Page 18 of Hawk and the Cougar

“That’s not a bad thing—not totally. You didn’t stereotype me.”

“Who could possibly stereotype you?”

He chuckled. “I guess they don’t know me the way you do.”

This time, heat pooled between her legs and tugged hard.

He took another bite of chicken. “What about you? What do you do?”

“I manage a clothing manufacturing plant.”

His brows rose. “Tough job.”

She thought of the phone call she would have to make tomorrow to GFW Industries if they forestalled the payment due to Leland Industries, and laughed. “It has its moments.” Liz grimaced. “But I’m much more boring than you are.”

“You’re anything but boring, sweetheart.” Fire burned in his eyes.

Her heart skipped. “I…I… Stop looking at me like that.”

“I plan to do a lot more than look, first chance I get.”

“You promised to be good,” she whispered.

“You’re sitting twelve inches from me, Liz. I am being good.”

“Your students don’t have to hear us to guess what we’re talking about,” she said. “It’s written all over your face, for God’s sake.”

“There’s plenty of privacy on the other side of that southwest pillar,” he replied matter-of-factly.

She gaped. “You’re incorrigible.”

“I’m a helluva lot more than that.”

Damn him, he was. She grabbed her water and took a long swig.

“You must want me bad to need that water,” he said.

She choked, then spewed water. Water sucked down her windpipe. She wheezed.

Hawk gave her a hearty slap on the back. “You okay?”

Her vision blurred, but she still discerned the amusement and satisfaction in his eyes. Liz opened her mouth to tell him to take a flying leap. Instead, she dragged in another harsh breath.

“Breathe easy,” he coaxed.

She shot him a dark look.

“It’s not my fault.” He rubbed gentle circles on her back.

The constriction in her throat eased. She took a small sip of water and was rewarded with a cooling sensation on the way down. She released a breath and wiped at the moisture in the corners of her eyes.

“Next time, take it easy with the water,” he said.

“Next time, I’ll take you over my knee.”

His mouth twitched into a smile. “Promise?”

Liz groaned, tore a hunk off the chicken leg with her teeth, and wondered what it would be like to do the same to him.