Triple treat by Barbara Boswell Page B

Psycho-Kitty, and that's as close as I ever plan to get."
    "Sleuth is upstairs sleeping on my bed right now," Carrie said, using the name she had given her adopted cat. She was inordinately relieved that Alexa was wrong and there would be no calculated sob story about a beloved little dog. "That cat loves the heat. It can never get too hot for him," she added cheerfully.
    "Yeah, well, I told you he was crazy. But probably no crazier than I am at this point." And with that, Tyler reached for her with both hands and yanked her onto his lap.

    Six
    He'd scooped her up as easily as he lifted little Emily, simply plucking her from one spot and placing her in another, proving his greater strength and physical power over her. Common sense told Carrie that she had cause to be concerned. She was a woman alone with a much bigger, much stronger man whom she really didn't know all that well.
    But she felt no fear, not even a twinge of anxiety. Some intuitive insight assured her that she was not at risk, that she was safe with Tyler. As safe as she wanted to be. That renegade thought streaked through her head, startling her as much as her unexpected seat on Tyler's lap.
    She turned her head to look at him, and their gazes locked.
    Tyler stared into the blue depths of her eyes. His bad mood had completely evaporated. Suddenly the heat wasn't so unbearable anymore and the sound of the TV laugh track no longer made him want to commit mayhem. With his one hand resting on the curve of her hip and the other on her

    thigh, he could feel the warmth of her skin through the soft turquoise cotton of her dress. He felt his body tighten and begin to throb with pure sensual pleasure. He'd wanted this....
    The sexual tension radiated between them. Carrie felt the need to break the charged silence. "Do you do this often?" she murmured.
    Tyler kept his arms around her, pleased that she had made no attempt to get up, because he doubted that he would've let her. It was something of a revelation to discover that he harbored such Neanderthal instincts. They'd certainly never surfaced before.
    "Do I do what often?" He feigned ignorance, stalling for time.
    "That particular move of yours which landed me here on your lap," she said bluntly.
    Tyler winced. He was all out of time. "It wasn't a move, it was more like a lunge," he admitted grudgingly. "And quite unlike me. Normally, I'm smooth and sophisticated. Subtle. I've been complimented often on my superb technique. Not this time, though." He grimaced wryly. "There wasn't a hint of subtlety displayed here. I pounced on you the way Psycho-Kitty pounces on small prey."
    "Sleuth doesn't hunt anymore," Carrie assured him. "He has a home and a family now and he no longer roams. His hunting days are over."
    "Hmm, I doubt it. I think he's only experimenting with domesticity and will revert to his wild ways when he grows bored."
    Carrie shook her head. "His transformation is complete. Time will prove me right, you'll see."
    Tyler sighed impatiently. "Are we going to talk about that stupid cat all night?"
    "What would you rather talk about? Tremaine's marketing surveys?" Carrie teased, her blue eyes sparkling. "Now there's an infinitely fascinating subject." Without

    pausing to think about it, she slipped her arms around Tyler's neck, holding him as loosely and casually as he was holding her. She felt relaxed with him, yet at the same time excitement was churning through her.
    "I think I'd rather not talk at all," Tyler said tautly. He shifted his legs, causing her to sink back against him, more deeply in his embrace.
    Once more, her eyes met his. Carrie felt lost in his deep green gaze. Her head began to spin. He had such beautiful eyes, she thought dizzily. Such a sexy, irresistible mouth. Her hand crept up to trace the outline of his lips with her fingertips. She forgot to invoke her memories of Ian; she forgot everything except the feverish rush of need coursing through her.
    Tyler gently kneaded the curve of