Teamwork by Lily Harlem Page A

a stop on Raven’s large circular driveway.
    Todd got out of the car, leaving his keys in the ignition and the headlights on.
    If I didn’t think the weight in my chest could get any heavier, I was wrong. That was my final bit of confirmation that we really wouldn’t be spending the night together. I’d had one last glimmer of hope that he might come in. Join me in the guest wing for some dirty fun. But it seemed that wasn’t to be.
    We walked toward the porch area that had a large red-tiled roof and thick white pillars. Six bay trees in bronze pots sat on the steps leading up to it and a security light cast long shadows onto the double-fronted door.
    “Fiona,” he said when we reached the top step.
    “Yes.” I turned to him.
    He curled his hands over my shoulders, his thumbs just stroking the base of my neck. He stepped in close and I could smell the clean cotton scent of his shirt mixed with his citrusy aftershave. “Can I kiss you good night?”
    I stared up into his heavy-lidded eyes. I couldn’t think of anything I wanted more. “Yes,” I whispered as my heart tripped over itself.
    He lowered his head and his lips brushed mine, carefully, hesitantly, as though he were worried about breaking me. One small kiss, then another, no tongues, just soft, lingering pecks.
    I reached up and pressed my palm against the smooth skin on his cheek. “Todd?”
    “Yeah.” His breath was hot on my mouth, my chin.
    “Kiss me properly.”
    His mouth twitched into a half-smile, his fingers tightened on my shoulders and he gave me a real kiss. It was still reverent, tender, but it was enough to get lost in. I opened up and let him in. His wet, warm mouth tasted so good—sugar and sunshine, a wonderful sexy flavor spreading over my tongue as he searched gently for mine.
    I dropped my hand from his face and felt his solid chest beneath his shirt, his heart beating strong and his breaths coming steady.
    He broke our kiss. “Damn, but you’re just the sweetest little thing,” he murmured, tucking my hair behind my ears. “I could eat you all up.”
    “So eat.” I pressed my chest to his, searching for more connection, needing to feel his delectable body touching mine.
    He shook his head. “Not tonight.”
    Oh god, he’s torturing me.
    “Tomorrow,” he said. “One of the guys on the team, Phoenix, his kid is being christened. They’re having drinks and cake and stuff at The Burton Hotel afterward. Will you come with me?”
    My head spun, not just from the lovely kiss that was apparently going no further, but also from the sudden invitation.
    “I don’t know.”
    He grinned, touched his lips to the tip of my nose. “I’ll pick you up at noon.”
    The heat of his body left mine as he stepped away. My arms fell to my sides and I buckled my weak knees to remain standing. What the hell had just happened? I felt as though I’d gone into a tailspin. One minute my body was on high alert for sexy action, then knocked down, and then flung back up again with the promise of more tomorrow.
    “But I have nothing to wear, no gift or…”
    With his hand on the open car door, he looked over the roof at me. “That dress is perfect, green really suits you. And don’t worry about a gift, I’ll take care of it.” He flashed one of his heart-stopping smiles. “Good night.”
    The car headlights illuminated the fronds of various shrubs that lined the driveway as he pulled away. But just for a few seconds then everything fell into darkness once more.
    My heart was pounding, my lips still tingling. I tried to regain some control over my sagging knees and jellylike thighs by resting my back against one of the pillars.
    Todd was gorgeous, charming and one hell of a kisser. But he’d left a gap in my evening by disappearing like that, vanishing just as it was getting good. As far as a date went it was faultless, as far as the bit after the date, it was beyond frustrating.
    The sound of crickets filled the air. I wasn’t familiar