As the hostess led the way through the crowded restaurant, Summer turned back to Gage and whispered, “I really can’t think of a better beach restaurant. Their crab cakes are fantastic.” When they reached their table, Gage held her chair for her and murmured, “I trust your expert judgment, sweetheart.” They were seated in the covered rear garden terrace. Summer’s heart beat erratically, nearly drowning out the simple romantic beauty of the moment. It’d been so long since she’d enjoyed a meal with a member of the opposite sex in any kind of romantic way. Though Summer had guy friends, friendship couldn’t replace her need for intimacy. Tender touches and warm kisses—she hadn’t realized how much she missed those things until Gage had shown up at her door. Sparks had flown. Being with him, even in such an innocent way as having dinner, caused Summer’s juices to stir. “So, Summer, do you come to this restaurant often?” “I wish, but no, I’m usually too busy.” He leaned across the table. “You should never be too busy for fun.” Man, he was sexy. Summer’s mind blanked as she gazed at him. In the muted light, his smooth, tan head shone. She’d never known how sexy a bald man could be until Gage. She had the urge to run her fingers over his scalp. His five o’clock shadow only added to his dark, masculine appeal. If she were bold like Tory, she’d reach out and stroke his firm jaw. Too bad she wasn’t. He was so damn good-looking, and she really wanted to touch him. All over. For hours. “Summer?” “Oh, yes, I think you’re exactly right,” she breathed out. Lordy, even when she’d married Seth she hadn’t been this excited. That thought gave her a momentary pang of guilt. Thinking of Seth and looking at Gage, she knew it was way past time for her to move on with her life. She’d been stagnant too long. Seth would have never wanted her to pine away for him forever, living in the past and shoving the future further and further beyond her reach. He’d want her to move on, get through the grieving and get to the living. With just a hint of an ornery smile playing at the corners of Gage’s lips, Summer had a feeling he was the sort of man who lived life to its fullest. Even his profession was exciting. A private eye. Scandal and intrigue. Action and danger. Yep, definitely more exciting than running a B&B. What would it be like to make love to the roguish man? He was like a juicy steak sitting on the edge of the table, and she was the puppy dying to sink her teeth into the scrumptious feast. So close. All she had to do was reach out and she’d have him in her voracious mouth. “Hey, Summer, care to share?” “Share?” “You looked pretty far off there for a second.” She waved his words away. “It doesn’t matter. Tell me, what made you choose Cape May for your vacation?” He picked up his fork and started back on his pan-seared cod. “My aunt made it sound pretty appealing.” The fork stopped halfway to his mouth. His lips curved upward as he said, “So far, she was right on the money.” She took a sip of her diet cola. “You talk a lot about her. Are you close to her?” When she realized he’d stopped eating, she knew she’d said something wrong. “What did I say?” “You don’t know what happened to my parents?” Her heart clenched at the obvious pain in his voice. “No, I’m sorry.” “They were killed at a carryout. Some guy high on acid came in and demanded money from the clerk. The clerk gave him what he wanted, but the asshole was so far gone he started shooting. Later he told the police he’d been trying to kill the snakes. Hallucinations. Mom was shot in the chest. She died instantly. Dad was shot three times. He died on the way to the hospital. The clerk took a bullet in the arm. He survived.” “Gage…I’m so sorry.” He nodded. “It was years ago. I’d just graduated from college when it happened. Aunt Bev sort of stepped in and took over where mom left off. She’s been pretty great.” “I’m glad you had her.” “Me too. Anyway, that’s the reason I became a private investigator. I wanted to help people.” Summer understood loss all too well. She also knew words were useless. She reached across the table and placed her hand over his. When he turned his palm up and twined his fingers with hers, the air around them changed, heated. Her comforting gesture had quickly morphed into something much more, much deeper. Trying to act nonchalant, Summer slipped her hand from his and inquired, “So, how long have you been a PI?” “I hung out my shingle five years ago. It was tough going at first, but now I can be choosy.” “Do you enjoy the work?” “I can set my own hours. I don’t have a boss breathing down my neck. The money is good. All in all, not too bad. Every job has its drawbacks, though.” Just then the waiter came over and asked if they wanted dessert. She was about to refuse, but Gage spoke up before she could get the words out. “What do you have in the way of chocolate?” “Our chocolate pie is pretty popular.” “Send us a big slice.” “Us?” He pushed his plate away. “I’m not eating it all by myself. You’re helping.” Her stomach loved the idea, but her hips not so much. “Uh-uh, I can’t afford the calories.” His gaze traveled to her chest and back up again. “A few bites of pie won’t hurt. Trust me.” She laughed and caved. “Who am I to refuse chocolate?” He winked. “That’s the spirit.” As they drove home, Gage had to grip the steering wheel to keep his hands from reaching toward Summer. Damn, it’d been hell watching her eat the chocolate pie. The little sounds of satisfaction she made after each bite had his mind going straight to the gutter. He took his eyes off the road long enough to see her stroking the smooth leather seat with a fingertip. Hell, Gage wanted that finger on the head of his dick. She wiggled as if attempting to get more comfortable. The movement caused her pretty breasts to jiggle beneath her beige tank top. To keep from drooling, Gage focused on the road again. When he spotted her house, he pulled into the driveway and killed the engine, then turned toward her. “We’re home.” “Yes, we are,” she whispered. His gaze roamed over her possessively before he leaned in and brushed his lips over hers. “Like satin. I bet you’re like that all over, aren’t you, sweetheart?” “M-maybe you should find out for yourself.” Could he be hearing her right? “Summer?” “I should be playing hard to get, I know, but I want you, Gage.” “I want you too.” She eyed his crotch and smiled. “I sort of gathered.” He stroked her hair, enjoying the soft strands beneath his fingers. “You go to a man’s head, sweetheart.” “I’m glad.” He cupped her cheek and murmured, “You’re sure?” “Very.” Hell, yeah.

