That door over there, she murmured, her words more a husky purr than anything. Caleb forced his eyes open, looking around for over there. There were two doors, one cracked open enough that he could see was a bathroom. Handy. The other was closed. There was a bed waiting on the other side of that door.
The trick was to get to it.
He had a whole lot of warm, wonderful woman wrapped in his arms.
His slacks were around his ankles. Pure class, he thought as he rolled his eyes. His boots were still laced tight, so he couldnt kick his pants off and romantically sweep Pandora into his arms.
Romantically. Holy crap. A hard-core realist, Caleb knew the effects drugs could have on the body. But asparagus and oysters? That all-natural aphrodisiac thing was pure bullshit.
At least, hed thought it was until now, as he stood with his head still reeling, his jeans jammed down around his socks like a pimply faced adolescent getting it for the first time behind the school gym.
Now? Now he was thinking up ways to be romantic.
Againholy crap.
Pandora gave a sighing little wiggle, her curves pressing tighter against him, the deliciously pebbled hardness of her nipples scraping against his chest and her flowery-scented hair rubbing under his chin.
A part of him-he swore it was Hunters voice-was kicking in to lecture mode. He shouldnt be doing this. The plan was to use her stores proximity to keep an eye on his father. Not to use her, in any way, shape or form.
But was it using? his body argued. He was seriously interested in her. She was gorgeous and sexy and fun. And this didnt have to get in the way of his investigation, so what did it matter?
Who gave a damn how hed got here.
Caleb vowed in that second, as he brushed a soft kiss against the top of her head, that he was going to enjoy the hell out of this night. Whatever was driving it, he was the one having the fabulous ride.
Well, he and Pandora.
And it was time to make sure she got a ride shed never forget, either.
Round two, he promised. This time, Ill show you what I can do with my boots off.
8
WELL? KATHY PRODDED in a frantic admonition, leaning across the sales counter so far her butt was almost up in the air. I cant believe you didnt call me last night to tell me about your dinner. Im your best friend. Your confidante. Your coconspirator of all things naughty. And I have to drag myself out of bed on a cold Saturday morning and brave the crazy shoppers to nag you into filling in the deets?
A little freaked at the idea of verbalizing all the images thatd been playing in Technicolor through her head all day, Pandora rolled her eyes. She was trying her best to ignore Kathys chipper curiosity. Especially since the store was filled with holiday shoppers, all with varying degrees of gossip expertise.
Trying to act professional, she struggled to wrap gold foil paper around an octagon-shaped box while the customer tapped her foot impatiently in time with Jingle Bells playing through the stores speakers.
Whose idea was it to offer free gift wrapping? she muttered as the tape stuck to the wrong part of the foil paper, pulling the glittery gold off when she tried to move it. Wrinkling her nose, she glared at the package, then glanced at the eagle-eyed customer whod now taken to finger tapping to show her displeasure.
Oops.
Thatd be the same person whose idea it was to try out her hot and horny holiday meal last night and isnt sharing how it went, Kathy said, her voice escalating from whisper to hiss loud enough to garner shopper attention.
Her face on fire, Pandora gave a hiss of her own.
Shh. Ill share. Later, she promised as she gave in to the finger-tapping pressure and started the wrapping all over. Now, help me with this ribbon, okay?
No. Kathy straightened, keeping her hold-the-ribbon fingers hostage and giving Pandora a stubborn look.
Pandora, the gossip grapevine is running amok, Laurie, a waitress from the nearby diner, said as she approached the counter with a basketful of holiday shopping. Lacy Garner claimed Caleb Black was in here flirting up a storm the other day. But Jolene Giamenti was telling everyone and their neighbor that Sheriff Kendall was interested in you. Now Im dying of curiosity-which of those fine-looking gentlemen are you interested in?
Pandoras lips curved as she wondered how to answer that. Shed never had two eligible men interested in her, and definitely never had the town gossiping over which one shed choose. Her ego, starting to show its fragile face again, glowed a little at the idea.
Which one? repeated the finger-tapping Mrs. Vincent, giving a nod of approval for the wrapping and indicating that Pandora hurry up with a little wiggle of her fingers. As if there could be a question. A sweet girl like Pandora is going to date our fine sheriff. Why would she have any interest in a hoodlum like Caleb Black? Of course, all three Black kids were wild. But Caleb, being the oldest, seemed to make a point of being the best troublemaker, too. Why would Pandora date someone like that?
