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Joanie folded her arms over her chest and pursed her lips. “And the pie filling.”

“Especially that.” Lily nodded.

“That’s a story…” Joanie started.

“For another day,” Lily finished. “I’m so, so sorry, but I am going to have to cut the evening short. I’m just…” She dropped her shoulders and dangled her arms in front of her. “Exhausted.”

“I was about to open a bottle of port. Surely you can stay for one glass,” Joanie said with a smirk.

“No,” Marcus and Lily answered at the same time.

Joanie knew something was up. And unless Felicia was stone deaf and blind to boot, so did she.

“I have to head out, too.” Marcus steered Lily out of the pantry by her shoulders. “Thanks for a lovely evening.”

They bumped into Clive and Reginald next.

“Hey, guys,” Clive said, the words strung out into a series of vowels. “Where’s the fire?”

Currently, in Marcus’s pants.

“Clive was telling me that you’re a great poker player, Mr. Black,” Reginald said. Marcus could smell another long-winded story coming on. “You should join us for cigars and poker. I play with real money. None of this chips business.”

“Another time, Mr. London. I have to leave.” Marcus ran a hand through his hair and noticed that Lily was fidgeting as well. “My brother texted me. His car broke down. I have to pick him up.”

“I need to leave, too,” Lily said. “My fish needs to eat and…I…” She shook her head without finishing her sentence.

Clive looked like he was holding back laughter.

“See you Monday, Clive. Enjoy the poker game, Reginald. Another time, I’ll go all in.” Another time when he wasn’t so close to going all in with Lily.

“Drive safe, you two,” Clive called out.

Lily tore her coat off a hanger and then slung her purse over one shoulder. At the front door, she said, “See you at my place. You can follow me there.”

“Why your place?”

She pressed a kiss to the center of his lips and then smiled. “Mine’s closer.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Lily had tried being practical. She’d tried resisting him. But the harder she’d tried not to be attracted to Marcus, the more attractive he became.

She flicked a glance at her rearview mirror. He was following her home, as instructed.

She remembered their time together in the pantry with a shiver and a grin. She’d thought she would have been satisfied with the kiss, but the wine had made her feel loose and daring—and had offered up other ideas. Kissing him had only made her want to kiss him elsewhere.

So, things had gotten a tad out of hand tonight. After seeing the desperate, open plea in his eyes, hearing his strangled, truncated breaths, and tasting his unique and addicting flavor, she hadn’t wanted to stop. So, she hadn’t.

What was it about Marcus Black that sent her brain packing a suitcase and heading for Aruba? She’d just blown him at her best friend’s house…with their number-one clients present!

“I’m a hussy.” She laughed out loud at herself as she parked on the curb in front of her duplex. Marcus pulled to a stop behind her.

Lily. Finally. Out of my dreams.

He stepped out of his car and came toward her in an easy swagger—his signature walk. She was so excited to have him here, she wasn’t sure what to do first.

“If you think I followed you here,” he said as she swung her car door open, “so we could finish what we started…”