Page 28 of Back in Black

Already knowing that, he shrugged. “Never said you were.” She appeared so distraught, Brett wanted to get her alone and someplace quiet. Unfortunately, no such place existed in the bar.

Brett touched her chin and lifted her face. “It was just a kiss, Audrey. One hell of a kiss, but still . . .” He grinned.

“It’s just that . . . well, ever since I agreed to meet you here, I’ve been thinking about this.” She bit her bottom lip. “About kissing you, I mean.”

Good to know. “Me, too.”

Skeptical, she frowned a little. “Really?”

Hadn’t he been plain enough yet? “Hell yeah. I’ve thought about kissing you, and a whole lot more.”

Groaning, she covered her face. “But that’s just it. I shouldn’t have kissed you like that because I’m not going to do . . . well,a whole lot more.”

She was so damn cute. Charmed, Brett cupped a hand around her neck beneath that adorable ponytail. “Don’t sweat it, Audrey. I’m not a guy who pushes, okay?”

Gasping, she dropped her hands to stare at him. “But that’sallyou’ve done is push!”

True enough. Brett couldn’t help but laugh at her outrage. “Yeah, to get toknowyou, sure. But I meant I wouldn’t push you for sex.” Hard as it’d be—in the literal sense—he meant what he said. For him, no meant no, period. “You want to kiss, we’ll kiss. You know I enjoyed it. A lot. But anytime you call it quits, we’re done. Got it?”

Still she hesitated.

“Look, I don’t want you to be afraid to kiss me, or touch me, or do whatever you want. I’ll go on record right now as saying an enthusiasticHell yes.”

She blushed at his sincerity.

“But it’s up to you, Audrey. Always. Deal?”

After a second or two, she nodded. “Thank you for understanding. Believe me, I normally don’t go around attacking men.”

He bent his knees to see her face. “Tell me you enjoyed the kiss, too.”

Her voice lowered. “I did. Too much, probably.”

“Great.” With heartfelt sincerity, Brett told her, “Feel free to attack me anytime you want.”

She almost laughed.“Brett.”She did smack his shoulder, then left her hand there, caressing him—until she caught herself. “God, this is awkward.”

Drawing her closer, he looped his hands at the small of her back. “Shouldn’t be.” He loved it that she wanted him. “Not with me.”

“But that’s just it! I hardly know you. I definitely don’t know you well enough to . . . to get so intimate. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Except, well, you obviously know how good-looking you are.”

A compliment or an accusation? Again, Brett grinned. “I do, huh?”

Realizing how that had sounded to him, she rushed to explain. “I didn’t mean you were conceited or anything. I just meant . . . well . . .” She lifted her shoulders. “How could you not know? I saw that woman trying to get your attention outside. Every woman in here keeps looking at you.”

Brett resisted the urge to test her theory by glancing over his shoulder at the crowd. Right now, the only woman who mattered was her. “That’s an exaggeration.”

“Not really.” She studied his face and then his upper body. “I haven’t been on a date in forever. Years, actually.”

“That long, huh?” He didn’t have a single doubt that men had asked her out, so why wasn’t she dating?

“I’ve been totally focused on work, and on organizing WAVS. But don’t get the wrong idea about our group. We’re not a bunch of wallflowers.”

“Didn’t say you were.” But he found her defensive mode intriguing. It must be a touchy spot with her.

“Two of the women are in serious relationships. One is divorced. And Millie . . .” Audrey flapped a hand and smiled with affection. “She dates all the time. She’s actually outgoing with men, just not in crowds. She’s more of a movie-and-quiet-dinner type.”

He couldn’t have cared less about Millie’s social calendar. “So what’s the story with you? A woman as pretty and nice as you should have her pick of men every night.”

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