For the Longest Time by Kendra Leigh Castle

as he grinned at her in that particular way he had, chin down, eyes sparkling with mischief. Settled on the edge of his desk, he’d stretched out his long legs, his body language completely at ease. He’d always moved with casual grace, and the kind of self-assurance you couldn’t fake. She knew. She’d tried. The longer she let her gaze linger on him, the warmer the room seemed to get. Why didn’t he find something else to look at? Why did his lab coat have to fit those broad shoulders so well? Why couldn’t he have shaved his stubble this morning? And since when did she find stubble sexy anyway?
    Heat pooled uncomfortably at the apex of her thighs, and Sam knew she needed to get out of here before she did something stupid. What that might be, she wasn’t sure . . . but it didn’t matter. Most things she could imagine doing with Jake fell into that category.
    We’re not friends
, she reminded herself.
We never really were. And we’re not going to be, because people don’t change that much.
    â€œI should let you get back to work,” Sam said, suddenly sure that she ought to be anywhere but here. She had enough crap to deal with right now without this extra, self-inflicted weirdness.
    He didn’t even bother to look at his watch. “I’ve got time,” he said. Something about the way he said it prickled across her skin and sounded warning bells in the part of her mind dedicated to self-preservation.
    â€œI actually don’t,” she said, hoping he’d understand it for the all-purpose dismissal that it was. “I’ve got a bunchof stuff to take care of today. Can’t really stay. This is great, though. The kittens and your office and . . . everything.” She widened her eyes a little at how idiotic she sounded, gave her head a small shake, and grabbed the two nearest kittens instead of continuing to let words come out of her mouth. She could feel Jake’s eyes on her as she scrambled gracelessly to her feet, trying not to think about how high her skirt was hiked up from sitting on the floor. Apparently, the entire purpose of Jake’s existence was to help her figure out just how many different shades of red her face could turn in a single sitting. She had a horrible suspicion that right now she was setting some kind of new record.
    Then Jake was up and moving, silently helping her gather up the rogue felines and put them in their cage. She tried to move quickly, anxious to put some distance between herself and Jake Smith, Life Ruiner, before she screwed up and was nice to him again. It was easier to just be distant. You’d think she would have figured that out where he was concerned, but apparently all it took was a great pair of shoulders and the right amount of stubble to torpedo her common sense.
    Well, and the eyes. He has great eyes.
    She yanked her dress back down with one hand after scooping Loki out from beneath the end table and planted a kiss on the kitten’s head, feeling guilty about the abbreviated visit as she put him back with his siblings.
Soon
, she told herself.
He’ll be home soon, and I can fuss over him without an audience.
    â€œBye, sweetie,” she whispered as she shut and bolted the cage door.
    When she straightened, Jake was only inches from her. She sucked in a startled breath, then tilted her headto try to scan the floor for wherever she’d shoved her shoes. Her stomach twisted itself into a series of intricate knots. He smelled incredible.
    I hate my life.
    Watching her steadily, Jake lifted one hand. Her heels dangled from his fingertips.
    â€œYou really don’t have to go,” he said when she snatched them and shoved them on her feet, completely annoyed with herself.
    â€œYes, I do. I really do.” Leave it to her to turn a casual nothing of a visit into some kind of major psychosexual drama. It had been a mistake to come. The ground she’d gained since