Romance for Cynics by Nicola Marsh

him to place a hand on her shoulder and squeeze.
    ‘I’m not usually in the habit of saying things I don’t mean.’ He slipped off the couch and sat next to her on the floor, his hand skating across the back of her neck so that his arm ended up draped across her shoulders. ‘You’re extremely talented. This garden will be worth every cent you extort out of me when it’s done.’
    She elbowed him in the ribs. ‘Hey! I’m worth it.’
    ‘Yes, you are,’ he said, his smile fading as she glanced up, their faces temptingly close.
    Cash had no idea how long they sat there, staring at each other. His heart pounded so hard he thought it’d leap out of his chest, that was how much he wanted her.
    He wanted to kiss her.
    Hell, he wanted to do a lot more than kiss.
    He waited for Lucy to shrug off his arm, leap up and put an end to this ridiculously tension-fraught moment while the air practically sizzled between them.
    His fingers grazed her bare upper arm, the soft skin warm and inviting.
    She didn’t flinch or pull away.
    He traced lazy circles, his fingertips snagging on the armhole of her tank top.
    She didn’t move.
    His hand drifted towards her neck, slowly rubbing, an impromptu massage that bordered on erotic.
    Lucy’s eyelids fluttered shut at the same time her lips parted, allowing a soft, wistful moan to escape.
    It was all the invitation he needed.
    He kissed her.
    Ravaged her mouth with the pent-up frustration making him want to tear her clothes off.
    Taunted her with his tongue. His turn to groan when she matched him.
    She surged upward. Straddled him. Made him go a little nuts when she devoured him right back.
    He strummed her back, and lower, to cup her ass.
    She tore her mouth from his, staring at him in wide-eyed wonder. ‘What the hell are we doing?’
    ‘About to have mind-blowing sex because we like each other?’
    ‘I don’t like you,’ she said, her coy smile making a mockery of her feisty declaration.
    ‘Too bad. Because I really like you.’ He ground his pelvis against her to prove it. ‘And I intend to show you how much all night long.’
    ‘Is that more of your usual overconfidence talking?’
    ‘Guess you’ll have to stick around to find out.’ He nuzzled her neck, inhaling the subtle, sweet fragrance that was pure Lucy.
    When she didn’t respond, he raised his head to look her in the eye. Last thing he needed was to complicate their weeklong arrangement. He knew the score about tonight. No-holds-barred sex. Did Lucy?
    ‘Last chance, Luce.’ He searched her beautiful brown eyes for a hint of regret, relieved when he only saw excitement and passion and heat. ‘If you stay, I’m going to ravish you all night. If you leave, nothing changes. Up to you.’
    She clambered off his lap and he silently cursed giving her an out.
    ‘Decisions, decisions,’ she said, with her back turned to him.
    Cash didn’t show vulnerability to anyone but in that moment he had to say what was in his heart. ‘I want you to stay.’
    Lucy didn’t speak, the silence taut with frustration and unfulfilled desire.
    Then she slowly turned back. Extended her hand to him. Her lips curved in a teasing smile. Her eyes bright. ‘Then I’ll stay,’ she said as he placed his hand in hers and she pulled him to his feet.
    The simplicity of her acceptance caught him off guard and he hugged her tight, wondering where the weird emotional stuff burning his chest was coming from and wishing it would go the hell away.
    Lucy slid her hands between their bodies and rested her palms on his chest, gently easing them apart. ‘You’re not getting all sentimental on me, are you?’
    Stupidly, he was, and he had no idea why. Something about this woman—her inherent goodness, her guilelessness, her honesty—got to him.
    So he did the one thing guaranteed to re-establish control.
    Wrapped his arms around her waist, hoisted her up, and backed her up against the nearest wall.
    She laughed. She actually laughed, a genuinely