Page 22 of Back in Black

She fudged the truth by saying, “I wasn’t sure if the lot would be full.”

“Yeah, lot of traffic at a boys’ home, huh?” His dubious expression gave little credence to her lie. “Well, it’s too bad you insisted on driving yourself. We could have . . . chatted on the way over here.”

Gillian pasted on a very practiced smile. Drew had offered to pick her up, but being alone with him, even while traveling for business, was out of the question. “I had to drive because I have other commitments tonight, but—”

“Yeah, me, too.”

She stalled, and her rehearsed spiel about keeping things professional dissipated like a weak mist. “What do you mean? What are you doing?” Good Lord, she sounded far too curious, and far too . . . possessive. To cover up her reaction, she gave him a severe look of warning. “I trust you won’t be getting into trouble.”

“Nothing for you to faint over.” He paused beside a sleek black BMW, leaned back on the fender, and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m going to Roger’s Rodeo. Supposed to meet some folks there for drinks and conversation.”

“Business?”

“Not really, no. But if you’re worried about it, you could join us and keep an eye on me firsthand. What do you say?”

She really wanted to, but . . . she’d already laid claim to other plans.Drat.“I wish I could, Drew, but I’m needed elsewhere.”

“Needed, huh?” His gaze dipped to her chest and remained there. “As in sexually, you mean? ’Cause if that’s the case, I have some needs of my own—”

In self-preservation, Gillian smashed a finger over his mouth. If he continued like that, she’d never be able—

His hot tongue touched her finger and he drew her into his mouth.

“Drew.”

Catching her wrist so she couldn’t pull her finger away, he licked her again.

It felt . . .sinful.

“So.” He wore thatGot youlook and continued to hang on to her wrist as he kissed her palm and then the inside of her wrist. “What is it you have going on tonight, Gillian?”

As if he wasn’t doing the most sexually suggestive things to her, as if she wasn’t breathless because of it, he casually waited for her reply.

Gillian curled her fingers into her palm and tried to still the racing of her heart. There was nothing she could do about her trembling voice. “You may not take such liberties.”

“Of course you’re right.” Moving away from the car and bending his knees just a little, Drew met her gaze at eye level. Speaking oh so softly to her, he said, “Know what I think you should do about it, Gillian?”

The way he kept using her name was as effective as his touch. “I amnotquitting.”

“Good.” He straightened and, still holding her wrist, stepped closer. “I don’t want you to. Not anymore.”

He didn’t? “Then . . . what?”

Close to her ear, his jaw brushing her cheek, he whispered, “I think you should come by my house tonight so we can get all this sexual tension out of the way. What do you say?”

Yes.“No.” As much to convince herself as to deny him, she shook her head. She had a job to do, an important, well-paid job that would enable her to start her own company wherever she wanted. “It wouldn’t be ethical.”

Putting his fingers under her chin, he lifted her face. “Andethicsare the only thing keeping you out of my bed?”

How could she answer that without further exacerbating the situation?

When she said nothing, his eyes darkened. “You’re telling me that you’re as attracted to me as I am to you? If we weren’t working together, you’d be saying yes instead of no?”

“Drew . . .” Floundering, Gillian lifted her shoulders. “The fact is that we are working together and getting personally involved with you would discredit me to my employers.”

“Well, damn, woman.” He cupped her face and caressed her cheek with his thumb. “I’m going to have to see how I can remedy the conflict.”

Gillian started to say something—she had no idea what—and his cell phone rang.

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