said firmly.

‘No!’ Erin agreed.

‘But it’s –’

‘The day she was supposed to get married’ hung in the air like a sagging balloon.

Erin rolled her eyes. And there it was. She didn’t want anyone’s pity. She was over the humiliation and past the anger. She was even past the surprise. ‘I don’t want you guys to stop your lives, just because my plans were derailed.’

‘Are you sure?’ Sienna said cautiously. ‘It doesn’t bother you?’

‘She’s positive,’ Jason said.

Erin choked back a laugh. He wasn’t about to stop having sex on her account.

And they shouldn’t. It didn’t bother her…not that much. Her gaze took in how close they still stood together. There hadn’t just been sparks when she’d walked in the doorway, there had been fire. She could still feel it low in her belly.

Forcibly, she uncurled her toes.

‘It’s just this new apartment,’ she said. ‘I didn’t hear you two in here.’

Jason sent a grin in Sienna’s direction. ‘Not like your old place, huh?’

Sienna’s colouring flared. ‘Shush.’

Erin knelt down to help pick up the things that had fallen out of Sienna’s purse. Their old apartment had walls made of paper, and a former roommate hadn’t been shy about having her lover spend the night. The two hadn’t been the quiet types. Moans had echoed off the walls, one of which had been regularly beaten by a headboard.

The heat in Erin’s belly started to spread, and she was horrified when her nipples pinched. She missed sex. She missed being touched. She and Marty hadn’t been nearly as vigorous, but she missed the contentment a physical connection could bring.

Jason passed Sienna her pocketbook, and Erin snuck a look at the way he stroked his hand up and down her friend’s spine. The intimacy was almost weightier than it had been watching the two kiss.

She stood quickly. ‘I’ll just grab some cereal and head back to my bedroom.’

‘No, don’t,’ Sienna protested. She stuffed the last of her things into her purse. ‘Jason’s making waffles.’

Erin lifted an eyebrow.

‘Hey,’ the big guy said. ‘I think I’m offended.’

‘He makes killer breakfasts,’ Sienna promised. She wrapped an arm around Erin’s shoulders and directed her to the table. ‘You just sit and take it easy. I’ll get you some coffee and orange juice.’

Oh, this was exactly what she hadn’t wanted: kind words, pats on the shoulder and an endless stream of hugs. ‘You two don’t have to wait on me,’ she protested.

‘There’s not room for the three of us to be traipsing around in here,’ Jason said, ending the argument.

Their new apartment was much nicer than the old place, but it wasn’t much bigger. Real estate was hard to come by in the DC area. It also wasn’t cheap.

Defeated by the two of them, she took a seat and watched them work. They moved together fluidly, each taking on their own tasks. More and more, Jason had been convincing Sienna to stay at his place across the Potomac in Virginia. Neither of them was familiar with this kitchen, yet they smiled at each other and shared gentle touches as they tried to find the silverware and syrup.

The intimacy was no longer as blatant as when they’d thought they were alone, but it was sexual. And the presence of the feeling in the room was enough to make Erin squeeze her thighs together tightly. It wasn’t all embarrassment. She hadn’t been hurt by walking in on them.

Frankly, she was hot.

Her skin was tingly, and her ears were warm. It had been a long time since she’d felt the flare of arousal. Even longer since anyone had touched her that way.

She frowned into her coffee. It had been longer than the month of her broken engagement, to be honest. She couldn’t remember any guy kissing her like that. Like he needed her as much as he needed his next breath…Like he couldn’t get enough of her…

Certainly not Marty.

She put the coffee mug back down.

Was that what he’d meant by boring?

She was startled when Sienna slid into the seat beside her. Even at breakfast, her friend looked like the poster model for Miss Manners. Her spine was straight, her shoulders were pulled back, and her legs were crossed demurely.

‘Did you sleep OK?’ Sienna asked before taking a sip of her coffee.

Erin hadn’t missed the fact that Jason had known exactly how to prepare it.

She shrugged. ‘Not well.’

‘I’m sorry. Once you get past today, I’m sure you’ll rest better.’

‘Yeah,’ Erin agreed. Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead. She’d never wanted an autumn wedding anyway. She hadn’t wanted her new life starting when everything around her was dying or going dormant. It just wasn’t a good omen.

‘Did you have anything you wanted to do today? We’ve cleared our schedules.’

‘You two don’t have to babysit me.’

‘Did you want to talk?’ Sienna asked quietly.

Not really. Erin was so talked out. She’d already cried on her friends’ shoulders for hours. She poured some cream into her coffee and swirled it round and round. ‘I’m OK.’ With a sigh, she confessed, ‘I think Marty did the right thing.’

‘What?’ Sienna squeaked.

Jason merely stood staring at her, leaning against the counter with his arms wrapped across his muscled chest.

Erin swept back her hair. The dampness from her shower was drying, leaving the blonde strands wavy. ‘I’m not saying he did it the right way, but, more and more, I think we narrowly avoided making a mistake.’

Sienna touched her arm. ‘Why do you say that?’

‘Because I miss the wedding itself: my dress, the flower arrangements, the reception with all my family and friends. I miss it all – but I don’t miss him.’

There it was, the truth that had been bothering her so much was out. She risked a look at her best friend.

Sienna didn’t look convinced. ‘Are you sure you’re not just angry with him? You were together for so long.’

For seven years. Last year of high school, all of college and grad school.

‘I’m not angry with him. At this point, I don’t even think about him.’ Not Marty in particular, anyway. She thought about their plans together, their habits as a couple, the way they’d used to talk, sex…The question that consumed her most, though, was why.

‘Then you’re right,’ Jason said. ‘You avoided a bullet.’

She had, but who did that? Spent all that time together and walked away without looking back? Had they ever been in love?

‘I just want to understand.’ Marty was the one who walked, but she was having a tougher time. She hadn’t seen it coming. Her hands tightened around her coffee mug. ‘What was so boring about me?’

‘Whoa,’ Jason pointed a stern finger at her. ‘You are not boring.’

‘But that’s what he said.’

‘He said that things had got boring, but he never tried to fix them,’ Sienna said, jumping in. ‘Jason’s right, you’re sweet and fun and friendly.’

‘And sexy as hell,’ Jason muttered as he concentrated on pulling a waffle out of the cooker.

Sienna’s head whipped around.

He shrugged as he brought over a plate and placed it in front of Erin. He dropped a kiss on her forehead before looking at his girlfriend.

‘What? It’s the truth.’ Catching the back of Sienna’s chair, he leaned in. ‘But her loss, I’m taken.’

Erin couldn’t have been more surprised when Sienna caught his face with both hands and pulled him in for a sizzling kiss. ‘And don’t you forget it.’

He let out a low growl. ‘Not likely.’

He gave her another quick peck and headed back to the waffle maker.

Erin blinked. The man was having the most amazing effect on her normally conservative friend. ‘He’s just joking.’

Jason looked over his shoulder so fast, he nearly poured waffle batter into the sink. ‘What are you talking about?’

Erin rolled her eyes. ‘I’m cute. The friendly little blonde.’

‘And you think guys don’t find that hot?’

She stared at him blankly.

He shook his head and returned to making breakfast. ‘Bullet dodged. Huge, huge bullet.’

‘He is the Sloan Gunman,’ Sienna said dryly. ‘He should know.’

They ate their waffles, which were surprisingly delicious. Being a man, Jason had fried some bacon, too, so the meal was salty and sweet and thoroughly unhealthy.

Perfect for a cancelled wedding day.

Was he right? Could there be a fiery, intense relationship out there waiting for her, too? Erin nearly snorted into her orange juice, but Jason wasn’t the type of guy to lie to save her feelings. She trusted him, because he’d always been brutally honest with her. He didn’t treat her like she was made of fine glass.

She dipped her bacon into the syrup on her plate.

OK, maybe she was attractive – she couldn’t quite make the leap to sexy – but Marty was the only lover she’d ever had. He’d been her first, although there had been another man whom she’d really, really wanted to have that honour.

Yet he’d walked away from her, too.

‘So what’s the plan from here?’ Jason asked.

‘I thought maybe we could go back to the ice rink,’ Sienna said.

That was where they’d gone on the day Erin had met Jason. She hadn’t even known her roommate was dating a former hockey player until he’d taken them to the rink to help her work out her anger and frustration. Jason had taught them how to fire a slap shot that day, and they’d been friends ever since.

‘I’ll make a call, but that’s not what I meant,’ he said. He sat back in his chair, coffee mug in hand. ‘What’s Erin planning to do with her life?’

Sienna sucked in a breath. ‘Don’t push her. Not today.’

‘I want to find a job,’ Erin said without hesitating. ‘I want to take cooking lessons and maybe start a blog. I could do more charity work.’

She’d do anything to make herself less humdrum and tiresome. She’d gone into her engagement with no thoughts past being someone’s wife. Now, she wanted more. She wanted to stand on her own two feet. She wanted to explore her interests. And she wanted to find a man who thought she was sexy and captivating.

She sat up a little straighter and felt something brush against her bare foot. Looking down, she saw a stiff black piece of paper.

It was a business card, a classy one. Black with gold trim, it had Sienna’s name on it with a phone number underneath. Erin felt excitement rise within her. When Sienna tried to snatch it, she pulled it out of reach.

Luxxor Limited.

‘Is this where you’re working?’ Her roommate had recently got a job, but Erin hadn’t been able to ferret any information out of her.

Sienna turned pale. She shared a look with Jason, but then admitted, ‘Yes.’

‘Don’t you like it there?’ Erin had thought Sienna was happy with her work. She always seemed to be in a good mood when she came home from a day at the office.

‘I love it.’

‘Then why won’t you ever talk to me about it? What do you do there?’

‘I’m their communications director.’

‘Director? That’s great!’ After struggling to find a job after receiving her degree, Sienna must be thrilled.

‘Thanks. It’s a small office.’

Small or not, it had been smart enough to hire a great employee. Erin wiggled the card between her fingers, but the company name didn’t ring any bells. ‘What does Luxxor do?’

Sienna shifted in her seat. ‘It’s confidential. The company likes to keep a low profile.’

Erin frowned. In DC, that could mean a few things. Defence contractor, intelligence related, even political fundraising. None of those seemed to suit her friend, though. ‘Oh, come on. Tell me. Please?’

‘I…I can’t.’

Erin pouted. ‘I was supposed to get married today.’

Sienna looked pained.

Jason just laughed. ‘You’re evil.’

‘I just want to know.’ Curiosity had been killing her. She could keep a secret, but she hated when she was kept out of the loop – especially if it was to ‘protect’ her. Her family had done that her entire life and where had it got her?

Blindsided when she’d been dumped.

Jason reached out to gently hook Sienna’s hair behind her ear. ‘She’s just embarrassed.’

The look that his girlfriend threw at him could have melted steel.

‘Why?’ Erin asked. What could a company possibly do that would be that embarrassing? ‘Do you make feminine products? Erectile dysfunction pills? Urinal cakes?’

Her eyes widened. ‘Oh, no. It’s not the call centre your mom referred you to?’

Sienna covered her face with her hand, while Jason fought not to laugh.

‘It’s a…’ he started to say.

Sienna grabbed his wrist. His gaze locked with hers, and he turned his hand over to take hers.

‘Matchmaking service,’ he finished. His thumb moved over the back of Sienna’s hand in a gentle caress.

Erin put down her fork and sat back in her chair. She looked at the card again. ‘Matchmaking?’

‘Of a sort,’ her roommate replied. She fiddled with her unused knife. ‘It’s very exclusive, catering to high-end clientele.’

Erin ran her finger over the crisp edge of the stylish card. Matchmaking…Take charge. Be aggressive. Go for the gusto. She didn’t know what was running faster, her pulse or her thoughts.

‘You can’t say anything to anyone,’ Sienna begged. ‘Not even your parents or your brother.’

Why would she say anything to them? This was information she needed. She wanted to break out of the norm and try new things. This was certainly new. ‘It’s that confidential?’

‘Yes.’

‘I won’t tell a soul.’

Sienna’s shoulders relaxed. ‘Thank you.’

‘Thank you for finally telling me.’ Erin lifted an eyebrow, but let the question go. Jason and Sienna had met at a charity function before Sienna had started working at Luxxor. But this was interesting…

She set the card beside her plate.

Sienna held out her hand. ‘I’ll take that.’

Uh uh. No way. ‘I’d like to keep it.’

‘I’m sorry. I’m not allowed to hand out my business cards to anyone but clients.’

So she wasn’t high-end enough? Erin cocked her head, ready to argue, but it obviously wasn’t a question that Sienna would be open to. She’d have to find someone else who’d be willing to give her more information. For that, she needed Luxxor’s phone number.

She lifted her chin stubbornly. ‘I’m your roommate. I need to know how to get in touch with you.’

‘You have my cellphone.’

‘But what if you drop it or it loses power? What if you get sick and need me to call into work for you?’

‘Jason has the number.’

‘Well, now I do, too.’ Erin deliberately took another bite of her waffle. Sienna stiffened, but Jason squeezed her hand, and the subject was dropped.

Yet Erin’s gaze kept going to the card as they finished their breakfast. Luxxor Limited. Her mind was awhirl, and, surprisingly, not over her cancelled wedding. She’d wanted to move on. Had the opportunity just fallen into her lap?

Did she have the guts?

When the meal was over, she helped clean up, but the first thing she did was take the card to her bedroom and hide it away. Sienna might not like the idea, but the more Erin thought about it, the more she liked it. A matchmaker might be exactly what she needed.

She was determined to do things differently this time. She wanted to stir things up and meet new people. Try new things. Broaden her outlook. Obviously, she needed help understanding men.

And who better than a relationship expert to tell her why her former fiancé had found her so boring?

Chapter Two

Understated yet affluent. An address in downtown DC, too. This was reassuring. Real estate in this part of town was inhabited by only the upper echelon of law firms and political action committees. If Luxxor Limited was rubbing shoulders with these types, they were doing very well. This was a sign they knew their business. Impressive.

Their business of matchmaking.

Erin curled her hair around her finger. She’d never thought she’d be using a service like this, but it had come to her attention at precisely the right time. Online dating sites or the bars weren’t her thing. Besides, she wasn’t really looking for romance; she was looking for insight. One-on-one advice from someone impartial was the only way to get that.

And that’s why she was visiting during a time she knew Sienna was out.

Dropping her hand from her hair, she took a deep breath and summoned the poise she’d been taught but never quite mastered. She’d called the 1-800 number on the Luxxor business card first thing on Monday morning and had talked to the nicest woman. Rielle had been polite, but frustratingly vague and non-committal until Erin had mentioned Sienna’s name. Then everything had changed – as if it had been a password or something.

The intrigue was thrilling.

Now, she was finally about to embark on a new adventure. On her own. Sienna and Jason were having a late lunch with Sienna’s parents. Erin’s plan was to slip into Luxxor, find out if they were a good fit and then slink away before her best friend put the kibosh on what she was doing.

Because Sienna would find out. Erin had no misconceptions about that.

She scowled. She knew exactly how her friend would react. She’d say it was ‘too soon’ or that she was ‘on the rebound’. And the capper, ‘Why not let one of our friends set you up?’

Why? Because she was tired of others taking care of her. She needed to take charge. Break the chains. Fly, be free.

Yeah, all those things.

She stopped in front of the office number she’d been given. Luxxor Limited was spelled out in gilded letters on a heavy oak door. She rubbed her lips together. This was it. She could turn away now or move on with her life.

Fight or flight.

She entered without hesitation. She wanted to be a fighter.

The office was plush and sophisticated, decorated in burgundies and greys. It gave off a professional yet comfortable vibe. This wasn’t some sleazy set-up. Sienna wouldn’t work here if it was. So why was her friend so hush-hush about the place?

‘Hello, are you Erin?’ the woman behind the desk asked.

Her friendliness took away any lingering doubts Erin might have had. ‘Yes, are you Rielle?’

‘I am.’ The pretty woman stood and rounded her desk to shake Erin’s hand. ‘You’re Sienna’s friend.’

‘And roommate. Well, until Jason convinces her to move in with him.’

Rielle laughed. ‘We both know he won’t give up on that.’

No, the man was like a bulldozer when he wanted something. ‘I just hope I’m not the one holding her back.’

‘Sienna makes her own decisions. It’s what makes those two so fun to watch.’

‘Yes, it is.’ Erin grinned. She liked this woman.

‘Can I get you anything? Something to drink? A snack? We have fresh fruit and power bars.’

‘I’m fine,’ Erin said, although she’d picked over her lunch. Too many thoughts had been bouncing around inside her head. How would Luxxor treat her? Would they understand what she wanted? How personal would the questions be? What kind of man would they set her up with?

And what would he expect out of her?

‘Nina is looking forward to talking with you.’ Rielle picked up her phone. ‘I’ll let her know you’re here.’

Erin took a seat. She was the only person in the waiting area, which she was thankful for. Discretion was important to her, too. If her family found out about her plans, they’d nip them in the bud before she’d even be able to try. They were so protective, it could be suffocating, and her broken engagement had made it even worse.

But she wasn’t going to think about that today.

Instead, she picked up the latest issue of Elle Décor and flipped through the pages. It wasn’t more than a minute before a graceful woman appeared from the suite of offices behind Rielle’s desk. She wore a colour-blocked top with a black pencil skirt and sky-high heels.

‘Hello, Erin. I’m Nina Lockwood.’ She held out her hand and took Erin’s in a firm grip. ‘Welcome to Luxxor.’

‘Thank you for having me.’ The company CEO was flawless, with ash-blonde hair that fell model-perfect. Yet it was the glint in her eyes that made Erin take notice. This was one smart cookie. She exuded self-confidence, but, even more than that, power.

‘Please, follow me to my office so we can talk.’

Erin couldn’t help but copy the set of the woman’s chin and the way she walked as she followed in her wake. She’d grown up being taught manners and proper behaviour, but the way Nina held herself had nothing to do with seeking approval. She demanded respect.

She also had good taste.

Her office was impeccable. The blues and greys were sharp but soothing. And somehow personal. Erin started for the chair in front of the massive oak desk, but Nina directed her to the sofa and chair in a seating area off to the side.

‘Let’s be comfortable.’

Erin relaxed into a cushy easy chair and crossed her legs. She’d dressed for the appointment in a simple cap-sleeved J. Crew dress. It felt appropriate for the professional and classy atmosphere of the office, yet she was sure she’d seen the older woman in a very different environment. ‘You’re the one who was with Sienna at the hockey game.’

Nina nodded, but rolled her eyes. ‘I am. What a mess.’

That was putting it lightly. Sienna’s old boyfriend had made a scene outside the owner’s box seats at a Capitals game, and Jason had introduced the man to his fist. Unfortunately, the whole thing had been caught on nearly a dozen television news cameras.

‘There’s still a detective poking around into that, trying to decide if charges are warranted.’ Nina touched the pulse on her throat. ‘Has he talked with you yet?’

‘No. I wasn’t there.’

Nina dropped her hand and smoothed a throw pillow. ‘But you were there for Sienna when I took her home. I want to thank you for that. She needed someone to be with her.’

‘You got her out of there.’

Nina smiled. ‘Well, then we both did our jobs as her friends.’

Erin smiled. She liked Nina, too. A lot. She could see why Sienna wanted to work here.

‘Now, let’s talk about you,’ Nina said. ‘I have to admit, I was surprised when you called for an appointment. Did Sienna recommend you?’

Erin gave a sheepish smile. ‘I found her business card, and Jason told me that Luxxor is a matchmaking company. I took things from there.’

‘Yes, matchmaking…’ Nina crossed her long legs. ‘About that…We offer a specific kind of service, and we cater to very high-end clientele.’

‘I understand.’ And Erin truly did. In DC, it didn’t always matter how much money you had – although it took a lot to even get you into the game. Almost more cachet came from connections and how far back they could be traced. If qualifications were needed, she had them. ‘My father is a well-known lobbyist, and my mother is very visible on the DC social scene. I grew up here.’

‘Foster…’ Nina’s brow furrowed. ‘Your father is Harmon Foster?’

‘And my mother is Marilyn, most notably from the Daughters of the American Colonists.’

‘They are movers and shakers.’

Erin nodded. ‘So I’m told.’

‘You’re not into politics?’

‘Can’t stand them.’

Nina smiled. ‘You’re in the wrong town for that.’

Erin sighed. ‘I know.’

‘Well, with your background, you can understand our need for privacy.’ Nina sat at ease, but her eye contact was fierce. ‘Our business model isn’t the norm. We work on an invitation-only policy, and you will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement.’

‘That’s perfect for me. This is something I want to do for me. Nobody else needs to know.’

Especially not her family. Her brother, Dustin, would have a cow if he found out.

‘You’re younger than most of our clients,’ Nina observed.

‘Does that matter?’

‘Only in that our services come at a premium.’

Again, code. Money wasn’t an issue, but Erin had some requirements of her own. ‘I’m willing to pay, as long as I’m assured that your services match what I’m looking for.’

The sun shifted just enough then so that the rays cut through a vase on Nina’s desk. It sent a shaft of blue across the grey carpeting, pointing right at the company CEO. Blue symbolised confidence and reliability. Responsibility. It was a very good sign.

‘And just what is that? We specialise in short-term…engagements.’ Nina frowned. ‘I’m sorry, that was a very poor choice of words. I understand that you recently broke up with your fiancé.’

Erin’s shoulders slumped. Did everyone know? Was it stamped on her forehead? ‘You’ve talked with Sienna.’

‘You used her name as a reference. We vet all clients.’

And Sienna had put her through? Erin cocked her head. She was new to all this independent stuff, but it was rewarding to have people respect her plans and ideas.

‘She’s worried about you,’ Nina confessed.

‘She doesn’t have to be.’

‘It’s only been a month since your breakup. Are you sure you want…whatever it is that you want?’

‘I’m positive. I want to meet new people and get your advice. I want to explore what it’s like to spend time with people with different personalities and interests. I want to understand men better.’ The words came out in a rush, and Erin threw up her hands. ‘I want to date. It’s not as if I’m planning on diving into their beds and having wild sex.’

Nina paused. A corner of her mouth quirked, but then she gave a brief shake of her head. ‘My advice?’

‘Yes.’ That was the true reason why she was here. Reading the signs was the hard part. ‘I want someone to help me figure things out.’

‘Figure what things out?’

Everything. Erin toyed with the fringe on the pillow at her side. She could go home now and be safe and protected or she could trust in her gut.

‘I need to know what about me is boring.’

‘Boring?’ Nina said, her voice jumping.

‘It’s why my fiancé broke up with me.’

‘Oh, honey.’ The older woman pushed back her hair and looked to the ceiling. When her attention focused again, there was a different kind of energy about it. She seemed less aloof and more involved. When she spoke, her words were crisp. ‘Men say some really stupid things. I find you charming.’

‘There must be something,’ Erin insisted. ‘I thought Marty and I were compatible. We’d been together since we were teenagers. Maybe things weren’t exciting, but I thought we were good together.’

Nina settled her hand over Erin’s knee. ‘Don’t change yourself. Ever. Not for a man.’

The soothing blues and greys were no longer doing their trick. The tension and impatience finally broke through. Erin stood up and wandered about the room. ‘I want to change for me. I want to grow. I need to grow.’

She trailed her finger along the edge of a shelf that held various blue glass figurines. ‘I’ve always let other people take care of me, not because I couldn’t do things on my own, but because I know I rouse everyone’s protective instincts. Look at me.’

She held out her arms. ‘I’m petite, I’m cute and I’m blonde.’

‘You’re beautiful. Stunning, if you want me to be frank.’

‘I’ve had one boyfriend in my entire life.’

‘Not for lack of others trying, I’m sure.’

Erin wasn’t. She folded her arms around her waist and ventured closer to the panoramic window behind Nina’s desk. DC was awash in the colours of autumn. The capital was the ‘City of Trees’. With a height limit on city buildings, she could see splashes of red, orange and yellows up and down every block. ‘There was one guy I really liked before Marty and I began going steady, but he didn’t return my feelings. Not to mention, my brother chased him away.’

She turned back toward the middle of the room. ‘I lived with my parents until I moved in with Marty. This is the first time in my life I’ve had my own place. Even then, I still have Sienna as a safety net.’

‘That’s not necessarily a bad thing.’

‘I want to stand on my own.’ Erin looked at the woman seated across from her, so confident and powerful. ‘Can you understand that?’

‘Better than you know.’ Surprisingly, Nina didn’t look sorry for her or condescending at all.

‘I got complacent, but I want to try new things now. I can’t go back to my old habits. I want to meet new people.’ Erin wrapped both hands around the back of the chair in which she’d been sitting. ‘I want to date a different type of man.’

Nina folded her hands together and draped them across her knee. ‘Is sexual exploration part of this self-analysis?’

Erin’s face heated. After being around Jason and Sienna, it better be. There was so much she’d been missing in that part of her life. ‘Maybe?’

Nina’s look was steady. ‘What we talk about doesn’t leave this room, not even to Sienna. I’ll tell her what she needs to know to do her job, but you can share things with me in confidence.’

Erin sat again, but stayed perched on the chair’s edge. ‘Marty was my one-and-only there, too.’

‘Luxxor’s contracts prohibit sexual contact.’

The weight inside Erin’s chest dropped. The pressure had just eased. Right? That’s what it was. ‘That’s probably best.’

‘Unless physical contact is acceptable to both parties.’

The weight bounced back, shortening her breaths.

‘Brushes of one body against another, a gentle caress of a hand against the small of a back, an impulsive kiss…’ Nina said, offering examples.

For incidental contact, it sounded awfully sexy.

Nina sat back against the cushions and rolled her ankle lazily. ‘Can I ask why you don’t just start dating again?’

Because just talking about being intimate with other men unsettled her? Excited her. Erin slid back into the chair and smoothed her skirt.

All of which pointed to one very good reason. ‘Things were wrong before, and I didn’t see it. I was hoping…is that not part of the service you provide? To help me understand what to look for in a match? Or explain what I’m doing wrong? Could we talk about how the dates go so I can get feedback?’

‘Can’t you do that with Sienna?’

‘Not any more.’ She used to, but with things going so well for her roommate and Jason, it was embarrassing that her own love life was in the dust. Erin let out a breath that stirred her hair. ‘I was hoping to work with a professional.’

‘A pro–?’ Nina let out a cough. ‘Well, I suppose we could do that for you.’

‘Can you do it?’ She was impressed with this woman. She could tell she’d experienced a lot in life. She was smart, tough and sexy – all things Erin aspired to be. She was looking for a mentor, not a friend.

‘I’d be willing to make that part of our arrangement.’

Erin relaxed. ‘So have we come to an agreement?’

‘I believe we’re on the same page.’ Nina lifted a finger. ‘But trust me, what you’ll find out in the end is that you, sweetie, are definitely not boring.’

They spent the rest of the hour talking about Erin’s ideal man and working up a contract. Erin tried to be general, but Nina was a stickler for details. Once Erin got past her embarrassment, she had definite answers.

She liked them dark and athletic, smart but not geeky, and tall but not too tall. She was short. She didn’t mind toughness, but she insisted on fairness. Race didn’t matter, and if a guy had a sense of humour, all bets were off. She loved to laugh.

‘You’ll never find someone who meets all these requirements,’ she said as she signed the contract on the dotted line.

‘We call them wishes, and while I’ll try to meet them, sometimes it’s someone completely opposite who’s the best fit.’

‘See.’ Erin passed over the pen. ‘That’s why I came to you.’

‘And that’s why I look forward to working with you.’ Nina shook her hand. The grip was warm and sure. ‘I’ve taken enough of your time. Let me escort you back to the lobby.’

Erin smiled. It might have been a wild hair, but coming here had been a good idea. Luxxor had so much to offer. She was impressed by Nina’s self-assurance, and those shoes! Things could work out even better than she’d hoped.

‘I love the way you’ve done your offices,’ she said as they walked out together. The scheme moved easily from room to room and offered the luxuriousness she knew the company was trying to impart.

‘Why, thank you,’ Nina said. ‘Do you do much interior decorating?’

‘My major in school was design.’ Actually, she had a masters in the subject. With Marty travelling so much for work and Sienna sticking around to get her advanced degree, she’d continued her studies, too. Not that she’d worked as hard as Sienna. Design had always come naturally for her. As her mother said, she had an eye.

‘Are you working in the field?’

‘No.’ Although it was time she looked into it. She needed to buck up and decide what she wanted to do with her life. She’d enjoyed her coursework, and it had been easy for her. She just hadn’t put much value in her studies back then.

And that had been really stupid. Her lips flattened. She’d been so dependent on others. So passive. She had a brain, and she had skills. Others took care of her, but she could contribute. ‘Rest assured, I can afford your services.’

‘I’m not worried about that, dear.’

More code. Luxxor had done its homework on her. They would have had an easy time of it with Sienna on staff. Finding information on the company, though, had proven difficult. They were so low profile, they were nearly off the radar.

Which sealed the deal for Erin. She needed the freedom and privacy to explore herself and her relationships with others.

Rielle smiled when they reached the lobby area. She had a hopeful look on her face.

‘Erin has signed with us as a client,’ Nina announced.

‘That’s wonderful.’

Erin shook the office manager’s hand, too. ‘Should I just wait for you to call?’

Nina folded her arms around her waist. ‘Yes, we’ll need a bit of time to scour our database and find potential matches. Once we do, we’ll work with you to decide a time and venue for your first…date.’

First date.

Wow.

Erin’s heels twisted like Dorothy’s in The Wizard of Oz. She felt like she was going back in time, yet moving ahead, finally, into adulthood. Her choice. Her terms. Her timeline.

Empowerment, at last.

‘I can’t wait.’

She left the swanky office with her head held high and her steps crisp. She strode down the hallway to the elevator and pushed the call button.

Who would they set her up with? Dark and handsome? Blonde and boyish? Clean-cut and sexy?

And what about that sexual contact clause in the contract? It wouldn’t possibly be needed. But what if it was? What if she was attracted to the man they paired her with? Or men?

Heat crept up in her cheeks. She was so immersed in the daydream, she blinked when the elevator bell rang. Moving forward on autopilot, she came to an abrupt halt when someone exited.

‘Oh,’ she squealed. Yet the ‘Ohhhhhh’ kept right on going as she tilted her head back to look at the man who stood less than a foot in front of her.

Talk about dark and handsome.

Add rugged and rough-and-tumble to the list. The guy was intimidating as hell.

‘Sorry!’ she managed to squeak. She backtracked in a dozen tiny shuffle-steps.

The man’s forehead wrinkled, and he frowned. One long step put him right in front of her again, and she backed up until her shoulders bumped against the hallway wall.

‘Foster.’ He pointed a finger at her. His dark eyes were sharp. ‘Erin Foster?’

She sucked in a breath. ‘Yes?’

She had a good memory for faces. His she would have remembered. Who the heck was this guy? She was as rooted in place as if she’d just been called in front of the principal.

The sexy, disciplinarian principal.

Erin blushed. What was wrong with her? All that talk about random touches and spontaneous kisses had thrown her off-kilter. She needed to get her head out of that space. ‘Do I know you?’ she asked.

He pulled aside his coat and flashed a badge. ‘Detective Morgan, Metro Police. I’m investigating the assault case against Jason Sloan.’

Her spine snapped into place, and she straightened to her full five foot two inches. ‘He didn’t assault anyone. He was protecting Sienna.’

The man nodded as he slipped his hands into his pockets. He truly was a presence, but he could use that steely look and imposing stance all he wanted. She’d stand up for her friends.

Even if Detective Morgan looked like he could squash her like a bug.

‘Easy. Don’t get upset. I’m interested in hearing what you know. I’ve been meaning to talk to you.’ He glanced down the hallway. ‘I just didn’t expect to find you here.’

Shoot. Erin nearly groaned aloud. She’d managed to keep her appointment secret from everyone else. Now the cops were onto her?

‘I’m kind of in a hurry. Can we schedule another time?’ She’d talk with him. Fine. Just not here and especially not now. She glanced at her watch. Sienna could be back without warning.

The detective was still pondering Luxxor’s door with the fancy gilded lettering. When he focused on her, he seemed distracted. ‘I promise it won’t take long.’

Erin shifted her weight. The elevator still stood open, waiting for her, but she didn’t want to be rude. Or, worse, suspicious.

The detective took a step to the side, effectively blocking that escape path from her view. ‘You’re Ms Blakely’s roommate, right?’

‘Yes, although we’ve only roomed together for a few weeks. I’ve been her best friend since we were teenagers.’

‘On the night of the event, Nina…Excuse me, Ms Lockwood brought Sienna back to your apartment. Is that right?’

‘Yes, it is.’

‘Did Sienna tell you what happened?’

‘Of course. But even if she hadn’t, it was all over the news.’

‘Did she say if Mr Pratt, the alleged victim, had been aggressive with her?’

‘Kyle is a jerk. He’s always offensive.’

‘But physically? Did she say he’d threatened her or touched her in any way?’

Erin frowned. She really wanted to give the detective an answer that led in one direction, but she couldn’t. She was honest to a fault. Even when she tried lying, people knew she was doing it before the words left her lips. ‘I don’t remember,’ she mumbled.

He nodded, and the frown on his lips lightened. She couldn’t say for sure, but she felt like her candour impressed him.

‘Had he been calling her prior to that or harassing her?’

Again, her answer wasn’t the one Erin would have liked to give. ‘No, I don’t think they’d been in touch for a long time.’

The detective nodded, but then his gaze swept back to Luxxor’s offices. ‘So are you friends with Ms Lockwood, too?’

‘We just met today.’ Erin’s guard remained high and rigid. Her father had taught her a thing or two, including that she should read a contract fully before signing it. There was a confidentiality clause three pages long in the one she’d signed with Luxxor. She couldn’t tell a soul what she knew about them – not even a cop. Or so she thought.

She wasn’t going to chance it.

‘Were you here to see your roommate?’ he pressed.

She rubbed the toe of her shoe hard against the floor. Darn it, if only she could lie!

‘No,’ she said simply. He would have caught her in that one too easily anyway. If he went in there, he’d quickly discover that Sienna was out.

He lifted an eyebrow at her. And waited.

His authority, his age and his willpower all bore down on her. She would not…She couldn’t…

‘I had an appointment,’ she blurted.

That brought his chin up fast. ‘As a client?’

She pressed her lips together stubbornly, and the glint in his eyes brightened. He folded his arms over his chest and leaned forward an infinitesimal amount that she felt right down to her squished toes.

‘So what is it, exactly, that Nina does?’

Oh, no. The heat in Erin’s cheeks moved to the back of her neck. She’d already let too much slip. Secrets were gold to her, but this man wanted her treasures. She wiggled against the wall, looking desperately for a way around him.

‘She’s so secretive,’ he said. ‘It makes me curious.’

Erin knew how that felt. Sienna had kept her in the dark for a long, long time.

The detective waited patiently, unmoving as the Rock of Gibraltar.

‘What’s that confidential?’ He swept a hand through his hair. ‘I have my suspicions, but I never would have suspected you to be a client.’

That opinion seemed to be going around. Erin’s nose scrunched. She had just as much right as anyone to use a matchmaker.

‘That’s my business,’ she said, lifting her chin.

The humour in his eyes faded, and she fought not to shiver.

The man was tough and grumpy as they came. And nosy and tricky. He needed to ease up. Relax and enjoy life a bit.

His expression clouded, and this time the way he leaned in wasn’t imagined. ‘Is it illegal?’

‘No!’ she squeaked, flustered. ‘They’re services that you could use, in fact.’

His head snapped back. ‘Oh, really?’

‘Detective!’ Nina stood in the hallway outside Luxxor’s entrance. She had one hand still on the doorknob, and her fingers were white.

The man eased back from Erin. His attention swung away from her and zeroed in on the powerful woman facing him like a well-postured gunslinger. ‘Ms Lockwood,’ he said, his voice somewhere between a purr and a growl.

Erin saw her opening, and she hurried past him.

‘I don’t remember us having an appointment,’ Nina said, unbowed.

‘I remembered a few more questions I wanted to ask you.’

‘You couldn’t have called?’

‘No.’ His voice was smooth as silk now, and he’d started wandering down the hallway. ‘I couldn’t.’

Erin darted into the elevator and jabbed the button for the first floor. She held her breath as she waited for her escape to be ensured.

‘Thank you for your time, Miss Foster.’ The words slid through the thin crack between the closing doors before they sealed tight.

Drat. She hadn’t escaped. He’d let her go.

‘Men.’ Erin sagged against the wall of the elevator as it started downwards.

You couldn’t live with them.

And it was sexually frustrating as heck without them.

Chapter Three

Erin smiled at her date, but passed on dessert. Dinner had been enjoyable. He’d taken her to the Bossa Bistro, a lounge club in the Adams Morgan district that served Brazilian cuisine. Their table was in a corner, lit by candles, but the place was packed and lively. It had a sexy vibe. The music from the Latin band upstairs filtered down to their table and made the date easy and relaxing.

Maybe too easy.

She took another drink of her mojito and surveyed her companion over the rim of her glass. He was good-looking. Clean-cut, with a side of understated sexiness. She liked him. He was pleasant and charming. He’d been flirting with her, and she felt herself responding to the attention. He’d been a perfect date so far and a perfect gentleman.

Just like the last four Nina had paired her with.

Erin rolled the white rum around on her tongue and finally swallowed.

What was wrong with her?

He was great. He was interested in what she had to say. He’d given her compliments, and the banked heat in his eyes told her he meant them. So what was she waiting for? What did she want? A spark? Some friction?

He held out his hand, palm up. ‘Dance?’

She perked up. ‘I’d love to.’

He took her hand, and she followed him up the side staircase. The restaurant was long and narrow, squashed in a long row of buildings holding bookstores, clubs and other restaurants. The somewhat scandalous Madam’s Organ blues bar was right next door, and she had to admit she was curious about it. This place was fun, though, with art on the walls and photographs of musicians. Her date led her through the maze of bodies and tables to the dance floor. The band was playing a slower song that still had a definite Latin rhythm. Turning, he swept her into a glide across the floor that was almost professional. At least trained…

‘You’re good,’ she said, smiling up at him.

‘So are you.’ His white teeth glinted in the soft spotlight the club had set on the dance floor.

‘I should be,’ she said with a laugh. ‘My parents dragged me along to a lot of affairs where dancing was the only outlet I had from stuffy grown-up discussions. How did you learn?’

His smile faltered a little. ‘Lessons. I was told it would help polish me on the DC scene.’

‘Trying to get ahead?’ Erin teased.

Their gazes locked. ‘How am I doing?’

Fine. Just like the rest of them had.

He spun her around him, and Erin’s dress lifted around her thighs. She was being too picky and analytical. She needed to stop thinking and enjoy herself. And she loved to dance. She navigated a quick turn and seamlessly moved back into her date’s arms. He had the hip action of the dance down.

He really was handsome, well-spoken, polite and perfect.

Too darn perfect.

She frowned. Was that it?

‘What made you turn to Nina?’ she asked. She didn’t know if the question was taboo, but the truth was that both of them had turned to a matchmaker. She couldn’t see him not being able to pick up women. Not when he looked like he did – and could dance.

‘I’m sorry?’ he said, his eyes widening.

‘Luxxor’s dating service. Does your banking work keep you too busy to meet people?’ He’d told her he worked as a financial adviser. She’d always heard that bankers’ hours were easy, but stereotypes were hard to break.

Understanding lit his eyes, and he nodded. ‘It’s difficult to meet women, especially in all the bustle of DC.’

But the bustle was caused by people. Erin couldn’t imagine living anywhere without the energy of DC.

He dipped her and pulled her close. ‘Would you like another drink?’

‘No.’ She ran her hand along his shoulder. ‘Let’s just dance a while.’

He’d deflected her every time she’d tried to get him to talk about himself. It had all been about her – which, she supposed, should have been flattering. There had been more than one flash of interest in his eyes, but he’d been so, so…gentlemanly. Accommodating.

There it was. That was the source of her disappointment.

He wasn’t helping her understand herself any better than the other men Nina had set her up with. All of them had been friendly and doting. It was a confidence booster, but it wasn’t helping her grow.

They’d all acted like she was fascinating, which she knew wasn’t the case.

The band moved on to a sexy rumba, the music slow and sinuous. She moved closer to her date as the rhythm overtook them. Maybe if she could fan that spark she’d seen…

Their bodies brushed, moving in synchronicity. He led her into the corner, close to the band but away from the light. Erin arched over his arm, and their bodies meshed, inch by inch, as she rose. She could feel his ribs expanding and releasing with each breath he took until her breasts were pressed tight against him. The contact was pleasurable. She wrapped both arms around his neck and felt his hands settle at the base of her spine.

His hips rolled again, and her breath caught when he brought them into full contact. She hadn’t been wrong about that spark. He was hard.

Time expanded in that moment, the dance forgotten.

She looked into his eyes, and finally saw a crack in that gentleman façade. Hunger burned in the blue depths. He was going to kiss her.

Did she want him to?

Curiosity got the better of her. His head dipped, and she stood on tiptoe. Her nipples felt stiff where they rubbed against his muscled chest. Her nerves were humming as his lips settled across hers.

The kiss was long, thorough and…OK.

‘That was nice,’ he whispered into her ear.

Right, nice. He stroked his hands up and down her sides. Erin closed her eyes and let the music move her. It was pulsating and sensual. His hands slid lower until they closed over her bottom. She lifted her hair, and his mouth settled against the pulse on her neck.

Ah, maybe now…

Only his tongue didn’t lick across her pulse and his teeth didn’t nip. He merely placed soft pecks from her jaw down to her collarbone.

‘You are so pretty,’ he whispered into her ear.

Thank you. That’s nice of you to say. You’re sweet. The only responses that came to mind sounded inane. Sliding her fingers into his hair, she tried for something more enthusiastic. ‘Kiss me again.’

His mouth settled over hers harder this time, his tongue seeking. It rasped across hers, sending goosebumps over her skin. Yet her mind stayed clear. It wasn’t supposed to do that when a guy kissed you, was it? Sienna hadn’t even heard her come into the kitchen the other morning.

And why was she thinking about her roommate right now?

Deliberately, Erin let her tongue wrap around her date’s. A low groan came from somewhere deep inside his chest. His hips rolled forward, making her feel that intriguing bulge again, and she gasped when she felt the press of his leg.

He’d slipped it between hers and was pressing right against the spot where there should have been an ache.

Her excitement bumped up a notch.

His hand wrapped around her breast, and she knew what she was supposed to do. She pushed her hips forward timidly. The friction felt good. Naughty. They were on the dance floor, but all the couples were pressed close. Could anyone see?

She rocked again, but the movement was hampered by the close fit of her dress.

‘Mmm,’ she hummed when his hand stroked down again.

Yet he didn’t help her. She tilted her head back to let him nibble again on her neck, and her hair fell down her back. As discreetly as she could, she caught the front of her dress and pulled it up just enough so it wasn’t caught between them.

He growled in approval and pushed that hard thigh deeper between her legs.

Erin moaned at the pressure pushing against her clit and intimate flesh. Her panties were the only protection she had now. She rocked forward and then back, experiencing the sensation. It was good, but…She tried again, harder. And then faster.

Soon, she was riding his leg almost desperately. His mouth closed over hers again, and his hand squeezed her breast, but…

But nothing.

Her nerves settled back into normal gear before it had even ended – and she knew it wasn’t going to end with any kind of fireworks or even a sizzle. Slowly, she began to pull back. She broke the kiss and pulled her hips away. When the song ended, he still held her close, but their bodies barely skimmed one another’s.

Well, shoot.

Erin pushed down her red dress, smoothing the wrinkles, and looked to see if anyone had been watching. She was almost more embarrassed about not climaxing than she was about dirty dancing on a public dance floor.

Her date cleared his throat. ‘Sorry, that was against the rules, but I couldn’t resist.’

‘I wanted it, too.’

Her curiosity had been satisfied, albeit not to her liking.

Or had it?

Had sex been the issue with Marty? Was that what had been boring?

Her face heated to nearly the colour of her dress.

It had been a long time before he’d broken things off since they’d last ‘done it’. She’d never sensed anything wrong in that area, though. They’d been together for so long, they knew how to touch one another. They knew each other’s rhythms and moves, likes and dislikes. Once they’d got the hang of it, sex had always been easy together for them. Easy and relaxing.

Oh, damn. She might be on to something.

‘I think I’d like that drink now.’ She smiled up at the man who still held her too close for the contract they’d both signed. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings.

He cleared his throat. Red slashes of colour rode along his high cheekbones, but he didn’t say anything. He merely blew out a breath and swung an arm around her back. He guided them through the maze of moving couples to the bar. There was only one barstool open, so he helped her up into it. Erin hooked her heel around the footrest that ran the length of the bar and crossed her legs. The motion made her mound rub against the leather seat. It was cushioned but hard, and she noticed two things immediately. She wasn’t even wet, and it felt better than he had.

The flush in her cheeks crept down her neck.

‘Another mojito,’ she said tightly. ‘Please.’

Her date signalled for the bartender.

‘So you said you’d signed up for a cooking class,’ he said, not missing a beat. ‘What type of cooking are you interested in?’

Erin paused with her drink halfway to her lips, sighed and took a gulp. Again. So gracious. So upright. They’d just ground together like a power buffer, and she’d pulled the cord, but that was all he had to say? How did she cook?

And he meant food?

Why wasn’t he angry or disappointed about their sputtering kiss? Wasn’t he embarrassed that they hadn’t connected? She was. She felt the stare of another man at the bar and hid behind her hair.

She took another healthy swallow of her drink. She didn’t want gracious and polite. She wanted someone who would wake her up and make her take notice. She wanted to feel the fire. She wanted somebody like…like Jason, who kept Sienna on her toes…or that detective. The way he and Nina had squared off in that hallway!

Erin sat a little straighter. She didn’t want someone who catered to her, she wanted to be challenged. She wanted that burning sexual spark. She wanted a man.

