“You need to get over your sister complex.”
She looked at him and rolled her eyes. “Gee, Dr. Larson, thanks for the psychological evaluation. But it’s not that simple. Life keeps getting in the way. For example, the first guy I ever slept with turned out to not be interested in me at all. He suffered through our relationship simply to get an invitation home for winter break where he hit on my sister. Lauren, being Lauren, refused to have anything to do with him, but that didn’t take away the sting.”
Why had he started this conversation?
“He’s a jerk, and you’re better off without him,” Joe told her.
“I know that, but it’s not the point. And at the time, it really hurt. There I was, heartbroken, and my sister was trying to make it better. She’s just a nice person.”
“She sounds perfect.”
Darcy nodded. “She is. Pretty much in everything she does. Everyone loves her.”
“Perfect can get boring.”
Darcy glared at him. “Don’t you say anything bad about my sister.”
He held up both hands and took a step back. “You have a pretty complex relationship with Lauren.”
“I know.” She sighed. “Sorry for snapping. Sometimes…” She smiled. “I’m a multifaceted person.”
And charming, he thought as he moved closer. Funny, vulnerable. And the president’s daughter. He was just the hired help. Getting involved would be crazy.
“Oh, wow,” she breathed as she stared up at him.
“I’m not going to kiss you,” he told her.
“I can see that.”
Darcy watched desire darken Joe’s eyes. He might claim he wasn’t going to kiss her, but she would bet a lot of money that he wanted to. She felt all shivery and hot and nervous. But she didn’t move away. Not even an inch. If there was the potential for some lip-lock, she wanted to be there for the whole thing.
He reached out and touched her cheek with his fingers. “I could lose my career over this,” he said quietly.
“No woman could ever be worth that.”
“Agreed.”
But he didn’t step away, and the thought thrilled her. He wanted her. She could feel it in the tension in his body. He wanted
He leaned forward and claimed her mouth with his. There was heat and promise in that first brush of his lips. She relaxed into him, raising her arms to his shoulders, and let her body sag into his hardness. He pulled her close, angled his head, and swept his tongue against her bottom lip.
She parted without thinking. Need overwhelmed her, and the second he eased inside to claim her, she knew it wasn’t going to be enough. She wanted more. She wanted all of it.
Hunger swept through her, causing her to run her hands up and down his back, urging him closer. Her breasts flattened against his chest, her thighs nestled with his. She wanted to rub against him like a cat-she wanted him touching her everywhere.
Instead she had to content herself with a deep, sensual, perfect kiss. He claimed her mouth with a mastery that left her breathless. His tongue circled hers, teasing, arousing, delighting. His large hands stroked her back before moving lower to cup her rear. When he squeezed, she arched forward, bringing her belly in contact with his erection.
Her breath caught as she realized he was hard. She’d made him want her. Need swelled as did her nipples. They ached.
Not knowing what else to do, she slid her hands under his T-shirt until she touched bare skin. He was hot and slightly damp, and she found herself wanting to explore him all over. First with her fingers and then with her tongue. She wanted to taste him and consume him.
He pulled back with a suddenness that made her gasp. They stared at each other, both breathing hard. Joe’s eyes were dilated.
Silence filled the room. She waited for him to dismiss what had happened between them. Not because she believed he could, but because her luck with men just wasn’t that good. He stunned her when he gave her a half- grin, half-grimace and said, “It wasn’t supposed to be that great.”
“Yeah?” she asked, unable to keep from smiling.
“Yeah. You’re big trouble. Your father is my commander in chief.”
“Does that really matter?”
“It should.”
Which didn’t answer her question.
“You go first,” he said, motioning to the door.
Right. So they weren’t seen together.
“I’ll wait here,” he continued. “Until it’s safe.”
“I doubt anyone is lurking in the hallway.”
“That’s not what I mean.” He pointed at his crotch.
“Oh.” He was obviously hard, and it was damned impressive. “Right. You don’t want to flash that at Grandma Tessa.”
He winced. “Talking about her will help solve the problem.”
“I live to serve.”
Mia caught up with Darcy late that morning. “You have to come right now,” Mia said as she burst into Darcy’s room. “I’m convinced there’s something going on between Paige and Alex.”
“What? That’s crazy. Agents can’t be involved.”
“I don’t know what the rules are, but they’re always giving each other these smoldering looks. I’ve called a meeting of the Marcelli women and you
Darcy didn’t think that was true, but she was delighted to be asked. “I’m in.”
“Cool.” Mia grinned. “Francesca is coming, too, so you can meet her and the twins. They’re at the insane age. Running around and getting into everything. There’s two of them and only seven of us. I’m not sure we’ll manage.”
Darcy laughed. “I think we can handle it.”
Mia shook her head. “Have you ever been around toddler twins? Trust me, every second is an adventure.”
It turned out Mia was telling the truth. Eric and Haley were two and a half and too adorable for words. They both had dark hair, and blue, blue eyes. Haley had the kind of curls women sell their souls for. They were also bundles of energy who refused to be contained.
The Marcelli women gathered in the large living room where Darcy met Francesca Reese for the first time. Brenna’s fraternal twin was tall and slender, with short, dark hair and beautiful features.
Brenna settled in a corner of the couch, then announced she would need help when it was time for her to stand up.
“Do you like her hair?” Brenna asked, pointing at Francesca.
Darcy nodded. “It’s really cute.”
“So typical. I cut my hair three years ago and I looked like a yak. She does it right after the twins were born and she’s a supermodel.” Brenna eyed the twins as they raced around the coffee table. “Please, God, no twins for me. I’d have to kill myself.”
Grammy M picked up her cup of tea. “Brenna, darlin’, be careful how you’re talkin’ to the Lord.”
“But I’m sincere. I’m really worried about the twin thing. I can’t have twins. I just can’t. I’ll be forced to send them back.”
“Good luck,” Colleen told her daughter. “They resist the process.” She glanced around. “This is nice, having my girls here. Except for Katie. I miss her. If only she lived closer.”
Grammy M smiled at Brenna. “See how a mother loves her children? You’ll do the same, twins or not.”
“I guess.” Brenna didn’t sound convinced.
Mia flopped down on the second sofa and reached for a cookie on one of the plates of food Grandma Tessa had brought into the room. There’d been a minor scuffle in the kitchen when Grammy M had shown up with brownies, but now Tessa’s cookies and Grammy M’s brownies sat at separate tables.