“Stop frowning. Your face will stick that way one of these days.” Grace looked up from the flat screen monitor to find Jackson grinning down at her, his hands in his pockets. God, the man was yummy. His close-cropped dark hair and chiseled cheekbones had always made her think of a tough guy from an action movie. His hard, muscular frame wasn’t anything to overlook either. For the first time she wondered if he’d ever been in the military. He seemed ex-something. SEAL. Marine. Sniper. Dangerous and sexy, both of those words described Jackson Hill’s powerful physique and hypnotic silver eyes. “So, no black eye. Am I to assume you two didn’t engage in a fist fight then?” He tsked. “We’re adults. We solve things like men, not prickly teenagers.” She let that one pass, though she had at least a dozen good comebacks on the tip of her tongue. “Still have a job?” Jackson pulled his hands out of his pockets and braced himself against her desk. As he leaned down, she could smell his masculine scent, like the jungle, wild and untamed. “Hoping Merrick fired me?” Her cheeks burned at his words. “I shouldn’t have gone to Merrick. I’m sorry.” Jackson reached out and touched her cheek. “That almost seemed sincere, Gracie.” She jerked backward, out of his reach, and growled, “Screw it, I’m not sorry.” Jackson’s grin disappeared. “Come into my office. I need to talk to you.” “Jackson, this isn’t—” He cut her off with a hand in the air. “I need a little privacy. Please?” Grace didn’t really have a choice at that point and she damn well knew it. Jackson was simply too adorable when he murmured please in that sexy baritone of his. She stood, but before she could follow him into his office, she asked, “Were you ever in the military?” His head cocked to the side. “Yeah, the Marines. I did a four-year enlistment right out of high school. Why?” She sighed. “Just curious.” “Uh, okay.” He turned and started toward his office, Grace watched the way his ass moved beneath his black dress slacks. God, the man was delicious. A squeeze. Just one squeeze and she could live the rest of her life with a grin on her face. As he closed the door to his office, panic welled up. Most men didn’t send her blood rushing through her veins, and she never felt panicky around them. With Jackson she was the helpless field mouse cornered by the hungry tom cat. Not a happy image. Jackson moved around his desk and sat, indicating she should sit in one of the chairs across from him. She sat and braced herself, unsure what this new mood of his was all about. He seemed pensive, and she wasn’t used to that. Jackson was usually flirtatious or ribbing her until she wanted to pull out her hair, or his. Those were moods she could handle. This serious side had her fidgeting in her seat. “I want to know why you went to Merrick. Is it so horrible working for me?” Grace clutched the arm of the chair. He was asking for the truth. Since the moment she’d started at Merrick’s company, Jackson had never actually pushed her into dealing with their mutual attraction. He seemed content to let them dance around each other. Dodging him and suppressing her insane attraction to him had just become a thing of the past, though. “It’s not so bad. You pissed me off and I reacted. I’m sorry.” He glanced down at his desk and frowned, then moved a few files around. As he leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest, he said, “Yeah, that’s the part I’m fuzzy on, Gracie. What set you off? One minute I was talking to you like any other co-worker, just shooting the breeze, the next thing I know you’re growling and stomping off. What did I say?” She would have to admit it now, or try to lie. She sucked at lying to Jackson. He always saw right through her, somehow. Another infuriating thing about the man. “You were talking about your night with Ginger,” she blurted. “Ginger? What does she have to do with anything?” She rolled her eyes and stood. “You know, for an educated man, you can be so dense.” Grace started for the door, but she never managed