She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. There was nothing to be ashamed of. She’d done nothing wrong, except maybe push right up to the limits of the contract she’d signed. But that wasn’t what concerned her. She needed to call Nina first thing tomorrow morning.

Because this wasn’t working.

‘What are we supposed to do?’ Sienna asked. She was pacing back and forth in front of Nina’s desk, sweeping her hands through her ice-blonde hair.

Nina didn’t know. She sat more calmly in her chair, but her heel bobbed up and down in a rhythm that could not be contained. They’d just received word from Erin that she wasn’t happy with her ‘dates’. ‘Any ideas?’ she asked. ‘Rielle?’

Luxxor was in crisis mode, much as it had been on the day that Erin had first called to inquire about being a client. Sienna had nearly had an aneurysm that day, but they’d all sat down together to brainstorm a way to protect Luxxor’s secret.

The secret that they were not matchmakers but an escort service.

In that moment, they’d needed to plug any potential leaks, but they’d wanted to protect the sweet little blonde too. The idea of providing her with escorts as dates had been a clever means to both ends. When Erin had walked away happy, they’d all thought they’d escaped a near miss.

They’d thought too soon.

‘Could we just set her up with another escort?’ Rielle suggested. ‘Someone who’d match her new set of wishes?’ She was on her feet, too, but hovering near the window to Nina’s left. Her nails were drumming against the windowsill in a constant click, click, click, click.

‘I considered that,’ Nina confessed. She drew a never-ending circle atop the piece of paper in front of her. She had a cross-hatch shredder beside her desk to destroy any would-be evidence. Just the idea of staring at a computer screen all day gave her a migraine and made her think of wrinkles around her eyes.

She sighed, put down her pen and let the softness of the big leather chair wrap around her. ‘But the escorts who’ve been out with her all say the same thing – that she draws out their protective side. She’s pretty and sweet, and they can’t help it.’

Rielle moved quietly across the room and joined them, taking the seat that matched Sienna’s. ‘We could just do what she wants.’

Nina’s brow furrowed. ‘I don’t understand.’

The pretty office manager shrugged. ‘We could try our hand at matchmaking.’

Sienna looked startled, but Nina was even more perplexed. ‘Who would we match her with?’

‘I don’t know, but you’ve got a database full of men. You know their preferences in everything from looks to personalities to hobbies to political affiliations.’

Sienna gasped audibly. ‘We can’t pair her with another client.’

‘Why not?’

Yes, why not? Nina’s mind was already starting to mull over the possibilities.

Sienna’s spine stiffened, and her posture turned crisp when she realised the two of them were actually considering the option. ‘Erin’s not an escort.’

‘We could tell that to her potential matches,’ Nina said.

Sienna whipped her head around.

‘We have some nice clients,’ Rielle defended. ‘Not all of them are here for the hoochie-coochie. Remember? We cater to people who are too busy to form relationships. That doesn’t mean they don’t want them.’

‘Yes, but if they wanted relationships, they’d be turning to real matchmakers,’ Sienna returned. Her chin dipped, and a blush settled in her cheeks. ‘We may be high-class, but we are what we are.’

‘There’s no reason we can’t branch out.’ Nina’s foot had stopped its incessant bobbing, and her tension had eased.

She jotted notes rapidly on her paper tablet. ‘We could be up front with the possible matches we find and ask them if it’s something in which they’d be interested.’

Sienna went silent. Gathering her hair together, she formed it into a braid. She tied it off quickly and rubbed her temples. ‘You’d keep the same contract restrictions, though?’

Nina let one eyebrow lift. ‘The no-sex clause?’

Sienna’s cheeks turned pink. They both knew that had been a difficult clause for her to keep when she’d been escorting Jason.

‘I don’t know.’ Nina turned in her chair to stare out of the window of her office even as Sienna made a protesting sound. ‘If we’re matchmaking, I don’t see how we could restrict it. Our responsibilities would end the moment they left the office.’

And wasn’t that the greatest of ironies? As an escort service provider, she needed that clause to keep her company safe from the authorities. With matchmaking, though, she couldn’t restrict what two consenting adults did in their own time.

Sienna was now sitting ramrod-straight. ‘I’m against this idea.’

Nina looked at Rielle.

‘I like it,’ the woman said. ‘I don’t know what else we could do.’

Nina drew in a deep breath. ‘How about this? I’ll put together a list of potential suitors, and we’ll go through them together. None of this matters if we can’t find an appropriate man for Erin.’

Both her employees nodded, and a compromise was made.

‘All right. Let’s get started.’ She stuck her pen behind her ear and finally turned to her computer. She was energised by the new concept. It could have more side benefits than any of them expected, but she needed to think through the dangers, too.

Because, with that detective lurking around, she didn’t need any more unwanted surprises.

The three of them stayed late, poring over the lists that Nina cobbled from her private database.

‘I don’t like any of these men,’ Sienna said. She pushed away the remains of the chef salad they’d had delivered. Normal work hours had passed long ago, and the sky outside the office’s windows had grown dark. ‘Erin’s interests aren’t going to match those of an accountant or a computer programmer.’

‘But Sam is super handsome.’ Rielle pointed at the programmer’s bio with her fork.

‘If he can’t talk about anything other than the latest coding language or video games, she’s not going to care.’

Nina gathered her hair together at the base of her neck as she stared at her computer screen. She was focused on her search terms.

Erin had called out two men in particular. Both were unavailable – or at least Jason was – and there was no way Nina was going to set such tender flesh in front of Detective Morgan. Or any of her escorts, for that matter.

No, she couldn’t pair Erin up with either of those two, but she could type in the words she’d use to define them. Her own secret keywords. Hot, dark, built, intense, sexy, smart, Grade A…

She paused a moment, debating. She nearly hit the enter button, but then added one more. Dominant.

The list that came back was short. There were only twenty or so names on it. A few were intriguing, but she wasn’t finished.

She then reversed the search. She knew her men’s preferences, too. For Erin, she used her own observations: sweet, engaging, petite, blonde, eager, wilful, curious. And probably the most descriptive, innocent.

The list that came back had only five names on it, some of whom made Nina blink. Interesting…She slid the printout across her desk to her employees and waited for a reaction.

Rielle’s came first. She was nibbling on a cracker, but it broke in half when she read the names. She caught the crumbles haphazardly and shook her head in tight little jerks, rejecting them all summarily.

‘Omigosh. He’s a client?’

Both Nina and Rielle swivelled their heads around fast. Sienna had grabbed the paper and jumped to her feet. ‘That’s it!’

‘Who?’ Rielle asked. ‘What’s it?’

‘Him.’ Sienna slapped the piece of paper back down on the desk and pointed at the first name on the list. ‘Set her up with him.’

‘Colton King?’ Rielle pulled back. ‘He’s sexy and you know – huuuh – but for Erin?’

Nina’s eyes narrowed. ‘He’s too tall, and, if he has a sense of humour, I’ve never seen it.’

Yet she could practically see the energy that was flying off Sienna in a ray of colours. Surprise and excitement tingled in the air. The icy blonde was usually much more contained. ‘What is it you’re not telling us?’

Her employee sat down fast.

‘Erin has wanted him for ever,’ she shared conspiratorially. ‘He’s her older brother’s best friend, but also the kid from the wrong side of the tracks. Her parents would never let her see him.’

The three of them leaned in like girls around a campfire sharing stories about the cute boys at school.

‘Did he want to see her?’ Rielle asked.

‘Does it matter?’ The gears in Sienna’s brain were turning fast. It was clear on her face. ‘You’ll either give Erin the thrill of her lifetime, or he’ll put an end to her using a matchmaker so fast, her head will spin. I know he will.’

‘Would he tell her family?’ Nina asked.

‘Never. One time Erin went out after curfew with this new cool girl at school. She got stuck in a really bad part of town, so she called Colt. He picked her up and never told anyone. Not even Dustin, her brother.’

Sienna grimaced. ‘He chewed her up one side and down the other, though.’

‘But…is he still her type?’ Rielle ran her finger down the list of wishes Erin had given them. ‘Isn’t he some big trial attorney now? He intimidates me.’

‘Because the man oozes testosterone,’ Nina said.

They all had to agree on that. Sex appeal was every woman’s type.

‘But for Erin?’ Rielle repeated.

For Erin was more appropriate. Nina picked up the piece of paper with Colton King’s name atop the list. Knowing that background made a huge difference. ‘How young were they?’ she asked.

Sienna tapped her lips. ‘Erin was maybe fifteen. I think Colt was eighteen or nineteen.’

So, jailbait for him. He’d known better, but had Erin’s feelings been returned?

Nina glanced at her screen. According to his wish list, they had. It matched Erin to a T.

‘I still remember my first crush,’ Rielle said quietly.

They all shared a knowing look. Those first feelings of sexual attraction were powerful.

Nina pulled up Colton King’s picture and turned the monitor so they could all see.

‘Mmm,’ Rielle hummed.

‘The forbidden fruit,’ Sienna whispered.

‘The match,’ Nina decided. ‘If he’s up for it.’

Energy started buzzing in the office. Nina rose from her chair and went to the bar in the corner of the room. She poured herself a brandy and took a sip. King was a difficult one to read. A bad reaction from him, and her company could be in jeopardy. He was a powerful attorney. Definitely someone she didn’t want on her bad side.

But what if, just if, she might be fulfilling his secret desires too?

‘I want to approach this very carefully,’ she said.

‘He won’t be what she’s expecting.’ Rielle warned. ‘And she’ll blame you, Sienna, for knowing and not telling her.’

‘She’d hate us more if she knew we had this chance and didn’t take it for her,’ Nina said. It wouldn’t be like the young Erin had dreamed in her pink bedroom with boy-band posters on the wall. Colton King was all man now, but just because she was sweet, it didn’t mean that Erin couldn’t handle that.

Nina made the call. ‘We do this.’

It was time to pair the lamb with the lion.

Chapter Four

The hallway to Luxxor’s offices seemed long and extra narrow. Erin’s knees were unsteady as she made her way to the meeting Nina had scheduled. They’d talked and agreed to try a new direction for her. This time it was going to be different, she could feel it.

The idea excited her, yet also pushed her out of her comfort zone. She knew the type of man she’d described to Nina, but she’d never dated anyone like that. She hadn’t even spent much time in the company of someone like that – not in the past few years, anyway. Jason didn’t count. He felt too much like a big brother.

Yet this. She felt as if she was moving up a league. When Nina had called, she’d asked three times if Erin was sure.

She smoothed her dress over her hips. She was sure, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t anxious.

She took a moment to dart into the ladies’ room to check how she looked in the mirror. The little black dress was simple but deceiving. It skimmed her body closely, emphasising her figure. She was petite, but she had curves. Not flamboyant ones, but she wasn’t a stick. She debated the hem once again. The dress was short, but not too short. She hoped. She’d tried to make herself look taller. Her black heels helped with that, although she couldn’t pull off the stilettos that Nina wore.

Erin fluffed her hair. She’d had it up and then down, half-up in a barrette and then back down again. It hung in loose waves around her shoulders and down her back.

She did a quick check of her makeup, but the brightness in her eyes and the pinkness in her cheeks hadn’t been painted on.

‘It will be fine,’ she told herself in the mirror.

No, she wanted better than fine. She wanted out-of-this-world. She wanted unbelievable. She wanted lightning and thunder and magic.

Switch it up. Get in the mix. Turn it upside down.

Blowing out a quick puff of air, she finished the trek to Luxxor’s offices and entered through the heavy oak door.

Despite the late hour, Rielle was waiting with a smile on her face. ‘Hello, Erin. Welcome.’

‘What are you doing here so late?’

‘Oh, just finishing up a few things.’

Erin was glad she’d checked Sienna’s schedule. She wouldn’t have wanted to run into her roommate. Not tonight. They hadn’t yet talked about the fact that she was using Luxxor’s services, but she knew that Sienna was aware. They’d both skittered around the subject, neither really wanting to talk about it. Fortunately, her roommate and Jason were out at a function this evening.

‘Let me walk you to Nina’s offices,’ Rielle said. ‘She’ll introduce you.’

Erin’s eyebrows rose. ‘He’s here already?’

The office manager nodded.

Erin’s stomach flipped. ‘What’s he like? Is he nice? No, I didn’t ask for nice. Is he interesting? Handsome? No, that’s not important. Does he have…presence?’

Rielle touched her shoulder soothingly. ‘All that’s up to you to decide – but I definitely feel he has “presence”.’

Erin squeezed her pocketbook until the knobs on the coin purse bit into her palm. She tried to calm her racing heart, but this hallway was much too short for that.

When Rielle gave a soft knock, there was no more time. ‘Good luck,’ the woman whispered.

Erin nodded, unable to voice her thanks. Trying to be composed and worldly, she walked into the room. Two people were waiting: Nina, looking like everything Erin didn’t feel, and a solid, dark-haired man whose back was turned to her.

Erin stopped on a dime. He had presence all right. She could feel it all the way from across the room. The knot in her belly drifted lower, where it began to collect heat. Before she even saw his face, she knew he was sexy.

‘Hello,’ she said softly, happy when her voice didn’t waver.

The man stiffened. Slowly, he turned away from their hostess to look at her. Erin’s breath went short when his dark gaze connected with hers.

And then she couldn’t breathe at all.

Her stomach dropped, and dread filled her. Oh, no. No, this couldn’t be happening. This was some sick joke. Her family had found out what she was doing and had sent him in. She was so busted.

‘Come in, Erin,’ Nina said in her husky voice. ‘Erin Foster, this is Colton King.’

Erin knew. The man had been her teenage dream. Her fantasy – and the crush had lasted well past adolescence.

‘Erin?’ he said sharply.

Her knees wobbled and she caught the back of a chair. He was going to give her away. He’d tell Dustin, who’d tell their parents. If he hadn’t already –

She swallowed hard. ‘Colt,’ she managed to get out.

His attention swung from her to Nina and then back again. ‘What is this?’ he asked. ‘What’s going on?’

Erin focused on the carpeting. If she was lucky, maybe a big hole would open and swallow her up. It was the only way she could see to get out of this mess. She should have given Nina a list of men she couldn’t see. No-goes. This one would have been smack dab atop the list.

‘This is the woman I spoke to you about,’ Nina said patiently.

‘Jesus,’ he muttered underneath his breath.

That made Erin’s gaze lift. So maybe he hadn’t known? If she begged, would he put this in the vault and promise never to talk about it? Ever?

She didn’t think so. His jaw had gone tight, and a muscle at his temple was flittering. He had a tan as if he’d recently been some place warm, but underneath it she saw a definite pallor.

This was not good.

‘As I explained, we’re reevaluating the process we use to pair people. When we keyed in the new parameters, you two were a match for each other’s wants and preferences.’ Nina reached up to toy with an earring. ‘A perfect match, in fact.’

What? Erin’s heart raced so hard it hurt. Her ribcage was just too tight to contain it. If he wasn’t here to yell at her, then…‘You’re my date?’

The squeak in her voice made her cringe. It made her sound young and unsophisticated, but it couldn’t be helped. She looked at him, wide-eyed. Wanting filled her until she felt she might burst.

Colton’s mouth set in a flat line as he glared at Nina, but when he turned to look at her…his expression softened. He looked almost defeated. ‘What are you doing here, Erin?’

What was he doing here? ‘Getting matched up?’

The look he turned on the Luxxor executive was lethal.

Nina held up her hands. ‘Erin’s one of our clients too.’

That didn’t make things any better.

He planted one hand on his hip and rubbed his brow with the other. His jacket swung open with the motion, showing that he’d kept himself in shape.

Really good shape. Erin’s mouth got wet.

Oh, she wanted it to be true. She wanted to see him, to get a chance for at least one date where he saw her as a woman, not as Dustin’s little sister.

Only he looked as surprised as she felt, but a lot less happy.

‘A client,’ he repeated, this time with his look boring into her. The words came out in rapid-fire shots, but she didn’t know what they meant.

Erin stood rooted to the spot, feeling helpless. Was he that put off by her? Was he that loyal to her parents?

A perfect match.

Nina had said that, and she had heard it.

She’d heard almost nothing else.

With a low curse, Colton turned away. Lacing his fingers behind his neck, he walked over to the window to look out at the DC evening skyline. This late into fall, darkness was coming earlier and earlier. The colours of traffic lights glinted, along with the halos of streetlights all in a row.

‘Is there a problem?’ Nina asked.

As tense as Erin felt, the woman seemed calm and composed. Did she not feel the raw emotion snapping around the room, bouncing off the walls and even the furniture?

‘We know each other,’ Colton bit out, his voice like ice.

‘Would you like to cancel?’ The woman wasn’t rattled in the slightest. She turned to Erin. ‘I could find someone else for you.’

‘No!’ He crossed the room as if he was approaching the bench, argument in hand. Squaring off across from Nina, he jabbed a finger against her desk. ‘You aren’t going to set her up with anyone else.’

‘Else?’ Nina repeated.

Erin’s weight rocked forward to the tips of her toes.

For just a split second, Colt looked uncharacte‌ristically off-kilter. ‘I mean, you aren’t going to set her up with anyone.’

‘Well, since I already have –’ Nina leaned forward and braced both hands on her desk ‘– I wish you a good evening together.’

Erin was standing on the brink of a major precipice. She could tilt into happiness like she’d never known or be in for a world of hurt. If he told her family, she’d get a long lecture from her father about the dangers of going out with strangers. Her brother would go into protective overdrive, and her mother would talk about the nice men from the Capitol Hill Club. But if he agreed?

‘Don’t send me to Daddy,’ she whispered. ‘Please.’

A stern expression settled on his face, but she didn’t waver. She lifted her chin and met his dark gaze. She savoured the opportunity to just look at him. He was so handsome, and it had been so long. She knew he was a busy, important man now. He didn’t drop by her parents’ house any more. If Dustin was having a barbecue and she went, he rarely showed.

Time strung out on a razor wire.

At last, he grimaced and dipped his head. ‘Aw, Sunny, what have you got yourself into?’

She melted inside. Nobody called her that any more. ‘Please, Colt? Take me out. Just the two of us. Just once?’

He ran a hand through his hair. It was shorter than it had been the last time she’d seen him, but still long enough for her to want to touch. ‘I’ll take you to dinner,’ he finally said, ‘but only because we need to talk about this.’

The circular gesture he made with his hand was jerky.

‘Then I’m taking you home.’

She beamed at him. Absolutely felt like she’d sprouted wings. She’d dreamed about him taking her home for ever. ‘Great,’ she said, her voice thick. ‘Then I can show you my new apartment.’

He frowned. ‘You didn’t move back in with your parents?’

So he’d heard about her break-up.

‘No.’ Summoning the confidence Nina insisted she should have, Erin crossed the room and looped her arm through his. He stiffened but didn’t pull away. Her breast ached where his arm touched her, and she leaned into him more heavily. He felt warm and hard and thoroughly male. ‘I’m not a little girl any more. I’m all grown up.’

In every sense of the word.

‘Take me on a date, Colt.’ Show her what she’d been missing.

The mean, tough trial attorney looked fit to be tied as he led Erin out of the room. Nina folded her arms across her chest and nodded her goodbye. It wasn’t two minutes later when Rielle snuck back into the room.

‘He didn’t look happy.’

‘But Erin does.’ Nina unlocked her knees and felt them waver once again. That had been too close. She’d known she was running a risk choosing him. If he came after her, she’d have a fight on her hands. She had connections in the legal system, but they didn’t climb much higher than Colton King. The guy was a shark in the courtroom. She didn’t want him swimming around her company, looking for weak spots.

But little Erin had out-manoeuvred him.

Nina ran her fingers along the blue glass paperweight that held down both her clients’ files. She was good at seeking out weak spots too, and she already knew what King’s was.

‘He had me worried,’ Rielle admitted.

‘Listening at the door?’

Her employee looked guilty, but then flipped her hair over her shoulder. ‘I was ready to ride to the rescue.’

‘I don’t believe that will be needed,’ Nina said. ‘I think we just did a very good thing.’

Or so she hoped.

Rielle sat down and let out a shaky breath. ‘Did I hear right? Did he call her “Sunny”?’

‘It’s a family nickname, I believe. For her hair.’

‘It didn’t sound that way when he said it.’

No. No, it hadn’t.

But the stern lawyer had a spine made of titanium. If he couldn’t bend or give in to the sweetness being so innocently offered to him, they could have problems.

‘What do we do now?’ Rielle asked.

‘We sit back and see what happens.’

Nina had a feeling she’d be watching with both hands covering her eyes, because they’d either just fixed things or got themselves into one hell of a fix.

Erin got onto the elevator and stood close to Colton’s side. She barely heard the floors ticking off over the pounding of her heart. She couldn’t believe this was happening. Her biggest secret wish.

Had Sienna known?

Oh, who cared? Her roommate was going to get the biggest hug when she saw her.

Erin snuggled closer to Colt’s arm, but his muscles were tense. He hadn’t said a word to her since they’d left Luxxor’s offices.

‘Why are you upset?’ she asked softly. She knew when he was in a temper. It was when he was at his quietest.

‘Not here,’ he said, jerking his chin at the security camera in the upper corner of the lift.

Erin frowned. She hadn’t even known it was there.

Rubbing his arm uncertainly, she waited until they were on the first floor, heading for the door. ‘Well, I’m happy to see you,’ she whispered.

‘I’m happy to see you, too,’ he said, jaw tight. ‘Just not like this.’

‘Like what?’

He pointed at a Town Car waiting at the curb. The gesture moved him out of her reach, and she folded her arms across herself, pulling her wrap tighter. His coldness hurt. Why was he so angry?

With a sigh, he caught her hand and wrapped his around it. It felt warm and protective in the crisp autumn evening. November had arrived, and the nip in the air was biting. Palm to palm, he warded off the chill.

Erin started to get nervous again when the driver climbed out and opened the back door for them. Colton got in and, not letting go of her hand, tugged her in after him. He didn’t move all the way over, and she took that as a hopeful sign.

Could she pull this off? Could she make him see her as an adult and not a lovesick teen? She’d prepared for an intense, exciting evening, but she hadn’t prepared for him.

‘Is the idea of going on a date with me so repugnant?’ she asked.

He silenced her once again with a hiss and hit the button to raise the tinted window that would separate them from the front seat.

‘Why are you acting like this?’ she demanded. He’d always treated her as Dustin’s little sister, but he’d never treated her like a child.

He twisted in his seat. ‘Because you are the last person on earth I expected to find there.’

‘Why? I’m single.’

His teeth clenched. ‘I heard that. I can’t say I’m sorry, but that’s no reason for you to go to these extremes.’

‘What extremes? I’m dating again. It happens.’

‘Dating?’ he snapped. He looked at her like she’d grown two heads.

‘At least I’m not going online or hitting the bar scene. I chose Luxxor for the personal attention.’

‘Personal attention is right.’ His eyes were fierce as he leaned towards her, and colour shone on his cheekbones as streetlights flashed by. ‘Luxxor isn’t Match.com, Erin. It’s an escort service.’

It took a moment for the words to sink in. When they did, her head snapped back so hard, it bumped against the headrest. ‘It is not!’

‘It is.’

‘No, it isn’t. Sienna works there.’

His eyes went wide. ‘Sienna Blakely? She’s mixed up in this too?’

What was he talking about? Where was he getting these insane accusations? Sienna wasn’t mixed up; she was their Communications Director. Although…she hadn’t wanted to tell her where she worked…or what Luxxor did…

No, he was wrong.

‘They’re matchmakers,’ she insisted.

‘Erin,’ he groaned. His hand tightened around hers. ‘Tell me this is your first night using them.’

Erin’s brow crumpled. It couldn’t be. Luxxor couldn’t be that kind of company. Sienna would never work at such a place, and that would make Nina a madam! No, the business was too high-class and expensive.

Sex sells.

The words whispered in her ears.

‘That would explain the detective’s interest,’ she mumbled as the pieces clicked together.

‘Erin,’ he said more sharply. Cupping the back of her head, he made her look at him. ‘Have you been out with their escorts?’

She glared at him. He was acting like Dustin, all bossy and overprotective. ‘I’ve been on dates.’

Fury exploded on his face. ‘How many?’ he bit out.

‘That’s my business.’

‘How many?’

‘I don’t know. Four or five.’

‘Same guy?’

‘Different men.’

For some reason, that made the fluttering pulse at his temple start to pound. ‘Tell me you didn’t sleep with them.’

‘Don’t be disgusting. I’m not a slut.’ Besides, there had been that no-sex clause in the contract. She hadn’t slept with any of those men.

But she had got cosy with one, rubbing against him, kissing him and dry-humping his leg…

The streetlights must have shown her blush, because Colton looked crestfallen. And then furious.

‘But you did something,’ he growled.

She folded her arms over her chest in a huff. ‘That’s none of your business.’

‘I’m making it my business. You’re done with Luxxor. Do you hear me? You’re not to set foot in that place again. I don’t care if Sienna does work there.’

Erin’s eyes narrowed. She’d had just about enough of other people deciding her life for her. ‘You can’t tell me what to do.’

Even to her own ears, she sounded like the petulant teenager she’d once been – and it set him off.

His hand tangled in her hair. ‘Erin, you are not going around town with male escorts!’

She glared at him. He’d disappeared from her life, but thought he could stroll back in and take it over? ‘Try and stop me.’

That was it. When you pulled a tiger by the tail, you were bound to get bitten. She let out a spluttering protest when he pulled her across his lap, but the sound turned into a surprised gasp when his hand connected with the curve of her bottom.

Had he just spanked her?

Fire spread from where the sharp smack had connected, and her body jackknifed. Her hips came up, and her feet searched for the floor. She pushed away from the seat, but his hand settled on her lower back and pressed her down. Another swift spank had her wriggling in distress and embarrassment and…something else.

‘Colton,’ she hissed.

‘Do you know what your parents would say if they found out what you’ve been doing?’

Four more swats came in rapid succession.

‘Ahh!’ Erin’s right foot lifted in reflex, and her heel pointed at the roof of the car. If she’d been upright, it would have looked like a little foot pop as he kissed her.

But this was no kiss.

She squirmed more desperately as the tingle in her bottom burned and sang. His muscled thighs pressed into her belly and against the underside of her breasts. They plumped up, and she felt her nipples go hard.

‘They’re not going to find out,’ she cried. He had her unbalanced with her hips lifted so high.

‘No. They’re. Not.’ Each word was accompanied by another stinging spank.

He was warming both her cheeks, and the prickle was making it hard to breathe.

‘Do you have any idea what could have happened?’ he snapped. ‘Do you know how far some of those escorts will go?’

Tears stung at her eyes. ‘I was the one who started it,’ she gasped.

She was punished with another sharp swat.

‘But I stopped it too,’ she yelped.

His hand stopped in its up-and-down motion. It rested against the curve of her right buttock with a familiarity they’d never shared before. He was nearly cupping her, his thumb settling precariously over the crease in her ass. Only the thinnest layers of material stood between them, and they’d offered no protection from the spanking he’d just given her.

‘You stopped it?’ Leaning down, he whispered into her ear. ‘Why?’

His touch made the fire singe, and Erin’s most private parts clenched. Oh, God. She’d never been spanked, not even as a child. But the way he was touching her didn’t make her feel childish. It made her feel naughty. Her nipples were hard nubs, and her pussy…Oh, God. She let out a moan.

He rubbed her bottom tenderly. ‘Why?’

She struggled not to arch into that touch. ‘Because I didn’t feel anything. Not like…’

He let out a harsh breath that stirred her hair. ‘Not like Marty?’

‘Not like this!’

She let out another involuntary moan, and his hand paused.

The air in the back of the car became heavy and still. His ragged breathing blended with her harsh rasps. In that instant, Erin became acutely aware of her inexperience. Embarrassment flooded through her and she pushed up again, trying to get back to her seat.

Again, he stopped her with that immovable hand at the base of her spine. Only it was gentle. Inexorable but gentle. ‘Damn it,’ he whispered. ‘How did you stumble into this world?’

The spacious Town Car seemed to shrink as Erin lay back down. She felt every bump in the road, every seam. She could feel her heartbeat pounding in her bottom. The throb was unavoidable with his hand placed where it was.

A low sound left his throat, and she squeezed her eyes shut. His hand stroked her, and she tried to steady her breaths – only they seized up again when he caught the hem of her short dress. It had pulled high on her thighs, but he skimmed it up higher, over her curves to nearly her waist.

Erin felt exposed and humiliated and so turned on.

She wore a tiny black thong that had to bare her reddened curves to his look. Could he see his handprint against her tender flesh?

His breath came out of his lungs in a series of shudders, and she could feel every one against her sensitised skin.

‘Damn,’ he breathed. His finger traced the stretchy fabric over her hip, following it to the middle of her spine way down low. ‘This is what you wear on a date with an escort?’

Her back arched when he started tracing the thong downward to where it disappeared between her cheeks. ‘Ah! It’s what I wear on a date with you.’

She looked over her shoulder belligerently, and the muscle in his jaw bulged. His stern hand lifted again, and the thrill of danger went through her. Her confession was met with another spank and then three more. She let out a cry that sounded too much like pleasure.

Before she knew what was happening, he’d fisted his hand around the waistband of her thong and was pulling it down. The fabric stretched and cut into her sensitive cheeks. She twisted away from the sting, only helping him in the process.

Then she was completely bare, lying across his lap and at his disposal. Erin couldn’t compose herself any longer. She jiggled, she pushed, she kicked, she hissed. She did everything she could until another swat caught her from another direction.

He’d connected with the underside of her bottom and the top of her thighs. Right across her…

She melted back down across his lap, her pussy squeezing and blasting with heat. ‘Colt!’

‘Damn it, Sunny.’ His breaths were harsh, but he spanked her again in the same manner.

His leg lifted and her thighs fell open, parting as her muscles went limp.

He touched her then, his fingers sweeping slowly through her slit. Erin groaned in delight. The car came to a stop at a traffic light, and it lit the back seat like a spotlight. He touched her again, his fingers pressing deeper, parting her and rubbing against her damp flesh.

This time, he was the one who groaned. ‘Erin.’

She was so wet. The throbbing in her bottom had settled between her legs. Her entire body was trembling. Her nipples were hard against the cups of her bra, and perspiration dotted her forehead. ‘Colt,’ she begged.

For what she didn’t know. For him to stop. For him to continue. For him to do whatever he wanted to her.

His hard finger bumped against her clit, and she bit her lip. She couldn’t help but swivel her hips towards him, wanting more. Those dangerous fingers swirled round and round.

‘So good,’ she gasped. ‘Too much.’

It had to stop. She didn’t want it to end.

She wasn’t expecting another spank. The hand that had been restraining her lifted. It came down, flat and rigid, against her bare bottom in a wicked smack that left her cheeks quivering and aching.

And her coming.

She let out a cry that even the driver on the other side of the soundproof barrier had to hear, and shook on Colton’s lap as the most outrageous orgasm consumed her. He rubbed her bottom in circles as his other hand played with her below. A finger penetrated her and another orgasm crashed into her, or maybe it was a second wave of the first.

She didn’t know. Shock blinded her. By the time she got oriented again, he’d pulled her thong back over her hips and had guided it into place. Everywhere. In jerky movements, he pulled her dress down.

The silence was daunting. Emotion hung heavily in the air. Erin looked over her shoulder at him, her eyes damp. ‘Colt?’

He dropped his head against the headrest and stared at the roof of the car. ‘Son of a…I’m going to hell. Straight to hell.’

His chest rose and fell, and his eyes squeezed shut. Erin didn’t know what to do. She’d just experienced the most acute pleasure of her life, but embarrassment cut nearly as deep.

He’d spanked her like a schoolgirl.

A very grown-up schoolgirl.

She sprang off his lap, but bumped against his crotch in the process. He bucked forward, and she moved more carefully.

He was hard.

Colton was hard – and he was unhappy about it.

Scooting away, she pulled her dress down and pressed herself into the corner of the back seat.

‘Erin.’ He still didn’t look at her. ‘I…That never should have happened.’

‘Don’t,’ she said, her voice like sandpaper. ‘Don’t you apologise.’

She knew she’d pushed him past the breaking point. He’d lost his nearly legendary cool, but he would not take this away from her. She’d wanted him to see her as a woman, and she’d finally, finally got her wish.

She just hadn’t expected it to be so shocking.

She squirmed against the soft leather cushions. The sensitivity in her bottom refused to be ignored. Her cheeks felt as if they’d swelled to twice their size, and her thighs were sticky.

She brushed her fingers across the pulse in her throat. It was still racing.

Colton reached for the comm unit. ‘Take us back to Luxxor,’ he ordered the driver.

‘Yes, sir,’ the man responded.

Erin sat forward. ‘What are you doing?’

His expression was controlled when he looked at her. ‘I assume your car is there?’

Oh, no. This wasn’t where it ended. She refused to have that secret shown to her, only to be ripped away again.

‘I want my date,’ she said fiercely.

His chin thrust out. ‘You’re going to stop this nonsense. Your engagement was broken off just a little over a month ago. You don’t need to be seeing anybody right now.’

‘So what’s not good for the goose is still OK for the gander?’ she snapped.

His eyebrows pulled together, and she jabbed a finger at him.

‘You’re a client of Luxxor’s, too. You were in their database, and a lot longer than I have been. You use their escort service.’

‘I’m not a regular customer.’

‘But you needed dates too, and you turned to them.’

‘I didn’t need dates –’ He had the brains to look chastened. ‘They told me this was different, that they were looking to go legit.’

‘And I’m not legit?’

He laughed at that. ‘Baby, you’re as off limits as they come.’

The fire in her bottom fired up her temper. ‘You’re going to take me to dinner. That was the agreement.’

‘Erin,’ he said patiently.

Grabbing his tie, she pulled him to her. ‘I just put out. You owe me dinner, Colton King.’

He started to look away again, and she did the only thing she could think of.

She kissed him.

She pressed her mouth to his and felt him flinch – and then freeze. It gave her an opportunity she wasn’t going to miss. Coming out of the corner where she’d plastered herself, she moulded her lips more intimately against his. For as stern as his mouth could be, his lips were soft.

Erin’s senses sang.

A shudder went through him, but then he pulled away. She followed, cupping the back of his head and sliding her fingers through his silky black hair. Hesitantly, she brushed the tip of her tongue against the seam of his lips.

A hiss left his lungs, but then he was kissing her back.

Tilting his head, he brought their mouths into full, open contact. His tongue glided against hers, and need surged inside her. Erin felt so light, it was a wonder she didn’t float right off the seat. She had to get closer, needed to feel the press of his body. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she rose higher on the seat. One of his arms snaked around her, and it was only natural for her to climb on to his lap.

With a tug and a turn, she straddled him as he sat with his legs spread wide in the middle of the expansive back seat of the Town Car. What had started as a soft, tentative kiss was bubbling into something hot and barely under control. Their lips clung as they bit and rubbed at one another. Erin slid her hands under Colton’s coat and felt his hard chest. His heat poured through his dress shirt. She slid her hands down to feel just how far that hardness went.

His hands weren’t still either. They’d caught her about the ribcage to help her move onto him, and the balls of his hands pressed into the sides of her breasts. He ground into the softness, but then his hands skimmed downwards. They closed over her hips, and Erin let out a moan.

She was still tender down there.

The sound was enough to break through to Colton, and he jerked his touch away. ‘Erin,’ he said, his voice raspy as he pulled out of the kiss.

He caught her hands against his stomach before they could do any more damage.

Erin looked at him, her eyes heavy-lidded. He was beautiful. His hair was mussed, his eyes were dark as night, and his lungs were working like bellows. That muscle in his jaw had relaxed, and his hands, although firm, were holding hers in place instead of pulling them away.

Happiness made her chest ache. Years of wanting, aeons of unrequited longing, and she’d finally had a taste.

She leaned in for more, but he stopped her. ‘We can’t do this.’

‘Yes, we can,’ she whispered. And they should. It was good between them. Lightning and thunder and magic.

Nina had said they were a perfect match.

Before he could do his lawyer thing and argue her into submission, she reached for the communication controls.

‘What are you doing? Stop –’

She laid a finger over his lips.

‘Driver?’ she said, her voice unnaturally smoky. ‘We’ve changed our mind. We’d like to go to dinner.’

She rubbed the pad of her forefinger gently across Colton’s lower lip. ‘I’m hungry.’

Chapter Five

Colton tied one on that night, intentionally and almost desperately.

He sat in the living room of his row house with the lights off, nursing a Jack Daniel’s. He’d stripped down to only the dress pants he’d worn on his ‘date’, because he still felt hot all the way through. He eyed the amount of liquid still in the bottle. Actually, he wasn’t nursing it all that well. He was pounding it back hard. Tomorrow was going to be hell.

‘No more so than tonight,’ he muttered.

What the fuck had just happened? How had he ended up in the back seat of a car with Erin Foster lying half-naked across his lap? Christ.

Even now, hours later, the memory of it left him hard.

‘Ah, hell,’ he groaned. He poured himself another shot of whiskey and tossed it back. The stuff was supposed to be potent, right? It would dull the edges? Make him limp?

So far, it wasn’t working. Everything was as crisp and vivid in his brain as a high-definition television. The sound of her pleasure…the feel of her hip riding against his cock…the sight of her perfectly formed ass…

He swiped a hand through his hair. He’d managed to stay away from her for nearly a decade – or at least it had seemed that long. He’d suffered through endless stiffies and the nearly unbearable need to touch her. He’d stifled his desire to kiss her, and that had been when he was younger and less disciplined. He’d managed to deny himself all those times, but tonight?

Tonight, he’d slipped off his chain.

And what had he done?

Squeezing the bridge of his nose, he leaned forward on the sofa. He’d spanked her.

Erin, of all women. Sweet, perfect, beautiful little Erin.

Dustin would kick his ass if he ever found out. Shit, Colton would kick his own ass if it was possible. He looked again at the whiskey bottle.

‘Definitely possible.’

He slumped back against the cushions of the sofa. He never should have touched her, and definitely not like that. He’d just been caught off-guard. He usually had time to brace for the impact of seeing her. He’d never expected to see her glide into Luxxor’s offices – not in a million years. It had frozen his brain. That was the only excuse he had.

Sure, he’d been told that another client was looking for something more than Luxxor normally provided. He knew how it felt to be alone in this city, all work and no play. Well, except for the other type of play Luxxor offered…Their proposal had just sounded…nice. And when they’d described the woman in question? Petite blonde, fun and friendly – he’d been all in. Nina knew his preferences. She knew them well.

So, yeah, he’d been toying with the idea of scratching an itch. He’d never dreamed he’d be offered the starring actress in all his private fantasies.

‘Erin, what were you doing there?’ he asked the empty room.

How had she ever become involved with that crowd? He knew she was too trusting. It was the part of her that made everyone – including him – try to protect her. With all her friends and family watching out for her, how had she walked right into the lion’s den? She’d said that Sienna worked there. He remembered the tall, cool blonde. She’d always been a by-the-rules kind of girl. He couldn’t see her working at an escort service, no matter what the capacity.

But hell. Erin had been out with escorts.

Colton pushed himself off the couch and walked to the window to look out at the night. Dupont Circle was unusually barren and quiet. The temperature had dropped as the sun had faded, and a chill had settled in. The exhaust from the back ends of cars looked like puffy white clouds. The fountain in the middle of the park had been shut down a while ago for the season, and it looked eerily still. Frost was forming in the corner of the window pane. Everything was cold and brittle.

Yet whenever he thought of Erin going out with Nina’s boys, it made him break out in a sweat.

That was what had pushed him past his breaking point. That was why he’d felt the clawing need to make her wake up and pay attention. But spanking her?

Bracing his arm against the window frame, he hung his head.

He’d never hurt her. He’d chop off his own arm first. Yet seeing that pert little butt rounding up at him so temptingly?

It had just…happened.

‘But you couldn’t let it end there, could you, idiot?’

His brow furrowed so hard, it nearly cramped. Things had gone way past a stern reprimand. Way, way past.

If only she hadn’t melted against him like that. Melted and shuddered and cried out in pleasure. His power of self-denial was only so strong. Under that kind of pressure, it had disintegrated like tissue paper.

He was barely holding it together now.

The ache in his cock sharpened, and heat pumped through him. He’d never forget the sight or feel of her. So smooth, so firm, so soft…She’d been lifting her hips at the end to take his discipline, but he couldn’t think about that. If he did, he was a goner.

Stomping back to the coffee table, he grabbed the square bottle and took a swig.

Things had got dangerous from that point on. Dangerous and thrilling and so damn satisfying. After holding back for so long, it had been a rush.

But then reality had come crashing in, with horror close on its heels.

He’d jacked off the one girl he’d promised never to touch – the girl he’d been forbidden even to think about. She was just too sweet and young and innocent to be paired up with someone like him.

But now it had happened.

Worse, he was afraid his secret had been let out of the bag – the secret that he wanted her too.

She’d kissed him, and he’d been helpless. She’d kissed him after what he’d done to her, and he was her slave.

They’d gone to dinner, all right, because at that point, he hadn’t been able to deny her anything. But actions had repercussions. The meal had been uncomfortable as hell. She’d looked at him with those big blue eyes, curiosity showing.

And damn it, she was like a cat when something caught her attention.

‘Fuck,’ he said, blowing out a long breath. He needed to nip this in the bud, stop it before anything else happened.

Because nothing like this could ever happen again.

He eyed his iPhone halfway across the room. It was sitting on the table by the door, highlighted by a sliver of moonlight coming through the frosted window pane.

Colt shook his head, but found himself crossing the hardwood floor.

‘We need to straighten things out,’ he said, practising. ‘We need to talk about what happened.’

He pulled up his contact list and stared at her name. Reconsidering, he set down the phone, but then picked it up again. It was only when he heard the rings going through that he looked at the time. ‘Damn,’ he hissed.

He was about to hang up when a sleepy voice answered. ‘Colt?’

He closed his eyes. ‘Did I wake you?’

‘Mm, I was just lying here.’

In bed. She didn’t have to say it. He could picture her sunny blonde hair spilling across the pillow. She wore thongs; he knew that now. What did she wear to bed?

The strangled sound in his throat must have carried over the airwaves.

‘Did you…need something?’ she asked.

Oh, God. She had no idea.

He shook his head. ‘Are you all right?’ he asked softly.

She paused for a moment, and his heart dropped.

‘Would you stop asking me that?’ she finally said.

She hadn’t let him apologise. She’d refused to hear him out, but if he didn’t say it, he’d go mad. ‘I’m sorry, Erin.’

She went quiet for a long, long time. ‘I’m not.’

Fuck.

The cold sweat was back. He finished off the bottle and dug his fingers into the nape of his neck. How was he supposed to respond to that?

‘Are you all right, Colton?’

‘Aw, Sunny.’ How could she be worried about him? What had happened tonight had been wrong. All-around wrong. She should be upset with him, angry and offended.

‘It’s OK,’ she whispered. ‘I…I’ve just never felt like that before.’

The tentative, vaporous words were sexy. Seductive beyond measure. His fingers bit into his straining muscles. ‘We need to talk.’

‘Isn’t that what we’re doing?’

Not like this. It was too intimate, practically pillow talk.

The vision of her lying in bed slammed back into his cranium.

‘Tomorrow,’ he insisted. Tomorrow when his head was clear, or at least pounding so badly it couldn’t be led down dark, inappropriate paths. ‘Breakfast.’

He took a deep breath. ‘I’ll take you to breakfast and then drop you off at Luxxor’s so you can pick up your car.’

And get away from there for ever.

‘OK.’

Silence fell again, only it wasn’t chilly. It was warm and sensual. Insidious.

‘Goodnight, Erin.’

‘Sleep tight, Colt.’

In that moment, he wanted so badly to feel her body pressing against his…to sense her curves tucking against his side and her breaths caressing the side of his neck…His hand shook as he disconnected the call.

Too late, he realised he’d forgotten to tell her they needed to pretend that tonight never happened.

Erin was awake before the crack of dawn. She’d slept like a baby after Colton’s call, but somewhere in her dreams her mind had been hard at work. She knew him. He was preparing his arguments right now about why they shouldn’t see one another.

Well, she was forming her arguments, too.

She looked over her shoulder at the full-length mirror. She’d grabbed her favourite pair of jeans out of the closet, the ones that hugged her butt and made her legs look two inches longer.

OK, maybe an inch, but she’d take it.

Now that she knew he was a butt man…

The mirror showed the blush that heated her face. Turning away, she hit the closet again to find a cute top. She had curves up there, too. She shivered. If she’d come as hard as she had when he’d focused on her bottom, how would she fare if he turned his attention to her breasts? She was sensitive there. If he petted her or sucked her nipples, she’d go mindless.

Which she already was.

She made herself stop to take a deep breath. She was starting to get dizzy. She’d waited so long for this to happen. Now that it was, things were moving too fast.

She glanced at her watch. It was early. He hadn’t texted her yet, but she wanted to be ready when he arrived. She finished her primping, grabbed her purse and ran down the hallway. She hurried to look out of the living-room windows down to the street.

‘Hey,’ a voice called from the kitchen.

Erin gave a yelp and spun around.

‘Sorry,’ Sienna said, smiling into her coffee.

‘I didn’t know you were here.’ Erin pressed a hand to her pounding heart and looked down the hallway. ‘Jason?’

‘He’s at his place.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I wanted to be here this morning to talk to you.’ Sienna put down her coffee and folded her hands around the mug. The grip looked tight. ‘If you were here…which you are…’

She straightened her shoulders. ‘How was your date?’

Her date with Colton. Erin’s lips clamped shut, and she clutched her purse to her stomach. Her date had been thrilling, shocking, awkward, sexy, infuriating and uncomfortable all at the same time, but for once she didn’t want to share. It was like a birthday wish. She was afraid if she talked about it out loud, it wouldn’t come true.

‘Did you know?’ she asked instead. About Colton? About what Luxxor truly did?

