Right? Right.
Keith opened the door holding a long-stemmed red rose, which
seemed odd. He’d worked on a Valentine’s Day shoot a few months ago for the
February issue of a popular magazine, so she couldn’t imagine what he might be
working on today that required roses. His tight black jeans hugged him
perfectly and his button-down shirt was hanging open, giving her a peek at the
chest she’d frequently imagined kissing all over, using her tongue to trace the
contours of muscle…
Damn, she was doing it again. It wasn’t as if he was the
only attractive man she knew, just the only one she couldn’t seem to be around
without her brain shorting out. He held the rose out and she stared at it.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Valerie.”
She blinked at him and he took a step closer to nudge the
flower under her nose. Her hand came up automatically to wrap around the
de-thorned stem.
“Th-thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He gave her a big smile and stepped back,
inviting her inside. She started the mantra she’d repeated to herself a hundred
times in his presence. He’s just a nice guy who really likes women. All
women. That does not mean he loves all women, just that he likes to make them
feel special.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she realized he was
putting on shoes. Since he rarely wore them in his house, he had to be on his
way out the door. What could he need help with that quickly that she couldn’t
have accomplished over the phone? She ignored a pang of sadness and glanced
over at his desk to see what he was working on.
“You look beautiful. I like the top.” His warm-honey voice
made it hard to remember that he was just a client.
“Thanks.” She clutched the rose, feeling like an idiot.
She managed not to sigh as he stood and began to button his
shirt, covering himself. He was watching her, studying her with an intensity
that made her nervous. He seemed…oddly different today, but she couldn’t put
her finger on why. Once his shirt was buttoned most of the way, he ran his
hands through his hair, messing it up more than combing it, but she didn’t tell
him that. It was sexy this way, tousled as though he’d just gotten out of bed.
After rolling around in it. For hours. Her thighs clenched.
His lips twitched and she narrowed her eyes at him. What was
he up to?
“Come on,” he said, grabbing his keys and heading toward the
door while she stood in place, holding the rose.
“I thought you needed my help,” she said.
“Nope, just your company.” He came over and put his hand on
the small of her back, not pushing but urging her forward just the same.
“Uh.” Getting her brain to work when he was touching her was
always difficult and this time was no exception. What is he talking about?
What does he want? She needed the security of their business relationship
to keep from making a total fool of herself. Which was why she’d turned him down
the couple of times he’d asked her to join him socially. For him, it would be
fun to go see a movie with a friend. For her, it would be torture.
“Keith…” she began but he already had her out the door and
was turning around to lock up. “I have work to do.”
“I can almost guarantee you have nothing that absolutely has
to be done today. You don’t work that way. Right?” He turned, his face
determined and a little bit anxious. What the hell is going on?
“Well, no, but—”
“No buts,” he interrupted, reaching down to grab her hand
and pull her to his car.
The warm contact shorted her brain again. She couldn’t think
of what she should be telling him, could only debate between yanking her hand
away in desperation or reveling in the connection her body wanted so badly.
They reached the car before she could make a decision either
way. He opened the passenger door and turned to her, and this time she could
see the expectant hope in his face. “Come on, Val, take some time off, come
with me. It will be fun, I promise.
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