paw.” Christian chuckled as Lauren continued. “Leave a trail of fingernail scratches across your body. But then again, that probably wouldn’t be the first time.”
“Except for my brothers or teammates, being attacked would absolutely be a first. I’m not a violent man.”
“What about the women you date, like Chloe?”
“What makes you think I dated her? Mom told you?”
“You and your life were not a part of our conversation. Chloe’s reaction toward me said it all. If evil eyes were daggers, I wouldn’t have lasted the night.”
“Chloe doesn’t like to be outshone, and you were the brightest star in the room,” he murmured. “We’ve known each other for years, basically grew up together, and dated off and on in high school. What about you? What does your boyfriend think about you moving cross-country to take a job?”
“Is that your roundabout way of asking whether or not there’s a man in my life?”
“Is there?” he asked.
“No.”
Christian quirked a brow. “That doesn’t seem possible.”
“Perhaps, but it’s true. My last serious relationship was a while ago. After that I threw myself into work, networking and building up my client base.”
“And you left all you’d built to work with my mom?” he probed.
“Victoria knows I have ongoing clients and believes I can handle the work required for them and help her out, too.”
Christian studied Lauren as she talked, knowing she held back much more than she’d spoken. She hardly seemed the all-work-and-no-play sort of woman. Patience was one of the traits that made Christian such an astute businessman. Patience and intuition, knowing when to hold and when to fold. So he held his curiosity for why she’d leave a growing clientele to work for a nonprofit foundation with his mother. But still, he wondered. Was she running away from something? Was she part of his mother’s plan to turn him into a married man? Did she have plans of her own?
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-six. I’ll be twenty-seven in April.”
“You called me an old man last night but you’re not too far from thirty yourself.”
“Getting older is not the worst thing that can happen, you know.”
“But it seems to be harder for women than for men. Don’t you want to get married and raise a family?”
Christian had asked the questions casually, but he listened intently as she answered.
“At some point that might be nice, if I find the right man. Why?” She looked at him from beneath long, curly lashes, her smile reigniting the desire that had sprung up when she opened the door. “Are you applying for the job?”
“I already have a wife.” He laughed as shock registered in her eyes. “Her name is CANN.”
“Then—” Lauren leaned toward him “—a mistress, maybe?”
“Careful, beautiful lady. You’re about to start a fire.”
“You’re right. I shouldn’t tease.”
“No, you shouldn’t. Don’t poke the bear.”
Lauren said she was teasing, but she wasn’t. She wanted to poke the bear and stroke the undeniable heat between them into a massive flame, and then spend a night or twelve putting it out. All the while knowing the very last thing she needed was a meaningless fling, a too-close-for-comfort friend with benefits.
But she’d been guarded for a very long time. And Christian was so damn sexy. Being in close proximity to him had caused the embers from her childhood crush to catch a spark. His smoldering gaze and gentle touch on the pulse of her wrist had turned that spark into crackling flames. Lauren’s body was on fire, and the man who owned the hose that could put it out was sitting right beside her.
She watched Christian deftly adjust his pants as he shifted his body away from her. It was good to know she wasn’t the only one being physically affected in this moment. He checked his watch. The movement brought her attention to his long, masculine fingers and neatly manicured nails. Imagining the goose bumps that would arise if he ran them lightly across her body, she reached for his hand for a closer examination. He pulled it away.
“Really, Christian? If I didn’t know better I’d say there was a hint of fear in your eyes. Are you afraid that I might be too much to handle?”
“I can’t remember the last time I’ve been afraid of anything,” Christian answered, a comment that sounded arrogant except Lauren had a feeling it was probably true. “There’s definitely never been a woman to make me show fear.”
“Then what was that? You aren’t in a relationship. You admit you find me attractive. You say you like sex. Wait. Are you experiencing erectile dysfunction?” They both laughed. “Do we need to get you a little blue pill?”
Christian chuckled. “There are no physical problems when it comes to my ability to function sexually. I am the epitome of a virile male.”
“Is that so?” He nodded. “Prove it.”
Christian’s gaze changed, intensified. His irises darkened, dropped to her lips. She licked them, waited, watched the muscles in his arm ripple with tension, like a feral black panther ready to pounce. But he didn’t. He stood and reached for her hand.
“Walk me to the door, pretty lady.”
Lauren steeled herself. She already knew that electricity flowed when their skin touched, so she braced herself for the shock. What she wasn’t prepared for, however, was that after standing she’d be pulled into Christian’s arms and seared with a kiss that made her gasp. Or that he’d take that opportunity to deepen the exchange. Skilled and demanding, his tongue was like a sword in the hands of a master—cutting away at her defenses, carving a place for himself in her world.
Lauren wanted more and took a step closer. She slid her hands up and over strong, broad shoulders, heard him groan and felt his hand moving toward her butt. When her hand began a similar journey, she felt him stiffen beneath her touch. He stepped back. The apology forming on her lips was interrupted by his ringing cell phone.
“Still popular, I see.”
“Comes with the territory,” he said with a shrug. He straightened to a height at least six inches taller than her five-foot-eight frame, tweaked her nose. “Are you coming to the house tomorrow?”
“I don’t know. The past few days have been a whirlwind and my job officially starts on Monday, so... I might take the time to get settled, maybe check out the town a bit.”
“All right, then. Go easy on these Vegas cowboys. Somebody like you will be hard for them to handle.”
“Thanks for the advice, partna,” Lauren drawled.
Christian laughed as he opened the door and stepped out. His dimple offered a flirty wink while his taut butt and long, muscular legs gave a final adios. And what a goodbye stroll!
Lauren closed the door and leaned against it. She took a deep breath to calm the flutters in her stomach...and elsewhere. Amazing how unwanted events completely out of her control had landed her in Nevada, the Wild West, in very close proximity to the first man she’d ever desired.
Christian had no need to worry about any other of the town’s broncos. He was the only stallion she wanted to ride.
* * *
The next morning Lauren’s cell phone rang at six o’clock, but it didn’t wake her. A restless night had given way to morning. Thoughts