The #1 Bestsellers Collection 2011(83)

“Would you like some coffee?” she asked, jumping to her feet. “And some cake. Ruth did some baking today.”

“That sounds good.” He unfurled from his chair and stood up, too. “I’ll go check on Megan while you do that.”

They went their separate ways and in the kitchen Lana came up for air. Heavens, she felt like such a novice. Her face was giving away her thoughts as if she were handing them to Matt on a platter.

Oh, look, Matt. I’m hot for you tonight. I need you to make love to me. Come and take me.

She smiled grimly. Maybe someone would come and take her—away. And they should lock her up until she had her head examined for wanting a man who would never commit to any woman.

Ten minutes later they were eating cake and drinking coffee, and she was feeling very proud of herself for focusing back on the movie instead of on Matt.

“You’ve dropped some cream on you,” he muttered.

The spoon stopped halfway to her mouth. “I did? Where?”

“There.”

She looked down to her cleavage, where a blob of cream had fallen. She could feel her cheeks redden. Quickly she scooped it up and licked it off her finger.

“You’ve left some.” He leaned forward with his napkin. “Here. Use this.”

She waved it aside. “That’s okay. I’ve got a napkin around here somewhere.”

“Use this,” he all but growled, and she looked up and saw a hot flash in his eyes that said he’d lick the cream off himself if she didn’t hurry up and do it.

Her pulse skittered as if it were on an icy road.

Hastily she found her napkin. “Look, I’ve found it,” she exclaimed, holding it up. She wiped the spot, then gave an awkward smile. “This cake is so nice, isn’t it?”

A nerve pulsed near his temple. “Very nice.”

Flushing, she turned back to the television. The air throbbed with painful sensuality between them, but somehow she got through to the end of the movie.

As soon as it ended, a starter pistol went off in her mind, but she pretended to yawn oh so casually. “I guess I’d better go to bed,” she said, slowly pushing to her feet when all she wanted to do was run to the door.

“Me, too.” He flicked the remote and turned off the television. “I’ll just make sure everything’s locked up first.”

Her gaze slid to him. “Well, good night. See you in the morning.”

There. That was a warning.

Do not disturb.

A moment crept by, then, “See you tomorrow.”

There was a clipped sound to his voice and she breathed a sigh of relief as she hurried to her room to take a shower. Not that she expected Matt would come after her. The danger had been back there in the living room.

Half an hour later she lay in bed wide-awake. She couldn’t settle. Her room felt claustrophobic and her pulse was still jumpy from being in Matt’s company all evening. She needed to get up and move around, do anything but lie here and think of things best left alone.

She didn’t bother putting her bathrobe on over her short, satiny chemise; she figured Matt would have gone to bed.

All was quiet as she opened her door and padded along the plush carpet to the living room, moonlight guiding the way. She could see the lights from the swimming pool casting shadows ahead and—

“What are you doing?”

She gasped and whirled around. Matt had come up behind her in the doorway. “Oh, you frightened me!”

There was a tiny pause. “You’re supposed to be in bed,” he said, making it sound as if she’d gone back on her word.

“Er … I couldn’t sleep.” She noticed he was still in the same clothes. “You’re supposed to be in bed, too,” she said, almost accusingly.

“I’m on my way there now.”

It sounded like an invitation.

She moistened her mouth. “Well, I must go.” She went to hurry past him. She’d been unwise to come out here in her night wear.

He caught her by the arm. “Next time put on a robe,” he rasped, holding her still, his touch sending little zings of full awareness through her bare skin.

He let her go.

She hurried to her room and leaned back against the door, her heart thudding beneath her breast. Oh Lord. The danger wasn’t so much back there in the living room.

The danger was in herself.





Six


The next day Lana decided it was time to do some investigating. Now that she was part of the furniture, she could blend in more easily and be a bit more adventurous in her search for the truth.

But she waited until Matt came into her office to take her home before saying anything. “I’m going to stay back here for a couple of hours tonight.”