more than a few feet before a pair of large, strong hands pulled her to a stop. She swung around and glared. “Let me go.” “You were jealous,” he stated, as if she hadn’t already figured out that part on her own. “Hallelujah! Give the man a cigar.” “How do you think I felt when you threw Antonio in my face? And don’t say you didn’t mention him just to piss me off, because we both know the truth.” She’d gone out with Antonio, a cute guy from accounting, on the off chance she’d be able to forget about Jackson. It hadn’t worked. She’d spent the entire evening comparing the two men, and she’d found Antonio lacking big time. “I wasn’t talking about Antonio like he was an all-you-can-eat buffet, though.” She watched a muscle in Jackson’s jaw twitch angrily. It made her want to lean in and lick him. “Don’t piss me off by lying. I respect the women I date. I don’t expound on their attributes with friends and co-workers, and you know it. I mentioned going to dinner with her, that’s all. You damn near shot out of my office like a cat that’d just gotten her tail stepped on.” His imagery stung her pride. “That’s not true.” He leaned close and murmured, “Stop lying, sweetheart. You were jealous, same as I was when you mentioned Antonio.” She tugged her arm and got exactly nowhere. “Fine, I was jealous,” she admitted. “Can I go now?” “No. We need to fix this. We can’t continue working together if you’re going to run to Merrick every time you feel cornered.” She made a point of wiggling her arm. “Then stop cornering me.” He released her, and she stepped back. He stepped forward. Grace held her ground, though his nearness sent fire dancing through her veins and her pussy throbbed with need. “You like it when I corner you,” he said as he looked her over. “You’re just too chicken to admit it.” Grace narrowed her eyes. “Take that back.” He grinned. “Nope. It’s true. You’re too chicken to take what you want, and we both know it.” “We work together. Getting involved is a bad idea.” Crap, even she knew that was a lame excuse. He pointed to the door. “Exhibit A: Chloe and Merrick.” Damn, she hated when he was right. “That’s different. Merrick wasn’t a stalker.” He laughed. “And I am?” “You may as well be.” “How about you just prove you aren’t a chicken. Put me in my place, Gracie.” She knew exactly where this was leading. “I suppose if I go out with you, it’ll be proof. That’s so pathetic.” He shook his head, looking entirely too sure of himself. “Go to the Interop Convention with me. Spend three days in Las Vegas by my side. Prove you can resist this chemistry arcing back and forth, and I’ll leave you alone.” “You just want to get me drunk so you can take advantage of me. Perv.” Jackson stepped closer and touched the tip of her nose. It was completely platonic, nothing flirtatious in the touch at all, and yet he might as well have touched her breast, she was so turned on. “You know better than that. I would want you alert for what I have in mind.” He paused before adding, “What do you say? Can you handle three days in Vegas with me? Or is it too much temptation for you?” She should have walked out. Turn around and walk away, don’t let him suck you in. The inner voice was ignored. Instead, she stepped forward, barely grazing his hard body with the tips of her breasts. Even through the material of their shirts, Grace felt her nipples harden as if begging for more. Jackson tensed. His gaze narrowed. The atmosphere around them seemed to fairly spark. Grace lifted on her toes and whispered, “Bring it on.” Jackson licked his lips and cupped her chin in his palm. “You’re going to push me too far one of these days, little girl.” Grace didn’t speak. She couldn’t if she’d wanted to. She just stood there, their bodies barely touching, Jackson staring at her gaping mouth. When he released her and stepped back, she nearly wilted. Had she wanted him to kiss her? Duh! Even the thought sent her temperature higher. Three days. Three whole days of Jackson Hill in Sin City. Yep, it was official. She’d lost her mind.

