Chapter 44 A big responsability brings bigger commiments
Chapter 44 A big responsability brings bigger commiments
Cara shrugged. “Emma has her way of doing things. I have mine.” Her grin turned wicked. “I think you’ll like my way better.”
Heat shot through him. “I’m sure I would, but it’s still a bad idea. Sex can really complicate a business relationship.”
Her expression turned thoughtful. “Is that what we have now, a business relationship?”
“Exactly.”
“That’s not entirely how I see it,” she said, taking a few steps in his direction.
Rafe began to feel crowded. His resolve was starting to waver. “Oh?” he said, his voice husky.
“Want to know how I see it?”
He had a feeling he’d better know exactly what was going on in that complicated brain of hers. “Sure.”
She slid onto his lap and wound her arms around his neck. “The way I see it we’ve been given a fresh start. We’re on the same side. We’re partners. And for partners to work together successfully, they should know each other very, very well. You might even say, they should know each other—” her gaze locked with his “—intimately.”
Rafe’s breath caught in his throat as her hands slipped to his chest. She began to work the buttons of his shirt free. Each time her knuckles skimmed
across bare skin, a shock jolted through him. He caught her hands and held them still as he met her gaze.
“That agreement isn’t drawn up and signed yet,” he reminded her. “That’s okay. I trust you.”
“Do you? Emma would advise you against that.” “What does she know?”
“Quite a lot, as it happens. You hired her, didn’t you? She’s looking out for your best interests. You should pay attention to her.”
“I’d rather pay attention to you right now.”
Before he could stop her, her wickedly clever mouth settled on his. In no time at all she had his thinking muddled and his breath hitching. When the kiss ended, his resolve was in tatters, but he made one last valiant attempt to make her see reason.
Cara merely smiled knowingly and framed his face in her hands. “You have every intention of drawing up that document and granting me immunity, correct?”
“Yes, but—”
“That’s all I need to know. I trust you.” Her gaze narrowed ever so slightly. “Or is that not the problem? Do you not trust me? Do you still think I could be involved in this with Bobby? Do you think this is some ploy on my part to keep an eye on you, so I can report what you’ve been up to?”
“Absolutely not. I wouldn’t have made the agreement with Emma, if I believed that,” he assured her.
Her smile returned. “Then we don’t have a problem, do we?” Rafe gave up the battle. “Actually we do,” he told her.
She regarded him with a resigned expression. “What now?” “You have way too many clothes on, Ms. Petrillo.”
It took a moment for his words to register, but when they did, her expression brightened. “If only all of our problems could be solved so easily,” she said.
She reached for the hem of her T-shirt, but Rafe stilled her hands. “In good time, Cara. In good time.”
This time when his mouth found hers, there was no hesitation, no restraint, just a slow, sweet, savoring kiss that rocked him like nothing had in years.
Knowing that this time there would be no pulling back gave him permission to take his time and enjoy the trip. This time the final destination was never in doubt.