Home Is Where the Heat Is by Amelia James

he’d bailed out before his ship crashed and burned. Could he mount a rebellion? And then an even bigger question froze his heart: did she want to be rescued?

 
    Chapter 7
    Claire let out a huge sigh and slumped down on the table, barely landing her butt in the chair next to JT. They’d survived the encounter with Kurt… odd as it was… but he rarely got out of the office, so he had no idea JT had been a juror. She couldn’t risk running into someone who’d seen them at the courthouse. Just to walk out into the street with him in broad daylight presented a problem. Alex’s office faced the pub. If he happened to look out the window at just the right time…. No, better to stay here until after dark, then they could sneak out together. Another sigh escaped her.
    “Are you okay?” JT rubbed her back, circling his hand between her stiff shoulder blades.
    His gentle massage worked magic on her body, so she let him touch her despite the danger. “I’m so tired of worrying that someone is going to see us.”
    “So stop worrying.” He sat beside her, kneading her taut flesh with talented fingers.
    The tension in her neck eased and her head rolled to one side. “Just like that?”
    “Yep. Forget about ‘what if’ and enjoy the moment.”
    A smile soothed her lips. “That sounds like a fortune cookie.”
    His hands wandered down her back to her hips. “Hey, if you’d like to add ‘in bed’ to that statement, I’m more than happy to help.”
    She let him massage her thigh, his fingers teasing along the hem of her skirt. “But we’d have to leave the building to accomplish that.”
    “Not necessarily.” JT eyed the dim hallway near the restrooms. Then he grinned at her and leaned close, brushing his lips on her ear as she stiffened again. “I’ll bet you like having sex in public.”
    Her heart did a somersault at the thought of him dragging her down that hall, lifting her skirt, watching someone watch them as he stroked her exposed skin. “I’ve never tried it.”
    “No time like the present.” He slipped off his chair and grabbed her hand.
    “Whoa.” She pulled back and planted her feet. “The DA’s office is right outside, remember?”
    He turned back and retook his seat. “All right. I’ll find a better place to explore your exhibitionist side.” He leaned back and perused her ass. “Your backside, too.”
    I’m counting on it. She cupped his chin in her hand and redirected his gaze. “Let’s play pool. That’s harmless enough.”
    He followed her to the deserted table. “You play?”
    She pulled a couple of quarters from her pocket and let the porcelain balls tumble. “Yes, I do. My grandpa taught me when I was a little girl.”
    “Are you screwing with me?”
    “Not yet.” She winked and racked up the balls. “Come on. Afraid to lose again?”
    “Fuck, no.” He ripped a cue stick off the wall and joined her. “Ladies first.”
    “You’re going to regret that.” She sank three balls off the break.
    JT slapped his palm over his face. “Fuck me with an honest woman.” But he got to take a few shots before she beat him. “Best two out of three?”
    “Let’s go.”
    He managed to win the next game, then their challenge became three of five, four of seven, five of whatever. By the time sunset cast long shadows on the gleaming office windows threatening them, they’d lost track of who’d won or lost.
    Claire glanced at her watch and then across the street. Five o’clock. Her colleagues would start leaving the building any minute now, gathering at the pub, asking her to join them—noticing her with JT, asking questions she couldn’t answer. “Let’s go out and have some fun.”
    His wicked blue eyes widened as a smug smile twisted his lips. “Say that again?”
    She crossed her arms under her breasts to keep from smacking him upside the head, and in the process, drew his gaze to her uplifted chest. “Fun. You know what that is, right?”
    “I’m familiar with the