Various States of Undress: Virginia by Laura Simcox Page A

don’t we get out of the line of fire.”
    â€œOh, I wouldn’t phrase it quite that way around my agents,” Virginia teased and was rewarded with Dex’s deep chuckle before he guided her away from the windows. She glanced around, spotted Silent, and signaled to him that it was time to go.
    A few minutes later Virginia settled next to Dex in the SUV, which pulled away from the curb and headed toward the Upper West Side. It was fully dark outside now, and though Dex’s face and the front of his shirt were intermittently lit by the street lights, the rest of his large frame was shrouded in shadows. She wasn’t any less aware of him, though. In fact, the warmth of his body was magnetic. Before her brain registered that it probably wasn’t a great idea, she turned until her knees nestled against his leg.
    â€œDid you have a good—”
    â€œWas it a fun evening?” he asked at the same time.
    When she laughed, his lips curved up into a smile. “Yes,” she answered. It was the truth too—despite her nerves, she’d had a great time. Dex was fun. And so sexy.
    â€œI enjoyed it too,” he said quietly, his gaze searching her face. “So, back to my place?” The minute the words left his mouth, he cringed. “I mean—not that. You know . . .”
    â€œYes, I know what you meant. We’ll drop you off,” she said, laughing again. She patted his leg, but before she could remove her hand, his fingers brushed the top of it and he lifted it to his lips. He placed a soft kiss on the back of her hand, sending tingles down her arm.
    â€œThanks for coming with me, Virginia,” he murmured, looking at her.
    Her breath hitched. “You’re welcome. I want . . .” She trailed off, knowing that she couldn’t say what she was thinking—that she didn’t want the evening to end but that it had to. First dates with Secret Service agents along for the ride could get awkward, fast. She didn’t want this to end awkwardly.
    â€œYou want . . . ?” Dex prompted.
    â€œI want to thank you too.” She put her hand on his shoulder and leaned up to kiss his cheek, her heart beating fast. And then, impulsively, she gave him a peck on the lips. She shouldn’t have, but she had to know what they felt like—wondering about those lips had been driving her crazy. They were firm and supple, and the peck lasted a bit too long. As she settled back into her seat and stared straight ahead, her heart sped up. It had just been a friendly thank-you kiss, right? Surely he wouldn’t think it was a big deal.
    Next to her, Dex shifted and cleared his throat, so she glanced over just as light from a neon sign washed through the windows, bathing him in a warm glow. He stared at her, his eyes full of intensity, and those lips—those amazing lips—dropped open slightly. She jerked her gaze away and looked out the window. Okay, it had been more than a friendly thank-you kiss, hadn’t it? Oh, God.
    They sat in silence for a few more minutes, and when the SUV pulled over in front of Dex’s building, she turned to him with a smile. “So . . .”
    He smiled back. “I’ll be counting the hours until Monday morning,” he said in a low tone. “Good night, Virginia.”
    â€œGood night, Dex.”
    He got out and walked away, a bemused smile on his handsome face.

Chapter Four
    W HEN V IRGINIA WOKE up on Sunday morning, it was to the terrifying greenish-yellow eyes of a cat—a cat planted firmly on her chest, its huge paws splayed on either side of her neck. “Don’t hurt me,” she whispered, slowly moving her hands to brace herself on the mattress. “Good kitty. Good boy, Junior Mint. Now go ahead and jump off, okay?”
    Junior Mint yawned and his awful breath made her head snap back. “That’s it,” she muttered, turning her face. “Off.” She