An equal measure of surprise and pleasure raced through her when Jay took a small, distancing step back, regaining his personal space.
Laura tore her gaze away and whispered under her breath, “Slut piranha.” She had no right to be jealous. They were simply lab partners. Nothing more. She knew what she was getting into when she agreed to be a participant in the project. Last night was just an experiment, not two lovers exchanging intimacies.
Laura wiped the beads of moisture from her forehead. “I have to get changed.” Her voice came out harsher than she had intended. She swung her legs to the ground and stood up.
Erin gestured with a nod as Max weaved his way through the crowd toward her. “You better hurry before Max reaches you; otherwise, you’ll never get away. By the look on his face, I’m guessing when he asks you out again, he’s not going to take no for an answer this time.”
Laura nodded and then stole one more look at Jay as she grabbed her duffel bag. The piranha closed the already too-small gap and looked like she was ready to sink her teeth into him.
Erin climbed to her feet and planted her hands on her hips. “Is that piranha preying on your boyfriend?”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Laura quickly corrected again.
Erin ignored her and lifted one manicured brow. The devil’s grin spread across her face. “You know, there’s only one place for a piranha.”
Laura’s eyes opened wide. “You wouldn’t.”
“Oh no?” She angled her head. A sparkle lit her dark eyes. “Let’s see.”
As Laura made her way inside, she inconspicuously kept watch out of the corner of her eye. She certainly had no right to berate Erin for acting twelve. The juvenile side of her took great pleasure in the piranha’s loud shriek of hysteria moments before she made a huge splash in the pool.
Erin’s voice carried over the crowd. “Forgive me, I didn’t see you there,” she rushed out.
Laura drew her bottom lip between her teeth, stifled a laugh, and shook her head as she made a move to step inside the house. She needed to change out of her scorching uniform and cool her heated body in the pool.
“You’d just be another notch on his bedpost, you know.”
The comment came from behind and stopped her mid-stride.
Laura turned around and came face to face with Max. She forced a smile. “Excuse me?”
“You’d just be another notch on his bedpost,” he repeated. His eyes darted from her to Jay and then back again.
Erin was right, he did have the breath of an open coffin.
Laura starched her spine and leveled a glare at him. She quickly went to Jay’s defense. “I would appreciate it if you didn’t talk about my lab partner like that.”
Max bit back a wry grin and narrowed his beady little eyes, assessing her. “Perhaps you already are.”
Anger caused her face to flush. “My love life is none of your business.”
“Love?” Max asked, and let out a snort of laughter. “Is that what you think it is?”
His breath assaulted her senses and made her stomach turn. Her whole body tightened warily. She opened her mouth to refute his question, but Max cut her off.
With a derisive twist of his lips he said, “The man doesn’t know how to treat a woman.”
Laura turned and shot Jay a sidelong glance. She watched him prepare her hot dog. Her heart warmed with longing. Oh yeah, he knew how to treat a woman, all right. The problem was, he treated too many.
Without giving him the satisfaction of knowing he’d gotten to her, she repeated in a firm voice, “Like I said, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t talk about my lab partner like that.”
He ignored her and moved closer, a suggestive edge to his smile. “How about tonight, Laura? Would you like to go out? Or stay in? I could bring Chinese to your place. Or you could cook for me.”
Charming.
Lord, the man was getting bolder by the day. Thank God his three-month contract expired next month and he’d be leaving. Otherwise she’d seriously threaten him with a sexual harassment complaint.
She gripped her duffel bag until her knuckles turned white. “Tonight Jay and I are working.” She glanced Jay’s way. As though sensing her distress, Jay caught her gaze. The annoyed look on her face triggered a reaction from him. It amazed her how well they read each other. Jay arched a brow and took a step toward them. Laura gave a tight nod, indicating she had things under control.
Max drove his hands into his pockets. “Tomorrow, then?”
Couldn’t the man take a hint? Or even a direct comment?
“Working,” she replied, turning her back to him.
“I’d like to show you how a woman really should be treated,” he mumbled under his breath.
She gritted her teeth, twisted back around, and added, “Just for the record, Max. I already know how a woman should be treated.”
Jay had personally seen to that. Too bad she’d never again experience his gentle hands caressing her naked flesh, or his sensuous kisses on her mouth, her breasts, or between her thighs. A fine tingle played down her spine as she took pleasure in the memories.
Nope, she’d never experience such perfection again.
Unless, of course, she switched the vials.
Bloody hell!
Chapter 6
With a mustard-covered hot dog in one hand and lemonade in the other, Jay moved through the house in search of Laura. He’d seen her enter through the patio doors earlier, but she’d yet to come back out. What could be keeping her?
Unlike most of the other women at the bonding session, Laura wasn’t the type to spend hours fussing with her appearance. He paused for a moment to realize how refreshing he found that.
Maybe she was hiding from Max. Jay felt a surge of anger