Sienna nodded. ‘I did. I saw his name on the list of potential matches that Nina created, and I knew I had to make it happen for you. Just once.’ She touched the end of her ponytail. ‘Did it happen?’

Erin’s heart squeezed. It had happened – and the rest of her questions didn’t matter.

She tossed her purse on to an easy chair, hurried into the kitchen and enveloped her best friend in a hug. Sienna had been there when she’d been lovesick over Colton when he’d started hanging out with her brother. Her friend had been at her side when Erin had been broken-hearted that he hadn’t even noticed her. Sienna had been there throughout her entire teenage crush.

One that felt as fresh today as it had way back when she was fifteen.

‘Thank you.’ Erin gave an extra squeeze before pulling away.

‘Are you sure?’ Sienna looked uneasy. ‘I should have told you.’

‘It was a surprise.’ A bombshell, really. But would she have handled the situation better if she’d known? Definitely not. ‘I would have been sick with nerves if I’d known Colt was waiting behind that door.’

Sienna ran her finger around the rim of her mug. ‘So…how did it go? You were in bed when I got home. I didn’t know how to take that.’

‘Dinner was a start,’ Erin said non-committally. She edged back towards the living room. She really wanted to look out of the window again.

‘That’s it? I don’t get any details?’

Heat flashed through Erin from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. No details. Not about that.

‘Wow,’ Sienna said.

Darn her skin. She blushed so easily.

Erin wiggled her foot, unable to stand her roommate’s questioning stare. ‘I think he understands I’m a grown woman now.’

‘What does that mean?’

Erin heard her phone beep, and she dived for her purse. ‘Oops, sorry. I can’t talk, we’re going to breakfast.’

Sienna lifted an eyebrow, which only emphasised her confused expression. ‘Breakfast? Well, that’s good after an early night.’

Erin was too busy pulling her coat off the rack to answer. Or so she made it seem.

‘Isn’t it?’ Sienna called as Erin headed out the door.

Erin’s feet had wings as she skipped down the steps. She felt like she had last night as she walked down the hallway to Luxxor’s offices – nervous, excited, adventurous and out of her depth – only everything was magnified.

It wasn’t until she arrived in the lobby that she actually checked her messages. She giggled when she saw that he was only just leaving. Not caring, she leaned against the wall. She was happy to wait.

She’d waited eight years for a date with Colton King.

She could wait a few minutes longer for breakfast.

The Apple Tree Grille was busy on Friday mornings. Working stiffs from all the nearby office buildings dropped by for a hearty breakfast to power them to the weekend. None of today’s patrons was as anxious as Erin, though. She followed the restaurant’s hostess to a booth, but stepped aside when Colton directed her out of the way of a waitress delivering an order.

His touch at her side was warm and protective, and she wanted to curl into it.

He’d been quiet in the car on the ride over. Too quiet. It made her worry that he was upset or angry again.

A table of diners stood, blocking their path, and his hand slipped all the way around to her stomach. She leaned back against him and savoured the butterflies that rose under that touch. No, he didn’t seem angry.

‘I’m sorry,’ one of the men said when he saw them. ‘Excuse us.’

Erin was disappointed when the group moved out of their way. Colton’s touch left her, but he helped her with her coat. ‘Thank you,’ she said, glancing over her shoulder.

A thrill went through her when she caught him looking somewhere other than her face. The jeans had been a good idea.

His gaze jerked away. He hung up her jacket and slid into the opposite side of the booth. By the time they were both seated, his jaw had firmed and his lips had flattened.

Erin sighed. She really didn’t want another apology, and she’d thought after last night’s intimate call…

She cocked her head. Wait a minute.

He was quiet, and he was moving carefully. That expression on his face wasn’t grumpiness. It looked more like pain.

‘Are you hung over?’

His eyes narrowed, which must have been difficult to do, given the way he was already squinting against the sunlight coming through the window. ‘What was your first clue?’ he grumbled.

A grin pulled at Erin’s lips, lifting the corners until she was smiling like a lottery winner.

‘It’s not funny,’ he said.

‘I’m not laughing at you.’ No, she was just tickled pink. He’d got drunk over her. It gave her even more hope than the late-night call. ‘Poor baby.’

He looked rough. Handsome as ever, but rough. Dark circles rimmed his eyes, and she swore there was a greyish undertone to his tanned skin.

She dug into her purse and found some aspirin. She passed them to him and let her fingers brush against his palm.

He frowned at her. ‘Thanks.’

He tossed them back with the water that had been put on their table and grimaced. ‘I don’t think there’s any medicine that will touch it.’

Erin signalled their waitress. ‘Two coffees, please.’

Bowing his head, Colton rubbed his temples.

‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ she asked.

He looked at her sharply.

‘Breakfast.’

He leaned against the padded back of the booth seat. ‘I can do toast.’

A big ‘maybe’ hung in the air.

Erin watched him, their booth silent amidst all the hustle and bustle. More than anything, she wanted to take him back home with her. He could lie on her sofa with his head in her lap. She’d massage his temples and take care of him. ‘Why were you drinking, Colton?’

The glare he sent her warned her not to go there.

It made her feel secretly sexy. He was punishing himself for what he’d done, but she’d still managed to tempt him out for breakfast. Alone, just the two of them. ‘We could do this tomorrow. Why don’t you go back home and sleep it off?’

He shook his head, but slowed down the gesture when it apparently hurt. ‘I have to be in court this afternoon.’

‘Court? Will you be OK by then?’

‘Yes.’

No ifs, ands or buts about it. Erin sighed. Even if he wasn’t feeling well, he’d make sure that it didn’t show. ‘Is it an important case?’

‘They’re all important.’

They would be, to him. She knew his professional reputation. He was recognised for being sharp and relentless. She wasn’t surprised. He’d always had a crystal-clear vision of right and wrong. Too rigid, if you asked her. ‘Will you be ready?’

He looked offended. ‘I’m always ready.’

She lifted an eyebrow, and he let out a grunt.

He looked away, but she knew what he’d meant. His head might hurt, but that didn’t mean his brain wasn’t like a Ginsu knife.

The waitress arrived with their coffees and stayed to take their order. Erin stuck to oatmeal with fruit. It seemed to be the safest thing on the menu not to make Colton turn green.

When the waitress left, the atmosphere at the table just wasn’t the same. The tension that had been there last night at dinner had returned. Erin wasn’t quite sure what to do. Even with her unrequited affection, the two of them had always been able to talk. Now, though, there was an awareness. She could practically feel the seismic shift in their relationship. It was what she’d wanted, but unsettling at the same time. She tucked one leg beneath her on the bench seat and pulled her coffee closer.

She glanced at the sugar, but Colt was already passing her two packets and a creamer.

Erin stared at the flavourings and felt herself go still inside.

He knew how she took her coffee.

An ache settled right under her breastbone. ‘Why are we here, Colt?’ she whispered.

‘I remembered something you said last night.’

She stirred her coffee round and round, watching the white creamer mark the path. What did he remember? Her telling him she wanted her chance? That she was grown-up now? That she’d liked being spanked?

‘You mentioned a detective.’

Her head came up. ‘What?’

‘You said someone had questioned you.’

Her lips parted. ‘Out of everything that happened last night, that’s what you remember?’

He rubbed his temple and moved along the bench seat into a spot that was shaded by a tree outside. ‘That’s what I want to talk about.’

Erin set her spoon down on the saucer with a clank. ‘What do you want to know?’ she snapped.

He winced. ‘His name, badge number, anything you have.’

‘Why?’

The look he gave her was deadpan. ‘Because he’s been snooping around Luxxor – an escort service where we’re both clients.’

Not a matchmaking provider.

He didn’t say it. He didn’t have to. That misunderstanding was what had led to their combustible encounter, and they both knew it. The air in the booth crackled, and Erin shifted uncomfortably. The energy settled in her bottom, and she shifted on the seat to try to ease the prickliness.

‘He’s not there for that,’ she said. ‘He’s investigating the assault case against Jason.’

If Colt had looked grey before, in that moment his expression turned downright stormy. ‘Who’s Jason?’

‘Sloan. The former hockey player? Sienna’s new boyfriend?’

‘Are you talking about the Sloan Gunman? Now CEO of Bodycheck, Inc.?’

‘Well, yeah. He’s at my apartment all the time.’

That made Colton sit up straight. ‘Overnight?’

Erin rolled her eyes. So he thought he could be standoffish and jealous at the same time? This was not the intimate breakfast discussion she’d envisioned. He was avoiding the subject she wanted to talk about most. He’d spanked her. He’d made her come. She’d kissed him until he was hard. Did he think they could pretend it never happened?

Because she would never forget.

‘The detective’s name is Morgan. I don’t have a badge number. He’s been at Luxxor a lot, because Sienna works there and Nina was a witness.’

‘So he’s focused on that one case?’

Erin paused with her coffee lifted halfway. Oh, shoot.

It made more sense now. The intimidating detective’s questions had seemed so odd at the time, but now that she knew what Luxxor truly did…

‘Sunny?’

‘He’s curious about Luxxor’s line of work, too,’ she blurted. ‘And I…well, I might have told him he needs their services.’

‘You did what?’

People at other tables turned to look.

‘Well, I didn’t know,’ she hissed. She leaned forward and dropped her voice. ‘Do they really do that?’

She found it so hard to believe.

This time, it was Colt’s turn to look uncomfortable. He glanced at the diners around them and turned his back to them. ‘From what I know, most of the company’s business comes from clients needing escorts to accompany them to social events.’

Well, that didn’t sound so bad. It couldn’t be illegal, could it? So why was she getting wave after wave of undercurrents from him? ‘But?’

He looked pained beyond even what his hangover was doing to him.

Their waitress chose that moment to serve their food. Colton looked apprehensively at the dry toast on the plate before him, and Erin was glad she’d chosen something that didn’t give off an aroma. She waited for the waitress to leave.

‘But?’ she repeated. ‘What about Luxxor?’

He groaned. ‘Erin.’

‘Tell me.’

He tentatively picked up a triangle of toast. ‘I don’t think that’s where the bulk of their income is from.’

Oh.

Erin began to put all the pieces together. Sienna must only know about one side of their work. It was the only explanation she could come up with. But Nina? Her teeth worried her lower lip. It was Nina’s company.

And Colton had used its services.

Her thoughts clunked to a stop.

Erin stared at her oatmeal. She couldn’t believe how long it had taken her to put two and two together. She’d assumed he’d used the service like she had, but he’d said he hadn’t used them for dates. But it couldn’t be for that! He could get any woman he wanted. ‘How do you know?’

His jaw clenched and he looked out of the window, directly into the light.

‘Colton?’ she whispered.

‘Erin, if you don’t want to know the answer, you shouldn’t ask.’

Her shoulders slumped. It hurt. Bad. She didn’t know why. She had no claim over him. Until last night, she’d been his best friend’s little sister. Nothing more. What business was it of hers that he’d used escorts? And for more than social events, apparently?

Her sinuses plugged up, and she blinked fast.

‘Erin,’ he said softly.

She pushed her oatmeal around her bowl. It hurt to breathe. ‘I don’t think the detective is poking around because of that.’

Honestly, she thought the detective was more interested in poking Nina.

‘It doesn’t matter,’ Colton said. ‘We can’t take that risk. Stay away from Luxxor.’

The order brought her up short.

‘You stay away, too,’ she replied.

The tension at the table snapped. They were each encroaching upon areas of each other’s lives they hadn’t been privy to before.

His gaze locked with hers and, for once, she saw that aggressive shark so many compared him to. ‘If you back off,’ he offered, ‘so will I.’

She’d told him last night in no uncertain terms that she wasn’t dropping her arrangement with Luxxor. Now that she knew what she knew, she was privately reconsidering that, but she couldn’t do it because he ordered her to. That was the one card she had. It somehow held sway over him, so, for that very reason, she refused.

‘No,’ she said simply. ‘Sienna is my roommate. The detective could just as easily show up at my apartment.’

He leaned forward over the table with his shoulders stiff and his hands fisted tight. ‘You’re going to stop using Luxxor.’

Erin didn’t know what came over her, but she was through following orders to make people happy. She wanted to be the one who was happy. She wanted him to be happy.

She leaned forward until they were nose to nose. ‘Try and make me.’

And then she kissed him.

She planted one on him right in the middle of the Apple Tree Grille. Settling her lips over his, she kissed him gently. Sensuously. He flinched at the contact, but then went still. When he didn’t pull away, she deepened the contact. She’d just felt the tip of his tongue when a hoot from the next table made them both jump.

Her pulse racing, Erin settled back in her seat. She looked at Colton through her lashes. If he’d been tense before, he was practically ready to jump across the table now. Colour was high in his cheekbones, and his mouth was wet.

Her pulse raced. It had been a risk, but she had her answer now. He wanted her. Last night in the car hadn’t been a fluke. He might have spanked her because he thought she’d needed a lesson, but anything beyond that hadn’t been because he’d been feeling protective.

Possessive, maybe.

She picked up her spoon again. ‘Date me and I’ll stop.’

His red eyes narrowed, and his fingers turned white where they were still clenched into fists.

Yet he didn’t agree to her terms.

The rest of their meal was eaten in silence. If you could really call it eating…Erin’s oatmeal cooled into lumps, and Colton only made it through half of his toast. He did manage to drink the coffee, though. She hoped it would help.

But she refused to feel sorry for him beyond that.

He paid and helped her into her coat. As they made their way to his car, his hand settled at her waist. He switched places with her so he walked next to the street. It was a gentlemanly act that she knew he’d picked up from being around her family. She relished the touch, but she didn’t draw attention to it. Honestly, she didn’t know if he was even aware. He’d touched her more today than he ever had in the past.

Except, of course, for the obvious.

The drive was quiet and heavy, because they both knew their destination. Her car was parked in the lot reserved for Luxxor clients. When he stopped, she didn’t give him time to tell her once again that she needed to stay away from the company. She’d given him her conditions, and she was stubborn too.

She knew what she wanted.

She jumped out of the car before he could utter a word. ‘Good luck in court,’ she said.

He rolled down his window. ‘Erin.’

She stopped. A stiff autumn breeze hit her in the face as she turned.

‘You were engaged to be married until only a short time ago. I won’t be your rebound guy.’

She sucked in air, taking the cold wind into her lungs where it burned.

‘I can’t,’ he said simply.

The window rolled up, and she watched as he backed out of the lot. Was that what he thought was happening between them? She hadn’t thought of Marty for weeks. Her ex had been banished to the back of her mind for what seemed like an eternity. Besides, how could Colton be her rebound guy?

When he’d been in her heart first.

Chapter Six

Years earlier.

Erin took a deep breath, submerged and slowly rose out of the water. Lifting her face to the sky, she scraped back her hair. The day was gorgeous. Puffy white clouds floated overhead, and they blotted out the sun whenever it felt a little too hot. A light breeze whispered over her skin, licking up the droplets of moisture that clung.

Ah, freedom.

Just when she couldn’t take it any longer, she’d finally graduated from high school. She was eighteen, with a diploma in hand. College was next on her list, a necessary step to carry her to her goal of becoming the most famous interior designer in the world. But first there was summer.

She trailed her fingertips along the surface of the water as she walked through the liquid heaven to the side of the pool. Sienna was reading and Marty was sleeping in the lounger over in the shade. Erin had just needed to cool off before flipping over to tan her front.

‘I should have known,’ came a loud voice that she recognised immediately.

Twisting, she saw her brother striding down the path from the house to the pool. He’d already stripped down to swimming trunks and shades. His flip-flops smacked rhythmically against his heels. ‘Some troublemakers you are.’

‘Dustin! What are you doing here?’ Like Pavlov’s dog, Erin’s heart began to pound faster. Shielding her eyes, she searched behind him for any sign of Colton. The two were always together.

‘Mom sent me to check on you guys. She didn’t want any parties happening at her beach house.’

‘But she gave us permission to be here,’ Erin complained, just because it was expected. They were in Chesapeake Beach where her family spent a good number of their summer weekends. It was only an hour away from home, and it wasn’t unusual for her to bring friends. Sienna practically had her own bedroom here.

So did another close family friend.

Erin bit her lip when Dustin blocked her view of the path. He’d put on at least twenty pounds at college, all of it muscle. She couldn’t see around him, no matter how hard she tried. She bounced up on her toes and heard the water swoosh. She was just beginning to pout when she saw the flash of dark hair behind him.

Her breaths went short. Colt!

She immediately turned from being irritated with her brother for crashing her vacation to being thrilled at who he’d brought with him. His best friend. Her not so secret crush.

The latch on the gate squeaked like it always did, and Marty grumbled from his chair. Erin winced, but he just pulled his baseball cap over his eyes and drifted off again. Her gaze snapped back to the two men joining their little group.

Dustin walked past Marty to the other end of the pool. ‘Hey, Sienna.’

‘Hi, Dusty.’

With the constant thwapping of her brother’s flip-flops, it was difficult to think of him as a grown-up now, but Colt?

Ah, now he was all man.

Erin stood in the waist-deep water, letting her fingers dance across its surface. He was dressed much the same as her brother was, but he’d left his T-shirt on. It stretched across wide shoulders but hung loose around his trim waist.

Darn, but she couldn’t wait for him to take it off.

‘Hi, Colt,’ she said softly.

He stopped. He wore dark sunglasses, but she knew she had his attention. ‘Sunny in the sunshine,’ he observed.

She combed her fingers through her damp hair. It was longer than it had been when she’d last seen him. She’d been thinking about cutting it into one of those pixie looks that were all the rage with celebrities. But with the way he looked at her? She wasn’t cutting an inch. ‘I didn’t know you guys were coming.’

‘Neither did I until this morning.’

‘Something about the offer managed to pull his attention away from law school,’ Dustin said. ‘What was that again, Colton? The beach?’

‘Yeah,’ his friend said. Neither he nor his gaze had moved since he’d spotted her.

‘Right,’ Dustin said dryly. ‘Get your ass down here.’

Colton grabbed a towel from the rack and held it in front of him as he made his way down to the chaises longues. He moved silently, and Erin saw that he was barefoot. Mmm…

This little trip had just become infinitely more interesting.

She pushed her way through the water to the pool ladder and climbed out. She paused on the top step to let the water sluice off her body and back into the pool. The warm breeze immediately started whisking away extra droplets.

She gathered her hair together as she stood on the deck and squeezed out yet another stream. Scrunching it back up, she started towards her chair. If her hips had a little extra sway, it couldn’t be helped.

Her hot-pink bikini just made her walk that way.

It was skimpy. That was the only way to put it. She knew her mother would be scandalised by the lack of material, but the little spandex there was fitted her like a glove. Somehow, this bikini made her boobs seem bigger and her legs look longer. It was her favourite colour, plus it just made her feel good.

She felt even better when she caught Colton watching her again. From behind those aviator sunglasses, of course.

Her breaths turned ragged, and she swept away a rivulet of water that was making its way down between her breasts. One of Sienna’s eyebrows jumped above the rim of her bug-eyed shades, but Erin didn’t care. She was caught up in the moment. The hot, sensual moment of awareness.

‘Shake it, don’t break it,’ Dustin muttered.

She flicked her water-darkened hair over her shoulder. She didn’t care what he thought, either. She hadn’t known Colton would be here.

It was just fate that she was wearing the hottest bikini on the beach.

She bent over to straighten the towel on her lounger and felt her breasts sway. They were heavy and full. They jiggled as she stood upright. Her bikini bottom had ridden up, and she ran her fingertips underneath it to adjust it.

Colton coughed, and she felt warmth run through her that had nothing to do with the sunshine. She didn’t really know what she was doing, but, when she glanced his way, it was apparent she must be doing something right.

He threw the towel over his lap and reached for the water bottle he’d brought with him.

She took the opportunity to sit and stretch her legs out in front of her. ‘Did Mom think we were having an orgy or something?’ she asked.

Colton choked on his water, and Sienna gasped, ‘Erin!’

‘What?’ Erin said defensively. ‘I promised her we just wanted some down time, but she still sent spies.’

She picked up her sunglasses from the plastic table and slid them on. She wasn’t happy that her brother had taken the chair beside her. Then again, that put Colton around the corner, practically facing her. Perfect.

‘It was Dad who got concerned.’

‘About drinking,’ Colton said hoarsely. He downed another gulp of water.

‘And I prefer to be called the Cavalry,’ Dustin finished.

Erin scowled when he lifted a can of beer. ‘He worried about the wrong sibling, I think.’

‘Hey, we’re legal.’

Her gaze drifted back to Colton. Yes, they were – and now so was she.

Her blood began to heat in her veins. She hadn’t expected him to be here. Them to be here, she mentally chastised. But really she meant him. She went still when he leaned forward in his chair and reached to grab the back of his T-shirt. He pulled it over his head and dropped it carelessly onto the cement beside his chair. The move made his trunk stretch high, and Erin’s mouth turned wet as she stared at the play of sinew and defined muscles.

He’d put on weight these last years, too, but it was all lean muscle. He’d filled out, as the old ladies down at the Daughters of the American Colonists liked to say. In a very good way.

‘Are you missing classes, Colt?’ Sienna asked.

‘Nah, they don’t start back up for another few weeks.’

‘But you know him, nose to the grindstone,’ Dustin teased.

Erin had never known anyone who worked harder than Colton. Whether it was schoolwork or basketball or exercising, the guy was driven.

She took a drink of her lemonade. She wondered what it would be like if he ever turned his legendary focus on her.

A rivulet of water ran from her bikini top down her stomach. It pooled in her belly button, and she gave it a flick.

A muscle in Colton’s jaw flexed, and his chair squealed as he shifted. ‘Congratulations on your graduation, Sunny. You, too, Sienna.’

He glanced down to where Marty was sleeping, but a rhythmic grumble told that the words wouldn’t be heard anyway.

‘Thanks, Colt,’ Sienna said.

‘I wish we’d been able to talk more at my party,’ Erin said. She’d really, really wished it, but when she’d gone to find him, he’d already left.

‘You were the belle of the ball. Everyone wanted to talk to you.’

But she’d wanted to talk to him. He was so busy with his classes and night job, she could go for weeks without seeing him. They’d only managed one moment alone in the hallway.

The bracelet around her ankle warmed. With his sunglasses she couldn’t be sure, but had he seen that she was wearing it? He’d given it to her, and she’d been charmed. Literally. It wasn’t the kind of ankle bracelet that the windsurfers down on the beach liked to wear, but a delicate gold chain. It had one charm on it, a yellow ball of sunshine. It slid against her ankle bone as she drew her leg up, bending her knee. The gift had been so unique and personal – not luggage or towels or a fancy pen set like others had given her.

She’d appreciated all the presents she’d received, but this one had been from Colton. Once she’d put it on, she hadn’t taken it off.

She’d told him so in the thank-you note she’d sent him.

A sudden thump next to her made her flinch, and lemonade sloshed on to her thigh. ‘Dustin!’

Her brother was pawing through the beach bag by the table. ‘You got anything down here to eat?’

‘You have to wait an hour after eating to swim,’ Sienna teased.

‘Right, that’s why you two Olympic back-strokers have been lazing here in the sun,’ he threw right back.

Erin wiped her leg with her towel. If she’d had any organisation in that bag, it was gone by now. She grabbed it from Dusty’s hands and found a bag of chips. She tossed them in his lap. That silenced him for the time being. Foil crinkled as he dug in, and Sienna went back to her book.

‘Erin, you’d better put on some sunscreen.’ The quiet observation came from the other side of the pool.

Erin stroked her fingers down her raised thigh and saw the white trails that were left behind. Without a word, she picked up the bottle of lotion beside her chair. She normally tanned easily, but it was early in the season.

Besides…

Well, just besides.

She left a dollop in the palm of her hand and started with her feet.

She pretended not to notice, but she could feel Colton watching her. His chest rose and fell, and those lines of muscles made her mouth water. She oiled up her calf, taking care with the back of her knee. His dark hair ruffled in the breeze, and her fingers itched.

‘It is getting warm out here,’ she said, her voice smoky.

Her hands trailed over her thigh where the stickiness of the lemonade remained, and her inner thigh muscles strained. She’d been aroused when she’d gotten out of the pool, and now her pussy was warm and aching. Her pinky came a bit too close, and she had to take a moment. The sensation was intense, especially here, in front of everybody. Lying back, she moved on to her stomach.

The beads of water had turned to beads of sweat. They made the sunscreen more slippery, and the tips of her fingers slid under the hot-pink strip of material that surrounded her ribcage.

Out of the corner of her eye, Erin saw Colton’s toes wriggling slowly back and forth. She tilted the bottle over herself and squeezed. A dollop of lotion landed on her breastbone, right between her breasts.

His toes stopped.

She drew in a long breath through her nose as she carefully worked the sunscreen over her chest. Her nipples were rock-hard, and their outline showed clearly through the spandex that covered them. The triangle cups weren’t generous, and they left a lot of skin that needed attention.

Erin bit her lip to hold back a moan. She was so turned on right now. Colton sat motionless in the chair parallel with hers, and she felt waves coming from him that were stronger than those she could see out on the horizon.

She glanced at him through her lashes. What was he hiding beneath that towel? Had her little strut affected him that much? Or her oil-up session?

Or was she making it all up inside her head?

Her fingers dipped further beneath her bikini top – and she swore he stopped breathing.

With a shiver, Erin let her hands glide over her body, catching any leftover trails of white cream. She traced the line of her bikini bottom along the path at the top of her leg, and her hips rolled. She couldn’t help it. She was getting too close to the fire. She pressed her thighs together hard, but felt stickiness that had nothing to do with a spilled drink.

She was getting off on him getting off on her.

‘Got any more of those chips?’

She nearly came out of her chair when Marty schlepped over with his arms stretched out.

Dustin glanced at the bag. He’d already had it taken away from him once. ‘I don’t know, man. Erin?’

She set the bottle of sunscreen on the table with a thunk. When she pushed her sunglasses up her nose, her hand was shaking. ‘I have no idea.’

‘I’ll check,’ Dustin offered.

Marty looked at the bottle of sunscreen she’d just put on the table. ‘You need help with your back?’

Behind the tinted lenses, she closed her eyes. She couldn’t be touched right now. Her body was one big throbbing tangle of need. ‘I’m good,’ she said with a rasp.

Only she wasn’t.

‘Found some.’ Dustin tossed a lunch-sized bag of Doritos to her so-called boyfriend.

‘Awesome. Water?’

‘In the cooler,’ Erin snapped. She came out of the chair as if it was a hot seat. ‘Excuse me.’

With a walk that was no longer slow and sexy, she headed for the cabana. She was so amped up, she couldn’t stand the feel of the cement deck against her feet. It was warm and hard and wet.

She lifted the hair off the back of her neck, but behind her, she could feel a steady stare. It made her aware of how much she was baring. And how her hips were still swaying to and fro.

‘Keep your eyes in your head, King,’ she heard Dustin warn quietly.

Colton cleared his throat. ‘I’m trying to take a nap over here.’

‘Like hell you are.’

By the time Erin made it to the shower, she was trembling and sweating. She turned the faucet to cool and stepped into the spray. It didn’t soothe her body’s needs; it only made them sharper. She bent her head under the cascade of water, but then saw the gold bracelet lovingly cupping her ankle.

She’d turned Colton on. She knew she had.

Elation went through her, and she gave up fighting. Stripping fast, she let her hands wander again, only this time she didn’t hold back. She cupped her breast and felt her nipple stab into her palm. She squeezed tight and sent her other hand between her legs.

‘Ohhhh,’ she groaned. She was so, so wet. Her finger slid inside easily, and her thighs shuddered. It didn’t matter how many times she’d touched herself while thinking of Colton, every time it was hotter.

Picturing him just outside the door, she pinched her nipples and played with her pussy. She pushed deeper until she could rub that spot inside her…the one that drove her crazy…

A squeal of pleasure left her lips, and her head dropped back. She searched for her clit with her thumb, but she was coming almost before she started.

Leaning against the shower wall, she let it run through her.

Colton was here, and he wanted her.

A smile was on her lips as she cleaned up. She rinsed out her bikini and put it back on. Wet, the fabric clung to her curves even more. Feeling ready to take on the world, she walked back to the pool.

She stopped not ten feet outside the cabana. Where there had been four people, there were now only two – plus a landscaper outside the pool fence. ‘Where’s Colton…and Dustin?’

Sienna put a bookmark in her book and closed it. ‘They went into town to get something to eat.’

He’d left?

Tears stung Erin’s eyes. But she’d thought…No, she knew!

One big ache ran through her body. Had Dustin thought their playtime had become too hot? Or had Colton been the one to bug out?

‘I’m hungry, too,’ Marty said. ‘Let’s go grill those steaks we set out.’

Without waiting for them or helping with their things, he started for the gate.

Sienna put her book in her lap and pulled her knees up to her chest. She waited until the gate creaked and then slammed shut. ‘Are you all right?’ she asked.

Sienna was quiet and proper, but she’d felt what had been going on. How could she not? Erin had felt like she’d been sitting in the middle of a sauna.

She didn’t trust her voice, so she just nodded.

Out on the road, she spotted Dustin’s blue Jag heading away. She pushed her sunglasses up until they bit into the bridge of her nose, but the car kept getting smaller and smaller.

What had she done wrong?

A series of knocks startled Erin, and she jumped. She bumped her head against the headrest. Not in Dustin’s old blue Jag, but her pearl-coloured Prius. She looked at the window when another tap came. She’d been caught daydreaming.

‘Everything all right, Miss Foster?’ It was a Luxxor security man.

Her fingers fumbled as she pushed the window controls. ‘They’re fine. Sorry, my mind was wandering.’

‘Did your date with Mr King go…well?’

The man had been trained to be observant. His tone wasn’t insinuating at all, but she knew what his logical conclusion was. It was the morning after her ‘date’ with Colton, and she was just now picking up her car after breakfast. ‘Not that well,’ she mumbled.

No, it had never gone that well for the two of them.

‘Maybe next time,’ he said with a pat to the roof of the car.

Her smile felt stiff. ‘Maybe,’ she agreed as she fired up the engine and put her car in gear.

But her mind was already back on that day at the pool. There hadn’t been a second chance then. She’d lost her virginity later that same night, but it hadn’t been to Colton.

After a year of holding him off, she’d finally told Marty yes.

‘Mr Sloan,’ Colton said as he offered his hand. He was at the headquarters for Bodycheck, Inc. It had been a long day, but he was finally dealing with the most important thing on his to-do list. ‘Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice.’

‘Yeah, well, you used the magic password.’ The CEO took his hand in a grip like a vice. ‘What does this have to do with Sienna?’

Nothing and everything.

‘She’s an old friend of mine,’ Colt answered honestly, holding his ground. He’d known that dropping Sienna’s name would get him in the door, but he’d figured it would also run him straight up against Jason Sloan’s protective side. The guy was an ex-hockey player – an enforcer, to be exact. This whole legal drama had started with a punch he’d thrown to protect his girlfriend’s honour. ‘I’m aware of the charges you’re facing, and I’d like to offer my services – with Sienna’s interests in mind and Erin Foster’s.’

‘Erin’s?’ Sloan said in surprise.

It was simple, really. Sloan’s legal problems were what had the detective snooping around. If Erin wouldn’t stay away from Luxxor, then Luxxor would have to stay out of trouble. Putting Jason Sloan’s legal problems to bed would stop the immediate threat.

The CEO took the business card Colt offered. ‘King. Aren’t you the guy who’s trying that case that’s been all over the news?’

‘I am.’ In fact, he’d come straight from there. He’d made short work of court today. His hangover had left him with a nasty attitude. He’d sliced and diced his way through the proceedings, but his mind had mostly been on getting to Sloan to fix this mess. Erin was too close to being collateral damage on this one.

Sloan’s offensive posture eased, and he nodded towards his desk. Accepting the invitation, Colton took a chair. Mentally, he pushed past his starstruck reaction. He’d always liked the Sloan Gunman. The guy’s gritty play had reminded him a lot of himself. He’d had to fight and grind for every accomplishment he’d ever made too. Sloan faced him casually, but Colton wasn’t fooled. There was an aggressiveness to the man that the business veneer couldn’t hide.

‘I have my own attorneys, Mr King,’ he began.

‘And I’m sure they’re some of the best that money can buy.’

Sloan gave a snort. ‘You’re not here for money?’

Colton didn’t bite. ‘I’m not. I’m here to help you clean up the situation as quickly and efficiently as possible.’

‘For Sienna.’

‘Yes.’

‘And Erin.’ A corner of Sloan’s mouth twisted upwards.

Damn. Colton recognised the trap too late. His hangover must be lingering longer than he’d thought, but he kept his expression schooled. ‘That’s right.’

Sloan leaned back in his chair, looking more like a player in the penalty box than a CEO in an office. He was already checking the ice and planning his play for when his penalty time ran out.

‘How do you know my girls?’ he said, his voice silky but icy.

That put Colton’s back up. Erin had been his girl first. ‘Old family ties.’

He held the dark stare that challenged him to falter. One thing Sloan needed to learn, Colton King did not blink.

But he did know how to come from unexpected angles. ‘Dustin Foster is my best friend.’

‘Ah,’ Sloan said, relaxing. ‘Well, the Fosters can rest assured. I don’t need to bring in the big guns for this. My lawyer has assured me the charges will be dropped soon.’

‘When?’

‘You need a day?’

‘It would be nice. Are we talking days or weeks or months?’

‘Hell, I don’t know. I didn’t pay that close attention.’

‘You need to. You’re not the only one this case is affecting.’

Sloan ran a hand through his hair. ‘Listen, the mouthy reporter needed to be shut up. I dropped him, and I admit it. I’d do it again.’

Colton’s eyes opened wide. ‘Whoa. Stop. Don’t run around saying things like that.’

Sloan grinned. ‘That’s what my lawyer says, too.’

Colton shook his head. This guy would be a difficult client; he could tell already. ‘So listen to your people. The sooner this case is dead and buried, the better.’

Sloan cocked his head, and his stare pinned Colton in his chair. ‘Have you ever met Sienna’s ex?’ he said, his voice steely.

Colton gritted his teeth. All right, he got what the guy was saying – and he had to admit, he agreed. He understood about protective streaks. It was why he was here. ‘I’ve met both the asshole exes,’ he muttered.

‘Both? Sienna has another slimy boyfriend out there?’

Colt swore under his breath. That one had slipped. Never again with the Jack Daniels. Never again. ‘I was talking about Sienna and Erin.’

‘Oh, right,’ Sloan grunted. He looked at the business card again. ‘Yeah, that one was an asshole, too.’

Colton rubbed his forehead. His headache was pounding in his temples again. ‘OK, point made. Kyle Pratt deserved to get cold-cocked, but that doesn’t change the fact that Erin is too close to this. I’m concerned.’

‘Erin wasn’t there.’

‘She rooms with Sienna. She was there when Sienna got home that night.’

‘What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?’

‘Nothing, but the detective on the case has been nosing around her.’

Sloan stopped cold. ‘That Morgan guy?’

‘Yeah, have you met him?’

‘Persistent fellow.’ Sloan rubbed his jaw. ‘Tough. He questioned Erin?’

‘Yes. We need to nip it in the bud.’

‘For the Fosters?’

‘Right.’

‘Bullshit.’

‘What?’

Sloan flicked the card, and it wobbled through the air until it hit the desktop. ‘Give it up, Colton. Come clean. Sienna finally fessed up about what’s been going on with Erin and you and Luxxor. You just don’t want this detective running across your name on any of the escort service’s client lists.’

Colton rose to his feet. Like hell. ‘I don’t care about me. They can drag my name through the mud, but they won’t do that with Erin. They’ll have to go through me first.’

A slow smile spread across Sloan’s face. ‘Family friend, huh?’

Colton shook his head, grimacing. ‘Right.’

Damn. This was no dumb jock. He knew strategy, and Colt had walked into the man’s territory unprepared and in a weak position. Erin was an Achilles heel for him. Always had been, and probably always would be.

‘Riiiight,’ Sloan drawled. ‘I know they paired you up with her, man.’

Colton rubbed the back of his neck. The jig was up. ‘Sienna did that on purpose.’

‘Sure she did.’

‘She was trying to protect her friend?’ Colton guessed.

Sloan shrugged. ‘That’s one way to look at it, I guess.’

Colton blew out a breath and began to pace around the room. ‘How did Sienna get mixed up with Luxxor, anyway?’

‘Nina hired her as their Communications Director.’ Sloan pushed back his chair and propped an ankle on his other knee. He gave it a rub. ‘Hell, the two are tight. I can’t do anything about it.’

Well, Colton could. He was going to make damn sure Erin never set foot within ten blocks of that place again.

‘So about that fight with Kyle Pratt…’ he began.

One of Sloan’s eyebrows rose. ‘Really? You’re going to give him that much credit? He didn’t even get off a punch.’

Colton winced and pressed at the pain drilling in his temple. ‘Do you listen to any of the advice your people give you?’

‘Not really.’

‘Mr Sloan –’

‘It’s Jason.’ The guy grinned and swivelled in his chair. ‘So, old family friend, how far back do you go with our girls?’

Colton sighed. ‘Seven or eight years.’

Ironically, that had started with a fight, too. He and Dustin had got into it during a basketball game. There had been no way in hell Colton was going to let some snobby rich kid take him down, but that scrawny party boy had shown more scrap than he’d expected. Dustin had kept getting back up until Colt had to respect him.

By the next day, they’d been friends – the rich kid and the building super’s brat. They’d bonded when they never should have met, and the Fosters had taken him under their wing, too.

With only one stipulation…

‘So Sienna and Erin must have been teenagers,’ Jason calculated. ‘How hot was Sienna?’

Not as hot as Erin. ‘I never noticed.’

‘Good answer.’

It was the truth.

‘The Fosters can’t ever find out about this,’ Colton said, returning to the subject at hand. He dropped back into the seat and braced his forearms against his knees.

He owed Harmon and Marilyn. When things had gone bad for him at home, they’d been there for him. Hell, they’d supported him through college and law school. He’d paid them back, of course, but he owed them more than money. They’d had faith in him. They’d seen his potential when his own parents had been too busy or drunk to notice.

The Fosters were the closest thing to a real family he had.

‘They can’t find out Erin has been using an escort service, or they can’t find out she was paired with you?’ Jason asked, his voice quiet.

Colton was skilled at manipulating conversations. He could avoid traps and lay verbal snares with the best of them. He’d only just met this guy, but the dullness of the hangover was lingering. And hell, it wasn’t like he could talk with Dustin about this.

‘Both,’ he confessed.

‘She’s got a thing for you.’

As well Colton knew. She’d never tried to hide it, although in recent years he’d thought she’d forgotten about him.

Like he’d wanted, he reminded himself.

‘I wouldn’t be any good for her,’ he tried to explain. She was sunlight, while he’d experienced and still dealt with reality’s darker corners. She’d never had to face any of life’s major challenges – well, not until recently.

He could still rearrange Marty’s face for that one.

No, Colt wanted to keep her free and innocent. She needed someone who could lift her up, not bring her down.

‘You know she’s not a teenybopper anymore,’ Jason said.

A vivid vision of her in the back of the Town Car blistered Colton’s brain. ‘I know.’

‘You think she’d be better off with what’s-his-jerk’s face? The guy who dumped her?’

Colton’s hands fisted together. He knew he was being baited. It had been a long time since he’d allowed himself to be drawn into a fight, but that alcohol had stung sharp against some old wounds.

‘He’s in Cleveland, and he won’t be coming back.’

‘Done a little checking up on him, have we?’ Jason swivelled in his chair again. He was still rubbing his ankle as if it were a habit. ‘Ah, hell, admit it. You want her. It’s plain as day on your face.’

Colton kept quiet.

‘What did they do? Warn you off her?’

Colt stiffened.

‘Shit,’ Jason said, not giving him time to form any kind of reply.

The enforcer-turned-business-mogul planted his hands on the desktop and leaned forward. ‘OK, here’s the deal. I just met you, but I like you. You’re strong and upright, and you’re bullheaded like me. Most of all, though, I can tell how much you care for Erin.’

Colton shook his head slowly back and forth. This was not what he needed to hear. It was the same thing the devil on his shoulder had been whispering in his moments of weakness.

Jason slapped his hand flat on the desk, and the sound vibrated in Colton’s eardrums. ‘Listen to me. Don’t let anyone else get in the way of what you want. Take the woman to bed. At least you know you’ll protect her.’

Protect her? Colton’s chin came up. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘A pretty girl like that? Friendly and happy? Guys eat that up. If it’s not one of Nina’s boys, it will be someone else.’

Sloan jabbed a finger straight in Colton’s face. ‘So why not you?’

Chapter Seven

Jason Sloan might have been one hell of a defenceman, but his advice about women sucked. Or at least that’s what Colton told himself. Even if the guy had landed Sienna Blakely.

He just didn’t understand the situation.

No, Sloan was a wild card. Colton had a better head on his shoulders. He knew trouble when he heard it, so he’d done his best to go in the opposite direction. For the past week, he’d put his head down, concentrated on the trial and tried not to think about Erin Foster. He’d been successful in two of those areas – and if he couldn’t stop thinking about her, at least he’d managed to stay away from her.

Until now.

Taking a deep breath, he pulled back his shoulders and focused on the task at hand. He’d received a request that he couldn’t turn down, so here he was on the Fosters’ doorstep in Georgetown. The sky was sunny, the trees along the river were a riot of colour and the temps were predicted to hit the mid-fifties. It was a beautiful day, but he was prepared for a slow descent into hell. It would be an entire day he’d have to grit through seeing Erin, hearing her caramel laugh and smelling her perfume.

Just shoot him now.

The door opened, but the blonde who greeted him wasn’t Erin. It was her mother. ‘Oh, Colton. Happy Thanksgiving.’

When one received a summons from Marilyn Foster, one knew better than to refuse. At least Colton did. He couldn’t bear to let the woman down, so he bucked up and handed her a bottle of wine. ‘Thank you for inviting me.’

‘Oh, honey, you know you’re always welcome.’ She ushered him inside. ‘We’ve missed you the last few years, but I appreciate you helping me out today. I know you’re busy with that big trial and all.’

He took off his jacket and hung it on the coat rack that stood by the door. Marilyn took him by the arm and lowered her voice. ‘I can’t believe I forgot to take Marty off the headcount.’

Colton’s lip curled at the mention of Erin’s ex. ‘I’m sure you had other things on your mind.’

‘Ha!’ She laughed without humour. ‘I’ve thought of little else, but if Erin had seen the extra food, she would have known, and it would have hurt her.’

That was something neither of them wanted to happen.

‘I’m happy to step in,’ he said. ‘Besides, who could turn down one of your famous meals?’

She let out a tinkling laugh, and he accompanied her down the hall to the kitchen where a staff of caterers was busy putting the finishing touches on their holiday feast.

Georgetown was a historical neighbourhood, and the Fosters’ home fitted right in with its barrel ceilings, mahogany crown moulding and pocket doors. It dated back to the early 1900s, but Harmon had made sure the house was updated with all the modern conveniences. As festive and easygoing as the holiday was, the Fosters always took it upscale. Marilyn was wearing an all-white dress that skimmed her still trim figure. Atop it she wore a pristine blue apron that would keep her protected as she directed the contracted help in making their Thanksgiving as idyllic as could be imagined.

Colton took a quick look around the kitchen but didn’t see Erin. She usually dived in and tried to make something herself. The results were hit-or-miss, but nobody dared to tell her that.

‘Is she not here yet?’ he asked.

‘She’s helping to serve down at the soup kitchen,’ Marilyn said as she toyed nervously with her pearls. She was watching the turkey being moved from the tinfoil carrier on to a fancy serving platter. ‘She should be here soon. Dustin and Harmon are in the great room.’

‘Watching the parade?’

‘I suspect they’re waiting for football and trying to stay out of my way.’ She signalled to a cook. ‘Oh no, dear. Let’s put half the stuffing into a serving bowl of its own.’

Colton knew he should go join the men, but he stayed. ‘How has Erin been?’

He honestly didn’t know much about her broken engagement, other than he’d been happy to hear it had happened. Now he wondered how hard she’d taken it. Had she really fallen in love with the guy? Marty had always just been around. He’d sensed no spark between the pair, nothing like what snapped whenever he and Erin were in a room. Was she falling back on the attraction between them because it was familiar? Just because he wanted to take her up on the offer didn’t mean it was best for her.

‘She seems to be bouncing back. She’s taking some classes, and I know she’s started sending out her résumé. I do hope she gets back into design. She’s so talented.’

Colt nodded. Things had always come easily for Erin, but he suspected that beneath the surface she was tougher than any of them expected. He’d seen her curiosity and her tenacity. When she got something in her head, she was like a heat-seeking missile.

Just look at the way she’d kissed him. Twice.

‘Good for her,’ he said when he felt Marilyn’s stare.

‘She’ll be happy to see you.’

He took the glass of wine she passed him. It was from a bottle that had already been chilled. ‘I’m happy to see everybody.’

The matronly blonde lifted an eyebrow. ‘We’ve missed you at our little gatherings. How long has it been?’

‘A year and a half, maybe?’

‘Around the time Erin got engaged?’

He shrugged uneasily. Exactly around that time. Marty and Erin had been on and off for years, but that was when it had become real. It had hit him hard. Erin was really with the skinny twerp.

He hadn’t been able to be around them after that.

Marilyn placed her hand on his arm. ‘You know we consider you part of the family, don’t you, dear?’

‘I know. I feel the same way.’

They shared a bittersweet look. The apartment where he’d grown up was just a fifteen-minute walk away. The neighbourhood was as posh as the rest of the district, but his family hadn’t rented there. They’d lived in the basement apartment reserved for the building super/handyman/security guard. When things had started going bad between his father and mother, Colton had spent more time here than he had in that dank cellar apartment. He didn’t know what he would have done without the Fosters.

He leaned in to kiss the older woman’s cheek. ‘I think I’ll go find that football pregame show.’

