Sizzle in the City by Wendy Etherington Page B

she’d done lately was complain about the burden of her parents. While not living up to Daddy’s expectations certainly didn’t excuse Max’s swindling schemes, Trevor’s devotion to his family, flaws and all, was humbling.
    She laid her palm against his chest, feeling the strong, sure beat of his heart. “Why aren’t you angry?”
    “Because they’re family. No matter our differences, I can’t unchoose them the way I can select my friends. And besides the posturing and rules and general silliness, the Banfields have been part of English society for hundreds of years. I have a responsibility to honor them as best I can. I imagine you’d do anything for your family.”
    Dropping her gaze, Shelby nodded. She was doing something for her family, all right.
    The cab pulled to a halt in front of the cozy, Chelsea-area redbrick apartment building where Shelby lived. The streetlights illuminated the generous sprinkling of shady trees as well as the front-porch pots filled with bright spring flowers. It was a dream to live there.
    Shelby’s landlady was rich as a queen and charged her renters a modest monthly sum. Thankfully, she’d hired Shelby to cater her birthday party three years ago and fell in love with Shelby’s chicken cacciatore. She’d quickly become one of Mrs. Hines’s beneficiaries, which had allowed her to move out of Brooklyn and into the city.
    Trevor paid the cabdriver, then he walked Shelby to the door. “Business must be pretty decent,” he said, his gaze roving the building.
    “I do okay.” She explained about Mrs. Hines. “As long as my tomato supplier doesn’t bug out on me, and I make her a spectacular birthday cake every year, it’s like having rent control.”
    “It’s a great area. We’re nearly neighbors. I live on 26th, remember?”
    He probably owned 26th, but at least Shelby could be proud to show him her place. Very few people in her income bracket could afford to live so well. “You want to come up for coffee?”
    “I very much want to come up. But not for coffee.” He slid his arm around her waist and cupped her jaw in his palm. “I should probably go.”
    Belying his suggestion, his mouth covered hers with assurance, his tongue sliding between her lips in a teasing invitation that she felt to her toes. She leaned against him, feeling his muscle tone and the heat of his body through his pristine white shirt.
    Desire, hot and sweet, invaded her as it hadn’t in a long, long time.
    Or at least since last night anyway.
    Everything about him called to her. She wanted to know if he’d been as scared to leave all he’d known in England, just as she’d been both terrified and excited to move away from her childhood home. She wondered if his father’s indifference had spurred him to the great success he’d clearly achieved. She longed to know everything from his views on politics to his favorite music and foods.
    She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him against her. The kiss went on with their hearts racing in sync and long, drugging sensations that seduced her more thoroughly than she’d ever known.
    “Well?” he asked, pulling back.
    Hazy from the sweet sensation of his kiss, Shelby fought to remember where she was—other than in his arms—what year it was or what planet she inhabited. Her gaze focused on his mouth as she wondered when she could have it on hers again. “Hmm?”
    “Technique, my lady.”
    “Oh.” She blinked. “Right. Yes, well…” She cleared her throat and prayed her brain would communicate something intelligible to her mouth. “Excellent work, your Lordship.”
    “Glad to hear it. Men do have an ego where these things are concerned.”
    “Yeah?” She blinked dazedly, as the look in his eyes wasn’t ego, but hunger. “Yours should be secure, then.”
    “It’ll hold till Tuesday.” He pressed his lips to hers one last time, then started down the steps. At the bottom, he turned. “Are you sure you don’t have a thing for