Page 46 of Love In Hiding

He laughed. “You’re trying to bait me.”

“Is it working?”

He leaned closer to her, almost as if teasing. Tempting. Calling her bluff. Could be all the above.

She never shied away from a challenge and met him halfway.

Big mistake.

Their lips touched, the softness not just in his personality tonight, but in his skin.

In the way he gently brushed his lips to hers, the way he parted his mouth as if challenging her to taste more, go deeper, surrender more than she should do.

Challenge accepted!

Her tongue slipped in, and the taste of him was intoxicating. What she’d love more than anything was if he’d slid his fingers into her hair.

But he didn’t. He wouldn’t.

He was leaving her in control. It was better that way.

And that meant that if she didn’t lean back now, she’d be in some serious trouble.

When she did, he asked, “Is that the answer you hoped for?”

She remained silent because the truth was, she didn’t know what she hoped for. But it sure the hell wasn’t going to make sleep any easier tonight!

13

OUR PATTERN

“We should talk,” Spencer said the next day as they headed back toward the airport.

London let out a dry laugh. “And here it comes.”

“You can’t pretend last night didn’t happen.”

“You’ve been pretending all day. Why stop now?”

She wasn’t wrong. And it wasn’t fair.

After that kiss, he’d spent the entire night lying awake painfully hard with no relief in sight. And she hadn’t slept either. He’d heard every restless shift, every frustrated exhale, every kick of the sheets.

“We had work to do,” he said.

She laughed again, softer this time, but laced with disbelief. “Keep telling yourself that.”

He frowned. “You think it’s a game?”

“Hardly. I don’t play games, and I sure as hell don’t playthosekinds of games. I’m insulted you think that of me.” If her hands gripped the steering wheel any harder, it might crack open.

This was spiraling fast. “I don’t,” he blurted. “But you laughed.”

“Because you’re making excuses,” she snapped. “And I didn’t expect that from you.”

He blew out a breath. “We’re not getting anywhere. Again.”

“Seems to be our pattern, doesn’t it?” she said. “Unless there’s alcohol involved. Or maybe it’s just something about after hours.”