Chloe sat at their usual table in the back of Sal’s restaurant. Sal, the owner, came over and took her hand in his. “You’re as beautiful as ever, darling.” She winked and said, “And you’re a shameless flirt, Sal, as always.” “Where’s that man of yours?” “He’s on his way. He should be here any minute.” A voice in the back of her mind taunted her with the notion that he may not show at all. That he’d gotten lost in his work. Again. “His loss is my gain, pretty Chloe,” Sal murmured, then kissed the back of her hand. Chloe laughed. “Do you treat all your lady customers this way?” He took a step backward and said, “Of course!” “I think maybe you shouldn’t be hitting on my woman.” The gruff male voice had Chloe sitting up straighter and clutching her purse in her lap. Merrick. And he wasn’t wearing a suit. Hadn’t he gone to work? She let her gaze travel over him, taking in the tight, faded jeans and black t-shirt. His dark tousled hair looked as if he hadn’t even bothered to run a comb through it. Still he was the most handsome man she’d ever seen. “I’d never dream of it, boy. Just keeping her company until you got here.” Merrick’s eyebrow shot up. “You’re a bad liar, Sal.” Sal smacked Merrick on the back. “You’re just jealous because she likes me better.” Chloe wanted to laugh, but held back. Sal was in his mid-sixties. Not only had he been happily married for forty years, but he also had six kids and thirteen grandkids. “That flirting is going to get you in a world of trouble one of these days.” “So my wife keeps telling me,” he admitted. As Merrick came closer, Sal asked, “The usual?” Their usual was spaghetti and meatballs with a bottle of merlot, then chocolate cake for dessert. They always shared the cake and stuffed themselves. Today, Chloe didn’t feel like eating at all. “Sounds great. Thanks,” Merrick answered for them both. After Sal shuffled off, Merrick brought his right arm around from behind his back, revealing a long box. Flowers? He’d bought her flowers and taken the day off work? Merrick set the box on the table in front of her. She stared at it as if it were a snake. It’d been so long since Merrick had bought her flowers. “Open it, babe.” Chloe looked up at him. The hurt in his eyes was plain to see. Her heart broke. She reached out and tugged the box closer, then slowly opened it. A beautiful bouquet of long stem roses. “They’re lovely,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “Thank you.” Merrick reached his hand out to hers. Chloe let him twine their fingers together. “What’s going on, babe? Why’d you leave me?” Chloe heard the pain in her husband’s deep, low voice, and she ached to put them both out of their misery, but she couldn’t give in to her heart’s desire. If she caved now, he’d be right back to his old ways, and she’d be no better off than she was now. She shored up her nerve. If she made it through the next few hours without falling apart, it’d be a miracle. “A separation,” she answered without preamble. “I don’t know if there will be more to it than that, but I need some time to think.” Merrick tightened his hold on her hand and gritted out, “Yeah, I got that much from the note, but that doesn’t give me a why. Please make me understand why my wife saw fit to leave me while I was asleep. Explain how that’s any kind of solution to whatever’s wrong with our marriage, Chloe.” She wiggled her fingers and he loosened his hold, but didn’t pull away. She hadn’t really expected him to. This was Merrick at his most dominating. He would never give up without a fight. She’d known that, but she also knew that once he realized he’d have to choose between his back-to-back work schedule and her, he’d choose his work. “It’s not as if I woke up yesterday and decided to walk out on everything I’ve worked so hard to build. This has been building for a long time. I’ve tried to talk to you, to make you slow down. You work fourteen-hour days, Merrick. Your entire world revolves around the business. At first I admired your drive. Now I realize it’s not drive, it’s an obsession. You spend all your waking hours at that office. Since I work there, too, I do get to see you, but it’s not the same as spending time together as husband and wife, and you know it. I spend every weekend alone. Do you know how that makes me feel? Have you any idea how sick I am of being second to that damned business?” Merrick frowned. “You were never second, sweetheart.” Chloe saw red. “You can sit there and say that to me? You’re a liar, Merrick Vaughn.” He made a shushing sound. “Keep your voice down unless you want everyone to know our personal problems.” She took a deep breath and tried to calm her racing heart. A waiter brought their wine and poured a small amount in each of their glasses, then shuffled off to another table. Chloe took a sip, then sat back and waited for him to continue. Merrick’s gaze never left her face. He didn’t acknowledge the waiter or the wine. His anger and hurt were evident in the set of his shoulders and the jumping muscle in his jaw. Chloe desperately wanted to soothe him. Tell him it was all a mistake. But that path wasn’t going to bring her happiness, only more grief. “You never said anything,” he said finally. “I had no idea you were this unhappy. Why, Chloe?” She slumped in her seat. “I tried talking to you, several times. You would either promise to be home more, which never happened, or you’d wave my concerns away as if I were suffering from a particularly vicious bout of PMS or something. After awhile, I stopped trying.” Merrick was quiet for a long time. Chloe couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Sal brought their food and chatted with them a moment then left them to eat in privacy. She wanted to shove her plate away. Just the thought of eating the rich sauce and savory meatballs made her stomach queasy, but it was better than sitting in total silence. Merrick released her hand and they both ate several bites before giving up. She peeked at Merrick and watched as he swiped a napkin over his mouth. That small gesture was sexier than a room full of exotic male dancers to Chloe. How could she possibly get over the man when she melted every time they were in the same room together? When he sat back and crossed his arms over his chest, Chloe shivered. She recognized the determination in his dark blue eyes. Merrick was gearing up for a battle. He’d gotten the same look in meetings over the years. That look said, I’m going to win and there’s nothing you can do about it. “I have a proposition for you,” Merrick said, his voice a low rumble that skated over her nerve endings like a hot caress. “Okay, I’m listening.” She couldn’t even begin to guess at what Merrick had in mind. “I want to take you on vacation. An entire week, just the two of us.” “That won’t solve our problems. I wish that was all it would take, but the instant we come back, you’ll be back to working around the clock and I’ll be right back to waiting for you to remember that you’re married.” Merrick’s gaze never changed, but she could see that her words affected him. His entire body tensed. “I didn’t forget we were married, but I see I’ve neglected you. I know I’ve been a lousy husband lately, but I think I deserve a chance to make it up to you. To make you see that I can change. That I will change.” She badly wanted to believe him. She needed to believe him, and that scared her more than anything. He was her life, her only love. Divorce wouldn’t change how her heart felt. She would always belong to Merrick. Still, she needed to protect her heart from more pain. “I don’t know, Merrick. I’ve tried so many times to get you to hear me, but nothing ever worked.” “I was a blind fool. I know that now. When I read your note and realized you’d left me, I felt like my entire life had come to a screeching halt. I’m asking you to give me a chance to save our marriage. Let me have a week alone with you. If you’re still determined that a separation is the only answer, then I’ll let you go, no questions.”