She let out another laugh that warmed the kitchen. ‘Men. So tough on the outside and so squishy in the middle.’

He gave her a half-smile, but when he turned to leave he found himself face-to-face with Erin. They nearly collided, but he held his glass of wine out of the way and looped an arm around her waist. The pumpkin pie in her hands wobbled, but she caught it before it flipped to the floor.

‘Whew, that was close.’

The grin on her face made Colt hard. She’d brought the crispness of autumn inside with her. Her blonde hair was windblown and her cheeks were pink. Her body felt warm as it tucked up against him, though. Warm and soft.

‘Hi, Colt,’ she said breathlessly.

‘Hi, Sunny.’

‘There you are,’ Marilyn said as she looked at her watch. ‘I was beginning to wonder if you’d lost track of time again.’

Colt sprang away as if spring-loaded. For a moment, just a split second, he’d forgotten her mother was in the room. That was all it had taken for him to have some very inappropriate thoughts.

Erin placed the pie on the counter and he took a peek. The filling was uneven, weighted heavily to one side, but at least the colour was right this time and she hadn’t burnt the crust.

‘It was busy down there,’ she said as she stole his glass of wine for a quick drink. ‘It’s sad that so many people are in need, but everyone was in really good spirits.’

Colt waved when she offered him his wine back and let her keep it. His gaze ran over her from the soft hair that hung halfway down her back to the pink sweater that clung to her curves. She’d paired it with khaki Capris that cupped her bottom just so and…

A subtle flash made his gaze slide down, and it stuck.

There, glinting in the sunlight streaming through the kitchen window, was an ankle bracelet. And not any ankle bracelet. It was the one he’d given her for her high-school graduation years ago. A vision of her in a hot-pink bikini popped into his head, and the back of his neck warmed.

Son of a bitch.

‘Did you want another glass of wine, Colton?’

He jerked his gaze back up, but he wasn’t looking at Marilyn. He stared at Erin. ‘Beer,’ he grunted. ‘If you’ve got it.’

She was smiling again, that happy, teasing grin that reached right down the front of his pants. She’d worn it on purpose, the sweet little seductress, and it was having exactly the effect she’d hoped it would.

Colt tried again to escape.

‘Ma’am,’ the caterer said, ‘I believe that’s everything. We’ve set the table. Will you be needing us for anything else?’

‘No, everything looks lovely.’ As discreet as a streetwise pickpocket, Marilyn passed the man a tip. ‘You go home and enjoy the day with your family.’

She turned with a smile that matched her daughter’s. ‘Erin, please go get the others from the family room. Let’s eat!’

Dinner was delicious, but torturous for Colton. There were more people attending than he’d expected, including some cousins from Virginia and two of Harmon’s colleagues from the lobbying firm where he worked. It made the situation all the more uncomfortable. Dustin sent him a curious look when Marilyn sat Colton in the seat beside Erin.

Marty’s seat. Colton gritted his teeth.

Normally, he could have handled it. He’d been hiding his attraction to the Fosters’ daughter for as long as he could remember. He hadn’t always been successful, but after enough years of doing it, they’d stopped watching him like hawks.

Unfortunately, the status quo had been unsettled. He was more aware of Erin than ever, and she’d set her sights on him. Again. She wasn’t an innocent teen any more.

But she was wearing the gift he’d given her when she was.

He couldn’t stop looking under the table. The ankle bracelet draped over her delicate ankle, and the sunshine charm balanced right over her ankle bone. The effect was so innocent yet sexy, he could barely stand it.

Did she still look the same in a bikini?

He had a feeling she’d look even better.

From what he’d seen in the back seat of that Town Car, she’d look best in nothing at all.

Damn. He rubbed the strained muscles at the back of his neck. They felt like they were on fire.

All around them, friendly discussions broke out about the holidays and shopping and football. Colton heard very little of it as Erin circled her ankle round and round. Her toes pointed in beige pumps with heels that were not for the conservative.

‘How’s your case going, Colt?’ she asked.

‘Fine,’ he rasped.

‘I’ve seen the news reports about it. You must have been busy with it this week.’

Not so busy he hadn’t had time to call her, but he’d done his best to stay away from her. He’d told her he wouldn’t be her rebound guy – even if he was sitting in Marty’s chair and her every move was turning him on.

Had she stood in those shoes the whole time she’d been helping to serve down at the soup kitchen? How would she react to a foot rub?

‘Pie, Colton?’

He nearly jumped out of his chair when Marilyn’s voice sounded next to his ear. He glanced at the catered pie with its perfectly fluted edges. ‘I think I’ll have a piece of Erin’s.’

She perked up so fast next to him, her hair bounced. ‘I’ll go get it.’

The scent of her perfume wafted over him as she hurried out of the dining room to the kitchen. The piece she brought him was wobbly and the corner of the crust had broken off.

She watched him, wide-eyed and anxious, as he lifted his dessert fork.

Colton braced himself. He always tried the things she made, and he never told her when he had to choke them down. This time, though, he was pleasantly surprised. The pie was light and sweet and delicious.

Just like her.

‘Erin, this is good.’

Dustin blinked. ‘Really?’

Colton dug into another bite. ‘Really good.’

The way she beamed at him made him want to pull her on to his lap right in front of her family.

‘I’ve been taking cooking lessons,’ she announced.

‘Mmm,’ Dustin said when he tried a piece. ‘Keep going. I’ll pay for them.’

At the other end of the table, Harmon laughed, but he passed on the fancy pie and accepted a piece, too.

Colton watched the way Erin basked under the attention. She was so happy and lovable.

She was killing him.

It was working.

Erin smiled as excitement sizzled through her veins. Colt’s focus was on her, and waves of heat were crashing over her. The effect was strong and immediate. Her breasts were sensitive and tightness collected between her legs. Most startling, though, was the tingling in her bottom. Warmth suffused her face, and she took great care straightening her silverware.

She’d worn the ankle bracelet on purpose, but she hadn’t known if he’d remember or even care. The moment he’d stopped dead in his tracks, she’d had her answer.

That had to prove to him that she didn’t consider him a rebound guy, didn’t it? He’d given her the gift years ago, and she still had it. More so, it still meant something to her.

Her pulse quickened. What should her next step be? So many people were around. It was a family holiday, but she wanted to be alone with him.

Alone and naked.

She crossed her legs to try to fight the ache that was only intensifying. He’d liked her pie. If she hadn’t already wanted to jump him, that alone would have made her want to wrestle him to the floor and plant kisses all over his handsome face.

‘Not bad, Sunshine,’ her brother said from across the table.

Whatever. ‘Thank you,’ she replied.

The meal took too long to come to a close. Colton had avoided her for a week, but she was ready to talk to him now. She’d worked up all her arguments to make him see that they would be good together. Super good. If that didn’t work, she’d fantasised about a dozen different ways to show him.

She bit her lip when her bra chafed.

Unfortunately, as hard as she tried, she couldn’t get him away from the others. There were dishes to clear and football games to watch. Just as she was about to head to the family room to silently tease Colton some more, she was drawn into a card game with her mother and her cousins.

The delay dampened her spirits. It was giving him time to draw away again and reconsider. To cool down, when she wanted him hot and bothered. At least as unsettled as she was.

Which was ridiculously horny.

Erin fanned herself with her hand of cards. She was so easy. She had to resort to tricky tactics to get to him, yet all he had to do was look at her. It was all he’d ever had to do.

And the one time he’d touched her?

She jumped to her feet. ‘I’m going to refresh my drink. Does anybody else want anything?’

She was heading for the doorway before anyone could answer. She was halfway down the hallway before she realised she’d forgotten her glass – and that she wasn’t alone.

She sensed him.

Maybe she’d caught a glimpse of his tall form out of the corner of her eye, but she knew that Colton was behind her. A sense of exhilaration came over her, along with a dash of impulsiveness.

Stopping, she braced one hand against the wall and lifted her foot behind her. Arching her back, she toyed with the high heel as if it needed adjusting. Carefully, she turned the bracelet on her ankle so the charm lay on the outside of her foot.

Her breath caught when he was suddenly on her.

His arm swept around her waist as it had when he’d caught her in the kitchen, and he pressed her against the wall.

‘Colt –’

She didn’t get his whole name out, because his mouth was suddenly covering hers in a kiss so hot, she worried her shoes would melt.

He caught her wrists and pressed them flat against the wall on either side of her head, and arousal gushed inside her. Slick and viscous, it filled her veins, making her muscles tense and relax at the same time.

It had been good when she’d kissed him before. Fantastic.

This was the first time he’d taken the lead, and the sensuality was insane.

He tore his mouth away from hers. His chest was rising and falling in jagged movements. ‘You have to stop this,’ he said hoarsely. ‘You have to stop teasing me. Stop tempting me.’

‘No, I don’t.’ Her breaths were coming hard, too, and she ran her tongue over her lips. ‘Give in.’

‘Erin.’ His voice was sharp, like when he went after someone on the stand.

She arched sexily. She wanted him to come after her.

‘I have,’ she whispered.

His eyes flashed to nearly the colour of midnight. His fingers bit into her wrists, and Erin revelled in it. A sound left the back of his throat, and his mouth came down hard on hers again. Their lips sealed tight, and his tongue laved hers.

‘Mmm,’ she hummed when her need cranked up a notch.

He had her trapped, held down, but she arched her back to rub against his body. His weight pressed against her as he leaned in, his chest hard against her breasts, plumping them and making her nipples pinch.

The kiss went on and on. It had been years in the making.

‘Take me upstairs,’ she whispered when they were forced to come up for air. ‘To my old bedroom.’

His curse echoed in her ear. ‘Do you really want my head on a platter?’

She didn’t understand. She wanted his body on a bed. Or the floor. Or right here.

His mouth ran down the side of her neck, and his teeth closed around the muscle that led to her shoulder. She let out a moan and twisted into him. The sound echoed down the hallway, but he cut it off with another blistering kiss.

Erin strained against her constraints. She couldn’t touch him, couldn’t hold him. It was hot as hell, but so frustrating.

‘Let me touch you.’

‘Not going to happen.’

Yet he didn’t stop kissing her. Or rubbing intently against her breasts.

But he deliberately kept his hips away. She could feel his hardness barely brushing against her belly. She wanted more. She needed to feel his hot, muscled body against hers.

She did the only thing she could; she climbed him like a tree.

Swinging a leg high around his waist, she hitched herself up. His hips swung forward, almost as if they had no other option. She took advantage of the opportunity. Knowing he wouldn’t drop her, she hopped up and wrapped both thighs around his waist.

When she settled down, his erection was right where she needed it the most. Big, hard and hot. They both shuddered when she ground against him.

‘God! Sunny, I can’t do this. Not here.’

‘Then where?’

‘No.’ He shook his head as if to clear it. ‘That’s not what I meant.’

Erin had never felt a desire so intense or a need so strong. She had to be with him. She needed to feel him inside her. It was the only thing that would douse the heat in her core. She was ready to burst into flames at the smallest spark.

She rolled her hips almost frantically. This was no dry hump this time. Just a few more strokes, and she would be ready to come. He pumped up to meet her, and she let out a whimper of need.

‘Erin?’ They both froze when her mother’s voice came down the hallway.

Colton tore his mouth away from hers, and his muscles went taut.

‘Yes?’ Erin called, her voice squeaky.

‘Could you bring me a cup of tea, dear?’

Erin swallowed hard, but her voice still came out all wrong. ‘Sure, Mom. Just…ohhhh…just give me a moment.’

Her wrists were free. She cupped Colton’s face in both hands. ‘Take me to my apartment.’

That tell-tale muscle in his jaw clenched. Watching him closely, she leaned in and brushed her swollen lips over his. A shudder went through him. They were so close. She almost had him.

‘What the hell is taking so long, Colt?’ Dustin’s voice sounded closer. ‘You missed kickoff. The second half is starting.’

When Colton pulled back this time, Erin did too. She didn’t want her family finding them together like this any more than he did. She wanted Colton King all to herself, and not in a family-friendly way.

He caught her by the waist. ‘Down.’

His hold was firm as she untangled her legs from around him. He took care when he let her go, but Erin still used the wall to prop herself up. Her knees weren’t quite under her yet.

‘Your place then,’ she whispered. Her heart was in her throat as she looked up at him. His mouth was damp and red slashes marked his high cheekbones. ‘I don’t care where. Some cheap motel room is fine.’

They could do it in his car for all she cared.

His car…She pressed her thighs together when the ache between them throbbed. She’d already had one orgasm there, and it had been voracious.

His hands tightened. The fierce light of arousal flashed in his eyes, but then his mouth flattened. And the light dimmed.

‘No, Erin,’ he said. The words were flat and without heat. ‘We can’t. I can’t.’

She laid her hands on his chest. His heart was still pounding hard. She could feel the tension in his muscles. A quick glance down and she saw his arousal was just as sharp as hers. He looked even bigger and harder than he’d felt.

‘Yes, you can,’ she whispered. She was close to begging.

‘No, I can’t. I promised.’

The TV announcer droned, and her cousin laughed like a grackle. Yet around Erin everything went silent.

‘You what?’ She didn’t understand what he meant, but the words sounded wrong. Out of place and foreign.

‘Years ago.’ He swallowed hard. ‘They saw the way you looked at me – and the way I looked at you in return.’

‘Who did?’ The moment the question was out, she knew the answer.

‘My parents,’ she said dully.

‘And Dustin. We were friends, but that was crossing the line for him, too.’

Erin couldn’t breathe. The weight in her chest was just too heavy. Was that why Colton had stayed away from her when she’d offered herself up to him, time and time again? Practically thrown herself at him? ‘What did they say?’

He pushed a hand into his hair and left it against the back of his neck. ‘You were so young, Erin, and I was at a crossroads. Shit, I knew better. They just reminded me of it.’

Her fingers curled into his chest. She wanted to hold on, but everything was slipping away. ‘What did they say?’

‘Erin…’

‘Tell me.’

‘That I needed to keep away from you. I could be your friend, but if I touched you, I wouldn’t be allowed in this house again.’

Her throat tightened. The betrayal was nearly unbearable. They’d done that behind her back? Without once giving her the same warning? What was the reason? He hadn’t had money like they did, but she couldn’t stomach her parents using that as an excuse. She knew he was older than her, but he’d cared about her. She knew he did.

He still cared. She could feel it.

Yet his loyalty to her parents had been stronger than what might have been growing between them.

It was unbreakable still.

‘Do you want me at all, Colton?’ she asked, her voice like air.

‘That’s not fair, Erin.’

No, it wasn’t. None of it was fair to her, yet it was what had happened her whole life. Protect Erin. Shield Erin. Don’t let Erin experience life. She was sick of it, but she’d grown so used to it, she’d stopped fighting it.

She stepped aside, away from his touch, even as her body craved it. ‘You’d better get back to the game.’

‘Erin.’ The look of worry on his face nearly made her laugh aloud.

He couldn’t have it both ways. He couldn’t want to protect her and push her away at the same time.

She turned on her heel and headed for the coat rack.

‘Sunny?’ he said more sharply. ‘Where are you going?’

‘Back to the soup kitchen.’

At least they wanted her there. They needed her, and they weren’t afraid to tell her so.

Chapter Eight

‘What’s got into you tonight?’ Dustin asked as he reached for a water bottle. Sweat had darkened his blond hair, and his chest was heaving as he fought for air. ‘You’re like Killer King out there.’

Colton grabbed a towel and ran it over his face. ‘I’m just not in the mood for their tic-tac bullshit.’

It was basketball night in the DC city recreation league, and their opponents, the DC Villains, were a team known for playing dirty. That was fine by Colton. He had some aggression to work off. He looked at the scoreboard. The other team’s tactics weren’t getting them very far anyway. He wasn’t only banging into bodies in the lane, he was feeling his shot.

‘That was one hell of a screen you set on that guy.’

‘If he watched where he was going, maybe he’d stay on his feet.’ Colt ran the towel over the back of his neck and down his chest. The Capital Punishers were the skins team tonight, and it felt good to work up a sweat.

God knew, over the past few days nothing else had worked.

‘Just watch it,’ Dustin said. ‘You’ve got four fouls.’

‘I know.’ Colt tossed the towel over one of the chairs on the sideline. ‘Find your spot on the baseline, and I’ll get it to you.’

The whistle blew and play started again. Dustin brought the ball down the court, and Colton posted up. It felt good to be on the court tonight. He’d needed this game. He’d needed to run until his lungs burned and his legs were weak. It felt good to get in there and grind it out. Bump a few bodies and stick it to the Villains.

Yet as the other team’s forward went up for a shot, Colton’s block turned into a hack of the guy’s arm. It wasn’t intentional, but it was a foul – and it put him out of the game.

‘Shit,’ he cursed as he waited for his replacement to come on the court. He looked at the clock. He’d fouled out with seven minutes left in the game. Fantastic. Usually, he didn’t get into foul trouble at all.

Dustin clapped a hand on his shoulder as their sixth man checked in with the referee. ‘Told ya so.’

‘Fuck off, D.’

His buddy just laughed and took off to talk to the rest of the team.

Colton tilted his neck and felt a satisfying crack as he sloughed off to the sideline. Hell. Sitting on his ass wasn’t going to help anything. Grabbing the towel that he’d just tossed aside, he sat down. The metal folding chair was cold against his skin. He draped his arms along the backs of the row of them and tried to catch his air.

‘Hell,’ he muttered.

Maybe he should just go down the hall and hop on a treadmill. He needed to keep moving. If he stopped moving, he’d start thinking.

And that wouldn’t be pretty.

For the past few days, Erin’s face had been engraved in his memory. She’d been so distressed, so betrayed when he’d told her about the limitations her family had put on him. On them. Just remembering her sad eyes cut him up inside. He never should have told her.

But what other alternative had he had? Let her think he didn’t want her?

That would have hurt her even more. She was so open with her feelings; he’d always been able to read her like a book. She wanted him. She’d been very clear on the matter.

So clear that even after an hour of basketball, he got a boner just thinking about it. He tossed the stinky towel over his lap.

Erin didn’t play games. Oh, she teased and flirted, but that was just her way of expressing her feelings. He knew she had every intention of following through if he took her up on the offer.

It was what kept him up at night.

But he couldn’t betray her family that way. He watched Dustin dribble around the perimeter of the three-point line. They were right. They’d helped mould him into a good man, but he still wasn’t good enough for her. Just look at what he’d done the first time he’d touched her.

Rage built up inside him.

‘Hey,’ he yelled at the ref when he saw a clear foul against one of his teammates. ‘How could you not see that?’

The referee was pointing a warning finger at him when Colton heard his phone.

‘Shit,’ he muttered as he dug his gym bag out from under his chair. He was surprised when he saw Jason Sloan’s name on the Caller ID. What would he be calling about? Had the charges against him been dropped? Colton was determined to stay as far away from Erin as he could, but he hadn’t forgotten about the potential bombshell that could go off at Luxxor.

He answered and stuck a finger in his ear so he could hear. ‘Hello?’

‘Where the hell are you?’ Sloan barked.

Colt glared at the phone. ‘Playing basketball. What’s it to you?’

‘Sienna and I are at the Couples Center of DC fundraiser, and guess who’s here?’

‘Humpty Dumpty.’

‘Erin, you bonehead. And she’s with one of Nina’s pretty boys.’

Colton felt as if he’d just taken an elbow to the head on the court. ‘She’s what?’

‘You heard me. I thought you were going to make your move.’

He had, and then he’d promptly moved in the opposite direction, because it had been a mistake. A huge, mind-blowing, shake-him-down-to-his-toes mistake. But this was worse. ‘Is it an escort or another of Luxxor’s matchmaking clients?’

‘Does it matter?’

No, it didn’t matter one bit. Either option made his skin crawl. ‘Where is this thing being held?’

‘The Renaissance Washington.’

‘I’m on my way. Don’t let them leave together.’

‘Hey, I’m not going to step in. She’s her own woman, if you haven’t noticed.’

Colton had noticed. He’d noticed hard. ‘Keep her there, and I’ll show you pictures of Sienna as a pompom girl.’

There had to be one in Erin’s yearbook. Marilyn would have one of those for sure.

Sloan went silent.

‘Deal.’ His grin was clear in his voice.

The sweat Colton felt as he disconnected the call was cold. Erin was out with an escort again. What the hell did she think she was doing? He’d told her that they couldn’t be together, but she knew the dangers of hanging around Luxxor. She knew what they did now. She couldn’t claim ignorance any more.

Had she done this to get back at him?

He ditched his towel in the bucket as he left the gym. She’d gone too far. He wouldn’t let her put herself in danger like this. Not for him. Not for anyone.

It took 40 minutes for Colton to shower, get dressed and make it to the hotel. Way too long, by his book. The knot in his stomach was tight, and frustration had given him a headache.

He asked at the front desk about a charity function and was guided to the main conference room. The doors were closed. He entered and began searching. Circular tables with white tablecloths filled the space. The attendees were all listening to an excited speaker up front. Thank God, it didn’t look to be too formal an affair. People were dressed up, but they weren’t in tuxes.

The pounding in his head increased when he didn’t spot a head of sunshine-blonde hair. On the second pass, he saw Jason at a table up front, facing the crowd. There were four men, each seated alone at tables with empty chairs next to them. His informant signalled, so Colton circled the outside of the room and tried not to draw attention away from whatever programme was being presented.

A laugh went up from the crowd at something the hostess said. Jason waved him to come over, so Colton made a beeline for him.

‘Where is she?’ he asked, keeping his voice low.

‘She and Sienna are in another room.’ Jason jerked his head towards the Ken doll at the next table. ‘That’s your guy right there.’

That was all Colton needed to know. Erin wasn’t here, but he could start with the easy part.

Walking over to the next table, he drew out the chair next to Kenny boy and sat down. A soft murmur went up through the crowd, and a few heads turned their way. Colton paid them no attention, but he did try not to make a scene.

‘I’m sorry, sir,’ the escort said. ‘I think you’re at the wrong table.’

Colton got right to the point. ‘Do you work for Nina Lockwood?’

The man was so classically handsome, he didn’t seem real. Even the way he raised his eyebrows looked phony. Yet, as surprised as he was by the sudden interrogation, he didn’t answer. He knew what he was supposed to and not supposed to say when out in public.

‘Check your phone,’ Colt instructed. ‘I’ve already notified Nina that she’s in violation of her agreement with me. If you don’t leave right now, I will sue.’

The man threw a nervous look at the crowd facing them, but he dug into his pocket. He seemed surprised when he found a message waiting for him. He cast another suspicious look in Colton’s direction, but pushed back his chair and was standing before the message finished. ‘I should tell Ms Foster what’s happened before I go.’

‘I’ll let her know,’ Colton assured the guy.

Again, the escort looked at the crowd. More people were staring now, as was the peppy speaker. The woman seemed confused and just a bit nervous.

‘I don’t know if leaving right now is a good idea,’ the escort said. ‘Erin isn’t going to like it.’

Erin? They were on a first-name basis? Colton nearly growled at the guy. ‘Trust me. It’s a really good idea.’

The implied threat apparently made it through, because the guy took a cautious step back. His gaze flicked up and locked with somebody else’s. Colton glanced over his shoulder to see a group of women entering the room through a side door. Erin’s eyes went wide when she saw him. For a moment, just a split second, she looked happy. Then her eyebrows slammed down, and her hands fisted around the large pieces of poster paper she was carrying.

She was pissed? That was funny.

Only the Ken doll wasn’t looking at Erin. He was looking at Sienna. Colton levelled a glare on the icy blonde, too. She was supposed to be Erin’s friend, her best friend. She was supposed to look out for her and have her interests at heart. Yet she’d practically led Erin straight into this whole Luxxor mess. The escort lifted his hands questioningly. Sienna stutter-stepped, but she was a smart woman. She gave a nod of approval.

Ken hauled ass out of the place.

The murmurs became louder, and Colton felt the focus of attention swing to Erin. She walked stiffly towards the table where he sat. His gaze automatically swept down to her ankle. He was relieved and a little disappointed to find she wasn’t wearing the bracelet he’d bought for her. She did look fantastic, though. She’d played up the curl in her hair somehow, making his hands want to fist in it. The blue dress she wore was modest, but she had a figure that made everything look sexy.

He didn’t like the way a few men in the crowd looked at her.

‘What are you doing here?’ she hissed as she sat down in the chair her Ken doll had just vacated. The poster paper hit the table with a smack.

‘What do you think you’re doing here?’ he returned.

‘Supporting a charity fundraiser.’

‘With a Luxxor escort at your side?’

The look she gave him was lethal. ‘What did you say to him? Where is he going?’

‘He’s leaving.’

‘What?’ Her hair tumbled down her back when she started to stand up again. ‘He can’t go. Not now.’

‘Like hell he can’t.’ Colton caught her hand. ‘I just notified Nina that she’s in breach of our contract, and, honey, so are you.’

Her eyes flashed. ‘How?’

She said so much with that one little word, it almost made him smile. Almost.

‘According to the agreement that we both signed, if one party wants to cancel the arrangement, the other needs to be duly informed. I wasn’t.’

One of her eyebrows lifted. ‘Well, I was. You made it very clear that you won’t sleep with me.’

Colton sat back in surprise.

Her voice wasn’t that loud, but it was sharp. More than that, the words were the kind that caught people’s ears. More than one table turned, but she didn’t back down. Her jaw was set, and her eyes blazed.

At the next table, Jason chuckled.

‘Shush,’ Sienna hissed.

‘It’s funny,’ he insisted. ‘She’s tiny, but she’s got spunk.’

Colton turned to defend himself, but he caught Sienna putting a hand on Sloan’s knee under the table.

‘Do you want to sleep with me?’ she asked.

Jason cleared his throat and shot a look at the audience. His voice dropped. ‘Hell, yeah.’

‘Then stop laughing.’

The tough businessman clammed up fast. He knew when negotiations had become critical.

Colton looked out over the crowd. It wasn’t his imagination. People were staring at them. The whole room was watching, some craning around in their chairs to see.

‘What’s going on here? Why are you seated up front like this?’ The four tables behind the speaker were small and rectangular. Only one couple sat at each of them.

Erin folded her arms across her chest. ‘We’re playing the Newlywed Game.’

‘Say what?’

By then it was too late. The bubbly woman with the microphone was already approaching the first table. ‘All right,’ she said. ‘I think we’re ready. Our female contestants answered a series of questions while in the other room. Now, we’re going to see how much their men truly know about them.’

‘Oh, hell.’ Colton spent his days in front of crowds of people, but he’d never been the one on the stand.

‘Buck up, King,’ Jason challenged from the next table. ‘Princess and I are leading. Erin didn’t get any questions right with the first guy.’

The first guy. Colton looked at her in disbelief. ‘You played the Newlywed Game with an escort?’

‘Marty and I RSVP’d to this three months ago,’ she hissed. ‘Do you have any idea how horrifying it would have been to come stag?’

So she’d hired an escort, because she’d needed an escort? Colton rubbed the back of his neck.

Her eyes narrowed dangerously. ‘Did you think I hired him to get back at you?’

He had no defence.

‘Unbelievable. You can use Luxxor’s escorts for more than dates, but I can’t call them when I need someone to accompany me to a charity event?’ She rolled her eyes and sat back with a harrumph. ‘Talk about a double standard.’

Colton winced. He was in such trouble. A buzzer sounded loudly when contestant number two answered incorrectly.

‘What is this supporting?’ he whispered. The hostess was already approaching Jason and Sienna’s table.

‘The Couples Center of DC,’ Erin answered. ‘They’ve started offering marriage counselling services to the underprivileged.’

‘One of Marilyn’s causes,’ he deduced.

‘You are so lucky she’s not here tonight.’

Colton was rubbing both hands over his face when he heard a ding. Jason pumped his fist in the air and gave Sienna a quick kiss. Whatever the question had been, he’d answered it right. Was the guy this competitive in everything?

‘And couple number four.’ The hostess had the strangest look on her face. ‘Have you found a new significant other since the beginning of the game, dear?’

The crowd laughed, but there was real curiosity showing. The way Ken Escort had run out of the room, more than one supposition was floating in the air.

‘Sorry I’m late,’ Colton said into the microphone. He was used to thinking on his feet. He could do this. ‘There was a reason my assistant couldn’t answer any questions.’

The crowd laughed, and Erin let out a sigh of relief.

‘You think you’ll do better?’ the hostess said with a laugh.

‘I’d better,’ he replied with a growl.

More laughter followed, and the tension in the room dissipated. All except the tension at their table. Erin was not happy with him, but she was more than angry. He could see it in the set of her shoulders. She looked dejected.

And that bothered him even more.

He was so used to her being happy when she saw him, he’d taken it for granted.

‘OK, time to fish or cut bait.’ The hostess lifted a flash card and read aloud. ‘What is Erin’s favourite colour?’

Colton eased back in his chair. Was that all this was? ‘Hot-pink.’

‘Erin?’ the woman inquired.

Erin obligingly lifted her poster board to show her answer. Polite applause rang throughout the room.

‘Don’t get cocky, King,’ Jason called. ‘It’s only one question.’

‘I’ve known her since she was a teenager,’ Colton replied. ‘How long have you known Sienna?’

‘Ooooo,’ the crowd responded.

Jason waved them off, but he was too confident. On the very next question, he stumbled. ‘Sienna’s favourite activity was debate,’ he answered.

The buzzer sounded loudly when his girlfriend lifted her poster with the answer ‘cross-country running’.

‘Awwww,’ the crowd responded. They were starting to have fun with the game.

The hostess ventured to the last table in the row. She had red hair with brown showing at the roots. ‘All right, contestant number four. I don’t believe I caught your name.’

‘Colton.’

‘Dead meat,’ Erin muttered under her breath.

‘Colton,’ the hostess said brightly. ‘What was Erin’s favourite activity while in school?’

This one was trickier. She’d been involved in everything. ‘Can you specify if that means a sport or are other school activities included?’

‘No cheating over there,’ Jason called.

The crowd chuckled.

Colton tossed a look at Erin, but she was not amused. He remembered the picture he’d promised to show Sloan, the one of her and Sienna in their short skirts and skimpy little cropped tops. She’d loved dancing in those half-time routines, and she’d practised all the time. Those had been tough days for him. Excruciating. ‘Pompom squad.’

Erin’s eyebrows jumped. When she lifted her poster board to show her answer, a hoot or two came up from the back of the room.

Colton lifted his hands innocently in Sloan’s direction. The guy pointed at him in return, and Colt nodded. He remembered what he owed him.

‘You don’t know me as well as you think you do,’ Erin muttered.

After the mistake he’d just made with the escort, Colton knew better than to respond. Anything he might say would only get him into hotter water.

The game progressed, and the questions got tougher and more intimate. Soon, the other two couples were out of the competition. Jason had dropped the ball on a few more questions, and by now everyone was convinced that Colton and Erin were the real deal.

‘All right, Colton,’ the hostess said as if they’d been buddies for years. ‘Time to get more personal. Where did you and Erin first kiss?’

His hand fisted atop the table. Considering that their first kiss had happened only a couple weeks ago, he remembered it pretty damn well.

‘In the back seat of my car.’

A catcall went up from a septuagenarian on the far side of the room.

Erin’s lips pressed together tightly when she confirmed the answer. Colton’s eyes narrowed. Hold on. When she’d been answering those questions, her escort had been out here, waiting to answer them. She couldn’t have met the guy more than an hour before event time. How fast had things gone between them?

Or had she been out with the Ken doll before? Nina had set her up before she’d matched the two of them.

The muscles in his shoulders cinched tighter.

‘So you have kissed her, huh?’

Colton was glaring at Jason when Sienna took matters into her own hands. There, in front of the crowd, she kissed her boyfriend slowly and sultrily. The 70-year-old comedian acted like he was going into heart palpitations.

The ice blonde ran her fingertip along her boyfriend’s jaw line. ‘Not another word.’

‘Yes, ma’am,’ Sloan said, his eyelids heavy.

With an apologetic look in Erin’s direction, Sienna sat straighter in her metal folding chair. Jason tugged on the end of her braid and she pulled it over her shoulder, out of his reach.

‘It’s getting down to the wire now, folks,’ their hostess said. Her voice lowered to a dramatic tone. ‘Jason?’

‘Yes?’

She held up the card. ‘How many children would Sienna like to have?’

The tough ex-hockey player took the question like a punch to the nose, and Colton felt his breath leave him too. Jason looked at Sienna and all the teasing left his face. ‘Two?’ he said uncertainly.

Sienna lifted her poster board slowly, and the warning buzzer rang.

Jason leaned forward and craned his neck to read what she’d written. ‘Four?’ he croaked.

Sienna turned an interesting combination of pink and green. ‘I’m an only child.’

A goofy grin settled on to Jason’s face, but he kept his mouth closed, as promised.

The hostess faced the crowd. ‘And that’s why we here at the Couples Center of DC think that marriage counselling is so important.’

Public service announcement over, she stuck the microphone in Colton’s face.

How many babies? His and Erin’s?

He still hadn’t caught his wind, but he knew the answer. She’d had her life planned out for ever. She was going to be the most famous interior designer in the world with a house, a dog, and…‘Two kids.’

People clapped enthusiastically when Erin turned over her card. Everyone looked at the scoreboard. Jason and Sienna might have had a lead, but Colton and Erin had made a strong comeback. Going into the last round, the score was tied.

Out there somewhere, somebody started a drum roll against a table top.

The hostess waved the card that held her last question. ‘All right, so far we’ve learned the importance of couples talking through important subjects like religion, finances and living situations, but there’s one more area where couples should communicate well…in the bedroom.’

The woman’s giggle was embarrassed and uncertain. When she glanced at the card, her eyes went round. She cast a look at what had to be an event organiser. ‘Maybe we should just consider this a tie.’

‘Ask it,’ someone in the crowd called. Soon, it became a chant. Most of the men in the audience had probably been dragged to the event, but it had just become interesting.

Too interesting for Colton’s comfort. He slipped a finger under his collar.

‘Ask it. Ask it. Ask it.’

A dignified-looking woman with grey hair stood up. ‘I’ll donate an extra five hundred dollars if you ask the question!’

A portly fellow up front raised his hand. ‘I’ll match it.’

‘All right,’ the hostess said. Her look was apologetic when she turned to the game’s remaining couples. ‘The people have spoken.’

Hell, without even knowing the question, Colton knew he didn’t want to answer. He threw a helpless look at Jason. How could they get out of this? Between the two of them, they could easily donate more money. He signalled as such, but it was too late to relay the message.

‘Jason,’ the hostess said. Her hand shook as she tucked her multi-coloured hair behind her ear. ‘What is Sienna’s favourite…ahem…sexual position?’

Sienna’s face flared, and she covered it with both hands. Colton felt for her. She was a classy woman, usually very uptight, although she seemed to relax and enjoy life more around Sloan.

Colton winced when Jason gestured for the microphone. With his lips nearly pressed against it, he said very clearly, ‘None of your business.’

Sienna’s head snapped up. She looked at Jason with an expression so happy, even Colton knew the guy would be getting some tonight. She uncharacte‌ristically bounced up and down in her chair as she flipped up her card. There, in crisp, block letters, she’d written, ‘None of your business.’

The crowd cheered when she caught Jason in a hug.

Colton turned to stone when the hostess rounded on him. His usually quick mind was suddenly struggling through quicksand. He searched and searched for a safe, pithy answer…Something like Jason had said that would protect Erin’s privacy and save her from embarrassment…

The problem was that the question was stuck in his head, and his inquiring mind wanted to know. He envisioned Erin in different sexual positions, opening herself up to him…taking him inside her…arching in delight…straining for completion…

He felt her sitting beside him, as tense as he was.

‘On top.’

The words came out as if they had a mind of their own. The hostess hadn’t repeated the question yet. Hadn’t asked him for his response. Hadn’t even walked over to their table.

Yet, his own private fantasy had just come straight out of his mouth for all the room to hear.

‘Oh,’ the hostess peeped in surprise. ‘Well –’

Erin flipped up her card and slumped down in her chair to hide behind it.

The crowd went wild. People jumped to their feet and laughter rumbled through the flooring. Colton looked at her so fast, his neck nearly cramped. She bit her lip but sat staring straight forward. He grabbed the card and turned it.

‘On top.’ The words had been written in a flourish with a hot-pink marker. There was an arrow pointing up at the end to make sure there was no confusion, and a smiley face.

God. Damn.

‘And we have a tie!’ the hostess cried out in delight.

Colton didn’t stick around to find out what their prize was. Confiscating the card, he grabbed Erin’s hand. ‘Let’s go.’

‘What?’ She looked out at the crowd, a scandalised look on her face.

But when he tugged, she followed.

‘It was just for fun,’ she said.

He led her along the side of the room, retracing the route that he’d taken coming in. People at the side tables stood, clapping and smiling as they made their exit. Colton slowed his strides so Erin could keep up. She was shorter than he was by a good ten inches, and those heels of hers really should be outlawed. The black stilettos made her legs seem long and toned, but all he could think about was her wearing them in bed.

‘I can’t believe you,’ she hissed as they left the room. She yanked her hand out of his grip. ‘I can make my way home by myself, thank you very much.’

‘Where’s your coat?’ he asked as he looked through the racks. He found it, propped the card against his legs and held it up for her.

She let out a huff, but stuck her arms in the sleeves. He folded his arms around her and pulled her up against his body. Dropping his head down, he pressed his mouth against her hair. ‘I’m sorry,’ he whispered into her ear.

Her body remained tense, but when he didn’t release her, she softened. Her weight leaned more heavily against his. He pulled the sides of her coat together and looped her belt.

She sighed and pulled away from him. ‘I’m not angry or vengeful, Colton, and I’m not out to twist you around my finger. What I am is sad. I’m disappointed that the people closest to me don’t trust me to make my own decisions. I’m humiliated that everyone thinks they have to take care of me all the time.’

He wanted to take care of her all right; she just didn’t understand.

He caught her hand again and intertwined their fingers. ‘My car is right outside.’

She frowned in frustration, but stopped fighting him. He led her to his car and tossed the poster board into the back seat. It landed face up with the arrow and the words ‘On top’ pointing right at the passenger seat.

Colton smirked. A guy could only hope.

‘Why did you take that?’ she asked.

‘I’m keeping it.’

In a huff, she got in the car and buckled up. ‘You don’t need to protect my reputation. They would have thrown it away, you know. Nobody was going to wave it in front of any cameras saying, “This is how Erin Foster likes it.”’

‘Do you?’

She looked at him sharply. The lights from the dashboard lit her surprise. ‘Do I what?’

‘Like it on top?’

‘Ye…I…I was trying to think of a tame answer, but…It got stuck in my head, and…’ Her high heels slid against the floor mat. ‘Are you allowed to ask me questions like that?’

He ignored the jab. He’d followed the rules for too long now, and he was tired of denying himself. He was even more tired of denying her. ‘Were you thinking of the Ken doll when you wrote it?’

‘Who?’

‘That’s all I needed to know.’ He backed out of the parking spot and the tires squealed as he pulled on to New Hampshire Avenue.

‘I have one big brother who keeps me in line, you know.’ With a pout, Erin looked out of the window. ‘You’d better be taking me to my apartment. If you take me to my parents’ place, so help me…’

He headed around Dupont Circle, barely managing to keep under the speed limit. He wasn’t feeling even close to brotherly right now. With her, he never had. ‘That wasn’t one of the options you gave me.’

She went still, but then turned slowly in the bucket seat.

He laid his hand on hers on the console. ‘My place is closer.’

Chapter Nine

Adrenalin started to course through Erin’s body. Adrenalin and nerves and need.

He’d finally given in. Colton was taking her home with him. She was finally going to get what she’d wanted for years…what she’d craved…him.

Her nipples tightened almost painfully, and her hands started shaking.

She’d never thought it would happen. She’d settled for Marty and then she’d found out how her parents had meddled…

The streetlights blurred as he drove along the Dupont Circle roundabout and turned down one of the spoke streets heading away from the intersection. They were practically on top of his place already. She hadn’t been there for years.

She’d certainly never been there for the reason they were going there now.

They were going to have sex.

There was no time to think, no time to prepare, yet her body was quickly getting up to speed. She squeezed her thighs together so tightly, her muscles burned.

Things were going too fast, yet they’d never get there fast enough.

She clenched her hands together in her lap. Oh, God. She was losing it.

‘Relax,’ Colton said as he let them in the front door of his home. The row house was exactly as she remembered. Long and skinny, with stairs leading up to the second floor. Where his bedroom must be…She’d never been up those steps before.

Fretfully, she tucked her hair behind her ear. She glanced around the living room and down to the kitchen area. With only the entryway light on, they were dimmed in shadow. ‘You need to update this place. I mean, really. Have you even rearranged the furniture since we helped you move in?’

He cupped the back of her head. He was closer than she expected. ‘I need a good interior designer. Want the job?’

Her eyelids became heavy when he gently massaged her scalp. ‘Yes.’

‘Relax,’ he repeated. He pushed her coat off her shoulders and hung it from a hook on the wall.

‘I’m nervous,’ Erin whispered. She hesitantly settled her hands on his chest when he took off his overcoat, too. He felt warm and solid underneath his suit jacket. Muscled and male. She forgot how big he was until she got up close like this.

His hands settled on her waist, and he kissed her forehead. ‘Me, too.’

‘Really?’

‘Really.’

She took a slow breath and saw his gaze drop to her chest. The scooped neckline of her dress wasn’t scandalous, but it did show cleavage. She imagined his mouth there, and her nipples throbbed. If he licked her, she just might scream.

‘I…I want you more than anything.’ She could hardly get the words out. ‘But I don’t know if I can…keep up.’

The fears and uncertainty came rushing back. She wasn’t that experienced. She’d only had one lover and, from the kisses she’d shared with Colton, she suspected her ex hadn’t been that good. Colt was a whole other thing, in an entirely different league. He’d spanked her in the car. Would he do that again? She’d liked it, but could she really jump right into the deep end?

He kissed her temple, and his thumbs strummed over her cheeks as he cupped her face. ‘Nothing’s going to happen that you don’t want to happen, Sunny.’

She spread her fingers wide on his chest. She could feel his heart thumping and racing. ‘But I want to make you happy, too.’

‘I already am.’

She caught his tie and pulled him down until their lips were a hairsbreadth apart. ‘Why are you nervous?’

‘Because I’ve wanted you for so long, I might lose it before I even get inside you.’ His eyelids dropped, and his breath brushed over her face. ‘I don’t want to make a mess all over you.’

Erin’s edginess drained right out of her through her toes. She’d never heard anything sexier. ‘That wouldn’t be a bad thing.’

‘Yes, it would.’ He caught her by the waist and then was lifting her up against him. Erin hopped onboard and pushed at his jacket. He contorted, trying to get it off and hold her at the same time. When it was gone, she wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Their mouths locked in a kiss that rocked her world, and he headed for the staircase.

The way he carried her so easily made Erin shiver. He’d always been a sports fanatic. He spent more time at the gym than was healthy, but she sensed it was for stress relief. She worried that he pushed himself too hard. He’d always carried the weight of the world around with him.

She loosened his tie and ran kisses along his jaw line. She’d be happy to act as a stress reliever for him.

Her dress was rucked up high, and he slid his hands underneath it to cup her bottom. Her thong offered no protection, and the skin-on-skin contact made her bite her lip as pleasure shuddered through her.

Oh, God.

He squeezed, and she felt her juices flow. Spanking or not, he’d made her so sensitive down there, she could barely stand it. She rocked against the hard ridge of flesh between her legs, and he caught the door jamb.

‘Careful,’ he said hoarsely.

She wanted him to come. She wanted to feel him all over her. Threading her fingers through the hair at the back of his head, she kissed him lustily. She didn’t want to be careful. She wanted to experience it all with him.

They didn’t bother with the lights or even the curtains. Moonlight streamed through the window, highlighting them both as he stopped by the bed.

Erin wanted to stay right where she was, in his arms and close to his body, but she needed to feel him naked even more. He set her on her feet. Her balance on her high heels was tenuous, but she reached for his belt.

He caught her hands quickly. ‘The first time will probably be fast.’ He ran his thumb over the pulse at her wrist. ‘And hard.’

‘The first time?’

He nipped at her lower lip. ‘Don’t count on getting much sleep.’

Erin let out a shaky breath, but she understood. She was riding right on the edge, but it would take all night to satiate the hunger inside her.

He moved her hands off his belt to the skinny one around her waist. ‘You take off yours, and I’ll take off mine.’

Her mouth was wet, and her hands clumsy. She tried to deal with the belt buckle, but it was tiny and uncooperative. When it finally loosened, she turned and offered him her back.

The butterflies in her stomach were flying in a million different directions.

She glanced over her shoulder. ‘But I need help.’

His dark eyes flared.

She felt his heat and his size as he stepped up behind her. He gave a tug on the tab of her zipper. As unsteady as she was, Erin reached back and caught his thighs. His breaths were hot against the back of her neck. The zipper loosened as he dragged it down, seemingly for ever.

‘Aw, Christ,’ Colton said when her dress gaped open.

He slid it forward, off her shoulders, and reached around to cup her breasts. Erin’s fingers bit into his legs. His thumbs ran over the padded cups, pressing down when they found the hard little bumps in the middle. ‘It’s like that bikini you wore.’

She let out a soft cry. Tiny electric jolts were running straight from her nipples down to her core. She knew exactly what he was talking about. The bikini she’d worn at the pool on that fateful day had been the same shade of hot pink, but she hadn’t chosen her lingerie tonight for him.

It was just fate.

Her back arched as he took the weight of her breasts in his hands. ‘Did I tempt you at all back then?’

When she’d been strutting around, practically begging for his attention?

‘Are you kidding?’ he said hoarsely. Taking her hand, he moved it between their bodies and placed it over the zipper of his pants. ‘I’ve had to deal with this hard-on for over eight years.’

