A Just Deception by Adrienne Giordano Page A

and drop them off? Him going so far out of his way left her wondering why he was being so kind. Vic’s words echoed in her mind and she shook off the negative thoughts. She could trust Peter.
    He waved his hand. “I knew you had a busy day. I figured I’d run them by. Plus, if I’m not at the house later, you won’t be able to get in. Well, you could use the back door I guess. It is your house and you probably have a key.”
    She burst out laughing. “Peter, you’re babbling.” She put her hand against his forehead. “Are you feeling all right?”
    He snatched her hand away, brought it to his lips and kissed it. That is quite lovely. But the kiss ended and he stood there holding her hand as if he’d done it a thousand times before. She didn’t fight it. Where had this ease come from in one short day?
    Holy.
    Cow.
    “I feel great,” he said. “Gotta go though. I need to stop at my mother’s on the way back to your place. The guys are going to be finishing the alarm and I want to get back before they’re done.”
    She nodded. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you’re taking the time.”
    “Izzy, we talked about this last night. I know you’re grateful. Stop saying it.”
    She held up her hands. “I just wanted you to know.”
    “When you get home, I’ll show you how to work the alarm.” He stepped away from her. “Uh, you care if I do a little surfing by your place?”
    Was he kidding? She didn’t own the ocean. He could surf wherever he wanted. She knew what he meant though. He wanted permission to be in her space for reasons outside of installing an alarm. A smart man.
    “You can do whatever you’d like at my house.”
    He raised his eyebrows and grinned.
    “Within reason,” she added. “If I find you in my bed with a woman, you’re a dead man.”
    He grinned bigger.
    Her stomach knotted. “Did I say that?”
    He continued to grin.
    She had said it. Must be the fatigue. Three hours of sleep didn’t cut it.
    He stepped closer. Oh, boy.
    “Izzy, the only woman I want in that bed is you.”
    Some alternate force propelled her forward and she threw her arms around his neck, pressed herself against the hard planes of his body and kissed him. Tongue and all, right in front of her office building.
    Holy.
    Holy.
    Cow .
    What was she doing?
    Peter didn’t seem to mind the PDA because he steel-armed her around the waist and returned the kiss with just as much enthusiasm. When he pulled away, his gaze stayed glued to hers and the fire shot to her core.
    He eased back. “I’ll take that as a maybe.”
    When he got to the car, he smiled that amazing movie star smile and blew her a kiss.
    Smart-ass.
    Still though, his thinking was spot on about the maybe.
     
    Peter’s SUV was in her driveway when Isabelle pulled in at six o’clock. She breathed in the salty ocean air—nothing compared to be being home. She drummed her fingers against the steering wheel while the suddenly slow process of raising the car’s roof took place. Could she be excited about seeing him? Hmm, something new.
    As she approached the front porch, she glanced back toward the car in the no-parking zone by the public beach access. She had driven past and spotted a man sitting behind the wheel staring out at the ocean. Maybe he was waiting for someone. She shrugged it off and turned her attention to the new silver lock gleaming in the evening sunlight. Assuming Peter would be on the beach, she unlocked the door and opened it. A beep sounded and she hoped it only meant someone had entered. Otherwise, the alarm would blare and she had no idea how to turn it off. She dropped her keys in the dish by the door and glanced toward the spot in the kitchen where Kendrick had grabbed her.
    No.
    She wouldn’t let him take the safety of this house from her. Her grandmother’s afghan on the sofa caught her attention and she breathed in. Her house. Her space.
    “Peter?” she called, perusing the mail she’d grabbed on her way