The Tycoon And I. Kandy Shepherd
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with their hidden tunnel.
Kate rubbed her bare arms. There was a distinct drop in the temperature down here. She was certain the goose bumps were from the chill in the air and had absolutely nothing to do with her view of Lucas’s long legs or toned backside as he descended the ladder.
She gazed around, imagining the wooden racks lined with bottles. “Back here there’s a rack with some very old wine. Seems it was shuffled out of the way and forgotten.”
“Interesting. Did you uncover anything else?”
“Afraid not.”
He moved closer to get a better look. It wasn’t until then that she noticed how tight the quarters were down there. Lucas’s broad shoulders filled the space between the brick wall and the wooden shelves. There was no getting around him. And there was no room to back up.
Lucas’s spicy cologne teased her senses. How could one man look and smell so good? And why did her body so readily respond to him? She knew better than to let her guard down around him. Perhaps inviting him down here was not the best idea.
“That’s all there is. We should go.”
Lucas glanced up from the bottle of wine he was examining. His gaze met hers. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were afraid to be so close to me.”
The problem was she liked it too much. If they stayed down here much longer, she was afraid she’d abandon her common sense and cave into her body’s lusty desires.
“I...I have work to finish.”
“I’m going to look around here a little more.”
He returned the dusty bottle to the rack and turned, signaling her to pass him. Anxious to make her escape, she moved. By the time she figured out there wasn’t enough room for them to modestly pass, her body was sliding over his. Toe to toe. Thigh to thigh. Chest to chest.
The temperature suddenly rose. Her gaze caught his. Did she stop moving? Or had time slowed down?
“Kate.” His voice was raw and full of unmistakable desire.
She’d lied to herself. That first kiss was unforgettable. The memories flitted through her mind every night. What would it hurt to let him kiss her again? Just to see if it was as good as she remembered.
Her heart pounded, echoing in her ears. Her breath hitched. She was playing with fire. She should move. Leave. Run. She didn’t want to get burned. But she couldn’t turn away from his hungry gaze.
His head dipped. Her eyes fluttered shut. Curiosity and desire collided, holding her in place. And then he was there. His touch was warm and gentle as his lips brushed over hers. No kiss had ever felt so heavenly. Her insides melted and pooled in the center. If she weren’t pinned between his hard chest and the wall, she was quite certain her legs wouldn’t have held her up.
But all too soon reality rumbled through her dream. The memory of how he had walked away from her at the hospital shattered the moment. She couldn’t do this. Not with him.
She couldn’t trust him.
Ducking her head, she moved to the ladder. With lightning speed, she rushed up the rungs and hurried back to the library, hoping Lucas wouldn’t follow. She willed her heart to slow. For her lips to quit pulsating. Most of all, she needed to think clearly. And with Lucas around, her thoughts became a jumbled heap.
* * *
What in the world had just happened?
Had he dreamed that one succulent moment? He ran his tongue over his lower lip, tasting the sweetness of Kate’s cherry lip balm. A frustrated groan rumbled in his chest. He’d given his word that he wouldn’t let something that foolish happen again. Yet every time Kate came close and he could smell her fruity shampoo and feel the heat of her touch, logic evaded him.
Now that his ill-laid plan had gone awry, he couldn’t leave things like this. He started up the ladder, wondering what he should say to her. “I’m sorry” just didn’t seem enough, but he had to try. With the wood plank back in place, he headed for the library.
He rolled his shoulders, trying to ease the tension running through them. He was making too much of this. It was barely even a kiss. No big deal.
When he strode into the library, Kate once again had a hammer in one hand and some trim in the other. He waited for her to turn. When she didn’t, he cleared his throat.
“About what just happened, I just want you to know that I shouldn’t have overstepped—”
“It was nothing.” She kept her back to him, shielding her facial expression. “Now you see why I think the tunnel would hold a lot of appeal for people.”
She waved off his kiss as if it was nothing—as if it hadn’t meant a thing. The thought that this thing—this growing attraction—was all one-sided pricked him. His jaw tightened and his body tensed. Why was she being this way? He wasn’t the only one who felt something.
Kate swung around to face him with the hammer still in her hand. “Do you have a problem with the plans?”
Lucas found himself eyeing the business end of the hammer. If she meant to gain his attention, she’d certainly done that. Not that he couldn’t easily overpower her. After all, she was inches shorter than him and looked to be as light as a feather. Only feathers didn’t have so many delicious curves. Kate’s waist dipped in above the flare of her hips, and his fingers itched to wrap around her and pull her close. He was tempted to remind her that though the kiss had been brief, it’d definitely ignited a flame.
He straightened his shoulders. “And what if I do have a problem with all of this?”
“You’re backing out on me now?” Kate’s features hardened and he couldn’t help but notice how her knuckles turned white as her grip on the hammer tightened. “You can’t do that. I won’t let you. We have a verbal agreement. If you even think of backing out now, I’ll...I’ll...”
He smothered a chuckle as her threat lost steam. Not wanting to add fuel to her rising temper, he willed his lips not to lift into an amused grin. She sure was cute when she was worked up. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to egg her on a little more.
“Should I be worried?”
“You already agreed to this party. It’s too late to back out now. I already gave my word to the hospital that I’d have the funds for the operation.”
Her words hit him with more sting than any blow from a hammer. She was right. How was he supposed to put up an argument now when faced with a little girl’s well-being?
As though remembering the hammer was still in her hand, Kate bent over and placed it on the white drop cloth lining the floor. She straightened and tilted her chin upward. “Besides, your aunt thinks the prohibition tunnel will play in nicely with the 1920s flapper theme.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” he mumbled.
As though he hadn’t spoken a word, Kate continued, “She also said that at last some good would come from the Carrington history.”
He didn’t like being ganged up on by his aunt and his... What was Kate to him? A friend? She was closer to him than he let anyone get these days. But friend didn’t seem to fit what they had either. Especially not after that brief but stirring kiss.
Just then Kate leaned toward him. He froze. What was she planning to do? His gaze slipped down to her lips. They were full and rosy, just perfect for another sweet kiss. Anticipation grew. Was it possible she’d enjoyed his touch more than she’d been letting on?
His breath hitched as she moved closer. Her hand reached out to him. What was she going to do? Pull him down to her?
The thought of her being so bold...of her taking control of the situation turned him on. His eyes drifted closed. All semblance of logic fled his brain. He waited for her to make her move, willing her to keep going.
Long-ignored