Irresistible Forces

Admitting that to himself left him breathless for a few miserable moments. Logic intervened, reminding him that it didn't matter how he felt — she'd married Nick and still mourned him. End of fantasy.

'I always knew you wanted to go into law enforcement, but DEA?'

He lifted a shoulder. 'Just gullible, I guess.'

'Very funny.' Her expression grew serious again. 'So… DEA thinks someone at the Studfinder is dealing drugs?'

'We're still off the record?' Jared directed his most solemn gaze toward her. 'If my cover is blown, I could be in danger. I don't think you want that.'

Fear flickered in her eyes. 'No. Of course not.'

The sight of her tongue sweeping across her lower lip sent Jared's blood supply down and dirty in record time. She still turned him on, but that was the least of his problems. The fact that he still loved her was considerably more dangerous than his libido.

'Yes, we have reason to believe the Studfinder might be a front for distribution. I lost the toss.' He smiled, hoping to ease the fear he'd planted in her eyes.

'It sounds dangerous.'

'Not if I'm careful.' He struggled against the urge to pull her into his arms. 'And I intend to be careful.'

'All right.' She released a shaky breath. 'I'll keep your identity and your role a secret, if you'll give me the dancer interview my boss wants.'

'But I'm not really a dancer.' Jared flashed her a grin, enjoying the crimson flush that crept up her neck and bloomed in her cheeks.

'You looked like one last night.' Her answering grin almost drove him to his knees. 'I don't think you'd get any argument from the rest of your admirers in the audience.'

'All right, now you've done it.' He chuckled and shook his head. 'I'm embarrassed. Are you happy?'

She grew sober and reached for her notepad with trembling fingers, but she knocked it to the floor instead. He reached for it at the same time she did, and they bumped foreheads.

Before he could draw his next breath, he pulled Margo to her feet and covered her lips with his. A tremor trickled through her body, and he feared she might pull away, but instead she molded herself against him, parting her lips for his.

Oh, God. He never should've let this happen, because he'd forgotten how sweet she tasted. Memories swirled through him of the first time they'd made love, augmenting his desire even further. He pressed his hand to the small of her back and laced the other through the silky hair at the nape of her neck.

This was Margo — not a dream. Hungry for her, he deepened their kiss, swallowing her moan with an answering growl that came from a place he'd believed no longer existed. When he'd lost Margo, he'd buried a part of himself. Now that neglected part of him clamored for release.

The vault where he'd locked these feelings away cracked open a tiny bit. Even that small portion of emotions long denied were potent enough to make him crazy.

He wanted her. Needed her. Loved her.

This was so right. The years fell away. He kissed the corner of her mouth, her cheek, her jaw.

'Jared,' she whispered, and he kissed her mouth again.

'Hey, sis, what—'

Margo jerked herself free of Jared's embrace, her face flushed, her breathing labored. 'Steph, what are.

A tall redhead stepped from behind Margo's sister. Jared met Raquel Eastwood's gaze. And saw murder in her eyes.

6

Margo straightened her skirt and drew a desperate breath. When had she stopped breathing? And why? She was single. So what if her sister and a virtual stranger had just caught her kissing an equally single man? Big deal. Nothing wrong with that picture.

Then why did she feel like crawling under the nearest rock? Nick is dead. She struggled for another breath, and though logic demanded she accept her husband's death and his rivalry with Jared, she couldn't. Traitor.

Steph extended the key card that had belonged to Nick toward her. 'Want this back?' She flashed her a sheepish grin. 'Sorry.'

'Don't be silly.' Margo cleared her throat and noticed the fury glittering in Raquel Eastwood's eyes. Why would she be angry about this? It made no sense at all. Of course, Raquel's early morning breakfast invitation hadn't either.

'Looks like we arrived just in time,' Raquel said, her voice sounding deeper than it had before.

'That's a matter of opinion,' Jared said quietly.

Raquel took a step toward him. 'Yeah. Mne.'

'What the—'Steph looked from Raquel to Jared, then back again. 'You may be tall, but I think Jared could take you with one hand. Besides, what's it to you?' As usual, Steph had the courage to voice Margo's thoughts.

'I'm interviewing Jared for an article.' Margo retrieved her notepad and pencil, as if she needed proof. Ridiculous.

'Sorry for interrupting.' Raquel's apology came through gritted teeth and was clearly not genuine. However, at least she'd unclenched her fists.

'Interview, huh?' Steph's eyes twinkled, and she waggled her eyebrows suggestively. 'Raquel needed a ride to the office, and I remembered I need to borrow your purple dress, so…' She shrugged, still smiling.

Margo would never hear the end of this one.

'I'll get the dress.'

'I'll help you.'

Margo hurried into the bedroom she'd shared with Nick, which augmented her guilt. She hadn't kissed a man since his death, and the first one had to be the one who would have hurt him the most.

Steph came in behind her and put her hand on her shoulder. 'Don't you dare feel bad about kissing that sexy hunk of man. It's about time you—'

'Don't, Steph.' Margo drew a shaky breath, reeling in her emotions. She turned and faced her sister. 'There's — a lot more to this, and I can't go into it with you right now.'

'Oooookay.' Steph gave her a quick hug, then flung open Margo's closet. 'I'm starting to wonder about Raquel.'

'Starting to?' Margo shook her head. 'She's very strange.'

Steph retrieved the purple dress in question and draped it over her shoulder. 'She was the one who mentioned we were passing right by your place.'

'How…' Margo paused to contemplate that. 'She probably saw my address at the office or something. Or maybe from the police station last night.'

'Maybe.'

Why didn't it seem that simple to Margo? Because Raquel had shown an inordinately strong interest in her. That made it personal.

'You thinking what I'm thinking?' Steph tilted her head, her expression contemplative. 'I'm sure she'll take no for an answer.'

Margo would've bought her sister's sincerity, if not for the gleam in Steph's eye as she grabbed the doorknob.

'You're rotten,' she muttered to her sister's retreating back.

'I love you, too, sis.' Steph giggled all the way back to the den.