FORBIDDEN FRUIT – ANNE RAINEY
“Oh god, what am I even doing here? I don’t belong here!� Jen took Ava by the shoulders and gave her a shake. “Remember Monday? Standing on Luke’s front porch and hearing every awful word that fell out of his big dumb mouth?� Ava remembered. It hurt, but she remembered. She’d gone to Luke’s on Monday because he’d found a cat on his front porch and hadn’t a clue as to what to do with it. Inches from the screen door, she stopped dead at the words that drifted out to her. “Since when do you have the hots for my sister’s friend?� “I wouldn’t say I have the hots for her, but there’s no denying that she’s one sexy piece of ass, Luke.� “Dr. Doolittle? Sexy?� He sounded so incredulous and Ava felt her heart sink. “Hell, yes, sexy!� At that moment, she could have planted one on Pete’s lips for that manly comment. “I’d give my left nut to see that curvy ass of hers in the buff. It’s all heart-shaped and…just so damned squeezable.� Luke, the idiot, dug himself in deeper. “Are we talking about the same woman here?� Pete just plowed on; oblivious that Luke wasn’t buying a word he was selling. “And those magnificent tits. Just right, ya know? All soft and bouncy and round. I swear to Christ I don’t think she owns a single bra.� “How can you tell what her ass or her tits look like when every piece of clothing she owns is big and baggy and ugly as sin?� Her shoulders slumped. That confirmed her worst fears. Luke would never see her as a woman. Only ever as the plain tomboy, animal lover friend of his sister, Jen. Great. “You don’t need to have x-ray vision, Luke. Ava Sweet isn’t all fluff and makeup, true, but, she’s real and everything a man could want in a woman. She has natural beauty. The kind most women envy. And I’d bet money that beneath those baggy clothes is one helluva woman just waiting for a man to sink his teeth in.� “But, again, I ask you, how the hell can you even tell? She’s all bulky cotton material! And that hair. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it out of that nasty ass ponytail she wears day in and day out.� Can you blame her?� “What do mean?� “She probably dresses like that to deter her boss and every other man she comes across.� “What does her boss have to do with it?� Yeah, that’s what she’d like to know. “I’ve been to the clinic where she works and I’ve seen the good doc giving her the once over. If she came to work looking all…girly, he’d be on her quicker than a cat to cream.� “You’ve been to her clinic?� “Yep.� “What the hell for? You don’t even own a pet.� “Jesus, Luke, for such a ladies man you can be real dense sometimes.� Enough was enough, Ava decided. Time to retrieve the cat and give Luke a piece of her mind in the process.

I pulled my Lexus into the grocery store parking lot and found a spot. The only available space was at the back. Figured. Not that it mattered. I needed the extra exercise. Being a writer, sitting for hours a day, usually meant a little extra to love, especially in the rear. I turned off the engine and checked my hair and makeup one last time, then left the car. Ever since the phone call with Blake, he’d been in my head. Invading my dreams. Slipping in under the cracks when I least expected it. Two days after that call and I could still feel his deep voice in my ear. It was crazy after all these years, carrying a torch for a guy who threw me away without so much as batting an eye. Dumb. I’d already given myself a stern lecture—several of them. It wasn’t doing any good. As the doors slid open, a draft of cold air hit me, cooling my overheated skin in an instant. The dog days of August were in full swing. The overbearing heat made me glad I’d worn shorts and a tank. I grabbed a cart and forced my mind on my mental list of foodstuffs. It was Thursday and tomorrow Heather was flying in for a visit. Since she lived in Florida, most of our visiting was done through email and phone calls. As wild as Heather was, her trip to Lancaster was bound to wake up the sleepy little town. Hard telling what she’d get into. Already I was getting jazzed. It was a rare treat for me to play hostess, and I was aching to cook up something fun in the kitchen. As I imagined the dishes I planned to prepare, I wasn’t watching where I was walking and smacked my cart into a wall. When I looked up, my mouth fell open. Not a wall. “Ally?” I tried to swallow, tried to speak, but there seemed to be a rather large rock wedged into my throat. Finally I managed a squeaky, “Blake?” “Yeah.” We both just stood there, staring. It seemed neither of us knew what to say. My heart sped to a wild gallop. Every feeling I ever had for him came back like a monsoon. A floodgate tore open and the emotions poured through. And, oh wow, he’d definitely aged well. Blake was gorgeous as a teenager, but as an adult, he was delicious. My body liquefied as I took in his long, muscled legs and massive shoulders. His six-foot-plus frame filled out the charcoal-gray suit like nobody’s business, too. I noticed his hair hadn’t changed much. It was still the same dark shade of espresso and tossed about as if he’d just stepped off a motorcycle. Knowing