The size of him more than filled Erin’s palm, and heat burned in her fingertips. She felt him all along her back. He towered over her, making her feel sexy and feminine. Taking the smallest of steps, she brought their bodies together. ‘That sounds painful.’ She gave him the gentlest of squeezes. ‘Maybe I can help.’

He had her on her back before she could say another word.

Everything became rushed then. Squirming on the bed, Erin pushed down her dress. It snagged on her heels, and she tore them off. Colt made a protesting sound, but she tossed them across the room. He went quiet when he saw her in only her bra and thong. Hot-pink, they nearly glowed fluorescent in the moonlight.

Erin pulled down the bedspread and pushed back the blanket to get to the sheets. He was a man who made his bed; she’d expected nothing less. She reached for the back tab of her bra and loosened it, but she forgot what she was doing when she saw him pushing down his pants and a pair of black briefs.

Her pulse thundered in her head when she saw him standing over her naked.

This was Colton. Her Colton, and he was naked and so beautiful, she could cry.

This had to happen. She didn’t care if the phone rang, the bed broke or the house caught on fire. She’d waited for too long.

Her eyes went dry as she stared at his erection, and her pussy throbbed. He was hung. Big and thick. She wanted him inside her desperately.

He reached down and looped two fingers around the band of her bra between her breasts. She inhaled sharply. He tugged, but the elastic straps stretched and resisted. She rolled her shoulders, and he peeled the bra off her. His hand fisted in the feminine garment as his gaze burned against her bared flesh.

‘Erin,’ he breathed.

After years of trying, she finally had him alone.

‘Hurry,’ she whispered.

He tossed her bra aside and caught her hot-pink thong where it rode high on her hipbones. Leaning back on the mattress, Erin dug in her heels and lifted. Her stomach squeezed as he stripped her bare.

She lay in the shadows of the moonlight, feeling hot and sexy and so turned on she could barely think.

‘You’re perfect,’ Colton said as he towered over her. So big, so tall, so dominating.

Self-consciousness came over her then. She was far from perfect. She had so many failings that she was trying to improve. ‘I’m too short.’ She covered her breasts self-consciously. ‘And my breasts aren’t very big.’

She jolted when his hand slid between her legs and cupped her possessively. ‘You’re perfect,’ he said firmly.

‘Ohhhhhh,’ Erin groaned. She hadn’t expected him to start there. Her legs squeezed tight and her thighs captured his wrist. His fingers stroked her, parting her to delve into her dampness.

His thumb rubbed deliberately over her clit, and her hips bucked forward.

The mattress dipped when he climbed on to the bed with her, and she rolled towards him. She let out a sharper cry when his mouth locked onto her breast. He simply nosed her hand aside, licked the turgid peak and latched on. The way he suckled her was so strong, her entire breast throbbed.

She cried out again. There were no roommates here, nobody who might interrupt them. ‘Colton!’

He pressed his knee between hers to give his hand more room to work. When two of his fingers pushed into her, Erin whimpered and rolled onto her back. Her thighs fell open widely, and Colt rolled on top of her.

His mouth left her breast, and he looked down into her face. His eyes were almost wild, that monumental control stretched so thin, it was ready to snap. ‘I warned you,’ he said raspily.

‘Yes,’ she agreed. ‘Yes.’

She wanted him. Hard and fast. Slow and sexy. Wild and rough. She’d take him however she could get him.

Her fingers bit into his shoulders as his hand did nasty, wonderful things to her down below. She was so wet, she could feel the stickiness on her thighs.

Abruptly, Colton pulled his fingers out of her pussy. Hooking his arm under her knee, he lifted it up and out. Erin’s breath took a stutter-step. She wasn’t familiar, but she felt controlled. And absolutely willing.

Her heart raced as she watched him position his big cock at her opening. The pressure started, and she felt her opening stretch to take him.

But then he stopped, leaving her hanging right on the precipice of fear and delight.

‘God damn.’ The muscles in his neck strained when he lifted his head to look her in the face. ‘I’m clean,’ he promised.

Oh, God. She hadn’t even thought of that. She felt herself cream around the blunt head of his intrusive cock. It was barely inside her, the pinch making her feel him, but not where she needed him the most.

‘I’m on the pill,’ she cried.

His thrust was hard and deep, and she arched up into him. ‘Oh, my God. Colton!’

He was moving in hard, jerky motions. She could feel him trying to take it slow, but she was so overwhelmed. He felt huge inside her. Thick and long. He filled her, and heat radiated out from her core. It swamped her, and she clutched at him desperately.

His weight came down on her then, and his mouth took her other breast. Her nails raked down his back as his hips pounded into her over and over again.

The thrusts were coming harder and faster. With her leg bent and out to the side, he held her open to his taking. The position let him go deep, and a sharp cry careened from Erin’s lips.

The pleasure was sharper and more intense than anything she’d ever felt. Anything she’d ever dreamed.

Not only was this sex with Colton, it was fantastic sex.

The bed rocked, the springs squeaking as he fucked her like a man possessed. She grabbed at him, the sheets, the pillow and finally a bar in the headboard. Her fingers whitened as she felt her body climbing, tightening and racing for completion.

‘Holy hell, Erin,’ he panted above her.

His mouth came down on hers for another sexy kiss, and she flew over the top. The orgasm ripped through her like lightning, lighting up her entire body. She felt Colton jerk on top of her, and then he was coming.

She let out a moan of pleasure as pure happiness settled inside her. His hips jerked spasmodically until the climax passed. Then, finally, his body came down heavily upon hers. Her arms felt like noodles, but she lowered them to wrap around him. His muscled body felt hot. She opened her hands wide on his back, just feeling his smooth skin.

She’d fantasised about this for years, but reality was so much better.

His breaths came loud against her ear. ‘Are you OK?’ he asked.

‘I’m perfect.’

That got a chuckle from him, and he pulled back to look at her. He stared at her for a long time, his eyes like midnight in the dim lighting. At last, he shook his head in disbelief. ‘Yes, you are,’ he said before kissing the tip of her nose.

Wrapping his arms around her, he rolled so he was on the bottom. Erin took the opportunity to stretch on top of him. Everything felt so vivid, so intimate. She was achingly aware of his cock still buried deep inside her. He’d softened, but the sensation made her toes curl.

‘Sorry that was so fast,’ he murmured.

Like a freight train. ‘I don’t know if I could have lasted for longer than that,’ she admitted.

He caressed her bottom. ‘You did just fine.’

She pushed her hair out of her face and propped her chin on his chest. ‘Did I?’

He traced the line of her brow, down her nose and along her lips. ‘If I’d known how responsive you are, I never would have been able to stay away.’

Relief took the last bit of energy from her. It had all been worth it, the waiting and the agonising. She hadn’t built this up to more than it was. She could match him, woman to man.

Her eyes drifted closed, and she snuggled against his heart. Her Colton. She’d finally worn him down.

And in the end, she hadn’t even had to push.

Colton let Erin rest and calm down as she lay on him. That constant ache, the unrelenting need he’d had for her, had momentarily been slaked.

And it felt damn good.

He stroked a hand up her back and wrapped it round her soft hair. It felt like bliss, but he knew they’d just taken the edge off. The hunger would be back, but for once he wasn’t going to let it ride him. He was going to let it take them both wherever it may.

Relaxing on to the pillow, he stared at the ceiling. He should be castigating himself. If his brain was working, it would probably be screaming warnings in his skull right now.

He simply did not care.

They wanted each other, and they cared for one another. Him, maybe too much. And when they touched?

Holy hell.

He’d practically jumped her, but she’d been soft and open and eager. There were no games with her. He could tell exactly what she liked, and, even more intriguing, exactly what made her horny as a mink.

He kissed the top of her head. Oh yeah, it would be a while before they’d be able to work this out of their systems.

Colton let Erin recover for a short while. At one point, he even felt her soft breaths warming his nipple as she drifted off to sleep. Yet his need was coming back, strong and demanding.

More powerful than ever.

There was one thing he’d promised himself tonight, the one thing that had finally pushed him over the edge.

Along with her kisses…and the threat of other men…and the memory of that smokin’ hot-pink bikini…

A groan rumbled up from his chest. She liked it on top.

Or it ‘got stuck in her head’, as she’d put it. He was curious as hell as to what Erin Foster fantasised about.

‘Sunny,’ he said softly. He rubbed her sides, but she just shifted on him to get more comfortable.

He gritted his teeth. His cock was still embedded deep inside her, and all that shimmying was messing with his senses. He caught her hips, and his fingers dug into the rounded curves of her bottom. ‘Erin.’

Her eyes were blurry when she woke, but they cleared when they focused on him. Those big baby blues softened, and her eyelids turned heavy.

They snapped right back open when he rolled his hips.

‘Oh!’ She rose on her elbows, giving him a sweet view of her breasts. ‘Oh, my,’ she groaned when she felt him inside her.

Her nipples dragged hard against his upper abs, and his stomach cinched in tight. He tightened his fingers in her hair and let his voice drop. ‘It’s time for you to ride me.’

Her moan of pleasure was the sexiest thing he’d ever heard.

‘On top?’

‘Where I can see every move you make.’

Her teeth bit into her lower lip. ‘You’ll let me do whatever I want to do?’

He let one eyebrow lift. He had been dominating her a bit, hadn’t he? ‘Anything you want, baby. It’s your turn to take the lead.’

A feminine smile curled her lips, and Colt’s heart missed a beat.

She rose above him, her breasts swaying, and settled on her haunches. Her eyes drifted closed, and he felt her internal muscles flex around him.

Holy mother of…

He was the one who let a groan slip this time.

God, just look at her.

So lean and supple and petite. He had to weigh twice as much as she did, yet the way he fitted into her felt perfect.

To him, at least.

A dark fear momentarily seized him, and he caught her by the waist to stop her from moving. ‘Do I hurt you?’

That knowing feminine smile came back. Leaning forward, she spread her hands wide over his chest. ‘Do you need to hear how big you are, Colton King?’

His balls drew up. ‘No, I –’

‘You are,’ she whispered. Her hips undulated sexily. ‘And I love it.’

‘Oh, damn, Erin. Don’t do that.’

‘Don’t do what?’ she teased. She trailed her soft hands over his chest, tracing his pecs and the lines of his abs. ‘This?’

Leaning down, she licked across his nipple. His fingers bit into her waist when the sensation gave him more pleasure than he expected. She did it again, and he cupped her pert breast. He placed his thumb over her nipple and every time her soft tongue stroked against him, he flicked it.

With a hum, she sat back on her haunches again. Her thigh muscles bunched. She rose briefly, letting him feel the stroke of her soft pussy, and then dropped on to him again. ‘Or this?’

Colt gritted his teeth. He was fully erect again. Swollen and aching. ‘Forget I said anything.’

He pulled her down for a kiss, and she let him.

When their mouths broke contact, she braced her hands on the bed on either side of his head. Her nose was only inches from his. ‘Why did you leave the pool that day? The one after my graduation?’

‘Because my control was shot. I was heading after you when Dustin caught me by the nape of the neck.’

Her eyes were big in the moonlight. ‘Really?’

‘Honest to God.’

She rose over him and slowly began to pump. ‘I masturbated in the cabana when you didn’t show.’

Colton’s body arched, and sweat broke out over his entire body.

Her head dropped back, and she grabbed her heels as she ground onto him.

‘Fuck me, baby.’ He wrapped his hands over her breasts as she found her rhythm. And then it became a show so beautiful and sensual, he lay back to simply watch her. Watch her and feel her.

She was amazing as she rose and fell, taking him into her over and over again. So warm and wet and fist-tight. He looked down to the spot where they were connected so intimately. Seeing his cock disappear into her was the most erotic thing he’d ever seen.

‘Erin,’ he said when he felt his balls tighten.

‘I know,’ she said, her voice going high. She wrapped her hands around his shoulders as she began working more urgently.

Colton let her lead, but his hips were thrusting up to meet her every time she drove down. She was beautiful to watch as her body worked and strained. She arched hard, her breasts thrusting into the air when he caught her by the hips and drove deeper than she’d been taking him.

He did it again, and she cried out. The third time, she came.

He watched her come apart and wasn’t far behind. His fingers bit into the comfy flesh of her bottom as he emptied himself into her. She let out a squeak of surprise when a second wave hit her, and he barked out in victory.

And then he collapsed against the wrinkled sheets.

This time, the sex took. His brain turned off. Satisfaction and contentment made his body feel heavy. The problems they faced were still right around the corner, but at the moment he didn’t give a rip.

For a short while, he had what he wanted most.

‘Oh, yeah,’ he murmured into her ear. ‘On top is good.’

She giggled, but in the next moment was asleep in his arms. Colt tucked her up close. He’d take the night for as long as it lasted.

Chapter Ten

His bedroom felt different when Colton awoke the next morning. The sun hadn’t risen yet, but there was enough light to push back the pitch darkness. He propped himself up on his elbows to take stock. It looked different, too. The bedspread was crooked, the sheets were untucked and clothes were strewn across the floor. The scent of Erin’s shampoo lingered on the pillowcase next to him. The room was a mess, but he liked it that way. For the first time ever, the place felt lived-in…like more than just somewhere to crash.

For once, he didn’t bound out of bed.

Mornings usually meant a shower, some cereal, a quick check of the news, and then a deeper dive into whatever case he was working on. Today, morning meant Erin.

His gaze lazily took in her blue dress on the floor. It was crumpled into a ball by the nightstand. He didn’t need the evidence that she was still here. She wasn’t in bed with him, but he could feel her.

He could also hear her. A clatter was coming up through the floorboards from the kitchen beneath him.

Was she making breakfast for him?

He looked down at the sheet tenting below his waist. She was so damn sweet, but he’d have to teach her the proper order of things.

Sex before eating.

Lying back, he stretched until he heard his back pop. Damn, he was already in deep.

He swept back the covers and got up. He found his phone in the mess of clothes and texted the office that he’d be working from home this morning. That task out of the way, he headed to the bathroom. It was their first morning after, not counting breakfast at the Apple Tree Grille. He winced at the memory. Today he wanted to make a better impression. He headed to the bathroom and cleaned up. Finally, he put on a pair of jeans and went down to find her.

She was in the kitchen, all right, but that wasn’t what made him come to a dead stop in the archway. She was wearing his dress shirt, the white one he’d thrown on in such a haste last night. The thing covered her down to mid-thigh, and she’d rolled up the sleeves to keep them out of her way. When she heard him she turned, and he saw just how far she’d left it unbuttoned.

It was a good look for her. His jeans started to feel tight. Excellent, really.

Her hair was still tussled, and her feet were bare. She looked so kissable, that was exactly what he did. Without a word, he walked straight up to her, trapped her against the cupboards and settled his open mouth on hers.

‘Mmm,’ she crooned. Her hands danced up his chest, and she arched into him as their lips ate at one another’s.

‘Good morning, Sunshine,’ he said against her lips. ‘What’s cooking?’

‘An egg casserole,’ she said with pride. ‘Are you hungry?’

He stroked her hair back from her forehead. With her face scrubbed free of makeup, she looked young and exuberant. He slid his hand under the bottom of his shirt and caressed the back of her thigh. ‘Starved.’

‘Colton!’ she gasped. She drew small circles on his stomach. ‘Should I have waited in bed?’

He nuzzled against her neck. ‘You do whatever feels good.’

Her nails scraped against him. ‘Cooking for you feels good. You need to relax more. Slow down and take it easy.’

His morning erection jumped. He’d love to take it slow and easy with her. ‘Promise?’ he whispered.

She shivered. ‘Promise.’

He patted her bare bottom and pulled back. With the oven running, the kitchen felt warm. The whole place felt almost homey.

‘You’re getting pretty handy in the kitchen,’ he said.

‘So are you.’ She gave him a teasing shove when his hand moved on her butt and became intriguingly more intimate.

‘Don’t make me burn our breakfast.’

Laughing, he held up his hands and stepped away.

It felt good to have her here. Too good.

He pushed the traitorous thought to the back of his head and poured himself a cup of coffee. She already had one of her own on the table, so he warmed it up for her.

‘My mom doesn’t cook. She caters in.’ Turning on the oven light, Erin checked her concoction. ‘I wanted to learn how to do things myself. It’s all part of my strategy.’

Colton leaned his hips against the counter. ‘Strategy for what?’

‘To make myself less boring.’

His coffee damn near went down the wrong pipe. He coughed and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. ‘You can’t be serious.’

When she grinned and ran over to kiss him, he knew he’d said something right.

He watched her flit around his kitchen, finding hot pads and a serving spoon. She looked so damn cute and sexy in his clothes, he wanted to scoop her up and take her back to bed. Instead, he settled for the quick flashes of breast she was showing when she bent over to work.

He took another sip of coffee, and this time it went down smooth. ‘Marilyn told me you’ve been sending out your résumé, too.’

‘I have, but I haven’t had any responses yet.’ She pulled out a chair from the table, sat down and tucked a leg underneath her. Her face scrunched up. ‘How stupid was I to just let that all go? I had such big plans, but I let myself get diverted.’

He took a chair next to her. He did not want to have a discussion about Marty the weasel. Not here, and especially not now.

‘I think I just turned my attention to designing a wedding. The cake, the colours, the flowers, the reception…Hm. Maybe I should look into that.’ She pushed back her mussed-up hair. ‘I did enjoy that part.’

‘Did you want to redo this place?’

Her big blue eyes opened wide. ‘Were you serious about that?’

He glanced around. He didn’t usually pay much attention, but now he could see that most of the walls were still bare and the big-screen TV was the most interesting thing in the living room. The sofa was one that he and Dustin had bought way back in their undergrad years, and it had been second-hand then. ‘Yeah,’ he said, deciding on the spot. ‘Why not?’

It wasn’t like he didn’t have the money. He was a DC lawyer. He had bags of it in the bank. And stocks and bonds and mutual funds. He liked having security underneath him. It was the one thing he’d inadvertently learned from his parents. Not from things they’d done right, but things they’d done wrong. From the time he’d received his first paycheck, he’d tucked away as much as he could.

Maybe it was time to start spending it. He glanced at Erin. Maybe it was time to start enjoying it.

‘It would give me something for my portfolio.’ Her eyes shone at the prospect. ‘I promise I wouldn’t do anything too wild or girly. I’d make a proposal and give you a budget.’

He almost told her she could do whatever she wanted, but instinct made him stop. That wasn’t what she wanted to hear. ‘Sounds good,’ he said instead. ‘You come up with some ideas, and we’ll negotiate.’

He liked the idea of having her around, even if it was only to turn his house into something that didn’t look like a sterile institution.

She beamed at him, but then a more devilish light came into her eyes. She traced her finger along the lip of her coffee mug and looked at him through her lashes. ‘It just can’t interfere with the other classes I’m taking.’

‘You’re doing more than the cooking thing?’

‘Si,’ she said. Her ankle rolled sexily, and he noticed her toenails were painted a dusty pink. ‘I’m taking an online Spanish course.’

‘That could prove useful.’

‘And I’m trying a new exercise class.’

He let his gaze run down her figure. She was rocking his shirt. He couldn’t remember a time when her legs had looked so good – and that was saying something. ‘That’s working too,’ he murmured.

‘It’s pole dancing.’

She damn near caught him with another mouthful of coffee. Colton stared at her. ‘Pole dancing?’ he wheezed.

‘Mmm hmm. It looked interesting, and it’s a really good workout. The owner has a chain of them, and she’s here this week to lead some classes herself. Her name is Angel, and she’s the real deal.’

He still had not found the capacity to move. Erin the perky pompom girl was now into erotic dancing? ‘Can I come watch?’

She shook her head. ‘Uh-uhn. Visitors aren’t allowed. They don’t want anybody to be shy or inhibited. If you’re in the room, you have to be dancing. That’s the rule.’

He mulled over his options. ‘I could –’

She unfolded from her chair, took two steps and smoothly straddled his lap. Ever so slowly, she dropped down. ‘Sexy.’

His hands automatically came to her waist. ‘You got that right.’

She held his gaze. ‘Dancing sexy, silly.’

There was nothing silly about it.

‘Show me.’

The chair squeaked against the floor as Colton pushed it back to give her more room. For a moment, she hesitated. Then her eyes went dreamy, and she lifted her hair off her neck in a move so sensuous his cock jumped. Pole dancing, all right. Leaning back, he watched as she began to arch and sway.

Damn, he’d always known she’d been able to move, but like this?

‘She teaches lap dancing, too?’ he said hoarsely.

‘Yes, but I haven’t made it that far yet. I’m making this up.’

‘You’re a good student.’ His eyes locked on her hands when her fingers raked up her bare thighs. She left trails of white behind on her skin and then the material of his shirt began to climb. ‘Really good,’ he rasped.

She’d just unfastened another critical button when his phone rang, making them both jump in surprise.

Erin pressed a hand to her breastbone. ‘Don’t answer it,’ she said with a pant.

He was tempted. So damn tempted. ‘The case.’

Swinging an arm around her, he made sure she didn’t leave his lap as he dug into his pocket for his phone. What the interruption hadn’t cooled off, the Caller ID did when he saw it.

‘Fuck,’ he breathed.

Erin twisted to take a peek. She flinched when she read the name.

It was Dustin, her well-meaning but territorial big brother.

Colton sat up straighter in the chair. He expected Erin to climb off, but this time she was the one who latched on and stayed right where she was. Her hands caught his shoulders and she wiggled up closer until she was practically straddling his crotch.

He gave her a helpless look, but she teasingly ran her finger deep, deep down into the V-shaped opening of his shirt.

He dropped his head back and stared at the ceiling. ‘Hey, Dusty,’ he answered.

‘There you are, man. Everything OK?’

Colton circled his jaw. That depended. On the one hand, things were fantastic – but he supposed that wouldn’t be the case if you were his lap dancer’s older brother. ‘Yeah. Fine. Why?’

‘You ran out of the basketball game like your ass was on fire.’

Colton pinched the bridge of his nose. That seemed like weeks ago. ‘Yeah…the case…’ he lied.

Dustin chuckled. ‘I thought maybe you had a hot date waiting.’

He had. Hot and sweaty and spine-curling…

Time to change the subject. ‘Did you win?’

‘Hell, yeah. We even pulled away at the end.’

‘Good.’ Colt cupped the back of Erin’s head as she nibbled on his neck. ‘That’s…’ he said tightly, ‘real good.’

She giggled, and his hold tightened in warning.

Her giggle turned into a soft moan.

Shit. Colton struggled for control.

‘So I found your watch in the locker room,’ Dustin said. ‘Do you want me to drop it off at your place?’

‘No,’ Colt said quickly. Too quickly. He cleared his throat. ‘I’ve got things to do this morning. I’ll catch up with you later.’

‘All right.’ There was the sound of a car horn on the other end of the line. ‘I’ve got to get going.’

‘Thanks, Dust.’

‘No problem.’

‘Bye.’

Colton’s arms sagged to his sides when the call finally ended, yet a surge went through him when Erin lightly bit his earlobe.

‘I hope I’m one of those things on your to-do list,’ she said sexily.

He caught her, pulled her up with him as he stood, and quickly put her back in her own chair. Circling the kitchen, he blew out a long breath and scrubbed his face.

That had been too close. Dustin didn’t always call first.

And the problem was that it wasn’t that unusual. Dustin dropped by all the time to just hang out. Marilyn would call to chat and check up on him. Hell, even Harmon had come by last week with Caps tickets.

Her family was his in a lot of ways – and they were the ones who wouldn’t approve. They’d blow a gasket if they found out what was happening behind his closed doors. He could still remember a vein popping out in Harmon’s forehead when he’d given him the lecture.

Colton had only had to be told once.

He looked at her.

‘Don’t say it,’ she warned.

He had to. ‘Erin, we…we shouldn’t do this.’

Her sunny expression clouded over. ‘Don’t do this again,’ she said in a small voice. ‘Don’t do this to us.’

He held up his phone as proof, but she just met him in a stare-down.

A stare-down that was becoming more watery by the moment.

Panic started to set in. He looked at her sitting in his kitchen, wearing his clothes and nothing else, and he couldn’t argue his way out. She was right. Her family’s friendship was important to him, but the idea of keeping away from her now? After he knew how good they were together?

He tossed his phone on to the kitchen counter.

What the hell was he going to do?

He wrapped his hand around the back of his neck and tried to think. They’d never be able to go back to the way things had been. She’d ground his willpower to dust. ‘Then we need to keep it quiet.’

‘It?’

Was she going to make him say it out loud?

‘This,’ he said, gesturing back and forth between them. ‘This thing between us, whatever it is. We know we can’t stop, but we can keep it private.’

The tension in her relaxed, and her hair dropped to the side as she cocked her head. ‘Are you saying you want to sneak around?’

Boom.

‘Yes,’ he said, pointing at her.

She looked down into her coffee. ‘Sleep together behind everyone’s backs?’

It was the best answer he had – other than doing what he should. If he was stronger, he would keep it to a one-night stand. He was a man of his word, and he’d faltered. That didn’t mean he couldn’t pick himself up again and get back on track.

But he wasn’t strong when it came to her. He didn’t want to be.

His mind started clicking fast as he crossed the room and took his seat again. Yeah, they could do it. He kept things confidential as a lawyer, and she’d surprised everyone by what she’d done behind the scenes with Luxxor. Leaning forward, he caught her hand. ‘Would it be that bad?’

‘I…I’m not sure, Colt. My family and I are close. I tell them everything.’

He lifted an eyebrow.

‘Well, almost everything.’

‘I don’t want to give you up.’

She wiggled a bit in the chair. Finally, her gaze lifted. ‘I suppose it could be…hot.’

His hard-on came back with a vengeance. Whatever he’d been expecting from her last night, she’d surprised him.

His Erin was a sex kitten.

Catching her hand more firmly, he drew her out of her chair and back on to his lap. Fisting his hand in her hair, he kissed her deeply. It felt so good to finally be able to do that, to kiss her and touch her whenever he got the urge.

He just hoped she wouldn’t be too shocked by how often that urge came over him.

‘I haven’t had enough of you yet,’ he said against her lips.

The oven dinger went off, sounding just like the bell from last evening’s charity game, and a slow smile crossed her lips. ‘Good answer.’

‘So how are things between you and Colton?’ Nina asked.

So complicated.

Erin and the Luxxor executive were lounging in the seating area in Nina’s office, having another of their date-breakdown sessions. Rielle had brought them hot cocoa, and it sat steaming on the coffee table before them. Outside, soft flakes tumbled down past the window on their way to the ground. Just light flurries, but it was the first snowfall of the season.

‘Good,’ Erin answered instead. She picked up a throw pillow from the sofa and plucked at the tufts coming from the corners. She glanced up through her eyelashes. ‘Really good. I’m just surprised it’s actually happening.’

‘No more surprised than I was when I got Colton’s call,’ Nina said dryly. She toyed with one dangling earring. ‘I’ve never been approached with a cease-and-desist order in quite such a manner.’

Erin winced. She could only imagine. ‘I didn’t mean for him to do that.’

‘I know, dear. We discussed your need for an escort to that event, and I approved it.’

‘Jason was the one who put him up to it.’ The traitor. The beautiful, soft-hearted, over-protective, meddling traitor. She was going to have to do something special for him for making everything happen.

Maybe she’d make him a pie, too.

Nina lifted her mug of cocoa and blew upon it. ‘I can’t say that surprises me.’

So Nina had butted wills with Sienna’s boyfriend, too? Shocking. Although the idea of it made Erin curious. In a battle between those two, who would win?

She wrapped her arms around the pillow and hugged it against her chest. ‘Colton wouldn’t be happy if he knew I was here, either.’

Nina’s brow furrowed. ‘Why? We’re not in violation of any terms. This is what you and I agreed upon. He doesn’t have a say in the matter.’

Somehow Erin was sure Colt would have other opinions on that, but that wasn’t the reason. ‘He’s worried about Detective Morgan.’

‘The detective?’ Nina said, her voice jumping. Her foot began to bop.

‘Has he been around lately?’ Erin asked.

Nina rubbed the tip of her finger up and down her temple. Her nails were done in the prettiest burgundy colour.

‘Not for days,’ she said. A polite smile lifted her lips. ‘Although it seems like weeks. Why would Colton be concerned about that? The charges are against Jason. They should have no impact on you.’

‘It’s not necessarily the assault case that he’s worried about. He’s concerned about what the detective might find out…about Luxxor…’

Nina didn’t react outwardly. She sat in the leather easy chair with her killer legs crossed, holding her mug in both hands. ‘Colton told you,’ she said simply.

Erin held her gaze. ‘Is it true?’

‘I didn’t mislead you when you first visited me to inquire about our services. I told you that we specialise in short-term arrangements.’

Erin brushed her thumb back and forth across a soft tassel. ‘And do they include…you know?’

‘You’re aware of our policies, Erin. We aim for discretion. Those services are not available to you and, as such, we can’t discuss them.’

‘Was that Colton’s call?’

‘No.’ Nina lifted her cup and took a drink. ‘It was mine.’

Erin shifted and tucked her ankles together at the base of the sofa. ‘I’d like to understand,’ she said softly. ‘I admire you so much.’

Nina’s expression softened. ‘Oh, sweetie. That means a lot to me. I’ve become fond of you, too.’

Erin waited.

Sighing, Nina put her drink back on the table. She rubbed her hands up and down the armrests and then settled her fingers one by one around the ends. ‘Sometimes you find yourself held back in life for reasons outside your control. Others try to hold you down, and you have to find a way to claw your way up and take control.’

She cocked her head consideringly. ‘It’s not that unlike what you’ve done to make changes in your life. Sometimes you have to take paths that people don’t expect or necessarily approve of in order to get to where you want to go.’

Like using an escort service to bounce back from a failed engagement and finding yourself matched with your fantasy man?

Erin licked her lips. She really didn’t care about the moral boundaries of Luxxor’s business plan. That was Nina’s concern, and she’d have to live with her decisions. There was only one aspect of it that touched Erin, and she’d been fretting on it all day. ‘Did Colton use those services?’

Nina shook her head. ‘You know I can’t answer that. That’s a question you’ll need to ask him.’

Erin picked up her hot cocoa just to give her hands something to do. The idea of it bothered her, even though she knew she couldn’t hold it against him. He was single. The two of them had only just hooked up. She knew he’d dated; he wasn’t a monk. He had every right to use an escort service if he wanted – as long as nothing illegal had happened…

Like paying money to have sex with another woman.

Erin’s nails clicked against the mug as jealousy roared inside her.

‘Just consider again that you two were a perfect match when I set you up,’ Nina said softly. ‘He met your requirements, and you met his. I asked him the same questions I asked you.’

About likes and dislikes, looks, personality, physical traits…And other ‘wishes’.

The lion inside Erin went quiet.

‘Once clients give us their specifications, they rarely change them.’

And he’d been in that database first.

Nina smirked. ‘I do have to admit that, watching you two, I’ve found Luxxor’s foray into matchmaking quite rewarding.’

Erin let an eyebrow lift. ‘Not as rewarding as me.’

‘Oh, really.’ Nina’s eyes danced. ‘Things are going that well?’

‘He gave me his key.’

‘He did what?’

Erin laughed aloud. She’d wondered what it would take to shake up Nina’s cool composure. The woman was a rock. The only other thing that seemed to put her off the game was a big handsome detective.

Erin let her mentor off the hook. ‘He’s letting me redecorate his row house.’

‘Oh.’ Nina relaxed again. ‘That’s intimate, too. He’s letting you into his space.’

Erin was aware. A person’s home meant something to them. It was a safe harbour, a place to regroup and lower barriers. A place to be one’s true self.

Colton acted as if it wasn’t a big deal, but it was a big deal to her.

In fact, she already had some ideas that excited her. She’d spent the whole weekend with him inside that personal space. Their time together had felt secret and privileged. And sexy. He’d had to work on his case, but she’d been fascinated to see that side of him. When he’d focused on his notes, he’d zoned out even her. She’d been able to watch the way his mind worked, which was a surprising turn-on, yet she’d been content to sit in the same room with him with her sketch pad and art pencils.

When that man finished working, though, he was able to switch focus fast.

‘We seem to be…compatible.’

Nina flicked her earring again. ‘After that call, I assumed he was ready to take things to another level.’

Another level. Yes, that was a good way to put it. Erin felt her blush coming on again.

Sex with Colton was opening a whole new world to her…physically, mentally and emotionally. She’d reached heights she’d never imagined, and he reacted to her touch like parched soil to water. She was learning so many things about herself. About sex, about heat, about pleasure and arousal and need.

Nina turned in her seat and leaned closer. ‘So the concerns we discussed in a prior session haven’t arisen?’

Her concerns about not being enough for an experienced man? It didn’t matter when he was a good teacher. Erin took a gulp of her hot chocolate to give herself an excuse for overheating, but scrunched her nose when she found the drink had cooled.

She stared into its depths anyway. ‘We get along great. He’s easy to talk to. He’s smiling more, and I think I might be good at keeping him from diving too deeply into his work. The sex is phenomenal…’

‘I hear a “but”.’

‘But he wants to keep our new relationship secret. I don’t understand. It’s so good. It makes me so happy I want to yell it from the top of the Washington Monument, but the only other people who know are you, Sienna and Jason.’

Nina fingered the ends of her ash-blonde hair. ‘When Sienna helped us pair you two up, she mentioned that Colton is a friend of your older brother.’

‘Dustin. They’re best friends.’

The older woman raised an eyebrow. ‘There’s a reason men won’t often date their best friends’ little sisters.’

But it wasn’t just Dustin who had told him to keep his hands off. Her parents had been involved, too.

Nina smiled a knowing smile. ‘You’re off-limits, Erin.’

She knew that. The message had come in loud and clear – and only about eight years too late.

But Colton had come after her anyway.

And how sexy was that? She was forbidden fruit. Taboo. A big no-no.

Pretty hot for a ‘boring’ girl.

‘Would keeping your relationship private really be that bad?’ Nina asked. ‘It would give you two time to learn about each other in your new roles as lovers.’

Lovers. Erin bit her tongue. She and Colton were lovers now. It was so grown-up. So sexual. They’d done things to each other and with each other. ‘I told him I’d do it, that I’d see him on the sly.’

‘What’s the alternative?’

None. She wasn’t going back to where they’d been.

Erin began to warm up to the idea even more. She’d told him it could be hot. Secret meetings, lunchtime quickies, clandestine hookups…

She was so down with that.

Nina smiled and settled her hand over Erin’s knee. ‘Concentrate on making yourselves happy first. Just remember what I told you – the path you take to get there doesn’t have to be the one everyone else expects. If it’s hot and sexy, all the better.’

Chapter Eleven

‘Come in,’ Colton said when a knock came at his door. He was in his office in downtown DC with his head deep in the case. So far, proceedings were going well, but he couldn’t let them draw on for too long. His client deserved swift justice, and he sensed he had the jury leaning in their direction. As they should. This was one of the more blatant cases that he’d seen of sexual discrimination in the workplace.

‘Are you busy?’

He looked up in surprise when, instead of hearing the male voice of his assistant, he heard Erin. ‘Not too busy for you.’

She closed the door behind her – and locked it.

He put his pen down slowly.

‘Your assistant seems to be at lunch, so I snuck in.’ She wiggled her eyebrows and lifted a brown bag with the Apple Tree Grille’s logo stamped on the side. ‘I brought you a quick lunch.’

He looked at his watch and was surprised that it was, in fact, the lunch hour. He’d been so immersed in what he was doing, he hadn’t noticed time passing by.

He rose and smoothed his tie. ‘Now that you mention it, I am hungry.’

His gaze swept over her. She was bundled up in a dark coat that went all the way past her knees. There’d been more snow overnight. From his bed, they’d watched it fall together. Winter was arriving, but she looked ready for the frozen tundra with a scarf tucked around her neck, and leather boots.

She put the lunch on his desk.

‘How hungry?’ she asked as she took off her gloves and unwound the scarf.

His brow furrowed. He saw now why she’d needed all the cover. Whatever she was wearing, it was low-cut.

‘Starving,’ he said.

It had only been a few hours since he’d left her to come to work, but desire was a funny thing. He’d gone months without doing the deed. Now, hard-ons were becoming a daily occurrence.

‘That’s good,’ she said as she undid her coat. She shook back her hair, and it glowed against the dark wool.

Colton inhaled slowly. The cold air outside had put pink in her cheeks. He loved when she looked like this: All-American, wholesome and sexy.

She opened her coat and –

Bam!

His eyes almost popped out of his head. She was stark naked, except for the boots. All smooth, flowing skin, tempting curves and leather. Sweet mercy, where had she got those things? They came all the way up to her thighs and drew his attention straight to the tender, bare flesh between them.

‘Oops, did I say a quick lunch?’ Wickedness was in her eyes as she reached up to undo his tie. Colton sat down hard on his desk, and she worked her way between his thighs. Some of the cold must have got through, because her nipples were rosy and stiff. ‘I meant a quickie and lunch.’

He folded his hands over her breasts, but shot a look at the door. ‘Erin, what do you think you’re doing?’

‘Sneaking around.’ Her soft palm folded over his crotch. ‘Am I not doing it right?’

He’d asked for this.

He just couldn’t believe he was getting it. Not like this.

His hands tightened on her breasts. ‘I’d say you’ve got it down.’

Picking her up, he strode fast to the sofa at the side of the room. ‘Now it’s my turn.’

She gasped when he dumped her on the cushions. Those leather boots looked spectacular on her. Raunchy and so out of place.

He spread her legs wide.

‘Your turn to do what?’ she asked as she reached for him.

He didn’t give her time to prepare. Hell, he didn’t even take time to strip before he dropped to his knees and dipped his head.

‘Go down.’

‘Ahhh!’ Her hips lifted sharply as his mouth came down on her. ‘Colton!’

She wanted to play naughty? He could do naughty.

He worked her legs open further and gave her one long lick. He felt her trembling and pressed his face more firmly against her. Opening his mouth wide, he began to suck. Quickie? He thought not.

She twisted on his oh-so-professional sofa. It was leather to match her boots.

She’d come here dressed like this? What if someone had seen her? What if her coat had flown up in the wind? What if someone on the Metro had got handy?

Oh, no. If she’d come here looking like this, she’d better be ready for a marathon.

Erin collected her things from the side of the exercise room when her pole-dancing class finished. It had been a fun session today; they were starting to learn new tricks. Perspiration covered her body. She felt worn out, yet energised at the same time. ‘No wonder strippers have the bodies they do,’ she said to a classmate.

‘I know, right?’ the woman said. She lifted her arms overhead and stretched.

Erin took a long drink from her water bottle. The exertion felt good, though. Freeing. She’d never been a boot-camp kind of girl. She preferred floor aerobics, yoga and Pilates, but pole dancing was quickly becoming her favourite. It required exertion, yet had an artistic side that appealed to her.

‘See you next time,’ the pretty Asian girl said.

‘I’ll be here,’ Erin promised.

She looped her bag over her shoulder and joined the rest of the women leaving the class. She took another drink when the procession slowed. There seemed to be some kind of bottleneck at the door. She heard some giggles and a few flirty ‘hello’s. She discovered what the holdup was when she got to the door…

Or more, precisely, who. ‘Colton!’

He nodded to the woman who stopped behind her. The woman grinned and slowly passed them, but her gaze was moving up and down him like a yard rake. A shyer participant dipped her head and scurried by.

Erin pushed back a strand of hair that had slipped from her ponytail. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘You didn’t tell me they had a cardio room up front. Come to find out, you can pay for a one-day pass.’

Erin looked nervously down the hallway towards the front desk. ‘But you shouldn’t be back here.’

‘Why? Class is over. I didn’t peek.’ He stepped closer to her. ‘Even though I wanted to.’

She put a hand on his chest to stop him. He apparently was telling the truth about the workout. His T-shirt was damp, and his hair was spiky with sweat.

Oh, damn.

‘The manager watches guys closely,’ she warned. ‘Well, except the gay ones who take the classes.’

He leaned in.

‘You’re not gay,’ she hissed.

He grinned devilishly. ‘So you noticed.’

Hooking his arm around her waist, he pushed her back into the now empty room. Like a kid in a candy shop, he looked around at the shining silver poles. They were spaced evenly around the room, affixed firmly to the ceiling overhead and sprung hardwood danceflooring beneath. A wall of mirrors made it look like there were twice as many of them. He looped his finger into a purple boa from the accessory shelf and lifted it questioningly.

She snatched it away and put it back. ‘It’s a prop. Only for intermediates and above.’

‘And what are you?’ he asked.

She lifted her chin. She’d just graduated to Vixen level, but she wasn’t going to tell him that. ‘Colton, you’re going to get us in trouble.’

The expression on his face said he hoped so.

Erin looked at him helplessly.

‘Relax,’ he said. ‘Mona likes me.’

‘Mona?’

‘The manager. It seems that she’s received some letters from other shops in the neighbourhood who don’t like her line of business. I told her I’d take a look at them.’

‘You did?’ Erin said in surprise. ‘Why would you do that?’

‘Because you like what you do here – and I wanted to see what you wear to these things.’ He shut the door to the room and flipped the lock. There were no windows for prying eyes to see inside. ‘Totally. Worth. It.’

Erin’s gaze shot down. It wasn’t that risqué, was it?

When he started towards her, it was apparent the skimpy shorties and bralette were enough for him. And maybe the stilettos. They probably had something to do with it, too.

He crossed his arms and caught at his T-shirt. With a tug, he pulled it over his head. He tossed it aside on the floor and reached for her gym bag. Erin’s tired muscles began to tremble.

‘Colton,’ she said weakly. She threw another concerned look at the door. ‘They have more classes in here.’

‘Not until after dinner time.’ He slid his hand under the double straps at her shoulder. The bralette was made of Lycra and Spandex. It hugged her curves tightly, but let her body move without encumbrances.

Erin took a step back and felt herself bump up against a pole. She recognised the look in his eyes. ‘We shouldn’t,’ she whispered.

His grin was that of the courtroom shark. ‘Isn’t that my line?’

He leaned closer to nuzzle against her temple. ‘I want to take you on your territory. Rattle up your world like you rattled mine. I can hardly think in that office any more. I might have to get a new sofa.’

She arched her neck when his mouth closed over the pulse at her throat. ‘Ohhh, Colt.’

He turned her around and kissed the nape of her neck. Erin grabbed the pole for support. He’d trapped her between it and his big body. His chest felt hot against her back, and the pole pressed hard between her breasts. Her nipples pinched, but not as much as her pussy. It was riding right against the hard steel, too.

‘You’re showing a lot of skin,’ he said.

His hands stroked down her sides, fingers wide. The instructor had left the music on, and Bruno Mars’ ‘Gorilla’ came on. The sexy, dirty lyrics rolled over her.

She lifted her hand overhead and caught the metal shaft more tightly. ‘I need to. For the pole work.’

She moaned when he rubbed his erection against her butt. It slid right along the crease between her cheeks, making the Lycra material stretch.

His breath hit her ear hard as he worked the Lycra over her hips. It was stubborn, but he finally got it down to her thighs. When he rose again, his cock was freed and at the ready. It was a tight fit, but soon the head of it was bumping against her opening.

‘I’ve got some pole work for you right here,’ he said with a hard thrust.

Erin cried out, the sound blending with the music that swarmed her senses. She didn’t need foreplay, the class had made her hot and pliant. She rolled her head against the pole and dared a peek at how they looked in the floor-to-ceiling mirrors.

Beautiful. Erotic and passionate.

He was driving straight up into her, filling her and making her melt. They looked so provocative together, him so dark and tall, her so blonde and petite. With the shiny platform heels she wore, they came together just right.

She closed her eyes and gave in.

Perfect.

‘I’ve got an hour, max, before court reconvenes,’ Colton said as he pulled Erin into the rented room with him.

The case was winding down, and it was getting to be crunch time. In more ways than one. He carefully adjusted himself in his pants. This time was truly going to have to be a wham, bam, thank you ma’am kind of encounter.

Yet she looked as excited as he was.

He couldn’t believe he’d brought her here to the motel half a block from the courthouse. He could afford the nicest five-star hotels in town, but this one seemed better suited to their needs. It rented by the hour – and she’d asked him to take her here.

The pretty Georgetown heiress was slumming.

He watched as she looked around the tiny room with its dingy colours and 70s furniture. She turned up her nose at a gaudy picture of a flower on the wall, but then her eyes widened when she realised what it looked like. Her hand ran down her neck, but she didn’t look away.

He couldn’t believe how hot she got over these secret trysts. She was still tentative, but she liked exploring the more ragged edges of her sexual nature. He was more than happy to help her.

She turned when she heard the zipper of his pants.

‘I missed you last night,’ she said as she started stripping. She wore a fitted suit, but without a blouse underneath. Somehow it made him as hard as those thigh-high boots they’d hidden in the back of his bedroom closet.

‘I missed you, too,’ he said, ‘but last night shows why we need to be careful.’

She’d forgotten about a planned evening with her parents. They’d invited her to attend the Nutcracker ballet at the Kennedy Center and visit the National Christmas Tree, yet she’d completely forgotten until her father had called to tell her he was on the way to pick her up. They’d had to scramble to get her back to her apartment in time.

She’d ended up spending the night in Georgetown, which hadn’t made Colton happy. They’d had to content themselves with whispered pillow talk via cellphone. Thinking of her lying in her childhood bedroom with her parents only a few yards down the hall had been hot, yet twisted at the same time. It had played with his head, but he’d missed having her by his side.

‘I don’t want to be careful,’ she pouted.

She peeled off the suit jacket and wiggled out of her skirt. He caught her in a hot kiss as he pushed down his pants. He tugged her towards the bed, but she resisted.

Instead, she dropped to her knees before him, and recklessness flowed through Colton’s veins. She really was through being careful. But was this what she wanted?

He caught her chin and lifted it until he could see her eyes. ‘Are you sure?’

She wrapped her fingers around him, and the muscles at the base of his spine squeezed. Despite having been outside in the cold, her hands were still warm. Warm and feminine and delicate. Seeing her holding his cock, her fingernails painted dusty pink, was just about the most erotic thing ever.

