Page 67 of Covert Temptation

She might be starting to understandhim,but there was a lot he didn’t know about Kennedy.

“We’re going to need the coffee table if we’re going to eat all this Mexican food I just ordered.” She tugged on the box, dragging it across the floor.

“Here—let me.” He hurried over to help.

She set a hand on the curve of her hip that tormented the hell out of him. “I’m stronger than I look, Dante. I take Pilates.”

“I have no doubt that you’re strong, Kennedy. In more ways than one.”

She turned those big brown eyes on him…and he didn’t want to be anyplace but here.

With takeout food and surprises to come…

AndKennedy.

* * * * *

Kennedy eyed the pieces of the coffee table spread out on the floor. Putting the furniture together was no big deal. Except it presented a problem for her.

Dante twisted from the desk. “Would you like me to help you?”

“I got it.” She set her hand on her hip.

“I can show you how—”

She gave him a flat look. “There are four legs and a top. It’s not hard to figure out.”

“So what’s the issue?”

“If we have a coffee table, I can’t prop my feet on you when you’re planking.”

He burst out laughing, and boy, did she feel the deep rumble clear down in her toes. Her belly dipped, her pussy flooding with want.

Watching Dante throw his head back in laughter, a grin stretching his hard lips, his eyes creased at the corners…was glorious.

“Kennedy, you’re too much sometimes.”

She smiled at him.

Just wait and see how much I am.

The secret still in the bottom of that box was going to put thebiggestsmile on his face, one that wouldn’t be wiped off anytime soon.

She checked the time on the wall clock and saw she only had about half an hour before their food was delivered. If they were going to have a place to put it all, they needed the table.

When she settled on the floor with a package of nuts and bolts and that silly little wrench she dropped every few twists, she felt Dante’s gaze fixed on her.

“I put together my own desk and bookcase in college,” she said as proof that she could handle this small project. “Once all the girls on the floor realized I was a master with this”—she held up the Allen wrench—“I spent a week putting their furniture together too.”

His gaze warmed, heating her insides even more. She wanted Dante—a lot. It had taken all of her willpower the previous night not to climb into his bed again. She didn’t know what stopped her really. Maybe it was not wanting to place unrealistic expectations on their tenuous friendship. Maybe it was hoping thathewould come toher,proving that this relationship wasn’t one-sided.

Only he’d stayed in bed, and she slept fitfully alone.

He didn’t turn back to his screen, so she continued talking.

“After I graduated, I had a furnished one-room studio apartment. Luckily, I didn’t need to build anything else.”

“What’s your degree? I’m sure I saw it in your file, but I don’t remember.”

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