All set. He wiped his damp hands on his pants, unconcerned with the damage he did to his suit. As for the unit, give it some time. Chances are itll cool off without the help of the repairman.
Just clueing me in might have saved me a small fortune. Thanks.
Not a problem. His gaze bored into hers and a flash of dizziness assaulted her. She only wished she could blame the heat, but knew it was his penetrating stare that unnerved her.
Reconsider that drink? he asked.
She started to shake her head. I
Then I want lessons. And before you say anything, I know you dont specialize in dating etiquette anymore, but consider this an emergency. I have dinner with my boss tomorrow night and he plans on bringing his daughter. I dont want to get involved, but Id like to make a good impression and bow out gracefully at the end. Dinner tonight so you can teach me the finer points of charm and class. He grinned and she discovered one dimple in his left cheek.
I think you have enough of both, she said wryly.
So humor me. Im giving you an excuse to say yesand you know you want to. His voice lowered an octave. Husky and seductive, it flowed through her veins.
And I think youre taking a lot for granted. How about I make some calls and see if one of my instructors is available to, uh, meet your needs. She groaned inwardly. It had taken years to learn how to cover her insecurities, but Kayla had managed. Yet around Kane McDermott, she became the awkward girl shed once been.
Id rather go with you. His intense gaze begged her to believe.
Could he possibly be interested in her? She shook her head.
Too bad for me. Disappointment tinged his voice and dulled his gaze. He pointed to the phone. Guess Ill be going with a stranger tonight.
She rolled her eyes. Im a stranger.
Funny, but it doesnt feel that way. His gaze locked with hers in a meaningful stare she couldnt escape or mistake. There was a connection between them. They both knew it-just as they both knew hed just changed her mind.
She lowered herself into the swivel chair behind her desk. Leaning across the wooden top, Kane came within kissing breadth of her lips and she caught an enticing hint of spearmint on his breath. Are you going to disappoint a customer, Miss Luck?
Kayla. She licked her dry lips.
He raised an eyebrow and straightened to his full height. It seems Ive made progress, Kayla.
He most definitely had. Well, I cant very well accompany you if youre going to call me Miss Luck all night, she said.
The flash of white teeth came and went in a quick grin. I heard about this casual place. I forget the name. He buttoned his suit jacket. Im from out of town, so Im not too familiar with the city. I expect to be visiting often, though, because the boss lives here. His gaze never left hers.
So its casual dinner? she asked.
Yes. You can run through wine ordering, dinner choices, all the necessary things Id need to know for dinner with the bossand I get your company. Like baseball?
She nodded, feeling a little like shed been blindsided.
Ive got tickets for the Red Sox game afterward and we can hit that later.
Somehow I doubt you need lessons on how to attend a ball game.
No, but by then Im hoping well be past the lesson stage. Sound good?
She cleared her throat. Sounds fine. So fine it scared her.
Were all set then.
She nodded.
You wont be disappointed. His words held a wealth of meaning and Kayla had the distinct impression this was more than a business. That she was more than hired help to this extremely sexy man.
He reached out and grabbed her hand. The connection was instant, the knowledge frightening. She feared her deepest thoughts had just been confirmed. He jerked back without warning. Had he experienced the same unnerving reaction as she?
He reached into his pocket and withdrew a brown leather wallet, working quickly, as if he suddenly couldnt wait to be gone. Do you take American Express or Visa? he asked.
Either, but What could she say? That the thought of taking money in exchange for an evening in his company seemed wrong?
She glanced at Kane. Hed charmed her despite his initial pretense. Not only did she like him but she could use an evening out to enjoy herself. With the all-business attitude shed had lately, shed barely had time for fun. When was the last time shed been out with a nice guy? The last time shed let herself be charmed for once? Kane was most definitely good at that. She bit down on her lower lip and met his gaze, which had darkened to an unreadable, darker blue.
He flipped open his wallet. I can pay cash if youd prefer.
No. She couldnt take money in exchange for a date. No matter how he couched the word, thats what it was. She treated him to a genuine smile. Why dont we see how things go and we can discuss it? Later.
Okay. He snapped closed the billfold. Im staying at the Summit Hotel and Ill be in touch, MissKayla. With a grin, he walked out the door, leaving her to wonder
Could she really be thatlucky?
CHAPTER TWO
YOU LOOK SHARP, McDermott. Whistles and catcalls followed his walk through the station house. Kane ignored the harassment and parked himself in an open chair, kicking his legs out in front of him. He exhaled deep and easy, keeping up a steady beat. Relaxation came, but it was hard-won and destined not to last.
