Page 27 of Back in Black

Bending down, Brett put a butterfly-soft kiss on her cheek. Her scent, that of shampoo, woman, and fresh air, left him feeling like he’d had one too many drinks. She gave him a buzz, and he liked it. For only a moment, he lingered, relishing her closeness.

But unwilling to push his luck, he straightened, took her hand, and headed into the main bar area. “Are you hungry?”

“I could eat.”

Honest. He liked that. Too many women picked at their food. Audrey was slight, but he had a feeling it was a fast metabolism that kept her that way, not a perpetual diet. “Let’s get some food first then.”

“First?”

Weaving around couples on the dance floor, Brett waited until they’d reached the other side of the main room to speak again. “We’ll try everything tonight, okay?”

Speechless, her lips parted, but she said nothing.

This time, Brett gave her a quick, very unsatisfying kiss on her mouth. Staying close so she could hear him, he teased her. “Get your mind out of the gutter, woman.” He rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip. “I meant pool, dancing . . . the bar activities.”

Even more flustered now, Audrey stared up at him and seemed to melt. Her eyes darkened and her lids grew heavy.

Taking Brett by surprise, she went to her tiptoes—and kissed him.

A real kiss. Ahotkiss.

Her fingers sank into his hair and her lips moved over his with barely restrained hunger.

Not one to pass up an opportunity, Brett wrapped his arms around her and turned so that she had her back to the wall. He had a feeling that public displays of affection were not the norm for Ms. Audrey Porter. In this position, with one hand braced on the wall beside her head, and her small body tucked in close to his, he protected her from view of anyone else in the place.

Taking over the kiss, Brett cupped her face in his free hand and leaned into her so that she felt all of him—and so that he could feel her.

Her breasts were on the small side, but so rounded and firm that he had to struggle not to touch her there. Even through her bra and sweater, he felt the stiffening of her nipples, and it tested his resolve in a big way.

She tipped her hips in against him, curled her fingers in his hair, and the perfect fit made his heartbeat heavy. Audrey was small and delicate and so soft and sweet, he wanted to take her right here, right now.

When he teased her mouth with his tongue, she opened for him, even turned her head a little to accommodate the deepening kiss. Hot with both need and frustration, Brett groaned.

Never had he expected this.

Hell, he’d been hoping to steal a real kiss when he took her home.Ifhe got to take her home. But to have her initiate things right here in the middle of the bar . . .

Before he got any more carried away, he slowed things down, easing away from her by small degrees, kissing her jaw, beneath her ear, and then pressing her head to his shoulder so they could both catch their breath.

Her hands clenched in his shirt and he could feel her heartbeat galloping.

“Damn, woman.” He kissed her temple, and wanted to go on kissing her. But now, here, wasn’t the time or place, especially since he teetered so close to a boner. “Hell of a nice surprise.”

Stiffening, Audrey put her forehead to his sternum. He could feel her shaking and, hoping to soothe her, he coasted his hands up and down her narrow back.

“I’m sorry.”

Brett did a double take. “What’s that?”

She levered back to look up at him. Expression stricken, cheeks hot with color, she cleared her throat. “I said I’m sorry. I was out of line.”

Was she kidding him? One side of Brett’s mouth kicked up. “Honey, you don’t hear me complaining.”

“But . . . but I’m giving you the wrong impression.”

The impression he got was that she wanted himalmostas much as he wanted her. “Yeah? How so?” Brett couldn’t wait to hear what she had to say. By the second, this got more interesting.

“I’m not that . . . that easy.”

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