Why Not Tonight?

picked one and asked that Adam write in his neighbor Audrey Shay’s name. “Taken care of,” Adam said, closing the book.

“Thanks, dude. See you tomorrow afternooon.”

“Bye.” Adam hung up the phone, then tunneled his hands through his hair. His gaze shifted to Mallory, who stood exactly where he’d left her in front of the sofa. His heart thumped at the arousal that still lurked in her eyes, and the way her mouth looked plump and delicious and well kissed.

The sound of muffled laughter reached him, and his gaze shifted toward the door. Two couples walked by, each arm in arm. Probably going to the movie theater two blocks down. Their presence reminded him that a lot of people walked by the glass storefront. A private spot this definitely was not. And privacy was definitely going to be necessary.

Walking back to Mallory, he lightly clasped her hands. “You okay?”

“Yes.” A wry grin curved her lips. “Just suffering from a bad case of kissus interruptus.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “Me, too. Still, we were most likely literally saved by the bell. If that kiss had continued…” He raised their joined hands to his lips and pressed a kiss to her fingers. “Well, given our goldfish-bowl location, better that the kiss was interrupted by the phone than having what would have happened next interrupted by an arresting officer.”

He released her hands then drew her closer. When their bodies touched from chest to knee, when the hard ridge of his erection pressed between them, he said, “Still harboring any doubts that you’re incredibly sexy?”

“I’m definitely feeling less troll-like.”

“Good-but still in need of further reassurance-I hope.”

“A girl can never get too much reassurance.”

“I can’t understand how you could ever see yourself as anything other than beautiful and desirable.”

Her blush deepened. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. You want me to punch what’s his-name?”

Her lips twitched. “Would you?”

“Gladly.”

“What if I told you he was six foot five and weighed two-forty?”

“I’d say that would make things more difficult, but at the end of the day, I’d make damn sure he looked worse and hurt worse than me.”

“As much as I appreciate the offer, he isn’t worth the time or effort.”

“All right. But the offer stands.” Leaning forward, he touched his lips to the soft bit of fragrant skin just below her ear. “You, on the other hand,” he whispered against her neck, “are very much worth my time and effort. As I recall, I promised to treat you to another bacon cheeseburger if things didn’t work out with what’s-his-name. Since two of those artery-cloggers in one day would probably land us in the hospital, could I interest you in dinner somewhere a little nicer than the diner?”

“Actually, I came here to invite you to dinner. As I recall you like seafood and I make a mean pasta with shrimp.”

“You’re offering to cook for me?”

“I am. Interested?”

“Absolutely.” He straightened and looked into her eyes. Just to make sure there was no misunderstanding of his intentions, he laid his cards on the table. “But in a hell of a lot more than just pasta. Interested?”

Her eyes darkened and she didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely.”

That single word sizzled a bolt of wild lust through him. “When did you have in mind?”

“Why not tonight? Or do you have other plans?”

He smiled. “It seems I do-with a beautiful woman and a bowl of pasta and shrimp.”

A layer of the shadows lurking in her eyes vanished and she smiled. “Great.” Her gaze cut to the stack of papers on the desk where he’d been working when she’d arrived. “Do you have things you still need to finish up here?”

“A few. Shouldn’t take me much more than an hour.”

“Actually that’s perfect since I need to stop at the supermarket.” She glanced at her watch. “It’s six-thirty now. Why don’t we say around eight o’clock, and if you can get there earlier, fine.”

“Sounds great. I’ll bring the wine.” He released her, reluctantly, but consoled himself with the fact that they had the entire night ahead of them.

She slipped a card from her purse and handed it to him. “Here’s my address. It’s only about six miles from here.” She gave him directions, then added, “My cell and home numbers are listed on the card. Call if you get lost.”

“Not to worry, Mallory. Believe me, I’ll find you.”

6

Saturday, 8:00 p.m.

WHEN MALLORY HEARD A CAR pull into the driveway, her heart beat so hard she could feel the pulsing in her stomach. Hear it in her ears. Good grief, she was reacting like a teenager going on her first date.

She blinked. Actually, this was exactly the way she’d felt as a teenager when she’d gone on her first date with Adam. They’d gone to the movies. The latest James Bond flick. And hadn’t watched a minute of the film. The instant the lights went down, the mother of all make-out sessions had started. To this day she blushed any time that particular film was mentioned.

Her common sense firmly told both her heart and hormones that this evening with Adam was nothing more than a bandage for her scraped-up ego and that to think of it as anything more would be foolish and fall into the category of “rebounditis.” Certainly it wasn’t smart to get involved with another man literally within minutes after breaking up with the last guy. Especially a guy like Adam, whose life and future were so up in the air and who was heading to Europe for three months in less than forty-eight hours. Him coming over was simply about healing her battered self-esteem and rein-flating her squashed ego.

It wasn’t as if she were embarking on another relationship. Heck, no. Nothing beyond this dinner would happen between her and Adam. Nothing deeper than a night of no-strings sex. A one-night stand with a stranger had never been her style, but Adam was certainly no stranger. And the way he’d reacted to her, looked at her with that same naked raw heat that had always lit her on fire, was exactly what she needed to pick herself up, dust herself off and restore her feminine confidence.

That kiss they’d shared at Picture This had imbued her with the same wild abandon he’d inspired in her years ago. A feeling she hadn’t ever quite recaptured since. Yet the thought of being with him again, however briefly, brought all those delicious feelings screaming back. She’d be a fool not to revel in them while she had the chance.

Hearing the car door slam, she took a quick mental and visual inventory to make sure everything was as she wanted it. Norah Jones’s latest ballad floated from the living-room speakers where the stereo was tuned to her favorite evening radio program, Sensuous Songs and Decadent Dedications. Lamps strategically lit to cast the rooms with soft light. Salad, peeled shrimp and a tray of antipasto in the fridge, loaf of French bread ready to pop in the oven, skillet and pasta pot set on the stove. Her best crystal wine goblets on the snack bar next to a grouping of cream-colored pillar candles waiting to be lit. Air conditioner unit humming in the den-and her bedroom. Where she’d stashed a trio of condoms in her bedside table.

Romantic music, food, candles, condoms-yup, she was ready for anything.

The doorbell rang and her heart jangled in response. She drew a calming breath, then smoothed her nervous hands over her silvery gray satin tank top and full turquoise skirt that skimmed a few inches above her knees. Walking to the door, she discovered her legs weren’t quite steady and she suddenly wished she’d worn flats instead of her high-heeled strappy silver sandals. Too late now. After sucking in a final calming breath, she opened the door. And all sense of calm instantly evaporated.

In spite of the fact that she’d known Adam would be standing there, the sight of him, at her home, looking