Page 35 of Recipe for Temptation

“Good morning,” that soft, smoky voice spilled into his ear like sun-warmed honey. “I know it’s only seven-thirty. Did I wake you?”

He smiled. “For the second day in a row, sunshine.”

“Uh-oh.” She sounded amused. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re positively terrifying first thing in the morning?”

He chuckled softly. “I’m not a morning person. Especially if I’m operating on less than three hours of sleep,” he added pointedly.

She laughed. “Touché.”

His smile widened. He was enjoying this too damn much. “Actually, Reese, I was going to call you as soon as I woke up.”

“You were?”

“Yeah. I wanted to see what— Hello?”

The line had gone dead.

Michael held the phone away from his ear and stared at it in bewildered disbelief. Had she just hung up on him? Or had they gotten disconnected?

Frowning, he called her right back.

When she answered the phone laughing, he had his answer.

“Sorry,” she said, sounding anything but apologetic. “I just couldn’t resist.”

“Of course you couldn’t,” Michael murmured, humor tugging at the corners of his lips. “I said I was going to call you, so you figured you’d let me do it. Clever.”

“I thought so.” She sighed contentedly.

He grinned wryly. “I see that you’re a morning person.”

She chuckled. “I’m a doctor. I’m used to getting calls at all hours of the night. Babies who decide to be born at two a.m. don’t care whether or not I’m a morning person. So I’ve learned to adapt my moods. Anywho,” she continued cheerfully, “the reason I was calling was to find out what time you wanted to go to the studio. I have to run a few errands.”

Run them tomorrow, Michael thought. I’ve been dreaming about you all night and I can’t wait to see you again. The sooner the better.

Aloud he said smoothly, “Take your time. We can go around eleven.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to mess up your schedule.”

“Nah, it’s all good. I need to hit the gym for a couple hours, anyway.”

She groaned. “That’s what I should be doing. I need to burn off all that food you let me gorge on yesterday.”

Michael grinned. He could think of at least one way he’d like to help her burn off calories—and it had nothing to do with the use of Nautilus equipment.

“You must spend a lot of time in the gym,” she said appreciatively. “You’re very…in shape.”

He chuckled at the subtle compliment. “I played basketball in high school and college. So, yeah, keeping fit is important to me. Especially since I’m surrounded by food all the time.”

“Good point. Where do you work out?” she asked. “I might as well find a gym while I’m in town.”

“There’s a fitness center in my building. You’re more than welcome to join me anytime.”

“You’re allowed guests?”

“Of course.” At the thought of seeing her banging body glistening with sweat after a good workout, his mouth watered and blood rushed straight to his groin. “You wanna come today?”

“Well...” she hedged.

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