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Shadow’s heart began an erratic tattoo.
Just watching him, she flushed. Her eyes narrowed as the photographer moved Brent this way and that, taking far more shots than she had with the other contestants, her hands lingering on his bare skin. By the time they were done, Shadow wasn’t feeling particularly charitable toward the woman and left without saying farewell.
Brent ignored her mood, going right to work on hanging up the remaining decorations. She insisted on helping, and took immense pleasure in each light they connected, each wreath they hung. The November weather was characteristically biting, and by the time they finished, Brent’s cheekbones were red with the cold, Shadow’s nose just as rosy. They went inside, laughing, and plugged in the electrical cord.
Twinkle lights wound around the outside frame of the door and the overhang, where a huge wreath was centered. Inside, each window sported a different colored light, with a smaller wreath. The results weren’t uniform or elegant, but rather festive and fun. She liked it.
Shadow was taken off guard when Brent gave her a huge hug, enfolding her in his arms and lifting her off her feet.
“Thank you. I’ve enjoyed myself.”
Aware of Kallie watching surreptitiously, and of the few customers who gave them their attention, Shadow forced herself to pull away. She didn’t want to. She wanted to pull him down to the ground and have her way with him.
She sighed. “It was fun, wasn’t it? Thank you for helping.”
Brent, too, noticed their audience. He caught her cold hand, led her to her office and closed the door. In the next instant, she found herself pressed up against him.
“Brent?”
“I can’t wait until tonight to kiss you, Shadow.” He stripped off his leather gloves and his hands came up to cup her face, his palms warm and firm. He searched her face, lingering on each small detail, and a small smile flirted with his mouth. “You’re making me nuts, you know that?”
Shadow didn’t have time to answer. Brent lowered his head and touched his lips to hers—not tentatively, as she would have expected a first kiss to be, but purposefully, his mouth moving over hers, his body pressing closer until she was held securely against his length.
She could hear his breathing, smell the spicy scent of his aftershave, feel the heat and hardness of his body. Tension pulsed beneath her skin, a reaction she’d never felt before, certainly not from a simple kiss. When his tongue came out to lick over her lips, she opened, and he immediately took advantage of her quiet submission.
He tasted wonderful, she thought, curling her hands over his shoulders. Without conscious thought she closed her lips on his tongue and gently sucked.
Brent went rigid, then groaned. His body crushed closer, his breath pelting her cheek, hot and fast.
“Damn.” He drew away, his eyes searching her face in near wonder. “I knew from the minute I saw you you’d be like this.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “I want you, Shadow.”
The words leaped from her tongue. “I want you, too. I really do.”
His eyes flared, then quickly narrowed when she added with regret, “But it’s too soon. I…we can’t just give in to lust, Brent. I hardly know you.”
He released her to shove his hands in his pockets. His sigh was long and heartfelt. “How did I know you were going to say that?”
Shadow turned her back on him. This was when he would start issuing ultimatums. She wanted to see him again, and she hadn’t lied about wanting him. She did, more than she could remember wanting a man in a long, long time. But she also had deeply ingrained morals, and sleeping with a man she hardly knew went against everything she believed right and proper. Never mind that she felt she’d known him forever.
* * *
BRENT STARED AT SHADOW’S dejected stance. Withdrawn? Shadow? Not a chance. It had to be simply another part of the game she enjoyed playing. He said easily, “I better be going. I’ll see you tonight at Reba’s. And Shadow?”
She turned, her surprise evident.
“Don’t be late.”
“You still want to see me tonight?”
With a crooked grin, Brent moved toward her. Touching one finger to her soft mouth, he whispered, “Most definitely. But for my peace of mind, I think we should keep the kissing to a minimum.” He laughed. “My libido just can’t take all these sudden changes.”
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