“But it hasn’t.”
She shrugged. “Yeah, well, I got one job right off the bat, but I got laid off a couple of months ago, and since the economy sucks, the job offers haven’t exactly poured in.” Her smile warmed him through and through. “But today I found a great job. And I’m determined. New life. New job. I’m starting over. I even—” She waved a hand, cutting herself off.
“What?”
“It’ll sound silly.”
“I promise I won’t spread it around.”
That drew a laugh, and she nodded. “It’s one of my regular expenses. I treat it just like a bill. Like the electricity or water or whatever.”
“Treat what?”
“Restitution.” She practically whispered the word.
He shook his head. “I’m not following.”
“I keep a list of all the names and addresses of people I’ve stolen from. And I have a little savingsaccount. When the amount totals what I stole from someone, I get a money order and mail it to them anonymously. So far, I’ve paid back almost ten thousand dollars. And I’m determined to pay back every single dime.”
He regarded her for a long moment, speechless with wonderment. “You will.”
“Thanks.” Her smile turned mischievous. “It’ll be easier now that I’ve got a job, even if it is only a temp job.”
He reached out and took her hand again, just wanting to touch her. “So you’ve found job satisfaction?”
She turned to face him, her mouth quirked up. “I think so.”
“Maybe we should explore other kinds of satisfaction, as well.”
Her breath hitched, and she dragged her teeth over her lower lip, the gesture supremely erotic. His blood heated, and he felt himself harden. The woman turned him on. No question about that. She craved the thrill of the job, but he craved the thrill ofher.
He stroked her hand, tracing her fingers with a languid movement. She closed her eyes, her chest rising and falling as her breath quickened.
“Exactly what kind of satisfaction do you have inmind?” she asked, her tone laced with warm honey, though he doubted she was aware of the invitation in her voice.
He didn’t say anything, just traced a path to her breast, then cupped the soft weight in his palm. He idly caressed her nipple, noting with pleasure how it hardened under his touch. Her breathing was ragged, and her lips parted ever so slightly.
“As much satisfaction as you can handle, sweetheart,” he whispered. And right then he hoped she could handle a lot.
* * *
IT TOOK ALLof Mel’s concentration simply to breathe. Common sense screamed for her to push away, to tell him in no uncertain terms that she was there only for the job. That they couldn’t do this. That she couldn’t allow his looks, his touch, his kisses.
She was turned on, though, and not just by his hands on her body. He did things to her, wonderful things, but it was more than that. It was the whole situation. She was going to be doing what she loved but without fear of recourse, and the anticipation tickled her senses.
She was trying so hard to keep him at arm’s length. She’d been doing so well. And then Kyle Radley had gone and dragged her back in. Only thistime, she owed him everything, because this job was allowed. This job was okay. And the truth was that the new job, the thrill of the chase, and the man himself all combined to throw her senses into overdrive.
She was on fire. She wanted this man. And she didn’t have any earthly idea how to say no.
Why say no?
It didn’t matter that Kyle knew her secrets, didn’t matter because she knew she’d never have anything permanent with him. All that mattered was right then—that moment. She was worked up, tingling with desire. She craved him and he craved her and tomorrow could take care of itself.
Emboldened, she dropped her gaze, then with slow deliberation let her eyes drift upward over his jeans, over the telltale bulge at his crotch, and over the sexy white button-down that she so wanted to remove, all the way up to his eyes as she hoped to hell she wasn’t blushing.
She leaned in a bit more, so that his palm pressed more firmly against her breast. “How much satisfaction?” she asked, throwing his question back at him. “I think I can handle whatever you want to give.”
She’d hoped to knock him off balance with her careful inspection and bold words. But if he was wobbly, he hid it well. His eyes never wavered fromher own, and that sexy grin that touched his lips was filled with one-hundred-percent male satisfaction.
