Lizzie Ashworth

Miss McClure..._ he had been talking while her mind drifted off. She brought her gaze back to his face, trying to focus on the flinty stare and thin line of his lips. __orry, I was distracted. And can__ you call me Bryn?_____l try, but generally I prefer a more formal approach in business dealings. It keeps the relationship clear.___ike, you in charge, the other person in submission?_ The words popped out before she edited herself. Her eyes grew large as she watched his face go through a change of expression. A slight smile hovered at the corner of his mouth.__es, something like that. Might I get a refill?_ He held up his empty glass.

No use kidding herself. This situation with Jarrod was a slippery slope. She__ had plenty of men since Sam, attractive, well endowed, charming in many ways. Jarrod was different, and she needed to figure out why before she found herself in the middle of stupid. She had a business to think of, people who depended on her for their livelihood, even more people present and future who needed the services she offered. It wasn__ just a job, damn it, it was a mission. No one should be as out of touch with themselves as thoroughly as she had been. For as long.

The question kept breaking into her thoughts as she maneuvered through light traffic and an increasingly difficult roadway. On impulse, she pulled into the crowded parking lot at the supermarket and made her way down one aisle and then another, tossing things into the basket without any real plan. Part of her wanted to snuggle into a cozy domestic situation with Jarrod, snow piled high outside, a pot of soup simmering on the stove, maybe a pie in the oven, and his rumbling baritone muttering sweet nothings in her ear. The other part wanted to run, fast, to her office and lock herself inside where she would scan potential vacation spots and book her flight. Leave tomorrow or, well, as soon as the runways were clear.

After a torrent of rapid knocking, Lucy swept past her in the hallway, threw her purse on the table, and landed her ass on the couch before turning expectantly toward Riley and patting the couch next to her. Her dark eyes examined every nuance of Riley__ appearance.__kay, dish,_ she demanded. __very last detail.__iley rolled her eyes and shook her head as she scooted across the floor in her sock feet. She didn__ feel great, but at least she wasn__ in full torture mode. She thought Lucy might have waited until afternoon instead of showing up at ten-thirty a.m. but what the hell. Her old sweatshirt hugged against her stomach as she pulled her arms together. __ell,_ she feigned ignorance, __hat do you want to talk about?__ucy slammed her hand on the couch. __h, don__ you even. Right now._ She threw herself back against the couch, her face fixed in a not-to-be-toyed-with expression. Riley noted with mild interest how her breasts jiggled inside her white t-shirt. Maybe she was turning into some kind of sex fiend.__kay, yes, he sets me on fire. I can__ help it. Blame my gender lineage.___ could see he set you fire. Your eyes could hardly look at anything else._ She picked at a tear in her faded jeans then flared back at Riley with an expression of awe. __f course, my eyes had a few spasms of their own in his direction. Shit, the man is a god. I can__ remember seeing a body that well put together. At least,_ she arched her back, __ot a male body.__iley threw back her head and laughed. Lucy was good tonic, at the very least. __h my god, can you stand it?!___o__ut tell me you didn__ give in, before I pass out.___o, we didn__ have sex. But he did kiss me and my panties nearly fell straight to my ankles,_ she chuckled. __e stopped himself, thank god, or I would have had him right there on the floor.___ou were drunk.___h, yeah, ridiculous drunk. He ordered steaks delivered while he drove me home, and then sliced the steak for me and practically put it in my mouth._ She couldn__ sit still, the memory forcing her up from the couch to pace. She__ spent the entire morning and half the night trying to forget everything about him, and of course the other half had been consumed with remembering everything about him. __hit. Fire._ Lucy__ glance followed her. __ want some. Can we have him?