Page 52 of Back in Black

Drew’s smile started to smart. “Then it’s safe for me to do this.” Catching her before she could suspect his intent, he brought her closer and stole her gasp with a scorching kiss. As always, she melted in seconds, and soon she had her fingers knotted in his shirt as she tried to get more of him.

The silly woman forgot all about her fear of discovery—but Drew didn’t. No matter his reputation, he was a damned gentleman, and she’d made it clear that keeping their relationship under wraps was crucial to her.

Feeling a little like a cad now that he’d made his point, he released her. Or at least he tried to. When he freed her mouth, Gillian kissed his chin, his throat, and when she took a small love bite of his shoulder, he jumped.

So did his dick.

Better to get this over with now before he lost all reason. Setting her away from him, Drew took a deep breath, but it didn’t help all that much. With any luck, he’d get her out of the car before she noticed his boner.

“Gillian?”

“Hmmm?”

He touched her face. “Get some sleep, and think about me.”

Big blue eyes blinked at him, widened, and then narrowed. “Those two things do not go hand in hand.”

He wasn’t sure of her meaning. “Come again?”

“If I think of you, I’ll never get any sleep.” Leaning in for a soft, quick peck, she destroyed most of the rancor he’d felt; her smile took care of the rest. “Thank you for all your help today, and for being so discreet.”

Again, Drew stopped her. He did not want this newest turn to scare her away. “We should cool it for a few days, just in case anyone is keeping track. But I’ll be in touch later.”

“Okay.” She reached for the door.

He stopped her. Again.Fuck. “No arguments?”

“I’m not keeping tabs on you, Drew. But I do know you have some out-of-town business coming up this week.”

Oh, hell. He’d forgotten all about that. Yes, he kept an insane schedule, but it was so unheard-of for him to forget any of it that he just sat there, staring at her.

She misunderstood his silence. “You’re meeting with producers, right? Something about doing a piece on a fighter’s background.”

How the hell did she know that? He hadn’t told anyone, not even Brett Bullman, the fighter they hoped to “uncover.”

At his silence, her uncertainty showed, but she tried to put a brave face on it. “It’s fine, Drew. Really. I had hoped to meet with you prior to your leaving, to discuss your chest-beating, profanity-ridden style of negotiation, but I suppose that, for better or worse, that’s you.”

Another fucking insult! Right now, after realizing he’dtemporarilyforgotten a major commitment, he was just out of sorts enough to snap. “How the hell do you think I’ve survived this long without you spoon-feeding me dialogue?”

As if he hadn’t spoken, she continued with her tone now prim, proper, and very detached. “All in all, I’m convinced that, especially in particular forums, your instincts are your best guide.” She opened the door. “But I would ask you to remember our deal. You agreed to no public profanity, and I would consider a negotiation with producers to be quite public.”

Drew opened his mouth to correct her—and she slammed the car door.

Stubborn woman. Jaw tight, he watched her dig out her keys as she sashayed along the walkway to the front door. She unlocked the door, went inside, and shut it again without a single glance back at him. Lights came on inside. More lights. Drew waited, but everything seemed to be routine.

Just to be sure, he called her on his cell.

She answered with exasperation. “What, Drew?”

He meant to say that he was only making sure she got inside okay. Instead, he heard himself say, “We could do dinner the night before I leave.” He winced at his own neediness, but it was too late to retreat now. “You know, to go over dos and don’ts.”

She hesitated, but then said, “That would be nice. Thank you.”

He let out the breath he hadn’t known he was holding.

Then she said, “And Drew?”

Caution rose. “Yeah?”

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