Blake, he probably had. Damn it. Pornographic thoughts slid around in my brain. I felt like a total perv. A wave of self-consciousness came over me as I imagined what he’d think of the way I’d aged. Would he like what he saw? I watched him blink his sexy blue eyes several times, then look me over. Slowly. When his gaze rested once more on my face, I spoke. “Hi.” “Hi.” His voice sounded hoarse, like a man turned on. I crushed that thought and stepped forward, took him into my arms. “It’s good to see you again.” Blake’s arms came around my waist as he hugged me tight. Really tight. Almost as if he didn’t want to let go. I didn’t want to think of that right now, so I pulled away. “Parents got you grocery shopping already?” He rolled his eyes. “Mom’s been cooking up a storm. I’m going to get fat if I don’t find an apartment soon.” “You have a ways to go before you have to worry about that.” He looked so damn edible I wanted to scoop him up and purchase him for dinner tomorrow night! He laughed. “Thanks, but between the errands and the dinners, I’m starting to feel like I’m back in high school again. I’m waiting for Mom to give me a curfew.” The mention of high school was what did it. I didn’t want to think about the last time we’d been together. “Well, good seeing you again. I better get moving.” I grabbed the handle on the cart and started to move around him. He placed his hand on my forearm. My gaze darted to his. “You sure you don’t want to have dinner with me?” God, this was too cruel. Seeing him. Wanting him. Walking away from him. No woman was that strong. But I surprised myself when I said, “I’m sure. Take care of yourself, Blake.” Then, before I could rethink my decision, I moved off, leaving him standing there. My legs felt like rubber. My stomach ached. Being the one to walk away wasn’t as satisfying as I’d thought. In fact, it sucked. * * * As I ticked off the last item on my list, I went to the checkout. I needed to escape. When I reached my car, Blake called my name. I popped the trunk and turned around to see him sprinting toward me, two bags in each hand. Without preamble, he said, “I couldn’t let you leave without this…” He leaned down as if to kiss me, and I gave him my cheek. He stopped an inch from my skin. I could feel his hot breath, and desire rushed through my body. He smelled the same. His scent threw me back in time. I shuddered. He chuckled, kissed me briefly and straightened. “You always were a temptation.” I wanted to protest that ridiculous statement, but he looked me over one more time and growled, “You look good, Ally. Real good.” Then he walked away. He was several feet across the lot before my heart started back up. Oh, God. This denial business was going to be a lot harder than I’d imagined. I finished putting the groceries in the trunk, slammed it closed and got in behind the wheel. It was his kiss that did it. An idea had started to take shape the instant his lips touched my skin. Maybe I could give Blake the date he so badly wanted. Only with a twist. I smiled and reached for my purse lying in my lap. I found my cell phone beneath a few receipts and a pack of gum. I hit speed dial two. “It’s your dime.” “Heather, it’s Ally.” “Oh, hi, sweetie. I’m packing for my trip, can’t wait to see you!” “I can’t wait to see you, either. It’s been too long.” “I know. I love living down here, but I hate being away from all my old girlfriends.” I dove right in, aware I’d lose my nerve if I didn’t cut right to the chase. “Hey, Heather, do you remember that time in Myrtle Beach when you and I drank that bottle of tequila?” Heather’s soft laughter reached my ears. Heather had a sexy siren’s voice and a body to match. It didn’t matter if you were a woman or a man. One look at Heather and you thought about sex. Hot, sweaty sex. It was that simple. “How could I forget?” “That was one wild weekend, wasn’t it?” “It was the one and only time I could get you to let me play with that voluptuous bod of yours.” My face heated at the forbidden memory of that wild summer night. Unlike me, Heather was bi-sexual and not afraid to shout it to the world. In fact, she took great pleasure in shouting it to the world. “I was thinking maybe you’d like a repeat.” Did I really just say that aloud? “No kidding?” Heather’s excited voice nearly had me backing out. She might be used to having sex with both sexes, but I wasn’t. Still, I forged on. “I was thinking maybe we could add a man to the equation this time.” “You have someone in mind, sexy?” If any other woman had called me that, I would have felt really weirded out, but Heather was different. Besides, when you’ve tasted another woman’s pussy, it sort of tore down a few barriers. “Yes, Blake Steele.” Heather whistled. “He’s back?” “Yep.” And you want to exact a little revenge, is that it?” Putting it like that, I started to feel guilty. “Do you feel terribly used?” “Sweetie, you can use me any time. Count me in.” “You’re sure? Because if you don’t want to, I’ll understand.” “No way am I passing up another chance to get in your panties.” We both laughed. Right there in the parking lot of Save A Lot, Heather and I began to hash out a plan.

