Under the Covers by Rita Herron

panties."
    She froze, remembering he'd stuck them in his pocket as they'd left.
    "By the way, nice choice," he said in a gruff voice.
    Abby avoided his gaze, but his husky tone washed over her like silk along her skin. "They got caught in the dryer with my blouse."
    "Uh-huh."
    "Really." Abby fanned her face. "I spilled something on my blouse this morning and had to rinse it and dry it before the show and..." His low chuckle forced her to let the sentence trail off. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
    The devilish look remained. "It's hard to believe a woman who's written a sex guide could blush."
    "It's not a sex guide."
    "Call it what you want, but it is hot, Abby."
    "I only wanted to help couples. The divorce rate is just so high these days—"
    "Tell me about it."
    She searched his face for the truth, seeing it in the sudden sadness in his eyes. "You're divorced."
    "Yes."
    Sympathy tugged at her. "I'm sorry."
    "It's history." He shrugged again, although his expression seemed strained as his broad shoulders stretched along the back of the chair.
    She clutched her purse, a case of nerves attacking her. As if the man's raw sexuality hadn't affected her enough, now she was beginning to like him.
    Well, maybe not like, but at least see him as a real man, not just an actor.
    An impossible situation.
    He knew part of her secret, and she could not get tangled up with anyone right now. Besides, she was reacting this way only because Lenny had left her ego desperately in need of feeding. "I have to go." Gathering her courage, she squeezed his hand one more time. That electric touch zinged through her just as it had earlier. "And thanks for today. I hope you'll be discreet."
    "Don't worry, Abby." He leaned closer again, this time so close he actually brushed a gentle kiss to her hair as he whispered, "Your secret's safe with me."
    She sighed in relief and stood, legs wobbling like rubber bands. "Thank you so much. By the way, good luck with your acting. I'll look for you on the big screen." Then she turned and hurried away.
    Thank heavens she would never see the man again.

Chapter 7

     
    Panty Passions
     
    Shaken from the interview, Abby drove toward home, storm clouds brewing above, the interlude with that actor Harry Henderson playing over and over in her head. Had she said too much? Given away too much? Would he keep her secret or would she get caught in her lies?
    She had to extricate that man from her mind.
    He had been sexy and powerful and too damn charismatic for her. Just as Lenny had been in the beginning. Only even more so...
    But she'd remedied what little chemistry she and Lenny might have had, she thought with a rueful shake of her head. She'd been so stunning in bed, he had preferred men.
    Tears threatening, she flipped on the radio to try to calm herself; then the sky darkened to a fever pitch and rain clouds burst open. She cursed and turned on her wipers, and let the tears fall. Tears for the lies she'd told today. For the fool she'd been.
    For ever thinking she'd fallen in love with Lenny.
    For feeling an insane attraction to an actor her banana-sister had hired to play the husband who'd deserted her.
    Traffic crawled to a stop; an emergency vehicle raced by with its lights flashing. The cars in front of her braked to a dead halt. Obviously there was an accident ahead. Traffic would probably be at a standstill for an hour or two while the police cleared it.
    Realizing she was stuck, she decided to pull into the local superdiscount store to pick up some supplies. Tonight she would throw herself the mother of all pity parties and kiss her dreams of happily-ever-after good-bye.
    Because once again, it was Saturday night and she was single and alone.
    * * *
    Hunter finished his latte with a grin. He knew exactly what Abby Jensen was thinking as she left the shop: she would never see him again.
    A low chuckle rumbled from him as he tugged her thong from his pocket and gazed at the skimpy, silky fabric. But this time