Page 34 of Recipe for Temptation

Michael was fast, hunting Reese down with a stealth that any Navy SEAL would admire. She found herself alternately squealing with laughter and howling with frustration every time she got hit—which was often. Whenever she did manage to pick him off, she was so ecstatic she didn’t even care that he’d probably let his guard down just to level the playing field.

It was the most fun she’d had in years. Afternoon stretched into night, and all too soon Michael was driving her home and walking her to the front door.

“I had a wonderful time,” Reese said warmly, her sandals dangling from her fingertips. On the way to the paintball complex, they’d stopped at an outlet mall so she could get more appropriate footwear. Before she could even think about pulling out her credit card, Michael had paid for the new sneakers and strolled out the door, whistling cheerfully to drown out her protests.

He’d paid for everything, making their day together feel almost like a…date.

By far the best date she’d ever had in her life.

She blushed at the thought. “Thank you for giving up your entire Sunday to take me sightseeing. I know you probably would’ve preferred to stay home and catch up on sleep,” she added ruefully.

Michael smiled down at her. “Sleep is overrated.”

Ignoring the way her heart fluttered, she gave him a teasing grin. “You probably won’t think so tonight when you’re knocked out cold and drooling into your pillow.”

He chuckled softly. “I don’t drool.”

Speak for yourself, Reese mused, staring at his full, sensual lips and remembering how incredible they’d felt against her own. The memory of that searing, soul-shattering kiss they’d shared would haunt her long after she’d returned to Texas.

Inexplicably, the thought of going home made her throat tighten.

“So,” Michael drawled, “what’re you doing tomorrow?”

“Sleeping.”

They both laughed quietly, calmly, never taking their eyes off each other.

A sultry breeze kicked up, caressing Reese’s skin. She wished it were Michael’s hands, his mouth. She wanted nothing more than to invite him inside, to spend the night making love to him. But she knew she couldn’t. Not until she’d decided what to do about Victor.

“When you’re done sleeping tomorrow,” Michael said, smiling, “maybe I could pick you up and take you to the studio. You know, to give you a tour and introduce you to the crew before we start taping next week.”

Reese nodded quickly, so excited at the prospect of spending more time with him that she would’ve agreed to accompany him anywhere. “I’d like that very much.”

“Good.” He hesitated, then reached out and brushed his thumb across the pulse beating at the base of her neck.

Reese shivered. Everything inside her went hot and sensitive.

His eyes met hers. “Paint,” he explained.

She nodded. She had to fight the intense urge to capture his hand and draw his thumb slowly into her mouth. And she didn’t want to stop at his thumb.

“Goodnight, Reese,” he said huskily.

She swallowed hard. “Goodnight, Michael.”

With one last lingering look at her, he turned and sauntered to his car, which he’d parked beside hers in the driveway. She stood watching as he climbed inside the low-slung Maybach and closed the door. The engine purred to life.

He met her gaze through the windshield. Go inside, he mouthed.

Reese obeyed without hesitation. After closing and locking the front door, she sagged against it and lifted a trembling hand to her throat, where her skin still burned from Michael’s whisper-soft touch.

When she closed her eyes, she swore she heard her relationship with Victor flat-lining.

Chapter Twelve

The next morning, Michael was awakened by his ringing phone. Rolling over, he grabbed it off the nightstand and looked at the screen. His heart gave an involuntary bump when he saw that the caller was Reese, saved in his contacts as “Beautiful One.”

He pressed the answer button more eagerly than he’d have preferred. “Hey, you.”

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