mouth and a spot over her left breast.
“You just took five years off my life.” She put a hand on her chest. “Maybe ten.”
“Don’t stop on my account.” He pushed away from the wall, still grinning. “Come on. Dance for me some more.”
“I wasn’t dancing for you.” She took in his ear-to-ear grin and narrowed her eyes. “And you know what? I think any employee whose boss who sneaks up on her when she’s making him a truce dessert deserves a raise.”
“Do you?” He tried to remain casual and cool, but her tongue darted out and licked the chocolate off her lips.
Oh, man, did his body leap to attention at that, and he stared at her, hoping she’d do it again.
She said something to him, but he was a man-a very weak man at that-and he’d lost his train of thought. And his ability to hear.
Looking amused now, she opened the top of the blender on the counter and poured in the contents from the bowl. “Are all men as easy as you?”
He followed her like a puppy, watching her every move. “What?”
She dipped a finger into the chocolate mix. Brought it to her mouth and slipped it between her lips. Closed her eyes. Moaned a little as she sucked off the chocolate.
He groaned out loud.
She opened her eyes. “See? Easy.”
He cleared his throat. “Yeah.”
She put the top on the blender and contemplated the buttons. “I wanted this to be a surprise.”
What she said slowly sank in. Was it a goodbye dessert? God. All the heat vanished-well, a good chunk of it-as the protective feelings he’d had for her from the very first moment reared up and bit him again. “About your leaving…where will you go after the wedding?”
“Well, what do you know. Progress.” She was still studying the buttons on his machine. “You admit you believe I was going to go to a wedding in New Mexico the day after tomorrow.”
“Which means,” she said, lifting her gaze and meeting his, “that you must believe I’m a princess. When did that happen?”
“Uh…”
Her gaze shuttered. Just like that. “Oh, I see. You don’t. Not really.”
“Natalia-”
“No. No biggie.” She slammed down a button and sent the blender whirling. “Please go away,” she said over the whir of the machine. “I’m busy working here and don’t need any distractions.”
“Natalia-”
She put the earphones back on. “Sorry. Can’t hear you.”
“Look, let’s talk about it. You came from…Grunberg, right? Near the Alps?”
“I’m trying to concentrate.”
He lifted the right earphone and spoke in her ear. “You like to ski. What else do you do for fun, Natalia?”
“Cook.” She pulled away. “Believe it or not, some people think I’m quite good at it.” She took her hand off the top of the blender to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, purposely not looking at him. Then she hit another button sending the blender into high gear. “Now go away.”
“But I just wanted to-”
Which was all he got out before the top of the blender blew off, sending chocolate spraying across the room, over the counters and floors.
And all over them.
9
THE BLENDER sprayed its contents across the room and over the two flabbergasted occupants, whirling with a high-pitched hum.
Then Tim moved, pressing in front of a shocked Natalia, going in blind to switch the machine off as the dark goo hit everything, including, it seemed like, the inside of his eyelids.
The sudden, complete silence was deafening.
Well, not quite
Tim swiped at his eyes and looked over at the chocolate-covered Natalia.
She made a sound of bafflement and spread her arms wide, staring down at herself.
Tim stuck his tongue out and caught a drop off the edge of his nose. “Mmm.”
“Oh my God. It’s everywhere.” It was dripping off her own nose, her chin, and was plastered across the front of her shirt and down her jeans.
She looked very edible, and immediately he started salivating.
As if she could read his mind, she pointed a finger and glared at him. “This,” she said in a very royal voice, “is all your fault.”
“Mine!” He put his hand to his chest-his chocolate-splattered chest-and had to laugh. “How do you figure that?”
“You distracted me! I was trying to work and you wouldn’t stop…you just…”
He liked where this was going. “Yes?”
“Oh, never mind. It’s just all your fault.”
Oh, no. Not good enough. He wanted to hear it. “Because I distract you.”
“I just said so, didn’t I?”
“Because you’re attracted to me.”
“
“I’m attracted to you back, Natalia.”
She lifted her face and studied his. “Really?”
“You know I am.”
Her eyes closed. “Yes, but you hate to take advantage of a crazy woman.” She reached for a towel, wet it and started wiping her face. Her expression was a war of things, with annoyance topping the list, and for some unknown reason, it made him want to hold her.
Kiss her.
Because now it was in his head; the taste of her, the feel of her, the little murmur she made deep in her throat when he used his tongue. Taking her wrist, he pulled the towel out of her fingers. “Let me.”
“Don’t.”
“I want to help.” But he dropped the towel as he moved his mouth down just a little, to beneath her lobe. Then with his tongue lapped at the spot, taking in chocolate and the sweet taste of woman.
Natalia’s eyes fell closed. “Wait.”
“Why?”
“I’m still mad at you. I can’t stay mad at you with your mouth on me.”
“Oh, well, then.” He kissed his way down her throat to the pulse beating wildly at the base of her neck. “Good dessert.”
“Tim.” Her voice sounded satisfyingly weak. “I mean it.”
“Yes, you want to stay mad. Go ahead…” Another nibble. “Go right ahead.”
Her low moan aroused him, so did the way she tilted her head to give him better access, and he smiled against her delicious skin.
“I’m…famous for holding a grudge,” she warned breathlessly. “Ask…my sisters. Annie and Lili.”
“Ah, classified family information.” He wanted more, wanted to know everything. “I’d love to ask your sisters all about you. Tell me more.” His mouth had worked its way down to her collarbone, a very sexy spot that made him want to tear off her clothes and start the blender again, all over her naked body. Now that would be a worthy food