Hed taken one look at that angel-like face and known the geek cover wouldnt work. Hed given it a shot anywaybecause it would have been a hell of a lot easier to keep his distance from the woman if he wasnt acting like himself. He was a professional. Attraction was never supposed to come into play.
Kane let out a groan. But hed never seen eyes so wide-set and green and hed damn sure never seen curves like hers anywhere but on a magazine centerfold. Desire hadnt hit him so hard or fast since hed been a teenager.
Well? Did the McDermott charm do her in?
At the sound of the commanding voice, Kane lifted his gaze. Since hed been pulled into the assignment last minute, he hadnt had a chance to go over his cover with Reid. Kane was grateful. Hed never live it down if the captain thought hed gone in acting like a pencil-pushing geek. She didnt say no, if thats what youre asking. You get the tickets?
Reid ran a hand over his balding head. Youre a pain in the ass, McDermott. Yeah, I called my brother-in-law and told him my best detective was into bribery now.
Kane shrugged. Like I had a choice? Besides youre the one who insisted I take some R &R.
Reids face grew somber. Dont try to con me, McDermott. Ive known you since you were a wise guy in the academy. You watch a kid get killed and you tell me you dont need R &R? Reid snorted. I havent seen you so shaken since your first shot actually hit its target.
Kane didnt reply. The captain was right. When he was a rookie, Kane had fatally wounded a suspect when hed closed a drug bust. The captain had picked Kane up and taken him home afterward, and, since then, the Reids had become the family Kane insisted he didnt need.
The captain knew him well. More importantly, he had accepted him. Despite Kanes surly attitude and attempts to remain aloof, Reid pushed anyway, including him on holidays and family gatherings. After a while, the older mans persistence had paid off. Kane couldnt bring himself to insult Reid or his wife by turning them down, though he squelched the small part of him that wanted to enjoy the sense of family they provided. Kane limited the occasions, but he still knew the Reid clan better than he knew anyone else.
At least these tickets will work to our advantage, Reid said in his raspy voice.
You really ought to lay off the smokes, Captain.
Reid scowled at him. Worried I wont be around to bug you? He laughed. Im too tough to die.
You got that right, Kane muttered, refusing to admit he cared too much about his boss.
Thanks to the predicted drop in temperature, the lady should be more than eager to share body heat, he said, ignoring Kane as usual. She seem interested?
Kane folded his arms behind his head and leaned back to ponder the question. The old chair and springs creaked beneath his weight in a familiar song. Had Kayla Luck been interested?
Kane folded his arms behind his head and leaned back to ponder the question. The old chair and springs creaked beneath his weight in a familiar song. Had Kayla Luck been interested?
More after I told her I knew Fredericks. Their tip regarding Charmed! had come from a reliable source-an up-and-coming politician whod gotten caught with his pants down. Hed been more than willing to talk in exchange for keeping his escapade out of the headlines.
Reid had gotten a list of Charmed!s legitimate clientele over the past year. Fredericks seemed squeaky-clean and nervous to have his name tainted by scandal. Kane hadnt trusted the guy to keep quiet should Kayla contact him about his salesman friend, Kane McDermott, so hed concocted the story about Fredericks being transferred overseas. Fredericks had been jumpy but sincere and hed sung Kayla Lucks charms, including her honesty.
At least you picked a winner out of the hat.
Kane nodded in agreement. If Kayla had reacted badly to the name, the plan would have been shot to hell. Im good at what I do. Think shell take the bait?
Kane recalled the sultry smile, the soft pout of her lips and the coyly phrased question. Why dont we see how things go? Yesand no. Shed been interested, all right. The thought caused a steady, pulsing rhythm in his veins. But he could deal with a sexual attraction. Lust and desire were two sensations he could easily handle.
The ladys other qualities were another story. A naive innocence lurked beneath the seductive body. She lacked the hard edge hed expected, the tough facade hed been prepared to face. Instead shed been uncertain and unsure. She might have grown up on the wrong side of the tracks, but life hadnt visibly hardened her, at least not yet.
Lush curves on the outside and a gentleness on the inside. It was the softness that beckoned to him and that shook him up.
Either the ladys running more than a charm school or she isnt, the Captain said.
Kane shrugged, recalling her uneasiness at dealing with compliments and her unwillingness to accept his initial invitation. An act? A game designed to bait a man, to entice him until they fell into a sweaty tangle between the sheets? Or the ultimate rarity on this planet, an honest soul with nothing to hide? Kane had no idea.