Page 81 of Deadly Designs

Once they were gone, Christian tugged Aja Blue’shand, causing her to yip in surprise as he pulled her behind abuilding and kissed the breath from her lungs.

When they finally came up for air, he cupped herface. “I wanted to do that the moment you walked into the room. Ilied when I said you looked beautiful.”

Aja Blue’s head jerked back, but he didn’t releaseher. “You did?” Wow, that hurt. She wasn’t vain, but she thoughtshe’d cleaned up well. Presley had even remarked that if she’d beengay, she’d have hit on Aja Blue. That had made her feel good.Hearing the man you loved say you weren’t attractive wasparticularly brutal.

Christian removed one of his hands to fan it in theair. “Beautiful is too tame of a word. Gorgeous. Stunning.Dazzling. Ravishing.” The last word was said right before he benthis head and kissed her neck, making her legs buckle.

Aja Blue felt silly for doubting him. “If you don’tstop, we’ll never make it to the fundraiser.”

“Great. Let’s find a secluded spot where I can tearthat lovely gown off you.”

“First, you will not ruin this dress. You will takeit off with care.”

“Deal.”

“But—”

He put a finger against her lips. “Nope. No butsallowed.”

“It’s for Jay, Christian.”

With a sigh, he removed his finger and dropped hisforehead against hers. “I know.”

It would be so easy to give in to his sexualmachinations. She wanted the same thing.

After one last kiss, he took her hand.

“Wait.” She reached up with a thumb to wipe herlipstick from him, giving him a stern look when he licked it. Then,she quickly reapplied the sheer berry gloss and dropped the tubeinside her clutch.

“All you’re doing is making me want to suck it offyou again.”

“Christian,” she warned.

“Okay. I’ll try to stop. My only excuse is that youdrive me crazy.”

“You do me, too.”

“Really?” His smile was a wicked slash of white.

“Yes. You could make millions modeling that tux.”

“Are you saying I’m your arm candy?”

Aja Blue laughed. “Definitely. I’m going to have tofight off all the rich women wanting to get their hands onyou.”

“Well, don’t worry. The only hands I want on me areyours.”

Oh man, when he said things like that, her bodyresponded instantly. “Stop the sexy talk, or I’ll be tempted totake you up on it, and I would hate myself after.”

His grin instantly disappeared. “I’m sorry. You’reright. Let’s go raise boatloads of money for Jay.”

Now, she was even more tempted. He was so sweet andconsiderate. She had to remind herself again that it was forJay.

A group of men dressed in tuxedos tossed around afootball and roughhoused as Aja Blue strolled down the boardwalk,hand in hand with Christian, to where the Sinclair’s yacht wasmoored. Their loud hoots and hollers mingled with the caw ofseagulls, the lap of waves against the pilings, and the deep peelof a ship’s horn in the distance.

“That doesn’t seem like a smart idea in dressclothes,” Aja Blue remarked.

“Hundred bucks someone ends up in the drink,”Christian predicted.

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