‘I’m positive.’ The look on her face was feminine and seductive.

She pumped her fist up and then slowly down his length. His eyelids became heavy, and his hands opened and closed at his sides. Damn, but she knew how to touch him.

‘You like it, don’t you?’ he said, his voice husky.

She looked at his cock, her expression curious and admiring. ‘I like it a lot.’

He gave her a twisted smile, and his hand settled on her head. If she looked at him like that much longer, he’d make it back to the courtroom early. ‘I meant the sneaking around. Pretending you’re a ghost.’ He frowned. ‘Almost getting caught.’

She cupped the weight of his balls in her other hand, and he had to grit his back teeth. She wasn’t the only one who liked the rush.

‘It turns me on,’ she admitted.

She ran her finger along the underside of his erection. He grunted and went up on his toes. The head of his cock bumped against her lips, and she timidly opened her mouth.

‘Oh, baby,’ he groaned.

She closed her eyes and took him in. His air hissed through his teeth, and his hand fisted tight in her hair. It had to be pulling at the roots, but she let out a hum of arousal. Her mouth felt like heaven to him, even better than her hand. It was warped and depraved of him to be doing this with her, but his feet rooted to the floor. It would take a natural disaster to stop him.

She licked him and gave a suck. ‘Like that?’ she asked.

‘Just like –’ Holy crap. He cupped her face, his cock resting against her lips. ‘Have you not done this before?’

Doubt clouded her eyes. ‘Only twice.’

His brow furrowed so hard it gave him a headache, yet his cock bumped again against her pink mouth. It knew where it wanted to go.

What else hadn’t she done before?

‘Teach me?’ she asked.

He stroked his hand over her hair, soothing the tiny hurt. But then he cupped it around the back of her head and pulled her towards him again. Firmly and without debate. She let out a moan when he went deeper this time, nearly hitting the back of her throat.

‘Just like that, Sunny.’ His groan sounded loud against the paper thin walls. She wouldn’t need much tutelage. ‘You’re a natural.’

The cork of the champagne bottle popped loudly and foam rose over the lip. It spilled down the side of the bottle, and Jason hurriedly held it over the ice bucket to catch the dribbles.

‘Hurray!’ Erin cheered, along with everyone else in the room. All three of them.

‘Congratulations, Colton,’ Sienna said with a broad smile on her face.

Erin went up on her toes and kissed his cheek. He’d won his case today, and she was so proud. She’d attended to watch his closing statements. She was a friend, and this was a big, well-publicised case for him. Why wouldn’t she be there?

Because she hadn’t been thinking of him as a friend when he’d been standing so tall in front of the jury. He’d been so eye-drawing, so powerful and so eloquent, she’d been in awe. She’d known he was sharp, but he was commanding in his element. She’d been aroused by his power, and more than one woman had cast interested looks in his direction.

But she was the one dating him.

Albeit on the lowdown.

That’s why she was so happy to have friends over tonight to celebrate.

Jason poured a glass of the champagne and passed it to Sienna. ‘We’re celebrating a minor victory, too.’

‘What’s that?’ Colton asked.

Sienna tucked her hair behind her ear. ‘My parents are downsizing. They put their house on the market today.’

Erin frowned. ‘Oh, I always loved that house. With the exposed wooden rafters and the big semi-circle skylight? And that amazing master bathroom. And the side garden and patio in back. You can’t find that in Georgetown. Why are they giving it up?’

Sienna looked at Jason, and he hooked an arm around her waist.

‘It was getting to be a bit much for them. I’ve got a moving company coming this weekend to help them pack.’

‘Where are they going?’

‘Into a condo.’

‘Are they happy about it?’ Erin asked.

Sienna didn’t nod or shake her head. ‘They know it’s best.’

‘Well, good for them.’ Colton lifted his glass, and they clinked them all together before drinking. ‘We’re all moving on.’

Jason gave him a pat on the back. ‘Good job on that trial, man. You did some good work there. I don’t like it when people get treated that way, especially for bonehead reasons.’

Colton grinned. ‘That sounds about right, coming from an enforcer.’

‘Welcome to the club. You should be able to write your own ticket now, and take on the cases you want.’

‘Speaking of cases…’

‘Yeah, yeah. We don’t need to talk about that here.’ The assault charges hadn’t been dropped yet, and they were still hanging over Jason’s head. He pulled out a chair for Sienna. ‘Let’s eat.’

‘Yes, dig in.’ Erin looked happily at the table set before them. She and Sienna had made lasagna, and Jason and Colton had helped with the garlic bread and salad.

Colton pulled back her seat for her, and she sat. He was eyeing the lasagna. It had turned out bubbly, golden brown, and crooked on one side. Again.

Erin scowled. She’d done her best.

‘I don’t think your oven is level, Sunny.’

Her mouth dropped open. ‘Is that what the problem is?’

Everyone laughed, and Jason eagerly offered his plate. ‘It all tastes the same.’

Erin beamed. They were having a real dinner date with friends. They didn’t have to hide their relationship. They didn’t have to hole up or slink around, as exhilarating as that could be.

She was happy as a clam.

The meal was easy and, contrary to its looks, the lasagna had turned out well. The four of them talked further about Colton’s case. When he asked how Jason thought the Capitals’ season was going, she wondered if either of the men would ever stop talking. She smiled at Sienna.

‘I’ll go get the dessert,’ her friend offered.

Erin rose to help, but they all turned when there was a knock at the door.

‘Did you invite someone else?’ Sienna asked.

‘No.’ Erin folded her napkin and put it on the table.

‘I’ll check who it is,’ her roommate said.

Jason started to clear the table, but Colton and Erin looked at each other worriedly.

Sienna looked out the peephole and stiffened. She turned on her heel and dropped her voice. ‘It’s your mother.’

‘Shit,’ Colton said.

‘Oh, no.’ Erin looked around quickly. They were trapped. ‘The table. Clear off a place setting.’

Jason looked around in confusion.

Erin settled her hands on Colton’s chest and pushed. ‘Go to my bedroom.’

Jason’s mouth quirked. ‘Well, that’s direct and to the point.’

‘To hide,’ Erin hissed.

Colton shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, Sunny. It shouldn’t be like this for you.’ Yet he turned and made a beeline down the hall.

‘Did you jump out of her bedroom window when she was sixteen, too?’ Jason called after him.

Erin shoved a plate at the big instigator, and he doubled over to avoid taking it in the gut. ‘Be quiet and make yourself useful.’

Sienna waited anxiously at the door as long as she could. Finally, she composed herself and answered. ‘Marilyn, it’s so lovely to see you.’

‘Oh, hello, darling.’ Erin’s mother stepped inside. She looked crisp and stylish, as always. She carried a reusable tote, so she used one hand to untie her scarf. She smiled when she saw Erin. ‘Hi, honey. I hope you don’t mind me popping in.’

Erin gave her a hug. ‘You know I’m always happy to see you.’

She threw a look down the hallway when she heard the soft click of her bedroom door.

Marilyn paused when she saw the plates on the table. Three of them, thank goodness.

‘I’m sorry. Am I interrupting?’

‘We were just finishing,’ Jason said.

Sienna took his arm. ‘Marilyn, I don’t think you’ve met my boyfriend, Jason. Jason, this is Erin’s mother, Marilyn.’

There was something odd about the pair of them, the muscled former athlete facing off with the genteel benefactress.

‘I haven’t had the pleasure, but I’ve definitely heard about you,’ Marilyn said, a smile spreading on her face. She offered her hand, still clad in a starched white glove. ‘Amelia has told me all about you, and my son showed me that punch on the Youp Toup.’

She emphasised the words with a jaunty thrust of her hand in the air.

Jason fought not to laugh. ‘I can see the resemblance between you and your daughter.’

Erin rolled her eyes. ‘Jason taught me how to shoot a hockey puck after…well, after Marty.’

Marilyn stood up straighter. ‘Then I have even more to admire you for, young man.’

‘Can I get you something to drink?’ Sienna asked. ‘Would you like a piece of pie? Erin made it.’

Her mother walked deeper into the apartment, and Erin looked worriedly at the wall that separated the living room from her bedroom. Of all places, her mom couldn’t find Colton there.

‘I’m fine,’ Marilyn said, ‘but thank you. I just dropped by to bring you those Christmas ornaments we spoke about, the ones you painted when you were little.’

She glanced around the apartment, but didn’t see a tree.

Erin bit her lip. In her mother’s world, not decorating for the season qualified as a federal offence, but neither she nor Sienna had been around enough to put one up. ‘That’s sweet, Mom. Thank you.’

‘Can I take your coat?’ Jason offered.

‘I won’t be here long.’ Marilyn wandered over to sit on the sofa against the wall. She shrugged off her coat and put her bag on the coffee table. Erin sat beside her and hoped that Colton would keep quiet. This apartment was better than their last one when it came to the thickness of the walls, but it wasn’t soundproof.

‘Where’s Dad tonight?’ she asked. If he was out parking the car…

‘At his Masons’ meeting. I have a driver waiting out front.’

Marilyn reached into her bag and pulled out a box. ‘Oh, look at that, I forgot I put Colton’s in here, too.’

She pulled out a second box and brushed off some dust.

‘A family friend,’ she explained for Jason’s benefit. She smiled mistily at the group of them. ‘He spent a few Christmases with us when he was younger, and we gave him some ornaments to make sure he felt included.’

Erin opened and squeezed her toes. He was listening right on the other side of the wall. She doubted he wanted to hear some of the more private moments of his personal history shared with others like this.

‘Sienna, I wasn’t sure if you’d be here, but I brought something for you, too.’ Marilyn reached back into her bag of tricks and pulled out a hardbound book.

‘I…You did?’ Sienna said.

‘It’s one of Erin’s high-school yearbooks. Colton mentioned you couldn’t find yours.’

Jason perked up and patted his hand loudly on the wall next to him – the one with Colton on the other side. ‘That’s great. Thank you.’

He took the album with Sienna watching in stupefaction. He caught her hand and drew her over to the plush chair in the corner of the room. ‘She’s been searching for it everywhere. It’s been driving her crazy.’

Sienna perched cautiously on the arm of the chair. Her eyes narrowed as Jason opened the book and began flipping through the pages. ‘Yes, crazy,’ she agreed.

He stopped on a page and nodded slowly. ‘Oh, yeah. That’s what I’m talking about.’

Sienna looked over his shoulder and then rolled her eyes. ‘See? I told you I was on the dance squad.’

She smiled politely at Marilyn. ‘Thank you. I’ll make sure we return it soon.’

‘Not too soon,’ Jason muttered.

She put a hand on his shoulder.

‘It’s Erin’s, really,’ Marilyn said.

‘Thank you for bringing it.’ Erin kissed her mother on the cheek. ‘Thank you for everything.’

‘You’re welcome, dear.’ Her mother looked at her watch. ‘I have a few more errands to run, but I just might have time to go by Colton’s place.’

‘Well, yes, but –’ Erin shut her trap. He wouldn’t be there, but how was she supposed to know that?

Jason looked up from the pictures he was engrossed in. ‘You should watch the weather,’ he warned. ‘The weather guy said it’s getting slick out there.’

‘I’ll be careful.’ Marilyn leaned her head closer to Erin’s. ‘If I could just use your facilities before I go?’

Erin pulled in her feet to let her mother pass. She took a peek inside the box at the ornaments. They brought back so many memories. Maybe Colton would let her put up a tree at his place.

A familiar squeak from down the hallway made Erin’s spine suddenly jerk upright. ‘Mom?’

She bounded off the couch and whirled around the corner. She found her mother standing with her bedroom door half open. ‘Mom!’

Marilyn hesitated and pulled back. ‘Yes, honey?’

When she and Sienna had moved in, they’d agreed that Erin should have the bedroom with the master bath since she would be spending the most time here. Although that wasn’t the case any more.

Erin hurried down the hall. ‘Use this one,’ she said, opening the door to the half-bath. ‘It’s clean.’

Her mother tsked in disapproval, but slipped into the smaller room.

Erin dived for her bedroom door. She poked her head inside to see Colton. He whirled his hand at her, so she pulled out fast and yanked the door shut behind her. She waited outside it with her arms crossed until her mother made a reappearance.

Marilyn wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and Erin hoped she couldn’t feel her pulse rushing like a racehorse.

‘I know you’ve been busy with all your classes and your job search. Would it help if your father and I paid for a cleaning service?’

Erin shook her head, but kept walking down the hallway, away from her bedroom. Away from Colton. ‘I’ll do better.’

Her mother squeezed her. ‘I think you’re doing great.’

Erin swallowed past a tiny lump in her throat. ‘Thanks, Mom.’

They returned to the living room and Marilyn picked up her things. Jason helped her with her coat, and Sienna passed along her scarf.

‘It was lovely to see you,’ her friend said.

‘Always a pleasure,’ Erin’s mother agreed. She tucked her environmentally conscious bag in the crook of her arm and looked at the three of them. ‘It’s so nice to see you all together like this.’

All together, except for Colton. Erin’s heart ached a little for him in the other room. She hadn’t meant to make him an outsider again. He shouldn’t have to hide.

Her mother dropped a kiss on her cheek. ‘Have a good night. I’m off to find your brother’s co-conspirator.’

Erin winced. It would be a fruitless trek. ‘Good night, Mom.’

The door of the apartment clicked, and Erin looked at Jason and Sienna. For once, neither of them had anything to say. Jason hooked his arm around Sienna’s waist and drew her closer. Turning, Erin went back down the hallway.

She opened the door to her bedroom and found Colton sitting on the end of her bed. He had his elbows on his knees and his fingers intertwined around the nape of his neck. She could practically read his thoughts from where she stood. Before he could start saying them aloud, she walked to him.

He didn’t lift his head until he saw the tips of her shoes. When he did, it was only to wrap his arms around her and lean his forehead against her chest.

Erin sighed and slid her fingers into his hair. ‘Sneaking around isn’t as fun tonight.’

‘No,’ he agreed. ‘It isn’t.’

Chapter Twelve

‘Is Colton all right after last night?’ Sienna asked. ‘He seemed awfully quiet after your mom left.’

After he’d been allowed to stop hiding? Erin rested her forehead against the window in Sienna’s office, and her breaths fogged up the pane of glass. ‘He feels bad about lying to her – and breaking his promise.’

Sienna swivelled in her chair. ‘Wait. He didn’t try to break up with you?’

‘No, but he’s thinking again. When he goes too deep into his head, he gets all twisted up.’ And she hated that he felt guilty about the two of them. What they had was special, and they were adults. They could do what they wanted to do together.

‘Erin, he’s always been a standup guy. It’s part of what you like about him.’

‘I know.’

Sienna toyed with her braid. ‘And, looking back, that promise he made explains a lot of things.’

Like why he’d run hot and cold? She could take a hint, but there had always been a glimmer of hope for them. He’d never totally been able to shut her out. ‘But it was so long ago.’

‘That doesn’t matter to him. He has morals and pride.’

And he was bending both to be with her.

Erin turned away from the window and rested against the wall. Sienna’s office was on the opposite end from Nina’s. It was smaller, but its colour scheme matched the rest of Luxxor’s suite. The forest greens and greys conveyed safety, stability and restfulness. As soothing as it tried to be, though, it wasn’t working.

She’d never promised to stay away from Luxxor, but Colton didn’t like her associating with them. She had to sneak around to be with him, and she had to tiptoe around here. She was tired of living a secret life. She was an outgoing person. The situation was hard on her, too.

She pushed away from the wall. ‘Are you ready to go to lunch?’

‘Just let me send this email.’ Sienna turned back to her computer, and her fingers clicked fast against the keyboard. ‘OK.’

She grabbed her purse and they headed down the short hallway. In the lobby, Rielle was talking with a redhead. The woman said something that made the office manager break up in laughter. She was wiping her eyes when she spotted them. She gave a quick shake of her head, and Erin felt Sienna’s hand on her shoulder.

‘We need to wait a few moments.’

Erin’s forehead furrowed as she followed Sienna back to her office.

‘A client is coming in,’ her roommate explained. ‘We like to give everyone their privacy.’

Aha. She’d often wondered about that. For a swanky office in an upscale neighbourhood, business had always seemed slow. ‘Is that why I’ve never seen anyone else when I’ve visited?’

Other than that big scary detective? He obviously hadn’t received the memo.

‘We schedule appointments so they don’t overlap. It should just be a few moments.’

Erin felt a familiar thrill. So she and Colton weren’t the only ones who met on the sly. She was bitten by the urge to peek out the doorway again. ‘That was a client?’

The woman was so beautiful. Why would she need Luxxor? Was it one of those reverse psychology things where her looks intimidated men?

Sienna traced the winding lines of her braid. ‘Actually…no.’

Erin’s head snapped back. ‘That was an escort?’

The hot thrill inside her chilled into an icy ball. She’d tried not to think of Colton with Luxxor’s special dates, but was that the type of woman he’d been with? The escort was so attractive and vivacious and tall. ‘But she’s funny.’

Rielle had been laughing wholeheartedly, like the woman was a good friend.

Sienna scowled. ‘Our escorts are people, too.’

‘I know, but…’ But she’d never thought of them that way. The men she’d been out with had always been dates in her mind, yet they’d been paid to be charming and nice to her. They had looks and personalities like everyone else. They just had a job that required they go out with strangers – and sometimes they did things with strangers that people normally only did with those closest to them.

Unless the client was a regular. She supposed they got to know each other better then.

Erin pressed her hand to her stomach. She didn’t know which was worse, sleeping with a stranger or the intimacy that came with knowing someone really well. An intimacy based on sex. Sex that was paid for. Colton had been out with Luxxor’s escorts. Had they looked like that? Had the redhead been one of his companions? Suddenly lunch didn’t seem like such a good idea.

‘Why do you work here, Sienna?’

Her friend flinched. ‘What do you mean?’

Erin twisted her foot back and forth. She didn’t want to accuse her friend of anything improper, but not knowing the details was driving her crazy. Nina had been evasive, and Colton had been so vague, it had only made her imagination go to worse places.

‘Colton says that Luxxor makes its money by…special arrangements between its clients and escorts.’ And not the ‘no physical contact’ contract she’d signed.

That would protect her, wouldn’t it? If Detective Morgan switched his attention to Luxxor?

‘I’m not sure what you mean. We do try to tailor our service to each client’s needs.’

‘Sienna,’ Erin hissed. She’d tried to pretend Sienna was in the dark, but her friend was way too smart for that. ‘Is this place a prostitu–’

Erin’s eyes went wide when her friend clamped her hand over her mouth, silencing her.

She pulled back nearly as quickly.

‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have…’ Sienna swept a hand through her hair, mussing up her tidy braid. ‘I don’t want to talk about that, not here.’

Wasn’t this the best place to talk about it? Erin lifted her chin stubbornly. No wonder Sienna had tried to snatch that business card away from her. She knew everything that went on between these walls, stylish as they were.

Did Rielle know, too? She seemed so sweet.

‘You’ve got a degree in Communications. You could work anywhere. Why here?’

‘Because I could work anywhere, but I was waitressing. I wasn’t receiving any offers in my field.’ Sienna wrapped her arms around her waist. There was colour in her cheeks, and her gaze was elusive. ‘I was in a bad spot, Erin, and my parents couldn’t help me out. Nina was the only person who had my back.’

Guilt kicked that hard ball of ice in Erin’s stomach. She’d been so immersed in her failed wedding plans she hadn’t even noticed Sienna was struggling. If it had been money, she could have helped. Worse, she could have just been a better friend. ‘So you think you owe her?’

‘No, I like the work here. The communications work. It’s challenging. They don’t use normal marketing tactics. I need to think outside the box, and –’ Sienna finally looked her in the eye ‘– I just don’t think about what might be happening when our escorts walk out that door.’

Erin glanced towards the hallway. Who was the redhead being paired up with right now? It was lunchtime. Did that mean a lunch date or something more? She remembered how she’d surprised Colton in his office.

Her nails bit into her palms. She couldn’t think of what he might have done with an escort. Or when. Or where. Or how.

‘Why do people turn to Luxxor? I mean, I know why I did, but I didn’t know…’ Oh, she was only making things worse.

Sienna lifted her hands. ‘You weren’t that unusual, except for being my friend. The world has become so disconnected and busy. People are online all the time, but facetime? Some people really do just need a companion on his or her arm.’

‘And the others?’

‘I don’t know, Erin.’ Sienna folded her arms across her waist again. ‘But working here has broadened my mind. I think it has to do with needs or a desire to connect or even the danger of it all.’

The sexual thrill?

Oh, God. She knew it all too well.

The phone on Sienna’s desk rang, and they both jumped. Sienna answered before the harsh jangle could sound again, and the call was short and sweet.

‘We can go now.’

Now that Luxxor’s client and his escort had discretion on their side? Erin’s stomach twisted. How could she judge them? There was no money involved, and it was more than sex, but she and Colton were doing the very same thing. And it made everything feel wrong. Cheapened. They were hiding their new relationship from their friends and family.

Suddenly sneaking around wasn’t much fun for her any more, either.

‘Erin Michelle, I should warm your bottom again,’ Colton said as he stormed into the row house. He tossed his gym bag on a chair and turned to face her. ‘What were you thinking?’

Erin lifted an eyebrow at him as she followed him through the door. Her middle name? Really? She yanked off her gloves. The weather outside had become downright cold. ‘My brother plays on the team too. Why wouldn’t I be there?’

‘You cheered every time I scored a basket.’

‘I cheered for Dustin, too.’ She planted her hands on her hips. ‘In fact, I cheered more for him tonight than you.’

Colton rolled his head as if she’d just added insult to injury. ‘I was distracted. You whistled at me.’

Letting out a huff, Erin moved closer. He was being so irrational. So she’d gone to the game and had watched from the bleachers. Why the big deal?

Maybe she could coax him out of his funk. She cosied up against his arm and ran her fingers over his biceps. ‘I was distracted, too. You were such a jock out there in your shorts and jersey.’

His eyes narrowed. ‘Thank God we weren’t skins tonight. You would have let the cat out of the bag for sure.’

Erin pouted and tore off her coat. ‘I’m your girlfriend, Colt. We’re practically living together. I just want to be like a normal couple.’

‘We almost got caught the other night by your mother.’

‘I know. You don’t want to be seen out with me, but that happened when we were staying in. Why can’t we go do things together? It was just a basketball game.’

It hurt that he didn’t want to be seen with her, even if she knew the reason for it.

‘Erin, Dustin isn’t as oblivious as you think he is. If he picks up on what’s going on, he’ll stroke out. No question.’

She looked up into Colton’s face. His hair was still damp from the shower he’d taken after the game. He smelled clean and male. He was such a good guy, why shouldn’t they be together? ‘I think my mom would have been OK the other night if I hadn’t caught her in time.’

‘You think she would have been OK finding me in your bedroom?’

Erin shrugged one shoulder. OK, maybe not there. ‘You should have seen her talking about you, though. She loves you.’

He shook his head, wordless. Erin knew he’d heard everything.

‘Marilyn is…You don’t know that for sure. Even if she is amenable, we can’t put her in the middle like that.’

Amenable. Erin smiled softly. He was such a lawyer. ‘Can’t we settle on this?’

He glowered at her.

‘I have evidence.’ She ticked off each item on her fingers. ‘You’re handsome and in good health. You respect your elders, and you hold down a steady job.’

‘Erin.’

She cocked her head. ‘Are we having our first fight?’

He stonewalled by taking off his coat and throwing it over the sofa. ‘Don’t think you’ve won – and don’t do something behind my back that we’ll both regret.’

‘Or what?’

His gaze slid down to her hips. ‘Or else.’

The heat they were generating shifted, and awareness came over the room.

‘Would you really spank me again?’

The Christmas tree in the corner cast a sensual light over them both. She’d gone with red to match the new throw pillows she’d bought for the living room. It was a splash of colour amongst the palette of greys and blacks they’d agreed upon, but she hadn’t remembered what the colour meant until now.

Red signified blood and fire. Lust, sexuality, desire and strength.

His eyelids got heavy. ‘I said I’d give it a warming.’

Erin’s body heated, and her muscles loosened. The silence in the row house touched her, and the darkness of the staircase called. Just the possibility of it aroused her…and intimidated her…unnerved her and made her so curious she could hardly stand it.

‘And you were a bad girl again tonight.’

Her skin prickled, and her breaths went short.

And he saw. He always saw.

He waited for a long moment and then, silently, he took her hand. He led her towards his bedroom, and her pulse slowed until she heard the thump, thump, thump in her eardrums.

He hadn’t touched her like that since the first time in the back of the Town Car. She still remembered the spanking he’d given her and how dangerous their lust had seemed.

The climb up the stairs took for ever. The bedroom was lit by the moon reflecting off snow when they entered.

Erin stood immobile as Colton closed the blinds halfway. He pulled his T-shirt over his head, and his chest rose and fell as he drew in deep breaths.

‘Take off your clothes,’ he said, ‘and lie face-down on the bed.’

He pulled the covers out of the way for her. He folded them all the way down to the footboard, leaving only the crisp fitted sheet. It was white, and it brought some light back into the room.

Emphasising to her what was going to happen.

He moved her pillow down, too. ‘Prop up your hips with this.’

Erin’s eyes widened as she stared at the bed. Energy buzzed through her, yet her muscles were becoming more and more lax. Inside her chest, though, everything was tight.

Did she really want to do this? They were getting back into the greyer areas of sex, the ones where she was unsure. The ones where she was totally out of her depth. Could she do it now that she knew what was to come? She remembered the sting of his palm contacting her vulnerable bottom. She remembered the heat and the fervour. Her eyes drifted shut. She remembered the way she’d climaxed when he’d slid his fingers inside her.

Quickly she yanked off her boots and peeled off her jeans. She pulled her long-sleeved Georgetown T-shirt over her head. When she went for her bra, she felt Colton watching her hard.

Self-consciousness nipped at her – and an even tighter kind of arousal. Her hands shook as she took off the rest of her clothes. She took a step towards the bed and felt her knees shake. She hurried the rest of the way. She could feel him watching as she crawled naked across the mattress to position herself where he’d instructed. The pillow felt plumper as it lifted her hips than it had ever felt under her head.

She almost let out a moan.

That scandalous question from the charity event rang in her ears. ‘What’s Erin’s favourite sexual position?’

This one was making her feel things already, and he hadn’t even touched her. The stern palm of his hand hadn’t yet come down, but her bottom was lifted almost lewdly, ready to take it.

‘Spread your legs wider.’

A short sound escaped her. Her thighs clenched, but then opened.

This time, Colt was the one who groaned. ‘Oh, Erin. You’re so pretty this way.’

She rested her head against the mattress, but raised it back up when his voice sounded in her ear.

‘Let’s just put this on.’

Something dangled in her peripheral vision. A blindfold. Fear suddenly pressed back her excitement.

He knelt beside the bed and looked into her face. ‘It’s me, Erin.’

Her Colton. He looked so virile and male. He was watching her with that gleam in his eyes, the one he got whenever he was aroused, but there was concern on his face.

‘I know.’

‘Are you sure you want this?’

No, she wasn’t sure at all. Yet she watched him holding back. Waiting. She licked her lips.

‘Yes,’ she whispered. She’d waited for him for ever.

His Adam’s apple bobbed. ‘Any time it gets to be too much, you just tell me so.’

She trusted him to the ends of the earth. ‘Put it on.’

When he did, her other senses sharpened. She could smell the candle she’d burned over dinner earlier in the night. She felt a nip in the air. She could feel every inch of her exposed skin, but most of all she sensed him.

The mattress dipped as he climbed onboard with her. He came up from the foot of the bed and found his spot between her spread legs. His knees nudged at her inner thighs, opening them wider.

Erin couldn’t help it. Her butt muscles clenched.

She waited for a sharp slap, and her anticipation coiled tighter when it didn’t come. She lifted her hands up to shoulder level and dug her fingers into the sheet.

She jolted when his hands finally fell upon her, but it wasn’t at all what she’d prepared herself for. He’d caught a globe in each hand and was massaging her bottom in deep, heavy strokes.

‘Ohhhhh,’ she groaned.

He used long, sweeping caresses, coming back again and again. His nimble fingers sought out tender spots. There were more than a couple of them, and the feeling wasn’t comfortable.

Until she felt the warmth start to spread.

His hands were slick with ointment, and it had started to heat. The sensation was astounding as it took over her entire backside. She turned her head, but, blindfolded, she couldn’t see him.

‘What is that?’ she asked.

‘Warming body oil.’ His mouth pressed against her ear. ‘And lubricant.’

She liked it.

She dropped her forehead back to the mattress as her world narrowed to only this room, only the feelings starting to gush through her. She liked it a lot.

His fingers spread wide, and her curves filled his palms. He squeezed deliberately, and she bit her lip. It felt so good.

‘Is your bottom warm, baby?’ he asked.

She let out a laugh. ‘You let me think…’

‘I know what you thought.’ He nipped at her earlobe. ‘And believe me, I considered it.’

Her bottom clenched, and he gave her a swift spank.

Desire flooded her, and her leg bent reflexively.

Over and over again, he massaged her, spreading that slow fire. Erin shifted as the sensations intensified, but he pulled her hips right back into place.

‘Colton, I –’

His hands stopped on her tingling skin.

She was so aroused. She wanted him inside her, but it felt bold to ask. He had her blindfolded and she was…she was submitting to him. Was she allowed? ‘I need you.’

‘I know, baby,’ he said roughly.

His hands left her, but they soon came back – this time on her breasts. He slid them underneath her body, and she instinctively lifted herself up, arching her back and bracing her forearms against the mattress.

Her neck craned back even farther when he started plucking at her nipples. She recognised the unnatural heat coming from his fingertips. He’d stopped for more oil.

‘Ahh,’ she gasped.

The heat was brighter as he plucked and played. Her nipples felt huge as they burgeoned under his manipulation. Huge and hot. The sensation shot straight down to her core. The need she’d tried to communicate became voracious.

But he pulled back, returning to that bottle of devil’s dew.

‘How are you doing?’ he asked softly.

Her foot kicked up behind her again, and he chuckled softly.

‘Then you’re going to like this.’

His hand swept between her legs, and behind her blindfold Erin’s eyes suddenly opened. Her head spun, but then righted quickly to home in on exactly what he was doing to her.

His fingers stroked firmly along her already distended pussy lips. The heat came faster now, but it was none the less shocking. He dipped deep into her grooves, but her lungs worked harder as she waited for his final destination.

She knew where he was going to touch her with that stuff.

Moaning, she cupped her breast and squeezed, trying to stop the heat that still lit up her nipple. She couldn’t take that down there.

But she wanted it.

Her hips quivered, but his touch lightened as it approached that tender nub. Became almost air. It circled her clit in barely a tickle, but the moisture of the lubricant was on his fingertip.

All she felt was the fire.

It swept throughout her entire body, and she could no longer lie still. Her body bowed in reaction, and Colt’s mouth came down on her neck, wet and soft. His arm swept around her to regain possession of her breast, and he kept the fire boiling by lubing up her sensitive nipple yet again.

Erin’s knee bent. Her hips rose. Her hands clenched the sheets. He let her move, giving her the option to leave if she wanted, but she stayed. Too much pleasure was slamming through her.

When he thrust into her, he did it slowly and deliberately. She pushed back against him. She wanted him to thrust hard, to bang her and push her over the edge into completion, but her body jerked when she felt fire inside as well as out.

He’d lathered the lubricant all over his cock.

‘Oh, God,’ she cried. ‘How can you stand it?’

‘I can’t,’ he said in harsh breaths.

His thrusts settled into a slow, grinding rhythm. Erin stared into the darkness, but she could picture how the two of them looked. She could see him, so big and muscled, taking her from behind. He felt massive this way, going deep. With her hips lifted on the pillow, she was there for the taking.

And he was taking her.

He was taking everything she had.

When his hand settled on to her bottom again, she let out a moan that just wouldn’t stop.

Yet it jumped into a cry of surprise when he parted her cheeks and with his finger of fire circled the puckered opening hidden there. Erin’s thoughts went haywire. Her body tensed, and he paused at the end of a thrust.

She trembled as he touched her so intimately.

Or was he the one who was shaking?

Before her arousal could work up to fear, before she could ascertain exactly what was happening, before she could beg him for it, his finger penetrated her.

Her body resisted, but then she submitted fully. To everything.

He pushed that hard finger deep into her back door. It was unfamiliar, shocking and so very wicked. He began thrusting his hips again, and Erin felt overwhelmed. Overfilled. Overjoyed.

‘Ah, Sunny,’ he called.

That was it. She felt like the sun was burning from within her.

Her senses were bombarded. The heat. The pressure making her open. The need.

When he worked a second finger into her ass and started scissoring it, she flew straight into the sun. She came with orgasms that hit her one right after another.

Behind her, Colton’s control snapped. He fucked her hard, his hips smacking against her overheated bottom. Erin squeezed her eyes shut as she took him. His cock. His fingers. His come.

He came with a loud shout that gave her almost more pleasure than anything.

When his weight finally slumped onto her, she relaxed into a heap. His breaths came fast against her ear. She covered his hand with hers and locked their fingers together. She could do this for him. More importantly, she was just beginning to understand that she needed it from him. She needed all his rough edges and sharp corners, because they were what made him the man he was.

If this was how it had to be, she’d sneak around with him for ever.

They were both quiet long into the night, but neither of them slept. Erin traced lazy circles around Colton’s elbow. They were lying on their sides, spooned together, with his arm around her waist. His hand lay protectively over her stomach, and his body cocooned hers.

She slid her toe against his shin. The moon had passed and the room was now dark as the back of the blindfold she’d worn, yet she felt no fear. She was safe and satiated, warm and possessed.

Yet one thing niggled at her.

It had been in the back of her mind for weeks, maybe longer. She’d tried to forget it and had tried to make it go away, but it lingered. Like a pebble in her shoe, it bothered her.

‘Colton?’ She said his name softly. If he didn’t answer, she’d never bring it up again.

‘Yes, baby?’

Her touch on him hesitated for a split second, but she sent her finger for another loop around his elbow. It was now or never.

‘Why did you use Luxxor?’

His hand flexed almost imperceptibly against her belly. ‘I used them for the same reason you did. There were times I needed to go to an event, but I didn’t have time to round up a date.’

The words hung there for a moment.

She should just let it go – and she would have if he hadn’t added, ‘Or want to.’

Her curiosity grew. She didn’t like it when she didn’t know things. It might be personal, but she hoped she was now part of his private life. She needed to understand.

‘You told me you didn’t need them for dates. Did you ever hire them for…the other reason? The one that you said makes them the most money?’

He went quiet behind her. He’d told her once not to ask if she didn’t want the answer, but she did. They were together now; it shouldn’t matter. Wouldn’t matter. She refused to let it come between them, but the rock in her shoe wasn’t going away on its own.

‘Yes,’ he finally admitted. ‘Twice.’

She’d known it would hurt, but she hadn’t been prepared for how much. The pain was deep down under her breastbone. Instead of pulling away, though, she cupped her hand around his elbow. ‘Why?’ she breathed. ‘I know you’ve had girlfriends. I know you were even serious about that Vanessa girl.’

The assistant DA whom she’d utterly despised. The woman was ruthless in the courtroom, and she’d been the same way outside it. She’d trolled the upper society events where Erin had always been a member. From the brunette’s words and actions, Erin knew she was the better person, but the lawyer’s accomplishments and stylish poise had intimidated her.

And made her jealous.

She’d spent years trying to tempt Colton, but that was the kind of woman he went for?

‘Vanessa was serious about me,’ Colton said, ‘but she wasn’t what I needed.’

Erin rubbed her toe against his shin again, very aware of them together on the bed. She was even more aware of what they’d just done upon it. When he said need…‘Did Luxxor’s escorts provide that?’

‘They tried.’

Erin went quiet. She felt like she was standing on the edge of a bottomless chasm.

He let out a low curse. ‘I was trying to scratch an itch, Sunny, but nobody could quite reach it.’

She bit her lip, but couldn’t hold back the words. ‘What itch?’

He shifted away, and a click came from the lamp on the nightstand. He rolled her on to her back, and the lightbulb was too bright. Erin didn’t want him looking at her face right now. Everything suddenly felt too raw.

‘I told Nina exactly what I wanted,’ he said. ‘The women had to be tiny, blonde and sassy.’

Erin felt her eyes go big. She swallowed hard. ‘Your “wish list”?’

He was propped up on his elbow beside her, but with the light at his back, his face was hidden in shadow. His voice seemed just as far off. ‘This all happened after you accepted Marty’s proposal.’

‘Oh,’ she said in a tiny voice.

Oh!

‘Just what the hell was up with that year-and-a-half-long engagement, anyway?’ he blurted. ‘Were you going for a Guinness World Record, or what?’

Erin’s brain was turning fast. ‘I…I think we both were subconsciously reconsidering.’

Marty had kept pushing the date back, and she’d kept adding more details to the ceremony and the reception. She’d choreographed their first dance and had designed all the invitations and save-the-date cards. She’d gone overboard, and she’d talked about her plans non-stop to her mother, Sienna and anyone else who would listen. Had Colton been within hearing range?

‘Did it work?’ she asked. ‘The escorts?’

‘It didn’t come close.’ He passed his hand through his hair, and his chest expanded as he took a deep breath. ‘I felt unclean afterwards. Both times. I couldn’t stand myself.’

She didn’t know what to say. All she could see was him with other women who looked like her.

His hand shook as he cupped her face. He looked more miserable than she felt. ‘I used protection, and, like I told you, I got tested. I would never put you in danger like that.’

‘I know.’

‘Fuck,’ he breathed as he rolled on to his back. He stared up at the ceiling, and she rolled towards him. ‘I’ve come a long way, Erin, but in a lot of ways I’m still that same screwed-up stray your brother brought home with him.’

‘I don’t see that.’

She’d never seen that.

‘I hide it well.’

He didn’t hide things, he kept them buried.

She snuggled closer to him. He tried to shift away, but she followed. ‘I’ve never seen anyone work as hard as you do, Colton, and you’ve risen up so far from where you started. You’re well respected in your field, you’re nice to my parents and you have friends who like to throw hard orange balls at you.’

That made him laugh, but the sound was short.

She bit her lip. ‘I worry that you’re out of my league.’

His head snapped towards her. ‘You do not. I’m the one who’s not good enough for you.’

Her pulse began to pound in her ears. He had things so backwards. ‘Don’t mistake privilege for superiority,’ she said softly.

She knew the truth. She’d been lucky by birth. ‘I didn’t work hard. I’ve had things handed to me my whole life. I’ve never had to struggle for money or attention or love.’ She took a deep breath. ‘I’m nice and I try to help others, but most people just think I’m a spoiled princess.’

‘Erin, you can’t control the life or family you’re born into. It’s what you do with it that counts. You’ve volunteered for everything as long as I’ve known you. You don’t put on airs, and you’re down-to-earth. You have empathy that others in your situation don’t, and you have no idea how important your efforts are to the people who need them most.’

‘I help serve food others cook or I buy pretty blankets for shelters.’ She poked him in the chest. ‘You just got a woman the respect she deserved in a court of law – and I know about the pro bono cases you’ve taken on.’

‘You’re too hard on yourself,’ he growled.

She laid her head on his shoulder. ‘So are you.’

‘I don’t deserve you.’

‘Yes, you do.’

She loved him just the way he was. It didn’t matter what anyone else thought, including him.

Chapter Thirteen

Christmas came upon them much too quickly, and it was uncomfortable. Colton sat in the elegant front room of the Fosters’ house with the family laughing and chatting all around him. The room was one they used only for entertaining and special occasions, and to Marilyn Christmas was the most special occasion there was. She was eager to exchange gifts.

He adjusted his tie and finally loosened it. Even though the tradition was for family only, it was still a dress-up affair. He’d tried to decline the invitation, but Marilyn had got her hooks into him for Thanksgiving. She’d let him know how much she wanted him here for Christmas, and he hadn’t been able to refuse.

So here he sat, ready to open presents. He couldn’t believe he was sitting amongst them, eating their food and drinking their eggnog.

He’d already taken a gift he shouldn’t.

‘Harmon, would you turn on the tree lights?’ Marilyn asked.

The woman took the holidays to another level. One tree graced this room and another sat in the more casual great room in back. The showpiece before him was done all in gold, from the ornaments to the tree skirt to the star on top. A fresh Douglas fir garland wound up the staircase banister, and there were too many poinsettias to count. Here, the lights were all white and Santa was the more upscale St Nicholas.

The house looked like something out of a storybook, and, in fact, it was. One of those style magazines had come by to do a photo spread on the notable home a few weeks ago. Erin had helped Marilyn get ready for the visit, and her mother had been so proud.

‘Colton, would you like to start?’ she asked.

It had been a long time since Colt had felt out of place in this house, but today he felt like he had the first time he’d walked in the door.

‘Sure,’ he said, trying to work up enthusiasm. He accepted a stiff envelope with his name written in calligraphy on the front. Even the cards around here were elaborate. ‘Thank you.’

Harmon leaned forward in his chair at the head of the room, the one by the tree. ‘Well, open it first.’

From out of nowhere, a memory hit Colt – one of the rare good ones he had from before he’d met the Fosters. He remembered a Christmas with his own family. The three of them had been circled around a tree just like this, only theirs had been artificial with multicoloured lights and lots of tinsel. He hadn’t believed his eyes when he’d opened the box from his old man and had found a set of Matchbox cars. An odd ache pulled at his belly. They were small and inexpensive, but they had been the best present he’d ever received in that house.

‘You need help?’ Dustin said dryly.

Colton shot him a look, but picked up the pace. He worked his finger underneath the flap of the envelope and opened it. The tiny slip of paper inside was worth a lot more than a basketball. ‘A ticket to the NHL All-Star game?’

Harmon clapped his hands and rubbed them with glee. ‘Box seats. Dustin, you and I are going to fly down to Philly in the company jet and have a good old boys’ night out.’

Colton winced. Erin’s brother and her old man. Kill him now. ‘How did you get seats this late?’

The influential lobbyist sat back in his chair and crossed his legs. ‘It’s all who you know in this world, my boy.’

Wasn’t that the truth?

‘Thank you, Harmon. This is…great.’

Erin leaned closer to see the ticket, and Colton stiffened. Somehow they’d ended up seated together on the sofa, but he’d made sure there was a full seat cushion separating them. It would be too easy to let habit overcome him. He didn’t want to rouse any suspicions by accidentally playing with her hair or rubbing her neck.

‘Speaking of hockey…Erin, when are you going to bring Sienna’s new guy around?’ Dustin asked. He looked out of place in the frou-frou wing chair by the window. ‘The Sloan Gunman was my favourite player. Colt’s, too.’

Erin gave Colt a playful nudge that put him even more on edge. ‘You were a fan of Jason’s?’ she teased.

Was she trying to get them caught?

‘Wasn’t everybody?’ he said.

Her face fell, and she glanced at her brother. ‘I’ll see what I can do.’

‘Wait,’ Harmon said abruptly. He leaned forward in his chair again, and Colt stiffened. ‘The Blakely girl is dating Jason Sloan? Isn’t he a big defence contractor now?’

Marilyn shook her head. ‘Where have you been, dear? Even I’ve met the man.’

‘You have? How did I miss out?’

Marilyn smiled at her husband fondly. ‘It was at Erin and Sienna’s apartment. He’s quite hunky, if you ask me.’

The old man ran his hand over his silver hair. ‘Well, I don’t keep up on all that lovey-dovey stuff. How am I supposed to know who’s dating who?’

Colton cringed.

‘It’s been all over the TV, Daddy,’ Erin teased. ‘Everyone knows.’

Did they know? Could they see? Colton shifted in his seat. The underused sofa felt stiff and prickly. He swore that at least Dustin and Marilyn were shooting him questioning looks.

He rose to his feet. ‘Marilyn, your drink is running low. Let me get you another.’

He headed for the wet bar like it was an oasis. Keeping his head down, he concentrated on making the mimosa. What was wrong with him? He worked in front of juries that watched him like hawks. His actions and reactions were analysed by people searching for the truth, yet it was here at a friendly family function that he felt the most stress. He made himself a screwdriver while he was at it. He needed something stronger than champagne.

When he returned to their small group, he perched on the arm of Marilyn’s chair. She patted his leg and watched as Harmon opened a present from her.

Colton tried not to look at Erin, but that was next to impossible. She watched him with the tiniest hint of a line burrowing into her forehead. There were questions in her eyes, and a tinge of hurt.

‘Dustin, open your present next,’ Marilyn requested. As always, she was directing their day. She probably had festivities scheduled down to the minute.

Colton gave another tug on his collar. He knew he was acting strangely, but he couldn’t help it. He and Erin were lying. It might have been his idea, but it had been wrong. If her family knew about the things he did to their sweet girl…

And the things she did to him in return?

He took a long draw on his drink and felt the alcohol kick. It had been long on the vodka and short on the orange juice.

Erin frowned at him. She looked polished and seasonal in a red-hot dress that skimmed her figure. The straight neckline showed no skin, but the long chains of her necklace draped across the swell of her breasts. His gaze got stuck. God, he wanted her even now.

Even when his gut was churning, and guilt was sitting on him like a two-ton elephant.

‘Colt, this one is from me,’ she said, offering a hesitant smile.

He took the brightly wrapped present and found the one he’d bought for her under the tree. They’d made a pact to buy strictly platonic gifts to exchange here, but he held his breath as he tore open the wrapping.

She worked faster. Erin had always loved Christmas. ‘Art pencils,’ she said with delight. ‘I need these.’

He knew. He’d seen the nubs she’d been trying to work with as she’d sketched ideas for the remodel of his home.

‘Thank you.’ This time her smile was filled with such warmth, he really felt he’d been hit by sunlight.

He pulled back the ripped paper on the gift in his lap and peeked. His shoulders relaxed. ‘A new gym bag. Thanks, Sunny.’

