Sweet Dreams (A Sugar Rush Novel) by Nina Lane

phone out of her pocket.
    “Where will you be? I’ll pick you up.”
    God, the man was a bulldozer. “No. But I’ll meet you somewhere.”
    He frowned. “Contrary to what you might think, I’m a traditionalist. When I ask a woman out on a date, I like to pick her up and take her to wherever we’re going.”
    “Well, I’m a progressive who likes to do things my way. So if you want me to go out with you, I’ll either meet you somewhere or we won’t go at all.”
    His eyes narrowed. A flutter of trepidation rose in her as she suspected not many people issued ultimatums to Luke Stone.
    “You can come to my place.” He gave her an address.
    It sounded like he’d conceded to her, but Polly wasn’t so sure about that. It felt more like he was luring her onto his turf. And she suspected Luke Stone’s place was a world away from the badly lit basement where she’d spent much of the past few months.
    “Why can’t I just meet you at a restaurant?” she asked.
    “Because I’m going to drive us there.” He folded his arms across his chest. “I’m also going to pay, in case you have any obstinate ideas about that.”
    Actually, given her financial circumstances, she fully intended for him to pay. Not that he needed to know that either. She inputted his address into her phone, deciding a consultation with Mia was in order before she actually did anything.
    “What’s your number?” she asked.
    He rattled off his number, and she sent him a quick text with hers. A surreal feeling washed over her as she realized she was exchanging numbers and planning a date with the CEO of Sugar Rush, who’d just gotten all possessive about her.
    What alternate universe had she just fallen into? Yes, she wanted to be a braver, more confident version of herself, but after the disaster at the Troll’s House she’d realized she should start small, like slowly tasting bits of fine chocolate instead of gobbling down a whole bar.
    Luke Stone was more like diving headfirst into a rushing, melted chocolate river laced with sexy flavors like amaretto, salted caramel, chili peppers and—
    Polly’s breathing quickened. She glanced up to find him watching her, and her gaze went unwillingly to his beautifully shaped mouth. Despite his arrogance and I’m the CEO, obey me attitude—or perhaps because of it—there was no question the man knew how to kiss. Really, really well. She didn’t need to have kissed a dozen boys before him to know that.
    Mr. Stone rolled down the sleeves of his shirt and picked up his suit jacket. He stepped past Polly, then paused.
    “By the way, Miss Lockhart,” he said. “Yes.”
    “Yes . . . what?”
    “You asked me the other night if I have a huge bed with feather pillows,” Mr. Stone said. “The answer is yes.”
    He turned and walked away.

LUKE COULDN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT her. The morning after his impromptu candy-making session with Polly Lockhart, he woke with the unsettling suspicion that she might even have invaded his dreams. Not that that should have surprised him.
    She was such a pretty little thing—thick-lashed brown eyes, lips shaped like a bow, brown curly hair spilling to her shoulders. Nice, perky breasts, long legs, round hips. Just the memory of her warm, curvy body pressed against his made him hot. She’d tasted like whipped cream, chocolate, and rainbow sprinkles. Birthday cake. He’d had to fight not to run his hand up her bare leg and between her thighs to discover how hot and wet she’d been.
    He groaned, tilting his head forward to let the water of the shower pound against his neck. After the Troll’s House encounter, he’d ensured Polly and her friend were safely in the car and on their way. Then he’d cursed himself for failing to get Polly’s last name. Because even then, he’d hated the thought that she’d go off again looking for another guy to artlessly hit on.
    Then she’d shown up at the Sugar Rush kitchen yesterday with her hair all hidden beneath a plastic