Page 23 of Back in Black

After a hesitation where he visibly struggled with himself, responsibility won out and he glanced at the caller ID.

“Damn it, I’m sorry. I need to answer this.” Taking a step away from her, he said, “Give me just a second,” and he opened the phone.

Still unnerved, unsure what to do, Gillian stood there. Maybe sheshouldjust get the sexual tension out of the way. After all, they were both adults, both free of romantic commitments. If she lost this opportunity to explore the hottest sexual attraction she’d ever experienced, wouldn’t she regret it later? How much harm could it really do . . . ?

No.Putting a hand to her brow, she turned away from Drew. What in the world was she thinking? She was a rational, reasonable woman. She was not a woman influenced by base desires.

At least, she hadn’t been that kind of woman before meeting Drew Black.

Drew’s voice rose with an edge of urgency, reclaiming her attention.

Judging by his expression and tone, it was not good news. It’d be best if she excused herself now and gave him some privacy for his call.

But when she gave a short wave and started to ease away, he reached out and caught her hand. He didn’t look at her, and frustration showed in his stiffened shoulders and the set of his jaw. But his hold on her hand was gentle, a request rather than a restraint.

Gillian subsided, willing to wait for him to finish the call.

“Yeah, I’ll be there in . . .” He glanced at his watch. “Ten minutes or so, give or take traffic.” He returned the phone to his pocket, drew her close, and kissed her, but it was a quick kiss of frustration. And then he just frowned at her.

Gillian sputtered. “What . . . ?”

“I like you, Gillian Noode. Hell of a predicament, isn’t it?”

“I, ah . . .”

Releasing her, Drew ran a hand over the back of his neck. “I don’t suppose you could change your plans tonight?”

If she had any sense, she’d take him to task over that careless kiss; the man truly knew no boundaries. But at the moment, a bad foreboding got the better of her.

Gillian let out a breath. “What’s wrong, Drew? What have you done now?”

“What have I done?” Affronted, he fried her with a look. “Not a damn thing. But one of my fighters . . .” He drew up short, shook his head in stubbornness. “Never mind. It’s not your problem. Forget it.”

“No, wait.” Guilt left her flustered. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have just assumed . . .” Trying again, she cleared her throat. “Was there something you wanted me to do?”

“Besides have sex, you mean?”

It didn’t take him long to recover, obviously. Mimicking him, Gillian said, “Never mind. Forget it.”

Drew laughed. “I’m sorry. That was bad even for me.”

“The apology loses something when you’re so amused by it.”

He wiped away his grin and held out his arms. “Behold, a serious man. Dead serious, actually. I don’t have time to explain, but one of my fighters is having a meltdown and I need to go get him before the cops are called. I just thought . . . that is . . .”

“You’d like company?” For whatever reason, the idea that he wanted her with him during a difficult time softened Gillian. “Is that it?”

“I wouldn’t mind another rational person going along for the ride, yeah.”

So he did value her input. She more than softened; she went all mushy, and she was not a mushy person. “Then of course I’ll go with you.” Man, she was easy. “Along the way, you can tell me what’s going on.”

“Thanks. Let’s get going.”

Gillian walked around to the passenger side of the BMW. Like a true gentleman, he opened her door and waited for her to be seated before striding around the hood to the driver’s side.

As he started the engine, he asked, “Don’t you need to call someone?”

“For what reason?”

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