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It wasn’t that big a deal, but he clung to his anger, looked for any excuse to feed the distracting emotion and refused to let her guilt him into feeling bad for condemning her efforts.
“It’s obvious there’s a lot you don’t know. Let’s add it to your list of lies.”
“I’m sorry.”
He snorted. “Save it for someone who’ll buy it.”
Her chin jutted forward, thrusting any remorse from her expression. “I am sorry. And I told Britt last night, she was still okay with me working here.”
He knew it’d been an act. A disgusted laugh accompanied the shake of his head. “It’s sickening how you’ve got them completely snowed. With the keys being handed to you, you don’t even have to figure out a way to steal the truck. I didn’t say anything last night, but now I’m thinking it’s time I tell Joel about our little meeting the other morning…”
Kendra’s eyes widened. “No! Please, you can’t.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t.”
Indecision chased the alarm from her eyes, then she blinked and all that remained was a plea. She stepped closer and laid a hand on his forearm. “Colton…please.”
His muscles flexed beneath her fingers, registering rough skin, yet a warm touch. “That’s it?” he sneered. “That’s all you’ve got?”
She lifted her hands to her forehead with a frustrated sound. Still, she gave him no reason to keep her secret. Yeah, she was definitely hiding something. He started to turn away.
“I’m begging you, what else do you want?” She grabbed his arm and held on. The notion that she could physically keep him from going to Joel was absurd, but she seemed willing to try. His sudden stop brought her up against him. Her breasts pressed along his tense forearm. Their eyes met and held, and he stared down at her in suspicious amazement.
Was she actually offering what he thought she was?
Not that he would go that route, but it’d be interesting to find out just how far she would go. He deliberately let his gaze slide along her body. “What are you willing to offer?”
Her heart beat erratically against his arm and her eyes widened as if she were surprised he’d called her bluff. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Kendra retreated. He followed. “Sure you do.”
Her back hit the stall door. He placed his hands on her trim waist and drew her forward. Pitched his voice low. “What are you willing to do to keep me silent, Kendra?”
Before she could say a word, he lowered his head. She trembled in his arms when his mouth covered hers. In that one breathless moment, he knew he had her, and an answering thrill shivered through him. Intent on cementing his evidence of how far she’d go to ensure he kept her secret, he opened his mouth and used his tongue to coax her lips apart.
Hazelnut teased his senses, tempered with an underlying sweetness he couldn’t identify. He wanted more. Colton pulled her closer to begin an earnest quest to determine the source of the addicting flavor.
Her lips parted.
She pressed forward.
And then she bit his lip.
He jerked his head back. “What the hell—”
“Let. Me. Go.”
The taste of blood hit his tongue about the same time he realized he’d completely forgotten his objective for the kiss. Colton released her and raised the back of his hand to his throbbing lip.
She returned his glare without blinking. “I should sue you for sexual assault.”
Guilt attacked, and this time he had no defense. He’d lost control of the situation the moment his lips met hers. God, what a—
In the blink of an eye, he recognized her game. Remorse vanished, and his lip curled. “Sure, there’s an angle you could work. In fact, make sure you wear this sexy little outfit to court—please.”
Nose in the air, she stepped out of reach before he could pluck the skin-tight material of her top. Her offended expression tried his patience. “It was a kiss. The only assault was to my lip.” And my peace of mind.
“It’s harassment at the very least.”
