Page 64 of Hot to Trot

"It didn't seem like a big deal. I told him to leave. He did."

Adam clasped her shoulders. "You have to tell me things like this, Scarlet. A guy showing up like that, pissed and confrontational, could be bad news."

She shrugged out of his grasp. "I really didn't think it was a big deal. lf I had, I would have told you. I'm not stupid. Or stubborn."

He quirked one eyebrow. The gesture felt so familiar. In fact, he felt so familiar. As though she'd known him much longerthan she had. “Adam, in spite of what most may think, I’mnotbrainless. If I felt it was something more than an old man peeved because he thought I'd done something to ding his rep, then I would have come to you and reported it."

A few seconds ticked by. Something passed between them. The same thing that had passed between them many times before. Raw hunger. Yet something more.

His features softened. "I like when you say my name."

Seduction. She could feel it vibrating off him. "Adam?"

He laughed a soft, dangerous sound. The kind that invited trouble. "Yeah. Guess it’s because you tend to call mechiefa lot."

"I thought you liked being called chief. Seems important to you."

He tilted his head, looked pensive. But the tension didn't melt away. Only intensified. “Yeah, I guess it’s what I live for these days. My role."

"But being the police chief isn’t the only thing that defines you." He'd boxed himself so firmly into the role, he'd forgotten that he was also Adam. A man. Who had desires. Needs.

“Feels hard to separate sometimes. The town certainly doesn't. To them, I'm the law. Not a man."

"That doesn't seem fair," she murmured, wanting to touch him, but holding herself back. She needed to respect his wishes. To remember all the good reasons not to indulge in anything other than business with Adam. But it didn't stop her from wanting to toss that reason away. To touch him. Kiss him. Feel his body against hers.

"Life's not fair," he said quietly. So quietly his words sounded like a caress. "If it were, you'd be a lot closer than you are now."

She stood and the action put her closer to him, close enough to smell him. Woodsy, expensive aftershave. The scent wasn't overpowering, just enough to intrigue. She met his gaze. The sleepy green eyes made her want to step closer still. So she did.

He closed those eyes and groaned. "Damn, woman."

"What? You don't want me close? Don't want me to tempt you?"

He opened his eyes. "You know what I want. I want to taste you. Touch you. Play you like you were made for me and only me.”

She released her breath and moved forward so only inches separated them. She felt the heat of his body. Perhaps she could even time the beat of his heart. "Somehow I knew poetry lurked beneath that badge."

He smiled. Slow. Sexy. Sweet. "That's not all I got under here."

She slid her tongue along the curve of her bottom lip. "Oh, yeah? Since I can't take a peek, you want to tell me? In detail?”

His expression promised something naughty. He'd gotten caught by the pull of the moon, by the whisper of desire that brushed over them.

“You go first. What do you have under that grandma shirt?"

"I knew it. It's ugly, isn't it?"

The corner of Adam's mouth kicked up and she felt it low in her belly in a place that hadn't felt anything in quite a while. It felt delicious, like a new leaf unfurling inside her. “Does the job you wanted.”

She issued a low laugh.

"What's underneath?" he whispered in her ear. But he didn't touch her. It was kinky torture indeed.

Scarlet moved her lips so they almost touched the shell of his ear. Almost, but not quite.

“A lacy black bra. You like lace, Adam?"

His breath brushed her ear. "I like what's underneath lace."

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