“Do you own all this?” He still had no idea who or where he was, but he was certain of one thing. He was loath to be rid of the hot brunette with the rhythmic accent, offering him chicken noodle soup and bread that smelled as if she’d baked it fresh. “No, my brother and I own it together,” she said, setting a plate of sliced bread on the table. When she turned around to grab the iced tea she’d poured, he got a good view of her backside. The flirty sundress she wore couldn’t conceal curves as lush as hers. Sweet. As she moved toward the table with their drinks, her explanation continued. “After our parents died in a car accident five years ago, Aries found this two hundred acre plot for sale. He had the main house built, and we moved here shortly after. This smaller house wasn’t built until a little later, after I convinced Aries I needed my own space.” You aren’t married?” He held his breath, unsure why it mattered. She was a stranger. Hell, for all he knew she was the reason he had an egg-sized lump on the back of his skull. She stopped dishing up the soup and stared at him as if he’d gone mad. “Did I say something wrong?” Jesus, she was probably a widow or something. “No, of course not. It’s just… I’m not married.” There was more to that story, he was certain of it. He’d eventually get it out of her, too. That’s what he did, expose the secrets behind the faces of the people he met. His body went still at the sudden knowledge. It was a clue. Already he was remembering things. “Are you okay?” she asked. “Huh?” “You went very pale. Is your injury bothering you?” He shook himself back to reality. “Not really. A flash of a memory. Startled me some.” She smiled and it lit up the room. Damn, she was a true beauty. Her dark brown hair hung low, swinging just above her ass in bouncy little ringlets. He’d been dying to touch it, to find out if it was as soft and silky as it looked. Her body had been like a breath of fresh air, all smooth curves, with just the right amount of creamy flesh to give a man something to play with and hang on to. He’d always hated women who were too thin. He liked something to unveil. Something to make his time worthwhile. And Sapphire was surely worthwhile. Her sweet body practically had him salivating. Her sexy, almond-shaped blue eyes had the power to mesmerize a man. A tempting siren, and he’d landed right in her lap. But what the hell was she doing sequestered away like a friggin’ nun? The two-storey white house was large enough for a family, but still small enough to be cozy. He liked the way she’d decorated, too. A large rectangular table made of pine was the center point of the kitchen. There was a matching hutch, filled with what appeared to be very expensive china, along one wall, and not a lot else. She liked it uncluttered, it seemed. He wondered if the rest of the house held the same type of pine furniture. It had surprised him to note that the place was wired with one hell of a security system, too. Apparently, her brother was the protective sort. She placed two steaming bowls on the table and said, “You’ll regain your memories soon. You have a strong mind.” “And you know this how?” His question appeared to take her by surprise, though she recovered quickly. “You just don’t seem the weak type, I guess.” “Uh, thanks.” He wasn’t sure what to make of her, and his head hurt too damn bad to think it to death. “You’re welcome.” She sat at the table and started eating her soup. His stomach growled, so he followed suit. They were both quiet while they ate. After they’d devoured most of their soup and several slices of the bread, he sat back and watched her dab a pink napkin over her lips. Every movement she made was delicate and refined. When she finished, she stood and began clearing away their dirty dishes. He pushed his own chair back and came to his feet. “You wash, I’ll dry.” She looked at him from head to toe. “You should take a hot shower.” “Later, after the kitchen’s cleaned up.” Sapphire placed her hands on her hips. “No. I think you should shower and rest. You obviously shouldn’t sleep yet, but lying down couldn’t hurt. We still aren’t certain what happened to you. It could be that your body suffered quite a trauma. It’s already after six o’clock and, for all we know, you could’ve been lying on that ground all day.” He wanted to laugh. It seemed downright ridiculous to have her standing up to him. She was maybe five-two, while he was six-foot and outweighed her by a hundred pounds, easy. “You said yourself I could have a concussion. I should stay with you so you can keep an eye on me.” She squinted at him, as if trying to see if he was playing her. Finally, she shrugged. “Fine, but if you pass out and hit your head again, I won’t be at fault.” He chuckled at her disgruntled tone. “Duly noted, ma’am.” “Sapphire, please.” She wrinkled her nose. “Ma’am sounds old.” “And you sure as hell aren’t old,” he growled. “No, I’m twenty-four.” “If I knew my age I’d share, but…” “Do you have a wallet or something that might help us find out who you are?” He hadn’t even thought to check. He reached around to his back pocket, but nothing was there. He shook his head. “Soon enough,” Sapphire