Why? For fourteen orgasms in one night, maybe? Or the soft sweetness of the kiss hed brushed over her forehead before hed left in the wee hours of the morning? Maybe because Caleb had a sense of humor almost as fine as his gorgeous body. Or that he was fun and entertaining and made her feel amazingly sexy and clever.
Pandora shifted from one foot to the other. The movement brushed her thighs together and instantly shot tingling little reminders of her wild night through her body. She shivered. She didnt regret for one second the evening that had led to such pleasure. But still, she needed to keep her professional persona intact. It didnt matter that this was her own sex life and as such, nobody elses nosy business. Just as it hadnt mattered that she was innocent in the debacle with Sean. Shed learned the hard way how easy it was for public opinion to destroy a career.
Are you going to share, or arent you? Kathy prodded, snatching the package and tying the bow herself with a quick, sassy flick of her fingers. I have a lot to do today. My mother wants to go shopping for matching Christmas sweaters, then I have to take the dog to the photographer to reshoot the holiday card.
You know if you had cats, those cards would come out a lot better, Pandora pointed out, taking the package back, bagging it and handing it to Mrs. Vincent with a smile. Cats are great at lying still.
She, Kathy and the two customers all looked toward Bonnie and Paulie, who were curled up together in the window, a picture of furry contentment on the alpaca throw displayed there.
So whats going on? Mrs. Vincent prodded, taking her bag but not leaving like a polite customer who minded her own business should. Are you associating with that riffraff, Caleb Black? I hear hes been a huge stress to his daddy. Not that Tobias Black is a pillar of all that is good and right in the world, what with dating girls his daughters age, those motorcycle types in and out of his shop and the constant traffic of questionable personalities. But he deserves better than a do-nothing son like that boy.
Caleb isnt a do-nothing, Mrs. Vincent, Pandora defended, seeing the trap an instant too late.
Guess that answers our question, then, doesnt it, Mrs. Vincent said with a wicked smile on her benign old-lady face. She and Mrs. Sellers hooked arms and sashayed out of the store, whispering and tossing dire looks back over their shoulders.
Another customer, one who Pandora didnt know personally, gave a judgmental sort of tut-tut, then went back to her shopping.
Panic gripped a tight fist in Pandoras stomach. What had she done? She should have kept things with Caleb quiet. The mess with Sean had been horrible, but the whispers and snide innuendo from everyone who knew them, everyone shed worked with, thatd almost been worse.
Pandora, I love what youve done here, a pretty blonde interrupted as she carried a large statue of Eros, the god of love to the counter. She patted his naked ceramic butt before pointing to the tower of boxed aphrodisiac pepper cookies, the days special. Can you throw in a box of extraspicy cookies, too? I think theyll be a perfect gift for my Jazzercise instructor.
She likes cookies? Kathy asked, apparently not in such a hurry that she didnt have time to be social. She leaned forward on the counter, trying to peek up Eross flowing strip of fabric to see how he was hanging.
Sure. But mostly its because shes got this new boyfriend and wants to make sure this relationship has a chance, the woman said, adding an astrology book, two CDs and a woven celestial shawl to the counter. I guess she was dating this guy last month who was all about a little chemical enhancement, if you know what I mean. He claimed itd boost their sex lives and make her look and feel gorgeous.
Starting to ring up the fabulous sale, Pandora exchanged a confused look with Kathy. Before she could ask, though, the woman continued. She wasnt having anything to do with that fake stuff, though. But now shes paranoid that her new guy thinks shes ugly and that she sucks in bed. So I figured some cookie encouragement, along with a spa gift certificate, might help boost her confidence a little.
Cookie courage, Pandora intoned with a wise nod.
The three of them joked their way through the rest of the transaction, but as soon as the door bells rang behind the blonde, Pandora frowned at Kathy.
What do you think shes talking about? Chemical enhancements? Like She trailed off, then shrugged. What do you think she meant?
Kathy gave her a long, knowing look that clearly said she realized this was a pathetic topic change and she was allowing it for now. But there would be a price to pay. Pandora figured shed better bring chocolate.
Well, chemical usually means drugs, Kathy pointed out finally. Pandora nodded. But the looking-good part? Maybe that means hallucinogens or something? Who knows?
The two women shared a puzzled look.
Pandora, did you want to open the café early today? Fifi asked as she hurried from the back where shed been prepping the cash register for lunch.