Sleeping with the Playboy by Julianne MacLean

Then she realized how hot they were and opened her mouth to wave a hand in front of her face. “Ow.”
    Donovan smiled as he returned to his whisking. “Burn yourself? If only you would exercise such a lack of caution and restraint with me.”
    She couldn’t help smiling. “I’m sorry, Donovan, but you have to admit I’m right. Especially after today.”
    He whisked faster. “Yes, and I must say, you were pretty impressive driving my car.” He lifted his sexy gaze. “You, my dear, are no debutante.”
    She laughed. “And you, kind sir, are an excellent cook.” She popped another tender, juicy scallop into her mouth. “What are you making?”
    â€œGrilled chicken with lemon cream sauce over angel hair pasta, and sautéed snow peas. Are you hungry?”
    â€œI’m starved and that sounds amazing. We forgot to eat dinner, didn’t we? For obvious reasons, I guess.”
    He tilted his head, not bothering to speak about why.
    â€œListen…Donovan,” she said cautiously, “before we sit down to eat, I’d like to clear the air about what happened today.”
    His gaze lifted again. “I got shot at by a stalker.”
    â€œBefore that.”
    â€œYou mean what attracted the voyeuristic teenagers? Yeah, that was interesting, too, wasn’t it?”
    â€œIt was more than interesting,” she replied, feeling like she was treading into dangerous territory, but needing to get this out in the open so it wouldn’t happen again. “It was excruciating.”
    He set the saucepan aside and flicked off the burner. Slowly, sensuously, he moved toward her like a confident panther on the prowl. Her blood began to race faster through her veins.
    â€œIn what way was it excruciating?” He took her hand and pulled her gently to her feet. She stared at him for a shaky moment while he raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. Tremors of delight danced across her skin.
    â€œIn that way.”
    His wicked gaze met hers.
    â€œYou’re cruel, Donovan,” she said in a low, breathy voice while she tried to fight the powerful emotions that were tugging at her from all directions.
    â€œNo more cruel than you are, not allowing me to have hope.”
    She swallowed over the huge lump of anxiety in her throat. “We shouldn’t be thinking about this kind of thing right now.”
    â€œYou’re the one who brought it up.”
    This was agonizing. “Yes, I did, because I thoughtwe should—” He laid a few more soft kisses upon her knuckles, and the cool, lingering moisture from his lips seemed to tingle all the way up her arm. She forgot what she was going to say. Damn him….
    â€œYou thought we should clear the air,” he said for her.
    â€œYes.” Thank you.
    â€œLet’s clear it, then. I promise I’ll be good.” He gave her hand back to her and let his own hands fall to his sides. “I’m listening.”
    Her heart did a few wild little somersaults in her chest. How was it possible that he could reduce her to a stammering idiot, when she’d promised herself she would be a brick wall?
    â€œI know I said I was going to resign,” she told him, “but in light of what happened today, and the fact that Tess can’t seem to find anyone to replace me on such short notice, I think it’s important for me to stay on for a little while.”
    He wet his too-inviting lips. “Ah. I suppose the next thing you’re going to tell me is that the kissing has to stop.”
    â€œPrecisely.” She waited with apprehension for his argument, prepared her rebuttals in her mind….
    â€œDone,” he said flatly.
    She shook her head in disbelief; her voice revealed her utter amusement. “Done? I don’t believe you.”
    He laid his hand on his chest, looking dismayed by her lack of confidence in his ability to keep his hands to