reassured him. He hoped. It was damned strange not knowing anything about his life, least of all his age. He held up his hands and saw no ring. Thank God for small favors. As they worked on cleaning the dishes, he glanced at the clock on the microwave. Six-thirty in the evening. How long had he been in those woods? How had he even gotten there? More importantly, where the hell was he? “You’re in Waverly, Ohio.” A prickling sensation traveled the length of his spine. “I didn’t ask.” The bowl she’d been washing slipped out of her grasp. It hit the edge of the counter, broke into several large, jagged pieces and landed at their feet. She gasped, and they both looked down. Blood oozed from a cut on the side of her left arch. “Hold still, sweetheart,” he murmured, as he swung her into his arms. He strode across the kitchen and set her carefully in a chair. She was biting her lip and frowning at her foot. He hoped she wasn’t one of those women who passed out at the sight of blood. “May I look at it?” She nodded, and he gently pushed her long dress out of the way and held her supple calf in his palm, inspecting her injury. “Hmm, I think it might need to be amputated.” Her eyes shot wide. He winked, and a sweet blush stole over her cheeks as she realized he was only teasing her. “You must think I’m quite a baby, flinching at a minor scrape when you’re so battered.” “Not a baby. Tender, gentle, yes.” He leaned forward and kissed the side of her foot, right over the cut. “Such soft skin.” “Oh.” Her breathless, one word reply went straight to his groin. Damn, the woman had the power to drive grown men to their knees. He rose, went to the sink and ripped a paper towel off its roll. After he wet it and squeezed out the excess water, he went back to her and dabbed at the cut. The bleeding had already stopped. When he had all the blood cleared away, he stood again. “Sit still while I tidy up.” She started to protest, but he rode right over her. “You took me in and gave me the best meal I’ve had in…well, to be honest I can’t remember, but it was damned good. The least I can do is clean.” Her expression changed and her gaze darted to the front window. Her alarm was enough for him to wish he had a weapon of some kind. “What is it?” That blue-eyed gaze shot to his face, and he could see real fear. “You can’t be here. My brother’s coming. You need to hide.” “Hide? Are you serious?” “You’re a man. He wouldn’t approve.” Her attitude rubbed him wrong. Unsure if it was male pride or something more, he ground out, “You’re a grown woman. You don’t need his approval, Sapphire.” “Please, he’ll make you leave, and I don’t wish that.” Now they were getting somewhere.

RECKLESS EXPOSURE – ANNE RAINEY
As fashion photographer, Rand Miller listens to all the reasons why his sexy lover must move out of not only his apartment but also his life, he decides to give her the going away party of a lifetime. The list of party goodies includes: massage oil, margaritas and their mysterious neighbor, Trey Madison. But when dawn creeps over the horizon, will Rand be able to watch the only woman capable of taming his wicked ways walk out of his life forever? TO MY READER: Bad boys from the wrong side of the tracks and small town good girls, there’s nothing sexier! Rand and Lucy are so different it’s crazy. Of course they belong together. I hope their erotic tale makes you sweat! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Anne lives in a small town way out in the middle of no-where-ville. She is a gorgeous blonde with wonderful curves and a money tree in the backyard. Clearly, Anne is a mere figment. A ghostly figure that pops in and out of my head like a drive-by author. Nevertheless, I do so love it when she's visiting, because her imagination really is wickedly delicious! She'll bring you fantasies and erotic delights that will have you grabbing the ice water! Feel free to email Anne at anne@annerainey.com EXCERPT: Rand leaned close to her ear and licked the sensitive shell, then whispered, “Let me play, angel.� She swiveled her head around and bit out, “We have company.� Rand’s gaze burned into hers. “I know.� Huh? He wanted Trey to watch? “I’m not okay with this,� she said, though her words lacked conviction. She meant to sound more forceful. Instead she sounded...turned on. “You sure about that?� Rand said, as he slid his palm higher, cupping her possessively. Her pussy flooded with heat as Rand started to stroke her clitoris through her jeans. Lucy turned and looked at Trey. He leaned against the arm of the couch, facing them, his hands clenched into tight fists as if attempting to hold himself back. It wasn’t the large erection she could see pressing against the fly of Trey’s jeans that made her give Rand’s hand free rein. It wasn’t even the intensity in Trey’s dark eyes as he stared at her as if he wanted to devour her whole. It was her own desires, she admitted to herself. She’d fantasized about both men taking her at once. She’d never dreamed it’d ever happen, but here was her chance to taste the forbidden. Once in every woman’s life she was given the chance to toss caution to the wind. This was her chance. She was damned well going to take it.