The Name of the Game by Jennifer Dawson

a large purse on the leather bench and swung around, planting her hands on her generous hips. Her Playboy -worthy breasts jiggled in the silky material of her strapless dress. He’d been trying all night to figure out how the dress stayed up when it appeared as though one crook of his finger would send the fabric sliding to the floor.
    She blew out a breath, sending a curl flying. “I’ve been thinking about this truce of ours, and it’s not working.”
    He closed the door, blocking out the cool night air. He couldn’t argue with her there. “Maybe we just need time.”
    A frown marred her full mouth. “I want things to be normal.”
    â€œWhat’s normal?”
    â€œWith you?” She gestured at him like he exasperated her to her wits’ end. “I have no clue. But I’ve had it.”
    The evening’s turn of events clearly had her on edge, and he couldn’t say he blamed her. The sharp arousal had driven him crazy, inducing him to fantasies of yanking her into some dark closet. “Had what?”
    â€œI’ve had enough of this .” She waved her hand around wildly in the space between them.
    Despite his best intentions he felt a smile twitching at his lips, which he quickly repressed into a firm line. An evil part of him wanted to toy with her, to pretend confusion, but she seemed too agitated. And that response would be inappropriate, designed to provoke and tease, which wouldn’t help their current predicament. “Maybe it’s not possible for us to be friends, but I think we haven’t given it enough time.”
    She covered her face with her hands and hung her head. “What am I doing?”
    He itched to go to her but didn’t dare. They were a powder keg waiting to explode and it was better not to add spark to the detonator. “Maybe we need to start with the basics.”
    â€œHow?”
    He smiled, hoping to put her at ease. “I’ve seen you with other men. So go ahead, start flirting. Dazzle me with your smile and sweetness.”
    â€œYou’re impossible!” She clenched her hands into fists at her sides, as though trying to keep from punching him in the face.
    â€œToo much, too soon?” He carefully studied her, rubbing a hand over his jaw.
    â€œI’m serious!” She pressed her fingertips to her temple. “Argh, this is so frustrating! This isn’t going the way I planned. Which is pretty much par for the course with you, Professor.”
    It struck him how often he’d felt the same way about her. He always had the best intentions, but they never worked once he got in the same room with her. He gave her a wry smile. “I can relate.”
    She sucked in a breath that expanded her chest and her hands fell to her sides. “I’ve been thinking about this all night and I don’t see a lot of options other than to spit it out.”
    â€œPlease do,” he said, without the foggiest clue where this would lead.
    She seemed to contemplate for several long moments before drawing in another deep breath. “It seems like there’s something between us, even though we don’t want it there.”
    He nodded. “Yes, there is.”
    That seemed to bolster her confidence and she stood straighter, her chin tilted. “I think we should deal with it, once and for all.”
    â€œAnd what do you propose?” he asked, both dreading and anticipating the answer.
    â€œI don’t see any other way to solve the problem. As you pointed out, our lives are only becoming more entwined. But I think there’s too much tension. We need to fix it. . . .” Expression stormy, she shook her head. “Deal with the source of the problem.”
    James couldn’t argue with her logic. He raised a brow. “And how to you propose we do that?”
    That stubborn, wayward curl flopped over one eye and he clenched his hands to keep from tucking it behind her ear. A