He’d needed that, too.

‘I saw at your game how ragged the one you have is. This one has compartments and pockets for all your boy things.’

Colt hesitated.

Marilyn blinked, and Dustin laughed outright. ‘Boy things?’

‘Well, I don’t know what they are.’ Erin’s eyes went wide. She looked young and innocent and so damn cute.

‘I hope not!’ her father said with a bark of laughter.

This time everyone joined in, except Colton. God, he felt like the big bad wolf.

‘Boy things.’ Dustin moved over to take the space on the couch beside his sister and spread his legs out to full length. ‘That sounds awfully naughty coming from you.’

She pushed at his shoulder, but the colour in her cheeks was starting to match her dress. ‘You guys!’

That only made everyone laugh harder.

The mood in the room was happy, familial and loving – and it only made Colton feel worse.

Dustin was still teasing Erin in the kitchen half an hour later when Colton followed Harmon to the billiards room for a game.

‘So, speaking of boy things,’ her brother said, ‘when are you going to start dating again, Sunny?’

Colton stopped in his tracks, fast enough that the garland on the staircase next to him fluttered. Harmon continued on, ignorant to the fact that he’d lost his opponent. Colton knew he shouldn’t listen in, but he couldn’t help it.

It was getting to be a theme with him.

‘Dusty!’ Erin’s laughter left, and her voice turned hesitant. ‘It’s only been three months.’

Three months since her engagement had ended? Could that be right? Colton did the math in his head. On the one hand, it was longer than he’d thought. On the other, had it really been that recent since she’d been sleeping in another man’s bed and wearing his ring?

The idea of it gnawed at him, and he rolled his neck. This was the price he paid for eavesdropping.

He passed by the open doorway. As much as he tried to be casual, he glanced in. Instead of catching Erin’s eye, he caught Dustin’s. He felt it like a punch, but nodded and kept going.

Behind him, he heard his friend’s voice drop.

‘Because there’s someone on my basketball team who’s interested,’ he said. ‘He’s a really good guy. I think he’d be good for you.’

Whoa. Colton braked again. Was D messing with him or was he serious?

‘You’d be even better for him,’ Dusty finished.

‘I…I don’t think so,’ Erin said, her words stumbling.

Colton tried to remember who on the team had been giving her the eye at the last game. Matthews? Garcia? What the hell did they think they were doing? He was going to have a little talk with his teammates about going after other guys’ girls.

But they didn’t know that he and Erin were an item, did they?

His hand fisted against the doorframe, but he forced himself to turn into the billiards room. Harmon already had everything racked up and was chalking his cue. Christmas had invaded this room, too, but the masculine space had been limited to reds and greens. Colton mechanically took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves.

He couldn’t put up stakes. He couldn’t make any claims on her.

They’d hidden their relationship from the team and coworkers and people at the charities Erin favoured. They’d hidden what was going on, because she was supposed to be off-limits for him, too.

The man standing right across the pool table from him had said so.

Harmon soundly kicked his ass that game, and Colton begged off another. He said his goodbyes to a pouting Marilyn and a concerned-looking Erin. He kissed her chastely on the cheek, but felt her nails bite into his wrist.

‘Merry Christmas, Erin,’ he said as he backed out on to the doorstep.

They’d driven separately – another attempt at concealment. She could find her way home.

Or to her apartment, whichever she considered her home now.

‘Merry Christmas, Colton,’ she said, her voice wavering.

He went down the steps and didn’t look back.

He got in his car and pointed it towards Dupont Circle, but the autopilot in his head directed him towards downtown Georgetown instead.

‘What are you doing?’ he asked himself.

His breath turned into a cloud of white in the cold interior of his car, yet he didn’t turn around. That blast from the past was still messing with his head.

He was a glutton for punishment today.

Traffic was light and he got there fast. Really, it was only a short jaunt from the Fosters’ historic manor, but it felt like he’d entered another world.

He parked in a spot across the street from the apartment building where he and his parents had lived, and let the engine run. God, it seemed like another life ago. The place still looked as upscale as ever. Even the front entrance had been upgraded and the building now sported a spiffy red door. It fitted in with all the trendy restaurants and boutiques that had sprung up in the neighbourhood. If it hadn’t been for Christmas Day, the place would have been active and vibrant.

Yet all he saw was the dirty snow bank piled up on the edge of the curb.

His father had died years ago, but for a brief moment, he wondered where his mother was these days. Was she even alive? In prison or a bar somewhere?

He sought out the corner shop impulsively and was happy to see the pizzeria had survived. It was only right.

Unconsciously, he ran a hand over his stomach.

He remembered going into that shop one night when things had been going downhill fast. He hadn’t eaten for two days, and he’d been bordering on desperation. He still didn’t know what he’d intended to do that night, but the idea of getting some money and buying a bus ticket out of town had been in his head. That, he remembered clearly. A bus ticket to anywhere.

Anywhere but here.

‘Damn,’ he muttered. The chill got to him, and he turned up the heater.

He would have run, too, if not for the short little pizza guy with the thick moustache. The store owner had him pegged the moment he’d laid eyes on him. Colt didn’t know how. He’d been tall and skinny back then, not all that imposing, but the guy must have seen the look in his eyes.

The pizzeria owner had jerked his thumb towards the rear of the shop. ‘Out back,’ he’d snapped before Colt could work up the nerve or the stupidity to do something he shouldn’t.

‘What?’ he remembered saying. He’d thought the guy was offering to kick his ass.

Only he’d surprised the hell out of him by saying, ‘I just threw out half a pizza from some anorexic college girls. They’d rather starve themselves than eat more than one piece in front of their sorority sisters.’

Even all these years later, Colton’s mouth watered. He’d been starving, too, but he’d been past the point of pride. He’d taken that box out of the dumpster and had sat down right there in the alley to eat cold leftovers from strangers.

At least until that big-mustachioed owner had pulled him into a back booth and shoved a soda in front of him, too.

It had been the break he’d needed.

The other one had come the very next day when he’d met Dustin Foster on a basketball court – and they’d gone round instead.

Colton’s hand twisted around the steering wheel, and he pulled back into traffic. Yeah, he owed the Fosters big time. He owed them practically everything.

But look at how he’d repaid them.

‘I don’t understand,’ Erin said, fighting back a sniffle. ‘Why won’t he fight for me?’

She hadn’t been to Nina’s office for weeks, but today she’d had to schedule a session. The rush of the holiday season was over, and people were buckling down, trying to get through January in DC. Cold winds and ice were making things difficult.

She just couldn’t take it any more. She’d needed to talk to someone. Sienna was spending most of her time at Jason’s, and the two of them had already loaned her their shoulders to cry upon too many times. ‘I hoped the holidays would bring Colt and me together. We spent time with my family. They all know him and accept him.’

‘But would they accept the two of you as a couple?’ Nina asked. She was in a grey sweater dress today, with black tights and suede ankle boots.

‘I don’t know,’ Erin admitted. They’d chased him off once before, and they’d known him just as well then.

She slipped off her own boots and tucked her feet beneath her. She’d spent enough time here now that she felt comfortable and safe. She couldn’t be concerned with ceremony; she was opening her soul.

‘We spent New Year’s on our own, but that seemed to backfire, too.’ They’d watched the Times Square ball drop on TV as they’d curled up together on the couch, but not even the noisemaker she’d tooted had been able to make him smile. ‘He’s been so distant. He goes into his head, and it’s getting harder to pull him out.’

‘And the sex?’

Trust Nina to go there. Erin’s lips pursed. ‘It’s still good.’

Her mentor lifted an eyebrow.

‘It’s almost desperate, only…’ Oh, God. Nina had practically become her sex therapist, but Erin couldn’t say it. In these sessions, she’d kept the details of her and Colton’s bedroom activities private. She loved the things they did together, and she treasured the way he made her feel. Things could get pretty steamy – at least in her limited experience – but the kink wasn’t the problem.

Nina waited patiently.

The room was quiet. The door was closed. Outside, snow fell harder than it had all season.

‘He’ll only take me in the missionary position,’ Erin said softly.

They’d kissed at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, but that wasn’t all they’d done. He’d rolled her on to her back right there on the sofa. There hadn’t been a smile on his face. Instead, his expression had been so serious. He’d taken things slow. His touches had seemed different, almost deferential. It had almost been as if he was touching her for her sake, not his.

That wasn’t what she wanted at all.

Nina ran her finger across her lower lip. ‘The holidays are difficult for some people. It’s a stressful time.’

Erin knew that, but, as much as she loved the time of the year, she’d been hoping for some holiday magic. The snow, the warm feelings, the time with those who meant the most to you…‘I want to be his stress relief.’

Nina smiled a knowing smile. ‘Have you dropped by to “surprise” him recently?’

Erin bit her lip. She might not have shared with the Luxxor exec the where or the how of those encounters, but she had shared her strategy. After all, those secret booty calls had been some of the hottest sex of her life. ‘Sneaking around worked for a while.’

She drew her favourite pillow onto her lap. ‘But he’s too worried about getting caught now, and I’m tired of hiding. It makes it seem like what’s between us isn’t real.’

‘Have you told him how you feel?’

‘Yes.’ She’d tried to show him, too, but she’d ended up on her back beneath him. He hadn’t let her be on top for a while now.

Erin looked into the older woman’s eyes. She needed her experience. Forget convention, she needed her knowledge as a DC madam. Nina knew men. She knew how their minds worked. She’d built a business around meeting their needs inside the bedroom and out of it. ‘What should I do?’

Nina’s ash-blonde hair swayed against her shoulders. ‘I can’t tell you that. You need to make the tough decisions on your own.’

‘What does that mean?’

Nina folded her hands on her knee but kept her gaze steady. ‘I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but you need to step back and think things through.’

‘I have,’ Erin insisted. Thinking was all she’d been doing.

‘We’ve been talking for a while now, and I’ve noticed how you dive into things head first. No worries or hesitation.’ Nina let out a long breath. ‘You let yourself get trapped in an unsuccessful relationship before.’

Erin sat up straight, and her feet went to the floor. ‘My relationship with Colton isn’t unsuccessful. We’re just going through a rough patch.’

‘Don’t you want to have your eyes wide open this time?’

Erin flinched, but then went still. Nina was a straight shooter. Something in her voice resonated, and it made Erin’s insides tremble. ‘What are you saying?’

Nina sighed and smoothed her dress over her thighs. ‘You worry that slinking around is making you feel as if your relationship with Colton isn’t real. What if it truly isn’t?’

Erin’s hands turned white in her lap. She wanted to say no, but what did Nina see?

She had been blindsided the last time.

‘I’m not saying you two aren’t meant for each other. You should keep working at it and keep talking to him, but you need to consider the possibility that you built everything up in your heads. You’ve both wanted each other so badly for so long. You fantasised about what it would be like.’

‘And we were right.’

‘For a while.’ Nina’s expression turned empathetic. ‘But what if you can’t live up to the expectations?’

‘We can. We already have.’

‘Honey, what if the itch has been scratched?’

Chapter Fourteen

It took Erin days to work up to it. A week, really. It had taken that long for Nina’s words to sink in rationally rather than emotionally, and even then she’d still rejected them.

She and Colton were meant to be together – had been from the moment they’d both laid eyes on one another.

Yet he was drifting away from her. She could feel it.

She looked again at the clock on the oven and frowned. She wandered back to the living room and peered out of the window.

He’d been spending more and more time at the office. He’d taken a new case, and she knew from her gym manager that he was taking steps to deal with the harassment they’d been receiving too. Pro bono. He worked too much, and he’d stopped playing – with her and with Dustin. He’d skipped a basketball game last week, and her brother had not been happy.

Erin wrung her hands. She couldn’t sit around and do nothing. Tonight, she was ready to take action.

If she didn’t lose her nerve before he got here.

Her gaze drifted up towards the second floor, and she ran her hands over the butterflies in her belly. She needed to do something to shake up the control that was choking him. She had to break through the quiet that was becoming pervasive between them.

He’d liked it before when she’d surprised him…

‘Come home, Colton,’ she sighed.

She fluffed a pillow on the sofa and straightened the ottoman in front of its chair.

She was getting nervous in more ways than one.

It was another 20 minutes before she finally heard his key in the lock. After all that time, she suddenly found herself unprepared. She doused the living-room light and found a spot where he’d see her when he walked in. Taking a moment, she shook back her hair. She leaned her back against the wall and lifted her foot to brace against it. Sexily, she hoped.

When he entered, a chill came with him. It swept across her bare legs and brought goosebumps to her skin.

‘Hi,’ she said softly.

He stopped dead still. ‘Hi.’

His gaze swept over her hard. It was a good sign. She let her knee sway back and forth.

‘Welcome home.’ She didn’t have to force the huskiness in her voice. It was the first time in days that he’d looked at her that way.

He quickly shut the door and put his briefcase at his feet. ‘You look sensational.’

She smiled at him. He might have been fighting his attraction to her, but he wasn’t immune. She pushed away from the wall to go to him, and his eyes drifted to her feet. Her shoes were impossibly high, but she’d learned to walk in them.

She’d learned to do a lot more than that.

She reached up to push his coat off his shoulders. ‘We need to celebrate.’

His hands locked into her waist. His fingertips bit, and Erin’s senses sang. She took the opportunity to wrap her arms around his neck and lean in.

She kissed him passionately, but made herself pull back before he could stiffen. ‘I have a surprise for you,’ she whispered.

So many things flashed through his eyes: arousal, curiosity and then self-containment.

She hit the light switch before the last could take hold. ‘I finished redecorating.’

The floor lamp in the corner came on, together with track lighting along the book case. The room that had once been a perfunctory, drab space was now beautiful, with a grey leather sofa and black microfibre chairs. The colour scheme brought the room together, making it cohesive. Accents in reds and whites made it pop.

Erin watched Colton as he surveyed the area. He’d seen most of it, but the final pieces had been delivered today. She’d spent the afternoon putting on the last special touches. She’d tried to make it personal, adding things she knew he liked, such as items she’d found in storage boxes under the stairs. Some hadn’t seen the light of day in years, like the Matchbox cars on the shelf on the wall.

Her heart had melted when she’d discovered those, and she’d known she’d had to use them. They were small and fun. They didn’t take away from the room, rather they brought a part of him to it.

A part she was trying to find.

‘Do you like it?’

‘Like it?’ His head swivelled as he took everything in. ‘It looks like an entirely different room.’

She cuddled against his side. ‘Is that good or bad?’

‘Good.’ He looked at the surround-sound system and the ottoman that would let him stretch out in comfort – but then his gaze stuck on the shelf of old toys.

His jaw worked. ‘A change was needed.’

She didn’t like the tension she felt in his body, or the way he drew away to hang his coat on a hook.

She ran her fingers across his jaw. ‘I made dinner, too.’

She turned and walked back to the eat-in kitchen. Her legs felt the stroke of his hot look as she took her time.

‘More surprises?’ His voice came softly from behind her.

Her skin tingled. It felt good to have his attention again – or, more precisely, for him not to be fighting it.

She looked over her shoulder before disappearing into the kitchen. ‘You’ll see.’

She was bending over the oven when he followed her in, and a grunt came from deep in his chest. He let her deal with the hot dish before sliding up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist.

‘Aren’t you cold?’

She leaned back into him. All she was feeling was heat. ‘I’m tired of winter.’

It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the full truth either. The flirty little summer dress was out of season. It had skinny shoulder straps and a skirt that only hit mid-thigh, but she’d paired it with a short woollen jacket. And the shoes.

The shoes had just as much purpose as the dress did, but it wasn’t time for that yet.

‘And I felt like dressing up,’ she confessed.

His hand settled on her bare thigh. ‘I’m not complaining.’

Erin arched in pleasure as that dangerous hand slid under her dress, but she caught his wrist before he went too far. ‘Will you light the candles on the table?’

‘A candlelit dinner?’

She turned in his arms. ‘I’ve missed you, Colton. I want you all to myself tonight.’

He ran his thumb across her cheekbone. ‘I know I’ve been busy.’

Busy, distracted or lost in his thoughts…Erin wasn’t sure what had been going on with him, but she was determined to get him back. ‘I know, but can we have tonight?’

She looked up at him hopefully until he relented and rested his forehead against hers. ‘I’m all yours, Sunny.’

The words were right, but the wistful tone was not. Worried, she brushed her lips against his. She had to break through to him tonight.

And she would.

Her resolve strengthened, and her feeling of sexiness grew. The dress, the shoes, the man…they were all affecting her.

‘Light the fire,’ she whispered.

A gleam entered his eye, but then it dimmed and a suggestive reply didn’t come. It only made her more determined.

While he searched for the matches, she dimmed the lights and carried the food to the table.

‘What are we having?’ he asked.

‘Enchiladas.’ She pushed her hair back. ‘I wanted something spicy.’

The spark returned to his eyes as she slid into her chair, and it stayed when she crossed her legs. The ankle bracelet was back on her ankle. She knew he’d seen it the moment he’d walked in the door.

She pointed her toes as he served, stretching her ankle provocatively, and took a slow drink of her Corona.

‘How’s the case coming along?’ she asked.

The candlelight was aiding her in her cause of seduction. The meal felt intimate, and the room somehow quieter.

‘Discovery has been more complicated than I expected.’

‘Tell me about it?’

‘I’m bound by client confidentiality.’

‘Just the basics?’ She wanted to learn more about what he did. She’d known the teenager, now she wanted to know the man.

To her delight, he answered. For once, they shared a meal where the conversation was easy again. Convivial. She giggled when he tried her jalapeno dip and had to grab for his beer. It felt good to laugh.

She rolled her ankle and saw his eyelids get heavy. It felt good to tease.

Finally, he sat back, his plate cleaned. ‘Baby, you’ve become a really good cook.’

The compliment surprised her. She knew her family had always considered her a danger in the kitchen. ‘Am I?’

He watched her lazily. ‘You’ve conquered the kitchen. What’s next?’

Oh, if he only knew.

Her nerves came back. She hoped her other lessons had taken so well. ‘The world. Want to be my accomplice?’

His expression turned melancholy. ‘I know the case has been keeping me away from…home.’

He’d been close to saying you, she knew, but his work wasn’t what had put up the wall between them. She let him use the excuse, though, because she knew it was true. If she didn’t watch him closely, he’d work himself into the ground.

‘I just want you here when you come home,’ she said softly. ‘All of you.’

‘I’m sorry.’

She laid her hand on his. ‘You’ve been so distant.’

‘I know.’ He looked at where she touched him, her fingers tracing his knuckles. ‘Things have been complicated.’

‘They don’t have to be.’

He looked her in the eye. ‘Your family is good people.’

And there it was, that stupid stipulation that was keeping them apart. ‘So are you.’

‘I don’t want to hurt them.’

But he was hurting her. ‘Don’t you want me any more, Colton?’

The candlelight danced, and a flame jumped with a snap.

‘I want you more than anything.’

His voice rubbed against her skin like black velvet.

It was time.

Her belly squeezed and the butterflies took flight. She took his hand in hers and stood. ‘Then let’s go upstairs.’

He didn’t resist, and she was relieved. She didn’t want to fight. She wanted to communicate another way.

She could feel his eyes training on her sky-high heels as she led him up the staircase, but then she felt the charm on her ankle bracelet. It was resting against the soft spot just behind her ankle. The tingle went right up the back of her leg and under the short dress.

They couldn’t keep denying what they felt for one another, especially not here, in their home.

She turned on the bedroom light and lowered the dimmer switch as she entered. It kept the mood romantic, but it also lit a new addition to the room. She stepped aside to let Colton take a good long look.

He stopped in the doorway. ‘Please tell me that’s part of the redesign.’

Oh, she wished.

‘It’s temporary.’ At least for now. She walked to the pole with her steps falling directly in front of one another as she’d been taught. The gait put a roll in her hips that was undeniable, and sensuality took her over.

‘I want to show you what I’ve learned at my dance class, too.’ She caught the pole with one hand and swung around it. Her hair tumbled to the side as she looked at him. ‘Still want to watch?’

He reached overhead and took hold of the doorframe. ‘What do you think?’

Erin inhaled through her nose and released the breath through her mouth. He looked so masculine and sensual when he did that. It stretched out his tall body and loosened his hips.

Her gaze dropped to the front of his pants.

Oh, yes, he wanted to watch.

Using the strut that seemed only natural in her heels, she went to the bureau. Her phone was on top of it. She tapped it and music played. Closing her eyes, she let it run through her. It was the same playlist they used in class.

She knew what she was supposed to do.

She undid the short jacket fastened beneath her breasts. When she took it off, she didn’t feel a chill. The room was already turning warm.

She looked into the mirror at Colton. He looked restless.

Planting her hands on the dresser, she spread her legs and dipped into a deep knee-bend. She rose slowly, letting a ripple run up her body that ended with her hips thrust back in a seductive position.

His stare went from curious to intense.

The beat of the music became heavier. She faced him with a steady look that was a lot more confident than the nerves buzzing in her chest. She’d never done this for an audience before, but she’d practised in the mirror dozens of times. It didn’t come close to how it felt in real life.

‘Dance for me, Erin.’

The low words blended with the sexy music. She approached the pole again, and the hem of her dress brushed high on her thighs. She’d bought it because it was cool and cute. It was also a tease.

She stepped around the pole until it was behind her, then did the same deep knee-bend. She caught the pole overhead on her way up, but skimmed her other hand down the front of her body.

The little sundress felt flimsy, and her body was warm underneath it.

‘That’s it, baby,’ Colton encouraged. He leaned his head against his arm as he watched her touch herself.

Erin’s belly clenched. She was doing this to arouse him, so why was it turning her on so much?

She did a few more turns around the pole, but then it was time to move on. Always give them a little more, she’d been told.

The music seared through the air. Sliding her hands up her thighs, she fisted them both in her dress. Taking a wide stance, she pulled it up and over her head.

‘God. Damn,’ Colton hissed. His arms dropped, and he came into the room with her.

Erin felt wicked. She’d gone shopping for more than nicknacks today. Her journey had taken her to some interesting places until she’d found the shoes…and the G-string…and the tiny little bikini top that only covered half of her breasts.

‘Hot pink,’ he rasped.

What there was of it.

Her muscles turned lax. The way he was looking at her made her so hot.

She hooked her leg around the pole and spun until she was dizzy. Even then, she didn’t dismount. Instead, she arched back and thrust her breasts towards the sky. The gritty song was one of lust and need. She felt it running through her blood.

‘Erin,’ Colton said.

He sat on the edge of the bed, his hands gripping it tightly.

Instead of making her self-conscious, the barely-there outfit gave her power. Coming up again on the pole, she lifted her legs out to the sides in a wide V. It was an advanced move that made her muscles burn. The G-string’s placket barely covered her between her legs, and she was spreading them wide for all to see.

Or one very important person.

He rose to his feet but managed to hold himself back. His breaths were coming hard, and his chest was rising and falling. He didn’t blink as he watched her, but he did get busy taking off his own clothes. The tie went first. He unbuttoned his shirt and let it hang open as he moved down to his trousers.

He toed off his shoes. ‘Keep moving,’ he ordered.

He’d caught her gaping.

With a secret smile, Erin let her body work with the pole. Her head fell back and her hair brushed against her spine.

The air in the room was heavy. Perspiration had broken out on her skin. The friction of the metal burned her inner thighs as she gripped it hard. With a leap of faith, she let go with both hands. Arching her back hard, she swept her hands over her belly and up to her breasts. She might as well have been naked. The cups of the bikini bra weren’t meant to hide much, and the shape of her nipples was obvious. They were poking up hard.

She pinched them as the singer let out a wailing cry.

Suddenly, Colton was there to take over for her. ‘Let me.’

His hands closed over her breasts, and he pulled her down from the pole. He nipped at her earlobe. ‘Why don’t you climb me instead?’

She turned around in his arms, and their mouths came together fast. Her hair was tangled around her face. She moaned as their fronts came into contact. His chest pressed into her breasts until they plumped, and her nipples throbbed.

Oh, she’d missed him like this.

He swung her towards the bed. The room was beginning to tilt when Erin remembered the promise she’d made to herself. She wrapped a leg around him and held on. ‘You first.’

His hand was tracing the thin line of material that rode her buttocks, and they clenched reflexively. She knew he’d like it.

She ignored the distraction and pushed him backwards. ‘On the bed, King.’

He didn’t argue.

And she took control.

She kicked his shirt out of the way and went for his trousers. They were already loosened, so it was an easy fix. She pulled them down and his cock sprang out, thick and erect. The tiny placket of her G-string became damp.

She wrapped her hand around him, and his hips rose. When she swept her thumb over the blunt head of him, it happened again.

‘Don’t tease,’ he warned.

She didn’t want to tease. She wanted to show him how much she cared for him.

‘I won’t,’ she promised. The music in the room was now a pulsating heartbeat. Standing so he could see, she completed the strip act until all she wore were the shoes and his ankle bracelet. It felt warm on her skin. Her body felt strong and vibrant. Feminine.

There was just one more thing.

She picked up the blindfold off the nightstand. ‘Put it on?’

His gaze blistered her, and a muscle in his jaw worked. She held her breath, but then he grabbed the black fabric and put it on himself.

He lay back, but his breaths were ragged.

Erin squeezed her thighs together tightly. He was truly giving in to her.

She climbed on to the bed with him. She still had the platform shoes on. They’d probably tear the sheets, but she didn’t care. She spread her hands on his chest. It had been a long time since she’d been allowed to explore.

She started with his pecs.

‘I’ve missed you,’ she whispered as she bent down and kissed him right over the heart. ‘I’ve missed touching you and talking with you.’

She dragged her tongue over his nipple. ‘Hearing you laugh.’

She worked her way down. His torso was so heavily roped, she knew he’d not only been spending more time at the office. He’d been in the gym.

She kissed the tension she found there, too, but his belly only cinched in tighter.

‘We need to be stronger together,’ she whispered. She stroked his biceps. ‘I need you, Colton.’

‘Sunny.’

He blindly pulled her up for a kiss, but afterwards she continued on her mission. She intended to touch and kiss every inch of his body until he stopped fighting.

Fighting her, fighting himself, fighting the situation…

If that was what it took for him to understand her feelings for him, she’d do it until the sun rose.

She set about her ministrations until his hands were clenching at her, and his body was straining. ‘Erin,’ he said hoarsely.

She glanced up from where she was at his feet.

His mouth was set tight, and his jaw was locked.

He looked so aroused, she couldn’t resist. Crawling up his body, she assumed her position. She straddled his hips and guided him between her legs.

His hands settled on her thighs. One dropped lower, searching, until it clapped over her ankle…the one encircled by his bracelet…Erin moaned and brought them fully together.

He felt thick as he burrowed up into her, and urgency gripped her.

‘I want you,’ she murmured. ‘Stop pushing me away.’

She began to pump, and he groaned.

‘Stop trying to hide how we feel about one another.’ She braced her hands against his shoulders. ‘My family would want this for me.’

His hips pumped up into her again – but then he froze.

The strain in his face was clear. A sound ripped from his throat, and then he was tearing the blindfold off.

Erin sat back in surprise, but then she felt the room spinning again.

She ended up on her back.

His eyes burned down at her, but he determinedly slowed his breaths. When he began to thrust, the tempo was slow and controlled.

Dutiful.

Erin let out a cry of frustration. She reached for him and swung her hips up. He used his weight to control her and continued to mechanically fuck her.

She writhed beneath him. She didn’t want to be fucked. She’d wanted to make love to him.

Even as his body penetrated hers, she could feel him denying himself. Withdrawing emotionally. She raked her nails down his back. ‘Give it to me,’ she begged.

He thrust roughly, but then regained control.

Erin sagged against the mattress, going limp. She took his thrusts, but her hope was fading…until he wrapped his hand around her ankle again.

The thin gold chain bit into her skin.

‘You don’t want all of me,’ he said fiercely.

‘Oooh,’ she moaned. Her need was back, and it was desperate. ‘Yes, I do.’

But she’d take what she could get.

Her knees were still bent with the heavy shoes on her feet. It wasn’t quite the missionary position. She clapped her hand over his, keeping it right where it was, and wrapped herself around him.

‘I love you,’ she whispered in his ear.

He bucked. ‘Don’t.’

‘I love you,’ she repeated.

He swore, but he was too far gone to stop. He began pumping faster.

She told him she loved him over and over again until she got what she wanted. He fucked her hard, until the bed squeaked and the headboard bounced. The climax came over them both, and it came fast.

Erin kissed his temple as he came down upon her. ‘I love you,’ she said one last time.

‘Don’t.’

Her lips hesitated against his skin. He wasn’t asking her to stop telling him.

He was asking her not to give him her heart.

The next morning, Erin was awake and at the kitchen table when she heard Colton upstairs. She swallowed hard and quickly checked that there was no dampness on her cheekbones. When the staircase betrayed footsteps, she wrapped her hands around her coffee cup and braced herself.

Stay strong, she told herself. Buck up.

Never let them see you sweat.

He came to a stop in the archway, and his shoulders relaxed. ‘There you are.’

No, she hadn’t run out on him.

Not yet.

‘There’s coffee,’ she said with a nod.

‘Thanks.’ He couldn’t quite meet her gaze, but that was fine with her.

She couldn’t meet his either.

His hair was mussed, and he’d thrown on only a pair of jeans. They rode low on his hips, and his chest was bare. Her fingers itched to touch him. This was how she found him sexiest, but that didn’t matter any more, did it?

Outside, a front was moving in. The snow hadn’t hit yet, but the wind was howling. She dreaded going out into it, but she’d deal.

Anything was better than the chill here.

She took another drink of her coffee. She needed the caffeine.

Colton poured himself a cup and leaned against the counter to drink it.

Erin could feel his gaze on her. She knew she didn’t look put together. She’d showered last night. Scoured herself, to tell the truth. She’d cried, too, but she’d never let him know. She’d crawled back onto the far side of the bed with her hair wet. It had dried into wild waves. She’d collected it into a ponytail, but she knew that without her makeup she looked about sixteen.

A sharp bark of laughter nearly escaped her. Good thing she hadn’t hooked up with him then. She never would have been able to handle it when he’d had his fill and tossed her aside. She was barely handling it now.

Nina had been right.

Erin took another drink of hot coffee when her throat thickened.

‘Erin,’ he said softly.

She stood and went to the sink. She’d already cleaned last night’s dishes from the table and put them in the dishwasher. ‘I rented that pole from my gym. I’d appreciate it if you would return it so I can get my deposit back.’

His brow furrowed. ‘Sure, but won’t you be going there anyway?’

‘I don’t think so.’ She washed out the cup and left it in the sink. ‘Not any more.’

She headed out of the room.

‘Erin, about last night –’ He followed her, but that was when he saw her suitcase by the front door.

She’d had it packed, but using it had never been an option.

His gaze snapped back to her.

Her arm felt heavy as she took her coat off the hook. A little part inside her waited for him to tell her not to go.

But he didn’t.

She picked up a piece of paper from the little table she’d put by the entryway. Sad first use for it, but it had served its purpose.

She held the paper out for him. That muscle in his jaw flexed, but he came closer to take it. ‘What is this?’

Erin pulled her hand back fast. She didn’t want him to touch her. She was on a fine wire as it was.

She stared at his chest. ‘It’s notice that I want to cancel our agreement.’

The air left him.

She didn’t know why it was a surprise. ‘Your key is here, too.’

Her chin trembled, but she lifted her gaze and, for the first time all morning, looked him in the eye.

He looked like hell.

‘Goodbye, Colton.’ Her voice weakened. ‘I love you.’

But she loved herself even more.

She grabbed her roller bag, turned and left.

Chapter Fifteen

‘Erin, are you OK?’ The knock on her bedroom door came late morning, and Sienna didn’t wait for a response. She opened the door, and her eyes widened when she peeked inside.

Erin was still in bed. Her eyes felt like sandpaper, her head hurt and her back was sore. She’d broken up with Colton the day before, but she’d only texted her friend early this morning. If she’d slept much between, she didn’t remember it.

Sienna stepped inside. ‘Oh, honey. Can I get you anything?’

Erin pushed her hair out of her face. She must look like hell. ‘A fresh set of eyes. Can you come look at this?’

She waved her friend over urgently, and the furrows in Sienna’s brow deepened. The bed was cluttered. She had to push aside books and sheets of paper before she could crawl on to an open space. ‘What is it?’

‘My résumé.’ Erin pushed the laptop on to her roommate’s lap and jotted another reminder in the notebook at her hip. She tilted her head from side to side to try to loosen the kink in her neck, but it had taken up permanent residence.

Much like the hole in her heart.

But she wasn’t going to wallow this time. She’d made this decision, and she knew why it had to be done. She clenched her teeth when she felt the tell-tale prickling in her tear ducts. ‘Let me know if I missed anything, or if it makes any sense at all.’

Sienna shot her a look of concern. ‘OK.’

Erin started sorting through a stack of papers. They were employment postings she’d printed out. She was casting a wide net and trying to think outside the box. She’d made a vow the last time this had happened that she’d stand on her own two feet. She’d come a long way since then, but she still hadn’t found a job.

It was next on her to-do list.

‘You should add the decorating you did at your parents’ home for the holidays. Your work was featured in a national magazine.’

‘I don’t want to ride my parents’ coat-tails.’

‘OK.’ Sienna understood and didn’t argue. ‘Then you should include the decorating you did down at the soup kitchen. That wasn’t an assortment of papier-mâché turkeys. You made that place warm and inviting for everyone.’

Erin nodded, and her ponytail flopped. It sat on the top of her head, but had loosened so much, it was about to fall out. She didn’t care. She was focused on one thing and one thing only. Self-preservation was funny that way.

Sienna looked around the room. ‘Have you been at this all night?’

‘Mm hm.’

‘Erin.’ Her roommate laid her hand over the laptop keyboard as Erin tried to make edits. ‘Maybe it’s time you took a break.’

Erin tilted back the screen and squinted at it. ‘Is it that bad?’

‘No, your résumé looks great.’

‘Maybe I should have Jason look at it. He’ll tell me the truth.’

‘Sure, fine. Get another opinion.’

Sienna rubbed her back, and Erin sat up straighter. Her muscles were starting to cramp. Maybe a break wasn’t such a bad idea. She emailed the résumé to Jason before she forgot, then rubbed her eyes. Sienna’s sympathetic back rub was making her throat thicken again. She pushed back the covers, got out of bed and stretched.

Sienna closed the laptop and leaned back against the pillows lining the headboard. ‘I thought I was coming over here to eat ice-cream for breakfast.’

Erin pulled her arm across her chest to stretch her shoulder as she’d learned in dance class. ‘I’m not going to fall apart again.’

‘I can see that.’ Sienna tapped her fingers against the stack of job openings. ‘Do you want to talk about it?’

Talk about Colton not wanting her love? Talk about how she’d walked out to save herself? And maybe, in the back of her mind, save him? She shook her head.

‘Has he called?’

‘No.’ She’d checked her phone nearly every half-hour to make sure it hadn’t lost power or been accidentally muted. She knew her decision was the right one, but she couldn’t stop hoping he’d come to his senses. ‘What was your boss’s name at the Apple Tree Grille? Would you act as a reference for me?’

‘Erin, you are not working as a waitress.’

‘I’d prefer not, but I would.’ She had to keep busy.

Sienna lifted the stack of papers. ‘Try these options first.’

She set them down and patted the bed. ‘Talk to me.’

Erin let out a shuddering breath and crawled back on to the bed. She lay on her stomach and wrapped her arms around the pillow. ‘It hurts so bad,’ she whispered.

‘I know.’

So much worse than with her ex-fiancé. That had been sheer surprise and wounded pride. This break-up was slicing her up inside. ‘I tried to meet him halfway, but I can’t go any further.’

‘You’re right. He needs to step up. He loves you. I know he does. He’s just torn between his commitments.’

It was more than that. It went deeper, but it was too private to share. ‘I can’t keep sneaking around.’

‘You shouldn’t have to.’

‘But I’m giving up so much.’

‘You stood up for yourself. It was a brave thing to do.’ Sienna unwound the ponytail holder from Erin’s hair and combed her fingers through the strands. Her own ice-blonde hair was down. It hung around her shoulders in sleek waves.

She’d stood up for herself, too, only she’d landed her guy. Jason and she were like fire and ice. Had it been too much, Erin thought, to hope that she and Colton could have that dynamic a relationship? Their connection was deep; she could feel it down to her soul.

She’d just never dreamed it would be so tenuous.

She let out a shaky breath and propped herself up on her elbows. ‘About that résumé…’

‘Let it sit.’ Sienna swung her long legs off the bed and stood. ‘You need some food, some rest and a shower.’

‘A shower.’ Erin turned her head to look at the attached bathroom. ‘That might wake me up.’

Her stomach gave a betraying grumble.

‘When was the last time you ate?’

She bit her lip. She couldn’t remember. Had it been that breakfast she’d picked over at Colton’s while waiting to say goodbye?

Sienna saw the tears welling up, and she held out her hand. ‘Come on.’

Erin let herself be dragged out of bed. Once she was on her feet again, her energy waned. She had been going in high gear for too many hours. ‘Did you say ice-cream?’

‘I brought mint chocolate chip, chocolate peanut butter chunk, and strawberry.’

‘Mint chocolate chip.’

The perfect breakfast for a wounded heart.

Seeing Erin walk out the door hit Colton hard – even though he knew it was the right thing for her to do. They couldn’t go on the way they had been, but he didn’t see any other way they could be together.

That didn’t mean he didn’t feel like he’d just been poleaxed.

He didn’t make it to work that day, and he didn’t work from home. Instead, he sat in the new living area she’d decorated for him. He looked at the colour and the shelf of cars and the empty space on the sofa beside him. She was everywhere he turned. He could see her bright smile and sunny hair. He could hear her laugh, and he swore his fingertips were experiencing phantom memories of her smooth skin.

Another bottle of Jack Daniel’s made its way on to his coffee table, but he left it sitting unopened before him. It just reminded him of why he’d had to drown himself in it the first time. The whiskey hadn’t worked then, and he knew damn well it wouldn’t work now.

The hurt was too deep.

If only she hadn’t told him she loved him…

If only she hadn’t smiled at him…batted those baby-blue eyes…used him as a test subject for her cooking experiments…dropped by his office wearing thigh-high boots and nothing more…or strutted by him years ago in a hot-pink bikini…

‘Erin,’ he sighed. This hurt had been a long time coming.

After that, Colton knew he had to keep himself busy. He packed his days with so many things to do, he didn’t have time to think. He threw himself headfirst into his case. When he went to the gym, he pushed himself so hard, the trainers were taking turns sending him home. He left himself no time to think about her.

About how she might be doing…about where she was spending her time…or with whom…

That was why he was surprised to hear a knock on his door one evening as he was going through the evidence on his current case. Papers and photographs surrounded him on the table and the sofa. Legal documents were on the ottoman. He stood up so fast, they fluttered and one sailed to the floor.

Erin didn’t have her key any more.

He hoofed it to the door and, when he opened it, he found a Foster with blond hair. It just wasn’t the right one.

‘Dustin.’ Colt steadied himself. Was the guy here to let him have it?

No, her brother didn’t even know. They’d kept it secret from him. That was the problem, right?

Colton raked a hand through his hair. His head was so screwed up these days. ‘Come on in.’

Dustin stomped his feet and shook off the snow. ‘Shit, it’s nasty out there. I almost wiped out on the sidewalk.’

‘Sorry,’ Colton muttered. He looked out to see how bad it had got. He’d been letting things slide. Things like shovelling, cleaning up the dishes and making the bed. It was so difficult to engage.

Or had he hired someone to do the work? He couldn’t remember any more.

Dustin tugged off his gloves but left his stocking hat on. He was dressed casually in sweats, and he had his gym bag swung over his shoulder like a backpack. He took one step into the living room and stopped. ‘Whoa.’

His head snapped towards Colton. ‘Erin has been here.’

Colton took a step back, ready for a punch to come flying at his face, only Dustin moved further into the room.

‘This is about a thousand steps up from what you had before.’

Oh. Right.

‘She asked if she could do it,’ Colt hurried to explain. ‘She wanted to bolster her portfolio, so I told her she might as well practise on me.’

He clamped his mouth shut. Holy shit. And he’d worried she would give them away?

Dustin threw him a sly smile but continued his tour around the room. He ‘ooh’ed at the surround sound set-up and ‘aah’ed over one of the chairs.

‘Cool,’ he said when he spotted the Matchbox cars. He picked one up and spun the wheels. ‘I need to get her to do something with my place.’

Colton lifted his hand reflexively, but then let it drop. ‘She did a good job.’

‘That’s our Sunny.’ Dustin carefully placed the red car back on the shelf. ‘She always leaves a place brighter than when she found it.’

Everywhere except this place. It felt so heavy here without her. So dark and dismal.

Colton wanted to ask about her. It was on the tip of his tongue.

Dustin frowned when he saw the mess of papers strewn out on the coffee table. ‘What’s this?’

Colton gathered up the more confidential documents and stuffed them into a manila folder. ‘My latest case. I was just going through a few things.’

‘You’re working?’

‘Yeah.’ Some people did that after the five o’clock horn sounded. ‘What’s it to you?’

‘What’s it to me?’ Dustin held up his hands and went through the motion of shooting. ‘We have a game tonight, Colt. That’s why I dropped by, to make sure you weren’t going to blow it off again. Are you not even remembering now?’

Shit. No, he wasn’t. ‘I got busy,’ he lied.

‘What is up with you these days, man?’

‘Nothing.’

Dustin didn’t buy it. He cocked his head and gave Colton a push in the shoulder. ‘When I call you on the phone, you give me one-word answers. Now you’re forgetting about basketball night?’

Colton ruffled his hair. ‘It’s just…I have a lot going on right now. My head is kind of screwed up.’

Dustin frowned at him. ‘Your head never gets screwed up. You’re the one person I know who has his head screwed on right. Dad has always said so.’

Things had changed. A blonde dynamo had whirled into and out of his life, leaving it like a pile of pick-up sticks.

‘Come on, man. Let’s go.’

Colton looked at the mess spread out before him. ‘I’ve got a lot to do here.’

‘You need to get out of your head.’

Dustin sounded so much like his sister, Colton nearly did a double-take.

‘Go get your gear,’ his friend ordered. ‘You’re our leading point scorer. The team is depending on you.’

Colt took a deep breath. He’d been letting a lot of people down these days.

Maybe this was what he needed. To run up and down a court until his lungs burned. To bump into a few bodies and take a few elbows back? The weight machines and treadmills at the gym didn’t do that.

‘All right.’

‘Hurry it up. We have to be on the court in an hour.’

‘I said, “all right”,’ Colton called over his shoulder.

‘Yeah, yeah. Get a move on. You need to get out of this place.’

From that point on, Dustin became a constant pain in Colton’s ass. He called every day and sometimes more than that. With no notice, he’d drop by to watch a game on television. On other days, he’d drag Colton down to St Arnold’s bar for some mussels and beer.

His friend knew something was wrong, but Colt couldn’t give him the details.

Yet Dustin’s words stuck in his head. ‘You need to get out of this place.’

Dusty was right. He couldn’t sit around the row house any longer, wallowing in self-pity. That wasn’t helping anyone. He saw now that his life was too compartmentalised, and a home should be a home – not just some place he hung his hat.

His folks hadn’t taught him that, but Erin had.

It was time to make some changes.

One day Dustin called as Colton was packing away some things from a closet. His phone tucked between his shoulder and his ear, Colt wrestled with the flaps of the box. It was late. Dustin had almost made it through a full day without calling. ‘D, I’m a little busy right now. Can I call –’

‘Colton, you need to get here.’

The tone of his friend’s voice put Colton back on his haunches. Something was wrong. He grabbed the phone and put it to his ear. ‘What is it?’

He could feel tension radiating through the line.

‘There’s been an accident.’

Colton’s breath left him. ‘Erin?’

‘She needs you. It’s our mother; she slipped on the ice going to one of her DAC meetings and hit her head. She –’ Dustin’s voice cracked. ‘She’s not waking up, Colt.’

Colton pushed to his feet. He was already heading towards the door. ‘Where are you? Which hospital?’

‘George Washington University.’ Dustin’s voice broke. ‘Trauma and critical care unit.’

Colton swallowed hard.

‘I’ll be there.’ He grabbed his coat and hit the door running, but he slowed down when he hit the walk out front. It was icy. ‘Aw, Marilyn.’

Sweet, kind-hearted Marilyn.

His breath tightened. Nothing could happen to her. Dustin would lose it, and Erin would…

Erin.

He had to get to her.

He started towards the Metro station, but grabbed his car keys instead. He’d get there faster. He was less than fifteen minutes out.

The hospital was located in the heart of DC, close to the national monuments. It was a relatively new building that gave Colton some confidence. It should have all the latest technology and medical advances. It better have the best doctors.

He stopped at the information desk to get directions, and then headed for the trauma unit. The facility was designed to be welcoming and soothing but, at the heart of it, it was a stark, impersonal place that buzzed with nervous energy. He followed the arrows on the signs, his footsteps getting faster. The scent of antiseptic was in the air, and he heard the beeps of health monitors.

His head swivelled, checking in rooms for anyone familiar.

For his family.

He found the waiting room. It looked empty but, when he turned the corner, he saw Harmon, Dustin and Erin.

His gaze locked on her. She looked small and scared. She’d tucked her feet up underneath her on the vinyl-covered loveseat. Her eyes were closed, and she was rubbing her temples worriedly. He just wanted to fold her in his arms and hold her tight.

Yet he stopped. Her name was on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t get it out. What if she didn’t want him here? What if that would be too much for her? He didn’t want to bring her more stress. He just wanted to help. He wanted to make it better.

Her head suddenly snapped up, and her blue eyes went wide.

Time stretched out for an eternity.

‘Colton,’ she cried.

