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Excerpt from
What He Didn't Say Anthology
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“You must have spent time around small children to be so good with them.” Caitlin made the observation as she and Rafael stepped out of Maudie’s Diner into the warm June night. Watching Lily giggle with delight while in Rafael’s arms had given Caitlin insight into a totally unexpected -- and immensely compelling -- side of the man. Which was her bad luck. The last thing she needed was one more reason to find the subject of her investigative profile so appealing. “A natural gift,” Rafael commented. Moonlight poured down, mingling with the reflection from the security lights guarding the parking lot on one side of the diner. “Does that mean you haven’t spent a lot of time around small children?” “I have no children of my own, so I suppose not.” She stopped beside her rental car, turned to face him. The pale light seemed to add slivers of silver to his Viking blue eyes. “While Lily was bouncing in your arms, she held on for dear life to your shirt collar.” “So?” “So, I saw the scar on your chest. Rafael, it looks long and jagged and seems dangerously close to your heart. What happened to you?” “An accident.” “Really?” she asked, sarcasm slashing her voice. “I thought maybe you’d gotten your chest sliced open on purpose.” He slid his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “Wouldn’t be a lot of sense in that.” Feeling her frustration level kick up a notch, she unlocked the car’s door, pulled it open and tossed her purse onto the seat. Squaring her shoulders, she turned back. “I intend to write the most thorough and comprehensive profile of you that I can. With or without your cooperation. You do understand that, don’t you?” “Of course.” “Then why won’t you talk to me?” “I’ve been talking to you for days.” “About NASCAR. Racing.” The wind picked up, whipping her hair against her cheek. She swept a hand beneath the long mass and scooped it across one shoulder. “Not about yourself. Not about growing up in Brazil.” He took a step forward, boxing her in between his body and the car door. The thrill that sprinted straight up her spine irritated her. “What do you think you’re doing?” “Getting ready to tell you something about my native country. Did you know that Brazil is considered to be the most romantic place on earth?” “That factoid got right by me.” “Too bad. You see, Brazilians have perfected the art of kissing.” Keeping his eyes locked on hers, he reached out, caught a lock of her hair and toyed with it gently. With his hand so near her face, Caitlin’s throat tightened. She was dry kindling and this gorgeous Latin/Irish hunk was a blowtorch. She wasn’t sure what would happen if he touched her. Just the prospect that he might sent heat creeping up the back of her neck. “Well, thanks for that info. I need to get back to my hotel room and work on my notes.” Slowly, he twined her hair around his fingers. “Would you like a demonstration?” His voice had lowered, its accented tone infuriatingly sexy. His hand was so close to her cheek now, she could feel the heat from his skin. “No thanks. Turns out, I’ve been kissed before.” “I don’t doubt it. Nor do I doubt that, if it’s your wish, you’ll be kissed again.” He skimmed his gaze down to her mouth. “Very soon.” Inside she went still as his hands slid beneath her hair and slowly folded around the nape of her neck. His palms were warm and heavy against her skin. She could feel the strength in him but sensed the control. The combination was electrifying. His thumbs moved gently just behind her ears. He eased her head back slightly and lowered his mouth to within a whisper of hers. “What is your wish, Caitlin?” She knew she should step back. Tell him she wasn’t interested. But, dammit, she didn’t want to step back. Because she was interested. Going with impulse, she raised on tiptoe to graze her lips across his. “This,” she murmured. When he settled his mouth on hers, every muscle in her body went lax. His kiss wasn’t demanding, it wasn’t urgent. It was devastating. With a moan of pleasure, she slid her fingers into his dark hair and fisted there. His mouth was so tempting, his taste so enticing. He deepened the kiss, his lips slanting across hers. Excitement sparked along every nerve ending. Flames erupted beneath her flesh, fierce and intense. A sense of urgency pulsed through her when his hands settled on her hips. “I’ve been wondering what it would be like to kiss you,” he murmured against her throat. “How you would taste. I was going crazy waiting to find out.” She’d been going crazy herself. “Kissing isn’t the only thing I’ve been thinking about doing with you.” One of his hands lifted, tunneled through her hair. The other moved over the curve of her hip. She felt his fingers slide beneath the hem of her blouse as he gazed down at her, his eyes gleaming in the moonlight. “I want to make love with you, Caitlin. Come home with me. Tonight.” The huskiness that had settled in his voice had her knees going weak. She didn’t just want to go home with him, she wanted to shove him into her car and race, NASCAR-style, to get there. And that was just crazy. Totally wrong. A small whisper of sanity told her she had no business forgetting her purpose here in this sudden crazy desire to be with this man. “I.... I can’t.” She tried with little success to catch her breath. Every pulse point in her body felt like a jackhammer. When he made no move to release her, she pulled back. And felt the slide of his fingers against her flesh as his hand eased from beneath her blouse. Her heart and lungs were straining. She had no control over them. No control over the ache of wanting that was so huge it left little room for reason. That knowledge shot a dazed fear into her system. Years ago, a man whom she thought she could trust without question had the same stunning effect on her. Then he’d betrayed her. As a result, the career she loved had been put on the line and her heart broken. She had vowed then she would never again take anyone at face value. Never again trust so freely. Yet, here she was, close to jumping into bed with a man she hardly knew. A man who had no intention of opening up to her and allowing her to see what was below the surface. Never again. “I...we shouldn’t be doing this.” Her voice -- her entire body -- quaked. “It’s something we both want, is it not?” Instead of answering, she curled her fingers into her palms until her nails bit into her flesh. “I’m on a job. You’re the job. I’m supposed to be a professional. Dammit, I am a professional.” “There’s no question about that.” “There would be, if I slept with you.” She dragged in a deep breath. “I encouraged you to kiss me, and I shouldn’t have. I can’t do this, Rafael. I just can’t.” He gazed down at her for a long moment. “Your choice, Caitlin. Believe it or not, seducing a woman in a parking lot isn’t my usual style.” He shifted his gaze, staring into the darkness. “You ... change things,” he said when he looked back at her. “Not all change is good. Perhaps it’s wise not to take this any farther.” “I ... think so.” “I’ll see you tomorrow, then.” “Yes.” She slid into her car and watched him stride away in the silver moonlight while regret filled the air around her like invisible smoke. .................................................................................................................
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