Texan Undercover (Romantic Suspense) by Anne Marie Novark

leisurely brunch, read the paper and did some laundry.
And tried not to think about Dillon and the kiss they'd shared in
the storeroom the other night. She'd tried unsuccessfully not to
think about that kiss all week.
    Damn the man! He'd kissed her, insulted her,
told her he wanted her, then ignored her. Granted, she'd been gone
most of the week, but when she returned he'd ignored her.
    Maybe he hadn't been thinking about the kiss
like she had. Maybe he'd put it from his mind. Claire could have
believed that except she'd caught him watching her--his eyes
intense, knowing, almost mocking. Himself or her, she wasn't
certain.
    Where Dillon was concerned, Claire wasn't
sure about anything. She didn't want to get involved with him. If
she repeated that often enough, maybe her body would cooperate.
Because her hormones were screaming to get involved, even while her
brain told her going to bed with Dillon wouldn't be the smart thing
to do.
    Claire put on another load of laundry. She
measured the detergent and stuffed the towels in the machine.
Knowing Dillon had run a background check on her made her angry. It
wasn't fair. She knew nothing about his background. He'd
practically told her he didn't like women like her. Had he been
hurt in the past? By a beautiful, rich woman?
    And did that mean Dillon considered Claire
beautiful? That was an intriguing thought. Almost as intriguing as
knowing he desired her.
    Dillon projected such strength and
capability; it was impossible to imagine him vulnerable in any way.
But she couldn't forget how he'd looked when he asked her if he
wasn't enough. As if he were lacking. Definitely something going on
there.
    Claire jumped in and took a long hot shower.
A cold one would have been better. Thinking about Dillon and that
kiss made her hot and edgy. Wanting and needful. It had been a long
time since she'd wanted or needed.
    Again, she wished she could be more like
Natalie and enjoy a man, no strings attached. Could she change?
Take that risk? Give in to her hormones?
    After her shower, Claire threw on an old
football jersey over a ratty pair of sweatpants. She brewed a cup
of herbal tea and curled up on the sofa with a book. The tea
relaxed her and she was just nodding off when the doorbell chimed. Great . It was mid-afternoon and she wasn't dressed for
company. Her wet hair was still wrapped in a towel.
    Claire peeked through the peephole. Dillon
stood on the other side of the door. He knocked and rang the bell
again. A bubble of pleasure effervesced inside her tummy. She
opened the door.
    "Good, you're home." Dillon pushed past her
into her living room. "I need you."
    Claire swallowed hard. "You need me?"
    He tipped back his Stetson. His eyes raked
over her, taking in her towel and sweats, her bare toes. Something
hot ignited in his gaze. He took a step back. That wasn't
disappointment deep in her gut, was it?
    "I need you to let me into the cafe.
Something's up and I have to download files."
    Claire closed the door and locked it. She
took a deep breath before turning around again. Then took another
one, grasping the doorknob behind her for support. She had thought
Dillon at work was hard to resist. But Dillon in her home?
    Oh my.
    "Can't it wait until tomorrow?" she
asked.
    "No, it has to be now." He was still staring
at her.
    "Why didn't you call? I could have met you
there."
    "The way we've been tiptoeing around each
other, I thought it best to come over. I'm driving. Go get
dressed."
    "I'll drive myself."
    Dillon shook his head. "No you won't, because
I'm taking you to dinner after I'm done."
    "Dinner? I don't want to go to dinner with
you. I don't want to get involved, remember?" Keep saying that,
Claire.
    "Dinner is not getting involved. I'm
tired of my own company. I'm tired of my partner. I don't know
anyone else in town. I live in Dallas, you know."
    "Do you?" Claire asked. "I don't know much
about you. Except you don't date women like me."
    "Maybe I'll make an exception in your
case."
    She