A Bargain with the Boss by Barbara Dunlop Page A

had been teasing his senses all night long. He knew he shouldn’t. Her earlier reluctance was reasonable and well founded. Anything romantic between them was bound to be complicated, today, tomorrow and into the future.
    â€œTuck?” she persisted, clearly confused.
    He lifted his hand, brushed the stray hairs back from her cheek.
    She sucked in a quick breath and her eyes closed in a long blink. When they opened, they were opaque, misty blue with indecision.
    It wasn’t a no, he told himself. She wasn’t ordering him to back off. She was tempted, just like him.
    He knew there had to be a whole lot of reasons not to do this, but he couldn’t seem to come up with them at the moment. So he leaned forward instead, slowly and steadily.
    She could stop him, run away from him, pull back from him at least. Whatever she decided, he’d accept. But he had to at least try.
    She didn’t do any of those things, and their lips came together, his bold and purposeful, hers heated, smooth and delicious. He altered the angle and his arms went around her. He kissed her once, twice, three times, desire pulsing through his mind and electrifying his body.
    She kissed him back, tentatively at first. But then her tongue touched his, tangled with his. Her body went malleable against his, her softness forming to his planes. He eased her back on the sofa, covering her from chest to thighs, tasting her mouth, inhaling her scent, feeling her back arch intimately and her heartbeat rise against his chest.
    He wanted her bad.
    He kissed his way down her neck, pushing the cap sleeve of her dress out of the way, leaving damp circles on her bare shoulder. He thought about her zipper, imagined pulling it down her back, the dress falling away, revealing a lacy bra, or her bare breasts, that creamy smooth skin that was silken to his touch.
    â€œTuck?” Her voice was breathless.
    â€œYes?”
    â€œWe...”
    He stilled. He knew what came next, though every fiber of his being rebelled against it.
    â€œCan’t,” she said, finishing the thought.
    He wanted to argue. They could. They really could, and the world wouldn’t come to a crashing halt.
    But he’d never coerced a woman into his bed before and he wasn’t about to start with Amber.
    â€œYou sure?” he asked.
    He could feel her nod.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she said.
    He eased back. “No, I’m the one who’s sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you.”
    â€œI should have said no.”
    â€œI’m glad you didn’t.”
    â€œI’m... Oh, this is not good.” She struggled to sit up.
    He moved out of the way, offering his hand to help her up.
    Neither of them seemed to know what to say.
    Tuck broke the silence. “I guess we’re ready for the meeting.”
    â€œTuck, I—”
    â€œYou don’t have to explain.”
    A woman was entitled to say no for any reason she wanted. And he did understand her hesitation. She worked for him, at least temporarily. She was smart not to let it get complicated.
    She rose to her feet. “You’re an attractive guy. But you know that.”
    He stood.
    â€œI’m sure most women would—”
    â€œI don’t like where this is going.” He didn’t.
    â€œI know you don’t often get turned down.”
    â€œNow, how would you know that?”
    â€œI read the papers.”
    His annoyance grew. “You believe the tabloids?”
    â€œThey have pictures.” Frustration crept into her tone. “You can’t deny you have gorgeous girl after gorgeous girl on your arm.”
    â€œIs that what you think of me? I didn’t kiss you because you’re beautiful, Amber.”
    â€œI know that. I’m not comparing myself to them.”
    â€œComparing yourself?” He didn’t understand her point.
    â€œI’m not suggesting I’m one of your bombshells.”
    â€œGood.”
    She was so much more