She sprang up and ran to him in stockinged feet. He opened his arms, and she slammed into his chest. He bent his head down to hers and wrapped her close.

Dustin turned, and Harmon lifted his head. The older man didn’t seem to be one with his surroundings. He looked at them without really seeing them.

That was fine with Colton. The man was dealing with enough.

‘How is she?’ he asked.

‘Still unconscious.’ Erin’s words were muffled against his chest. ‘She hasn’t woken up since she fell.’

He cupped the back of her head. ‘What did the doctor say?’

She shivered. ‘Not much. They’ve been doing scans and MRIs or whatever they’re called.’

‘When do they think she’ll wake up?’

Her fingers clutched at him. ‘They don’t know,’ she moaned.

So many more questions pulled at him, but Colton pushed them down. He could feel the way Erin was trembling. She was either cold or in shock. He took off his coat and wrapped it around her. He led her back to the loveseat and tucked the wool around her feet.

There was something about finding her without her shoes on. She looked even tinier. Vulnerable.

Dustin’s gaze met his.

‘Thanks for coming,’ his friend said. He hung his head low and rubbed the back of his neck. He was in bad shape too.

Colton looked around the waiting room. There were plenty of open seats. His brain told him to take one on the far side of the room, but he found himself sitting down next to Erin. She let out a shuddering breath and tucked up against him. He hesitated, but gave up and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

‘Do you need anything?’ He wiped her cheek. It was dry, but her eyes were red. She’d been crying before he’d arrived. ‘Can I get you some coffee or something to eat?’

‘I need…’ She stopped, then she turned her head into his shoulder.

He knew. He threaded his fingers into her hair and held her. He needed her, too.

Harmon sat quiet in the chair next to them. He seemed lost in his own world.

Colton thought about all the times Marilyn had teased him and listened to him. He remembered how she would shove a sandwich in his backpack whenever he went home.

She could do sandwiches.

He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall. She wasn’t his mother, but she’d liked to take care of him. He’d been too old for coddling at that point, but he’d let her fuss.

He’d told himself he was being polite.

Dustin pushed himself to his feet. ‘I’m going to go to the nurses’ station to see if they’ve got any news.’

They didn’t.

Nobody seemed to.

Colton tried next. Sometimes medical providers didn’t like to give bad news to family members until they absolutely had to. He wasn’t family – not by name – but his methods of persuasion didn’t work. Not even when he introduced himself as the Foster family lawyer. The lack of information made him nervous.

‘What’s going on back there?’ Erin had been staring at the double doors at the end of the hallway for a long time. ‘Why won’t they tell us anything?’

‘I don’t know.’ Colton couldn’t take it any more, either. He got up to stretch his legs. It was pitch-dark outside when he looked out the window. Not even the moon was out tonight.

Dustin came over to pass him a cup of bitter coffee.

‘Where was Marilyn when this happened?’ Colton asked. ‘Why weren’t the walks cleared?’

‘They were.’ Dustin rubbed the bridge of his nose. ‘It was outside the DAC building. She was going to one of their monthly meetings. There was ice melt, too, but apparently it didn’t get everything.’

‘Was she by herself?’ God, he hated to think of her lying out in the cold. Was that part of what the medical team back there was dealing with? ‘How long did it take for somebody to help her?’

‘Her driver saw her go down.’

Driver. Colt’s jaw set. ‘Why didn’t he escort her to the door?’

‘Easy,’ Dustin said. If anyone had the right to be angry, it was her son. ‘He helped her to the curb, but she met up with one of her friends and said she could make it the rest of the way. Anyway, that’s his version.’

Yeah, well, it was a version that Colton was going to check out.

‘What’s her prognosis?’ He asked, lowering his voice so neither Harmon nor Erin would hear. ‘How bad is it?’

‘The swelling…’ Dustin rubbed his face when it started to crumple. ‘There’s too much pressure on her brain.’

Colton swore under his breath. It had been a long time since he’d felt so helpless.

Dustin turned his head away to stare out at the sky. Not even the stars were twinkling. His eyes were rimmed with red, but his stare was steely. ‘Would you get back over to my sister? I called you down here to take care of her, not me.’

Colton’s head came up in surprise.

Dustin just jerked his thumb in Erin’s direction.

Colt stared hard, but there was no judgment on his friend’s face. Just a plea for help.

Take care of Erin? An ache filled his chest. That he could do. He walked back to the loveseat, but his steps slowed as he approached her.

If she’d let him…

Her gaze lifted, and he felt it like a sucker punch. She’d never had a good poker face.

But she cleared a space for him.

He sat down next to her. It had been so natural to take her in his arms before, but now he felt the others watching them. With a grumpy sound, she caught his wrist. She lifted his arm and snuck under it. She pressed against his side, and he let out a sigh.

He’d deal with the rest later. This was just too important.

He pulled her close and let her feel his heat.

As the night drew on, he eventually got her to lie down with her head on his lap. Harmon walked by them then. He looked at the two of them in such an intimate arrangement, but all he did was brush his fingers over his daughter’s cheek.

Colt gritted his teeth. Marilyn had to make it through this. She just had to.

The next few days were filled with more bad coffee, uncomfortable chairs and droning soap operas on the television. The doctors had finally given them the facts. They were watching Marilyn’s stats, but if the pressure on her brain didn’t go down soon, they’d have to relieve it themselves.

That was something nobody wanted to happen.

Harmon spent most of his time in his wife’s private hospital room, while Erin and Dustin took shifts. Colton did everything he could for them. He handled the questions from friends and helped Harmon with the hospital and insurance paperwork. He’d also double-checked the driver’s story, and it had been verified by Marilyn’s friend who’d witnessed the fall.

It had been an accident.

On the fourth day, Marilyn finally awoke. The doctors kept her heavily sedated to ease her pain. Everyone was concerned about brain damage, but nobody dared say it out loud.

By the fifth day, she was coming round.

Six days after her fall, she was sitting up in bed, holding court with her family.

Colton couldn’t believe it. She sat in a forest-green dressing gown with pink colour pinched into her cheeks. She was frailer than he’d ever seen her, and her hair had lost its salon style, but she still had elegance. He wasn’t family, but he wasn’t leaving. He needed to see for himself that she was OK. He sat in the vinyl chair in the corner listening carefully for slurred words or vocabulary she couldn’t quite remember.

But there weren’t any.

His relief felt like a hot-air balloon. He couldn’t imagine what the others were feeling.

He watched them from just outside their little circle. Harmon sat in a chair beside his wife’s bed, while Erin was perched at the foot of the mattress. Dustin was leaning against the wall by the window. They all looked tired but happy. When they went home today, each and every one of them would crash.

The trouble had passed. Everything would return to normal soon.

Only Colt didn’t want to go back. He didn’t like the new normal. There, he was just surviving. Functioning on habit. It threw him back to another time when he’d lived day to day, and he would not go back there. He’d left it once, fighting and scrambling.

His gaze settled on Erin.

He’d hurt her badly, but she’d let him back in for a little while. They hadn’t talked about anything that was going on between them, but she’d trusted him.

Once he left here, he’d be leaving her.

He just couldn’t do it.

‘I’m in love with your daughter.’

The words just came out. They weren’t loud, and they weren’t directed at anyone, but Marilyn turned her head slowly. Dustin straightened against the wall, and Harmon’s chair squeaked as he swivelled.

Erin was the only one who didn’t react.

‘What did you say, dear?’ Marilyn asked.

Colton’s throat constricted. What was he doing? He couldn’t start an argument here in the woman’s hospital room. Her head had to feel like a big bass drum. The doctors had told them to keep the noise and stress levels down.

‘I love Erin.’

The words came out again. It was just the way it was. To tell the truth, it was the way it had always been.

Colt waited for the explosion that was about to come, but it was Erin he watched. Her family could say to him what they would, but at the moment, she was the only one who mattered.

Her blonde hair wavered, but then she slowly turned around. Her blue eyes were wide, and her lips were parted.

His gut tightened. She’d wanted to tell her family about them, but he’d said no.

It was time he put her first.

He checked Marilyn quickly to see how she was doing. Her eyes were big, too, and the beeping of her heart monitor betrayed how much her pulse was increasing. A nurse came in to check, but she waved the woman away.

Nerves suddenly assailed Colton, but it was too late to stop now. He rose to his feet and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

He turned to Harmon, and his chin dipped. ‘I know you told me to stay away from her. I did for years, but I can’t any more.’

He took a deep breath and remembered the litany Erin had given him. ‘I’ve made something of myself, sir. I have a good job and a house now. I can provide for her.’

‘Provide for me?’ Erin said, her brow furrowing.

‘Quiet, Sunny,’ Dustin hissed. ‘This is getting good.’

Colton glared at his friend, but then his brow furrowed, too. Hadn’t Dustin been trying to set her up with someone else? Where was all the tough-guy bravado about kicking his ass if Colton ever went after his little sister?

Dustin swept his hand before him, ceding the floor. ‘You were saying?’

Colton shook his head, but he cleared his throat when he saw Harmon. The tough lobbyist was sitting back in his chair with his arms crossed.

Screw it. In for a penny, in for a pound.

‘The age difference doesn’t mean as much any more, and I’d treat her like gold.’

‘Are you asking for her hand in marriage?’ her father asked. His look was as drilling as his voice.

‘Ohhh,’ Marilyn cooed from the bed.

‘What?’ Erin piped up. ‘No, he’s not.’

Her hair flew around her shoulders as she hopped off the bed. She planted herself directly between him and her father. ‘You’re not,’ she said firmly. ‘Are you?’

‘No,’ Colton agreed. Not yet, at least. He looked down at her. She stood in front of him, half his size, but ready to go toe to toe. She had every right to still be upset with him, but after the last few days, he’d thought…‘I’d just like to date her first.’

He felt so out in the open. Exposed and hung out to dry.

‘If she’ll take me,’ he added.

Her shoulders relaxed. She nodded and gave him a smile that was so beatific, it nearly blinded him. ‘Yes! You stubborn, beautiful man.’

On the bed, Marilyn gave a soft squeal and clapped her hands. Colton worried she’d get too excited, but when he looked at her, he was surprised. Her colour was back, and she looked ready to start planning another party. At least one Foster was in his corner.

Harmon still didn’t look happy, though.

Colton hated to go against the man’s wishes. He respected him too much. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said as he faced him, ‘but I have to break my promise.’

Harmon’s brow scrunched together. ‘Is that what the problem has been?’

Colton frowned. ‘Excuse me?’

Harmon rose to his feet. ‘I wondered what was taking you so long, all these years.’

Colton’s head snapped back. It took him a solid minute to process what the man had just said. When it finally sank in, he took a step forward with his hands bunched at his sides. Erin put her hand on his chest. ‘You’re the one who warned me off of her. You made it very clear that I wasn’t to touch her.’

‘When she was a teenager,’ Harmon came right back. His chest puffed out in indignation. ‘I didn’t want her pregnant at fifteen.’

‘Daddy!’ Erin squeaked. She’d gone bright red.

‘And you.’ Harmon bounced a finger right off Colton’s chest, right over his daughter’s head. ‘You had a future with no limits. I was damned if you were going to fail to get where you belonged because of hormones.’

Colton’s jaw dropped, and everything went silent in his head. He’d known Foster was looking out for his daughter, but he’d never suspected the man had been looking out for him too.

His throat thickened. Not many people had done that for him back in those days. Planning for the future had seemed like something frivolous. A game of pretend.

Only he’d made it.

And his future was looking even brighter now.

He tugged Erin into his arms and she hugged him tight.

‘I knew at Christmas!’ Marilyn blurted.

‘You did?’ Erin said. ‘How?’

‘It was obvious.’ Marilyn rolled her eyes, but gave a wince. It wasn’t enough to stop her. She lifted a hand to her head and continued. ‘Whenever there used to be a family function, the three of you would have your heads together, laughing and chatting. Or Erin, you would be sitting on Colton’s lap. This Christmas, you couldn’t get far enough away from one another.’

She leaned back against her pillow, very pleased with herself. ‘A mother knows these things.’

Colton scowled. And they’d been so proud of their sneakiness. At least they now knew for sure there was nothing wrong with Marilyn’s memory.

Harmon came over and clapped a hand on his shoulder. ‘I thought you’d lost interest in my little girl when you let that simpering fool Marty get to her first.’

‘Harmon!’ his wife scolded.

‘I cared,’ Colton said firmly. ‘I cared a lot.’

‘Well, then it all worked out all right.’

Colton shook Harmon’s hand when he offered it. Inside, his heart was beating a tattoo against his ribcage. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. If Harmon and Marilyn approved…

He looked quickly at Dustin. ‘You were trying to set her up with someone else.’

His friend grinned like a shark. ‘Eavesdrop much?’

‘Who?’ Colton demanded.

‘You, you bonehead.’

‘You said a guy on the team.’

‘I was trying to be discreet. You know, work up to it?’ Dustin looked at his sister. ‘Only she didn’t bite.’

‘I am now.’ Erin smiled sweetly and rose on her toes to kiss Colton’s cheek.

He was the only one who heard her add, ‘And I probably will later tonight, too.’

The scintillating words went straight to his crotch, and he held her in front of him to make sure nobody noticed.

‘Be good.’ His voice dropped low. ‘For just a little while longer.’

Dustin walked over and held out his hand. ‘You’ve always been my brother. It feels good to make it official.’

Colton didn’t let the handshake go. ‘We’re not getting married.’

‘Not yet.’

Colton looked down at Erin. Yeah, not yet.

He sent a sheepish look at her parents. ‘Marilyn, are you doing all right? Would you mind if we stepped out for a while?’

He’d asked her family, but he hadn’t yet got around to asking her. She was the one he needed to apologise to the most. He had been stubborn. He’d blamed it on honour, but in all honesty he’d been scared.

He swept a hand over his hair. There’d just been so much to lose.

‘Go,’ Marilyn said. She waved her hand towards the door. ‘I’m not going to be here that much longer anyway.’

‘Mom, the doctors still need to run some tests.’

‘And they’ll learn that I’m fine. I have a hard head.’

‘She’s not the only one,’ Erin said as the two of them slipped out the door. She sent him a slicing look, and Colton winced.

‘I’m sorry, Sunny.’ He’d envisioned so many other reactions. Anger. Betrayal. Concern. Disappointment. He couldn’t believe how much time he’d wasted…how many family events he’d suffered through…

How many hard-ons.

‘You can make it up to me,’ she said saucily. She pulled him down the hallway, but suddenly diverted into a stairwell.

Colton was on her before the door closed.

He pushed her into the corner, lowered his head and kissed her. The feel of her mouth against his was like a balm to his soul. She wrapped her arms around his neck, but he caught her hands and trapped them over her head against the wall.

She wiggled her hips seductively. ‘Oh, is that the way it is again?’

He nipped at her lower lip. The time for comfort had come and gone. He’d been without her for weeks. ‘I just like the way it makes your breasts look.’

She was wearing a scoop-necked top that was cut low, especially from his vantage point. He pressed a kiss on each perfect globe, and she moaned. He used his teeth to worry at her nipple through the material of her top and bra, and he got an even more urgent response.

She arched to give him an even better view. ‘Hurry,’ she whispered.

The idea of having her in such a public place made Colt hard, but he pulled back when he heard footsteps overhead. They weren’t the only ones avoiding the crowded elevators. ‘We can’t do it here.’

‘Why not?’ Her eyes turned smoky. ‘We’ve snuck around in other places.’

‘Yes, and there was a reason for that.’

She rubbed her belly against his growing erection. ‘It was hot.’

He let out a groan that he swiftly changed into a cough. This time he heard voices coming their way.

‘Not here,’ he said decisively. ‘I want to take you home.’

Chapter Sixteen

He’d fought for her.

He’d come, he’d fought and they’d both won.

Erin felt lightheaded as they hurried down the stairwell and out to his car. Her mother was going to make a full recovery, and Colton had come for her. The weight that had been crushing her lifted, and her feet were so light, she was ready to take flight.

She couldn’t believe how fast everything had turned around. She had to pinch herself to make sure it was real.

She’d known her mother would recover. There had simply been no other option. She hadn’t even been able to contemplate the other possibilities.

Yet Colton…

Her gaze swept over his dark hair and wide shoulders. Those first few days, she’d waited for him to come after her. She’d desperately wanted him to come to his senses. Telling her not to love him? He needed love more than anyone she knew, and she couldn’t just turn off her feelings. She’d loved him for years. The more time had gone by, though, the less hope she’d had – and the more her resolve had strengthened.

She’d been with somebody who didn’t want her before, and she wasn’t going to do it again. She’d needed to put herself first.

But then her mother’s scare had brought everything into such contrast.

Love was love.

She wasn’t going to hold it against Colton when he’d walked into that waiting room. If he’d come as her friend, that would have been enough. She’d just been so relieved he was there. If that was all they could be to each other any more, she would have taken it.

But this was so much better.

She curled into the buttery leather seat of his car and, for the first time in nearly a week, relaxed. She felt as if she was coming out of hibernation. She hadn’t kept up with anything: the news, her friends, the passage of time. The weather seemed to have turned a corner. The sun was shining brightly, and the snow on the ground looked fluffy and pretty. ‘My mom’s going to be OK.’

If she said it aloud, maybe it would start to sink in.

Colton took her hand. ‘Marilyn had me scared.’

Erin squeezed his hand. She’d been terrified.

The streetlight turned green, and she watched him as he drove. His hair looked shaggier, and he seemed more muscular in the closed confines of the car. When she’d asked about him (because she couldn’t help herself), Dustin had told her how he’d been tearing it up on the basketball court.

The news media had told her how he’d been tearing it up in the judicial one. His latest case was even higher profile than his last, and news reporters were starting to follow him like a celebrity. She’d eaten up the short clips of him giving statements to the press.

She’d missed him, but she hadn’t been willing to go back. Not if he couldn’t admit he loved her too.

Only he’d done that now. He’d announced it to her entire family.

Her eyelids grew heavy as the car rolled smoothly down the street. The constant stress had worn her down. It had taken all the strength she had not to break, but now the worry was gone. After she’d made love to him, she was going to sleep for a week.

They should be at his row house soon.

She rolled her head on the seat to look out of the window. It took her a moment to orient herself. They weren’t headed to Dupont Circle. Instead, he was driving away from his place.

Erin frowned. DC wasn’t laid out in a crosshatch pattern like most urban areas. Instead, it had been planned in a series of hubs and spokes. The major roadway they were on led northwest to Georgetown. Why were they going there?

‘Are we going to my parents’ house?’

Had she missed something? Had her mother needed them to pick up something for her?

‘No, I’m taking you to my place.’

Erin pushed her feet against the floorboard and sat up taller. She recognised the neighbourhood, but this wasn’t where he lived. She looked at him sharply when he pulled into the unattached garage of a house that was familiar but should have no connection to him. ‘This is Sienna’s parents’ house.’

‘It’s mine now.’

She twisted in her seat when she saw the ‘sold’ sign on the front stoop. ‘Colton, what did you do?’

His expression turned sombre as he parked and killed the engine. ‘I couldn’t stay in the row house any longer, not without you there.’

Her breath caught. ‘So you bought a house you knew I loved instead?’

‘I didn’t say I was thinking straight.’ He played absently with her fingers. ‘You’ve been messing up my head, Erin.’

No more than he’d been messing with hers. She cupped his face and felt the five o’clock shadow. ‘Show it to me?’

‘You’ve seen it a thousand times before.’

‘But it wasn’t yours then.’

He smiled and hurried around the car to open her door for her.

Erin stretched as she got out of the sporty sedan. This house had always been so intriguing to her, with its history and unique features – but he’d known that, hadn’t he?

He might have been running from her, but he hadn’t been able to leave.

She looked over the exterior of the Tudor with its timber framing and cobblestone walks. Georgetown actually predated Washington DC, and the buildings showed the neighbourhood’s age. She remembered Sienna telling her the house had been a chapel in the mid-1800s. It had been remodelled into a residence aeons later, and the Blakelys had done another renovation since.

The place was beautiful.

Around here, all the houses butted up against each other, wealthy or not, but this one had character. A yard ran along the entire south side and circled along the back to end in an outdoor patio. She remembered drinking lemonade in the shade of the awning with Sienna in the summertime.

She wondered what Colton and she might do out there now.

He took her hand and led her up the walk to the rounded front door. ‘The deal hasn’t closed yet, but Sienna gave me the key so I could start moving things in.’

Erin sighed in pleasure when she walked into the house. The living room had a cathedral ceiling and the half-circle window she loved so much. There was a fireplace, of heavy wooden construction, and so many special features that called to her designer’s heart. Opening her arms wide, she spun around.

‘Do you think you might want to move in with me?’ His expression turned serious. ‘No more sneaking around. Will that be enough for you?’

Enough? She planted her hands on her hips. ‘Are you asking me to be boring with you?’

Because that sounded more exciting to her than anything.

‘Erin, life around you is never boring.’ He lifted an eyebrow. ‘Never has been. I don’t see how it could be.’

Her grin hurt her face. She wasn’t going to totally give up the secret meetings. Just because they were playing house didn’t mean she couldn’t show up at his office au naturel. Or at the gym or her parents’ house or the cabana by the pool…She hadn’t just dodged a bullet with Marty; she’d avoided a cannonball that would have totally ruined her life. Her ex had been right. The two of them hadn’t fitted, but starting a life with someone wasn’t boring. She couldn’t imagine being anywhere else than right here, right now, with the man of her dreams.

‘Colton, this is crazy. What are there, four bedrooms?’

‘Five, if you count the nanny’s room.’

A nanny’s room. Her belly trembled, yet she winked at him. ‘How are we going to fill them?’

‘I’ve got some ideas.’

He stuffed his hands deep in his coat pockets and looked around the extensive, mostly empty, space. He was also a man with plans; she could see it in the set of his shoulders. The house had so many possibilities and such potential.

Just like the two of them.

His dark gaze settled upon her again, and a familiar sensuality came over her. When he started walking towards her, her fingernails bit into her palms.

‘There’s the master bedroom,’ he said. ‘That’s right upstairs in the corner.’

She knew where the master bedroom was.

‘Then I figured I can convert one room into a home office. The most famous designer in the world will need one, too.’

‘Aw, Colt.’

He stopped, his toes nearly bumping against hers. ‘Then there’s the two kids and a yard for the dog.’

Erin melted inside. He’d been attentive all those years ago. He’d destroyed the competition when they’d been forced to play the Newlywed Game. If he’d been there from the start, they would have won. She’d paid just as much attention to him.

‘Think of it this way,’ he said, ‘when Jason and Sienna bring their brood of four over, we won’t have enough room.’

Erin bit her lip. ‘Do you want kids?’

‘Yes.’

He didn’t even pause to think about it, and she let out a puff of air. What would their babies look like? Cute and blonde? Dark and dashing? An insatiable need to know struck her.

She slid her hand into his and stepped back, tugging him towards the staircase. ‘Maybe we should go practise.’

His eyes practically smouldered. ‘Maybe we should.’

Erin led him up the stairs. She saw boxes in some rooms, a painting in another, and the shelf of Matchbox cars in another small bedroom on the second floor. She didn’t see any heavy furniture, but that didn’t matter. They didn’t need a bed. There were the showers and tubs. There was even the kitchen island if it came from push to shove, but when she walked into the master bedroom she saw a lone mattress on the floor.

It was made up, with a blanket tucked smoothly at the bottom. He’d been sleeping here.

His arms came around her from behind and she leaned into him. She’d missed his heat and his strength.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said. The words were soft, but there was a plea for forgiveness in his voice that wrenched at her heart. ‘I should have stood up for you before. I should have laid my heart on the line and gone after what I wanted.’

‘Why didn’t you?’ she asked. ‘You defend people all day long. You fight for what’s right. Why couldn’t you fight for us?’

He was quiet for a long moment.

‘I was scared,’ he finally admitted. He let out a breath that stirred her hair. ‘I was afraid of losing the people who were close to me. In the end, I lost the one who mattered most.’

He rested his chin on top of her head and held her tightly. ‘I’ve missed you like hell, Erin.’

Tears stung her eyes. ‘I missed you, too, but I was so mad at you.’

‘I deserved it.’

She turned in his arms and put her hands on his chest. ‘I was the most upset about you not standing up for yourself. You’re a good man. When are you going to accept that?’

‘When you tell me enough times.’

She gave him a push. That wasn’t good enough.

He swore softly and looked out the window at the side garden. ‘Erin, I didn’t have the best childhood. You know that. When your family took me under their wing, it was the first time I saw how a family is supposed to function. But…I guess when your father told me to keep my hands off of you, I heard it in my head as him saying I wasn’t good enough for you.’

‘I told you that you are.’

‘When you walked out on me, it confirmed that he was right.’

‘You broke my heart, Colton. You told me not to love you.’

A muscle in his jaw flexed. ‘And that’s on me. I just felt like we were living on borrowed time, and that I didn’t have a choice. I would have stayed away, for your own good. I did my damnedest, but when I heard what happened to Marilyn, my first impulse was to get to you.’

She swallowed hard. ‘I was so relieved when you came.’

‘I love you, Sunny.’

Erin’s heart took flight. He’d told her family, but that was the first time he’d told her.

He put a finger under her chin and made her look at him. ‘You said it to me, and I didn’t say it back. I was an idiot, but I’m saying it now. I’ve loved you since I was eighteen years old.’

Tears thickened her throat. She’d known he cared about her, but when he wouldn’t say it…

It had ripped her up inside.

‘I love you so much,’ she said hoarsely.

‘I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to show you how much,’ he promised.

He kissed her so softly, it felt like the brush of a feather. All around them, the house stood silent and protective. Erin let out a shuddering breath when his hands slid under her top. He pulled it off and gathered her into his arms. She rose on tiptoe to kiss him back, and their bodies came together.

It felt so good. She’d missed him badly. She’d missed talking to him, teasing him and making love until they were both covered in sweat. The connection between them was so deep, she didn’t understand how he could have denied it.

‘I’ve barely been able to function without you,’ he admitted. His hands were slow and seductive as he undid her jeans and pushed them down. ‘Your brother has been watching me like a hawk.’

‘He’s been babysitting me too.’

Erin’s stomach cinched in when Colt knelt before her to take off her shoes. She braced her hands on his shoulders as he peeled her socks down one by one. It left her in only her bra and thong. In the big, gaping house, she should have felt cold, but all she sensed was heat as his gaze gobbled her up.

It had been weeks since they’d made love. For ever since his mouth had been voracious at her breasts, and she’d felt him moving deep inside her.

His fingers worked under the straps of her tiny underwear, and her thighs trembled. It wasn’t going to stay on her for long. Her nails left half-moon impressions on his shoulders as she tried to stay still.

Then he was pulling her thong inexorably downward, and it was suddenly hard for her to breathe. She was covered on top, but the heart of her was bare and vulnerable. Yielding.

And he still knelt before her.

He pressed a kiss to her lower abdomen, and her muscles began to shake. Those dangerous kisses skimmed lower and lower until her womb was throbbing. His hands pressed against her knees, encouraging her to widen her stance. As wanton as it felt, Erin did.

Her head fell back when he placed a kiss directly upon her mound.

‘Colton,’ she cried as he worked his face against her.

The open-mouthed kisses were electric. She wove her fingers into his hair and held him to her. He clutched her just as tightly, both hands biting into her bottom. He massaged her there, and her knees buckled.

He caught her and lowered her to the mattress.

‘Your old man was right,’ he rasped. ‘I would have had you knocked up in no time if he hadn’t held me off.’

Erin squirmed as Colton rose above her. Nothing was holding him off her now. She wanted his weight pressing down on her. She wanted his hands pushing her thighs apart and his mouth at her breasts.

He began to strip off his clothes, and she reached for the back tab of her bra.

‘Leave it on,’ he ordered.

‘But…’

It made her exposure down low seem all the more shocking. She could walk around topless and not feel like this. Hot, bothered and somewhat obscene…

But she lowered her hands obediently.

He gave her a quick, hot kiss. She followed him up when he tried to pull back. She’d missed him kissing her senseless.

She’d been senseless without him.

‘What have you been doing without me?’ he asked. His shirt dropped to the floor, and her gaze ate up his muscled chest. She stroked him possessively, but arched in surprise when he caressed her between her legs.

‘No escorts?’ His voice was low, but it had an edge.

‘Ahhh!’ she cried when his finger flicked her clit. ‘No escorts.’

She hadn’t hired anyone from Luxxor. None of them could have given her what she needed.

He worked down his jeans, and she reached out to help him. His boxer briefs came down too, and his rigid cock popped out.

Erin’s stare became stuck. ‘I got a job,’ she said dumbly.

‘You did? Where?’

He looked bigger than she remembered. Stiffer. She took him eagerly in both hands. Even then, she couldn’t cover the length of him.

Or the width.

‘At the wedding shop.’ Of all places…

It was getting difficult to think straight. Her thighs were becoming wet as her body prepared itself for the coming heavy invasion. ‘I’m going to design weddings.’

She swept her thumb over the head of his rock-hard penis. ‘And make brides happy.’

He rolled on to the mattress with her. ‘Isn’t that the groom’s job?’

‘It’s yours right now,’ she groaned.

Spreading her thighs, she guided him to her. She got him to where he needed to go, but he took it from there. Erin arched as he pushed into her slowly and purposefully.

‘Ohh,’ she groaned.

He seated himself deep and looked down into her face. ‘Did you want to get married?’ he asked.

Oh, God. Right now, she just wanted to get to the honeymoon. ‘Eventually,’ she groaned.

He didn’t move, and the pressure of his penetration made her entire body pulse. She dug her fingers into his bottom as she tried to get him to fuck her, and frustration made her a little crazy when he just smiled down at her. ‘Right now, I just want everyone in the world to know I’m screwing Colton King!’

That finally got him going. His hips began to bang into her. He held her down and slid his hand along her side.

But then he made a grunting sound of discontent and rolled until they were both on their sides. Catching her behind the knee, he drew her top leg around his hip. Erin’s thigh clenched in pleasure. She learned the movement quickly and was soon swinging her hips forward to accept his thrusts.

Finally, finally, he undid her bra and settled his mouth over her nipple.

She let out a cry that had to radiate all the way downstairs when he began to suckle her. Oh, God. Now she understood why he’d made her keep it on for so long.

She stroked her hand up and down his back. On their sides, coming together as they were, they felt like equals. ‘So nobody is on top?’ she asked.

‘I wouldn’t say that.’ His hand met her bottom in a sharp love tap that sent heat through her like a fire blow-up.

‘Colton!’ she squealed. The slap had sounded loud and naughty in the empty, echoing house. She met his dark gaze and nearly drowned in it. Her body melted against him, and she wiggled her butt against his palm. ‘Spank me harder.’

She wasn’t all that innocent any more.

Epilogue

‘A wedding planner?’ Nina said with a smile on her face brighter than Erin had ever seen. The woman swivelled in her leather chair behind her massive desk. She even let out a chuckle. ‘That’s a twist I didn’t see coming. How delightful.’

Erin felt a smile tugging at her lips, too. A dumped bride helping other women bring their wedding fantasies to life? She was aware of the irony. ‘My goal is still to be an interior decorator, but I need to polish my résumé and work harder on the job search. Unlike Sienna, I let that all fall by the wayside when I was finishing up my master’s degree.’

‘That’s understandable.’

Not really.

‘Wedding planning suits me well for now.’ Erin liked the paradox. At least something had come out of all that pain and suffering. ‘Little did I know at the time I was collecting colour swatches and choosing boutonnières that I was apprenticing for a job.’

Nina lifted an eyebrow and gestured at her office. ‘Our careers often take paths we don’t expect.’

Her tone was so dry, Erin was momentarily taken aback. Then she laughed again. ‘True.’

She hadn’t known Nina had a sense of humour. The woman was smart, powerful, stylish and sexy, yet she was also as guarded as Fort Knox. Erin guessed you had to get close to her to really know her. From the small vantage point she had, she liked the woman.

DC madam or not.

‘I’m happy with where I am,’ she said, ‘in all parts of my life.’

Nina tilted her head. ‘I’m glad everything worked out so well for you and Colton.’

‘Me, too,’ Erin said softly. She was still pinching herself over that. After so many years of wanting and waiting, it was hard to believe that her dream had come true.

‘I know I caused some real issues when I came to you for help.’ It seemed like so long ago when she’d walked down Luxxor’s hallway, eager and determined to make some changes in her life.

She’d made changes, all right, but ones she never expected. ‘I can only imagine the alarms that were going off behind the scenes.’

Nina gestured casually. ‘Really, the things you wanted weren’t that different from what we typically provide. You just didn’t realise that your dates were professional escorts.’

The gesture turned into an offered palm of apology. ‘I apologise for that. I didn’t know you at the time. We have to be very careful about whom we take on as clients. I wasn’t sure I could trust you to keep our confidentiality, and Sienna was adamant that you not find out.’

‘I know. We’ve talked about it.’ Erin tucked her hair behind her ear. She was aware Nina was playing down the situation. Sienna had apologised, too, but she’d also laughed as she’d told stories about how she and Rielle had panicked. Nina, true to her reputation, had apparently remained calm. It was still amazing to Erin how the company managed to keep nearly all of its offerings under wraps.

Some of the company’s escorts might go under wraps, too, but Erin didn’t like to think about that. It only reminded her of why Colton had turned to Luxxor…when he should have been able to turn to her…

She rubbed her temple. She could only imagine how she would have reacted back then if she’d known that she was stumbling into an escort service. She’d been so naïve and oblivious.

Nina unfolded her legs and rolled her chair forward. ‘Actually, you’ve brought to light an intriguing business opportunity. I’m thinking about adding matchmaking to Luxxor’s line of services. It does fit in well with our strengths.’

Finding mates for the powerful and wealthy? Erin could see that. DC’s elite were already Nina’s clientele, and matchmaking was a natural offshoot.

‘It wouldn’t take any capital to establish. Our messaging would need tweaking, but Sienna already has some ideas. It could be an exciting new market for us.’

Exciting and legal.

Erin pressed her lips together. That was not an observation for her to make.

‘To be honest, I’ve found it rewarding to work with you,’ the CEO said.

‘Me, too.’ Erin felt a pang of regret. Nina had helped her through so much. She’d been a good sounding board and a clear frame of reference. Neither her mother nor Sienna could have done that for her. They both knew Colton too well and the background they had together. They never would have been able to see into the heart of the matter. ‘I’m sorry this will be our last session.’

She felt like she should have brought a cake or something. She’d been trying to branch out from pie.

‘This is the best outcome possible,’ Nina said. ‘You and Colton have made a perfect match.’

Erin blushed. She didn’t know about perfect, but they were a couple now. A real one. They still had their challenges, but they’d conquered the biggest one – their own doubts.

‘You’ll just have to get used to people not being repeat customers.’ Almost as soon as the words were out, Erin clapped a hand over her mouth. She might have gone too far. She was sure Nina’s humour had limitations.

Nina simply waved her off. ‘So tell me, as our inaugural client, how would you rate our services?’

Erin blinked. Seriously? ‘A ten. You got me my teenage crush!’

And her big brother’s best friend to boot. Wasn’t that the forbidden fruit for all good girls?

If she hadn’t used Luxxor, Colton never would have gone out with her. He never would have taken her feelings seriously, he never would have broken his promise to her father, and he never, ever, in a million years, would have become upset enough to spank her.

Erin shifted in her chair.

Nina leaned forward, and her expression turned serious. ‘When we began these talks, you were searching for an answer to a very specific question. Did you find it?’

‘I did.’ Erin met her steady gaze with confidence. ‘I’m not boring.’

Colton didn’t think so, and neither did she. Not any more. Boring people didn’t make love in an empty living room in front of a raging fire. They didn’t take up exotic dancing or even French cooking. She and Colton had crushed Sienna and Jason in every game of Password they’d played last weekend during a winter snowstorm, and she’d been jazzed. Her life was fun, energetic and fulfilling.

And she’d landed the sexiest man on earth to share it with her.

‘Then the arrangement worked out to both our benefits.’ Nina stood and smoothed her skirt. Her suit managed to be both powerful and sexy at the same time. ‘Let me see you out.’

Erin looped her purse over her shoulder and followed down the hallway. She could see Rielle talking animatedly with someone in the lobby. Their next appointment was apparently here. Her time with Luxxor was nearly over.

‘I doubt this is the last we’ll see of each other,’ Nina said. Her walk was model perfect in her high heels. ‘I expect Sienna will keep us updated on all the latest with you and Colton.’

‘That’s true,’ Erin said. ‘And I’ll be interested to hear how your new venture goes.’

‘What venture is that?’ a low voice asked.

When she and Nina turned the corner, Erin was so surprised she jumped.

‘Detective,’ she squeaked.

‘Morgan.’ Nina’s greeting was more arch.

Tension formed where none had been, and it pulled until the office walls were about to pop. Erin looked back and forth between the two. They were engaged in a silent stare-off. She shot a look at Rielle. The pretty office admin winced and shrugged her shoulders.

‘Well, thank you for your time.’ Gathering her coat, Erin sidestepped around the pair and scurried for the door.

‘Ms Foster?’

Drat! She gritted her teeth at her foiled escape, but smoothed her expression and turned. ‘Yes?’

‘You might want to hear this news, too. I just dropped by to tell everyone that the case against Jason Sloan has been dropped.’

Oh, really?

Erin squealed in delight, but Nina merely crossed her arms. The outcome did not surprise her. It was exactly what should have happened weeks ago.

‘That’s great!’ Erin lunged towards the detective as if to hug him, but stopped short. Instead she lifted her arms in victory and did a little dance. ‘Thank you.’

The detective seemed surprised by the little blonde’s exuberance. ‘I just presented the facts to my superiors as I saw them.’

‘Yes, well…I knew that Jason hadn’t done anything wrong.’ The smile on her face widened, and so did her eyes. ‘I have to go tell Colton and then call Sienna.’

She darted towards the door, but stopped to wave before it closed behind her. ‘Thanks again, Nina and Rielle. ’Bye, Detective.’

She was gone in a puff of energy, and the detective shook his head as if dizzy. ‘Where is that stuff bottled, and can I get some?’

Nina wasn’t amused.

He turned to face her, and Rielle busied herself at her computer. Nina’s eyes narrowed. Some help her assistant was. She had to hold her ground on her own as the detective took in the stiff set of her jaw, her crossed arms and her tapping toe.

‘No dance from you?’ he said.

‘For you doing your job?’ Nina rolled her eyes.

‘Right,’ the detective said. Lowering his chin, he started towards her. Nina flinched when he caught her arm and directed her towards her office. ‘Shall we?’

She watched, dumbfounded, as he continued on his way as if he had the right. ‘No,’ she said tugging her arm away. ‘We shan’t.’

He gestured towards her open door. ‘I need to talk to you.’

Without waiting, he bulled right in. Nina’s jaw dropped. He’d visited her in her office before, each time uninvited, but now he was strolling in as if he was in charge?

She rubbed her arm absently where he’d touched her. It felt warm and sensitive.

Oh, hell, no.

Letting her arms fall to her sides, she marched after him. When she found him sitting with one hip hitched up on her desk, waiting for her, she skidded to a stop. Her heels dug into the carpeting, and her hands fisted.

Determinedly, she made them unfold.

‘Why don’t you make yourself comfortable?’ she said.

His eyebrows lifted, but then his onyx gaze slowly dropped. It glided over her with heat so banked and intense, she felt a flare-up in the pit of her stomach. Her reaction was so surprising, Nina glared at him. She didn’t like surprises, especially one as unexpected as this. Turning on the heel of her stiletto, she closed the door to her office with a soft click. She didn’t want Rielle listening in.

‘So how does the Foster girl factor in here?’ the detective asked. He picked up the blue glass dolphin paperweight on her desk, and Nina’s jaw locked. He was in her space and touching her things. ‘I haven’t been able to quite figure that one out.’

And he wouldn’t.

She summoned her calm and analysed him with the same scrutiny. Dark hair, unsettling onyx eyes and an athletic build. Sensuality. Self-confidence. A laser-sharp mind.

So many items on her own personal wish list.

Pushing back her hair, Nina walked past him to stare out of the bank of windows behind her desk. He was just poking around, trying to get a rise out of her. He knew nothing more about Luxxor than the first day he’d walked in. She’d dealt with worse.

But none who had unsettled her as much as he did.

Below her third-storey window, the street was busy. DC was awakening from its winter inertia. A temperate day had residents out and about, and she was sure the rare winter visitors were swarming the National Mall and monuments.

She turned to face him. ‘You were talking about Jason?’

She remained standing rather than taking her seat, and she kept the massive oak desk between them. He irked her with the way he still sat atop it with his muscled leg swinging slowly. ‘I was.’

‘I assume you found the video evidence that I told you about? The footage where the reporter put his hands on my employee?’

Technically, Kyle Pratt had only touched the ends of Sienna’s hair, but that was exactly what it was – a technicality.

‘I did.’ The detective nodded. He held the dolphin up to let the light shine through it. The piece looked so sleek and delicate in his tough hand, and he was holding it with such care. ‘Several weeks ago.’

Nina let one eyebrow arch. ‘You take your time.’

He cocked his head. ‘Yes, ma’am. I do.’

Arousal unfurled deep inside her, languid and stretching. Her fists curled again, this time until her fingernails bit into her palms.

‘Ridiculous. I’m sure taxpayers would love to hear how you spend your time.’

The man took a slow look around her office, and the heat building inside her became uncomfortable.

‘There was a lot for me to look into.’

The silky tone of his voice slithered along her nerve endings. No matter how much he provoked her, she had to remember this was a dangerous man. His curiosity about her and her business was like a prowling tiger. He could pounce at any time.

She needed to be ready. Better yet, distract him to something else.

He put the dolphin back down, precisely where he’d found it. ‘All charges have been dropped, and Mr Sloan has agreed to do some public service announcements on TV and radio.’

‘Jason settled?’ she said in surprise.

The detective shrugged, and his muscles bunched lazily. ‘I don’t get involved in the lawyers’ games, but, from what I hear, the ads will be focused on preventing violence against women.’

Oh, well, that was something she could see the tough defenceman getting behind. He was head over heels in love with Sienna, and he’d been protecting her from a jerk who’d been harassing her when everything had happened. Nina smoothed her hair behind her ear and touched her earring. ‘That’s admirable of him.’

‘Yes, it is,’ the detective agreed. His focus shifted slightly from her eyes to her ear, and Nina’s absent playing halted.

She folded her arms again and tilted her foot back on its heel. She’d never admit it, but her feet were beginning to hurt.

The detective cleared his throat. ‘But you’re right, the investigation took longer than usual with the holidays and everything.’

She accepted that. But why was he here, telling her all this? She was just a witness, one of many. That punch had gone viral on social media. Literally millions of people had watched it. He could have just called her to tell her the charges had been dropped, or not even that. Detectives didn’t follow up with witnesses to let them know how cases had turned out. She wasn’t stupid.

He was here for another reason.

‘Did you have a good Christmas, Nina?’

The question made her flinch. It was polite, something a stranger could offer as conversation, yet between them it bordered on being intimate. Before she could think of an appropriate response, he was standing up, and she found herself tilting her head back to look him in the face.

Her breath escaped silently between her lips. Prowling tiger wasn’t a bad description. This guy could eat her up and spit her out. Or brush against her in a nuzzling caress that she’d feel all the way down to her toes.

The lifted toe of her shoe came down fast.

‘It was very nice, thank you.’

‘I suppose New Year’s Eve is a busy night for Luxxor.’

Her breathing stopped, and cold flashed through her. What did he know? What had he found out? Or was he still searching?

She pressed her lips together and refused to let him see her tremble.

His eyes narrowed, but his jaw softened. ‘Anyway…you won’t be seeing me around here much any more.’

Thank God for that. She wanted to help him along, push him out of the door and on his way.

Yet disappointment wafted through her too.

She traced her fingertips along the hem of her jacket. It was just the disappointment of losing a worthy adversary, she assured herself. Nothing more.

‘Goodbye, Nina.’

‘Goodbye, Detective Morgan.’

He paused. ‘Josh.’

Her pulse thumped once. ‘Josh.’

His pupils flared, alarming her that she’d betrayed something, but then he turned. For a big man, he moved well. He crossed the room in silence, and her gaze raked over him hungrily. He opened the door with just as much stealth and closed it behind him before Nina realised she’d followed him halfway across the room.

Good heavens.

What was wrong with her?

The tension inside her drained out, and she lowered her head. It was a good minute before she regained her bearings. Then, standing up straight, she smoothed her clothes. She turned back to her desk, but came to an almost immediate halt.

There was something on her desk that hadn’t been there before. A tiny box sat on the corner where the detective had just been.

She looked over her shoulder quickly, but she couldn’t call out. He’d gone. The way he moved, she wouldn’t even be able to catch him in the lobby now.

Not in these heels.

She eyed the box suspiciously and took a hesitant step forward. She was overcome by the curiosity of the big cat she’d compared him to, and she picked it up. It was about three inches square, but heavier than she expected. The box was royal-blue and wrapped with a grey bow.

She plucked at the bow’s end and it unravelled like silk. She gripped the box lid but stopped.

‘He did this on purpose,’ she told herself aloud. ‘Don’t let him get to you.’

He was a cagey one…with his sharp onyx eyes and the hint of silver at his temples…

She frowned. She should put the box down now. Wrap it up and return it.

Which was precisely why she lifted the lid and took a peek.

‘Oh.’

Slowly, she sank into the chair behind her. It was the one in front of her desk, not her power chair.

Carefully, she reached into the box. From out of its tissue paper, she lifted a blue glass figurine. A butterfly.

She looked at the dolphin on her desk and her collection on the shelf on the wall.

The guy didn’t miss a beat.

She set the butterfly in the middle of her palm. It was spreading its wings and about to fly.

‘Did you have a good Christmas, Nina?’ His sexy baritone voice rumbled in her ears.

She melted into the chair. Damn the man. He’d bought her a butterfly.

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