Born to Be Wild by Donna Kauffman Page A

I’ve done things that would curl your toes.” He lifted his hands then quickly grabbed the dashboard as she pulled into the first parking space and stopped on a dime. “Why am I defending myself to you?”
    She turned to face him. “I’m sure I have no idea,” she said sweetly. “But I’ll admit it’s nice to play offense for a change.”
    Zach stared at her for two long beats. “You’re knocking me totally out,” he said, breaking into laughter. A second later, she joined him.
    The sound slowly faded, though their smiles remained. When Dara’s smile faltered, Zach felt his pulse speed up. Her lips parted slightly, and he had to clench his hands to keep from reaching for her. “You sure you can’t fit in a quick dinner?” he asked, his voice husky. “Iimagine the Marriott here has a nice dining room.” When she didn’t immediately say no, he added, “We can use the time to go over my other ideas if that suits your strict moral working code better.”
    He’d meant it as a joke, but he knew the minute the words left his mouth that the moment they’d shared—their first truly genuine one—was over.
    “Sorry,” she said shortly. “Maybe some other time.”
    Zach could have kicked himself, but there was no use in wasting time on wishes. He simply nodded and tried to unhook his seat belt, but it was wedged at an odd angle beneath his thigh. “Can’t seem to cut myself loose. If I shift, could you unhook me?”
    Dara’s eyes narrowed as if to say, “Where’s the trap this time?” so he gave her his most sincere smile. “No funny stuff, I promise.”
    “If you’d said scout’s honor I’d have punched you,” she responded. “Lift up.”
    He shifted as her small fingers brushed lightly against the back of his thigh. He almost groaned in relief when the seat belt sprang free. “Thanks,” he said.
    “No problem. I’d apologize for the cramped quarters, but—” She shrugged in mock sympathy.
    Before Zach even thought about what he was doing, he lifted a hand to her cheek and leaned across the small space separating them. “It’s not the cramped quarters I object to,” he said, tracing his thumb against her cheekbone.

FOUR
    Zach paused, giving her a tiny window to pull away, to say no, to do anything that would bring him back to his senses and make him stop. He’d calmly, rationally decided to pursue this during the long sleepless night after that first meeting in her office. But somehow, he’d envisioned being in control while doing it.
    He wasn’t. Not even close.
    And she simply stared at him.
    Then her lips parted, and he couldn’t wait another instant. He slid his hand to the nape of her neck and pulled her mouth to his. His first taste lingered at the tentative brush of her palm against his chest. He wanted to sink his tongue deeply into the sweet, hot recesses of her mouth; to feel, taste, and touch all of her, all at once. But restraint made it twice as good, so he dipped a little, coaxing her back into his mouth.
    The first touch of her tongue on his made his uncomfortable position in her cramped front seat almost unbearable. But instead of stopping he wove his other handinto her hair, angling her mouth so he could deepen the kiss.
    His heart was pounding, his blood roaring in his ears, making him feel like he was in a free fall from outer space with no parachute or safety net to catch him before he crash-landed.
    And he didn’t give a damn.
    It was only the realization that this was moving too fast—and that the backseat wouldn’t hold them both—that forced him to stop.
    Foreheads touching, both took a moment to allow their rapid breathing to slow. Dara was the first to shift away, and Zach let her go.
    After another long moment Dara turned back to him, a small, tentative smile on her lips.
    He fought the urge to reach for her again. Damn if he’d
ever
felt this way before, all shaky and uncertain, and so edgy, he could climb right out of his skin. He’d scaled jagged