If He Only Knew...

He smiled at the rapture on her face, at the flash of memory from his college days. Before law school. Before life had gotten so damn complicated. “Don’t forget a tall frosty beer.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I can do without that.”

“Normally, I’d agree. But there’s something about a ball park dog and a cold beer that can’t be beat.”

Her lips curved in a mysterious smile before she obstructed it by taking a sip of her margarita.

The odd smile and her silence made his eyes narrow. “You know something I don’t?”

“Probably a lot of things.” Salt from the rim of the glass clung to her lower lip and she used the tip of her tongue to remove the small chunk. Slowly, as if she knew the act was driving him crazy.

He silently cleared his throat. “Is that right?”

She nodded, and then she went real still, staring at him as if she’d just now realized he was at the table. To say the look was unnerving was an understatement.

“What are you doing tomorrow night for dinner?” she asked.

The way she asked matched the gleam in her eyes, and he wasn’t sure if he should be thrilled or head back to New York on the next flight. “Why?”

“Here’s the thing.” She placed her clasped hands on the table and leaned forward with no hint of a smile. “This is my territory.”

“Meaning?”

“If you want to see me, it’ll be on my terms.”

Cody snorted. Who did she think she was talking to? He could have a date every night of the week if he wanted. With attractive Manhattan socialites. Prominent career women. Sara was a damn temp worker, and she thought she could dictate terms to him?

He drained his scotch. “What?” he asked, as he realized with a jolt that her terms might be very, very interesting. “What are your terms?”

“First, we’ll only—”

“Shelby?” A tall, balding man, wearing a well-tailored suit, approached the table. “I thought you were still in Europe.”

She blinked and her face paled. “Robert?” She shot out of her chair, glanced at Cody and said, “Would you excuse me?” before taking the man’s arm and steering him toward the front of the restaurant.

Cody watched until he couldn’t see her anymore, and then stared at the amber liquid at the bottom of his tumbler. Barely a taste of scotch remained. The man had called her Shelby, and she obviously knew him. She hadn’t been in Europe. She’d been living in New York. What the hell was going on?

Their waitress was taking orders at the next table, and Cody couldn’t decide if he should get another drink or disappear before Sara got back. What did he know about the woman, anyway?

Using a different name. Lying about going to Europe. Choosing a restaurant she’d never been to before.

It all spelled trouble.

He reached into his jacket for his wallet, anxious to pay his tab and get out, when he saw her heading back toward him, without the balding man. Long blond tendrils bounced as she walked and even from three table lengths away, he could see the sapphire blue of her eyes. But it was the slow wide smile and straight white teeth that got him. Right in the gut. And lower.

“Sorry,” she said in a breathy voice as she sat down. Her gaze briefly scanned the room behind him, before she met his eyes.

“What was that about?”

“He’s a family friend,” she said without blinking, without displaying any other sign she was lying.

“But he doesn’t know your name?”

Her eyebrows went up in challenge. “He mistook me for my sister.”

“Right.”

“Okay, here’s the deal.” She reached behind for the black leather purse she’d hung on the chair back. “As I said, my territory, my terms. This is nonnegotiable. I choose where we go, what we do. I’m leaving now. If you can deal with that, come with me. Otherwise, the best of luck on your case.”

He needed at least one more scotch. “Are you serious?”

She’d already gotten up and stopped only to give him a definitive nod before walking away.

Screw her. The woman was totally insane. His gaze stayed on the graceful sway of her slim hips, the way her jeans hugged the generous swell of her backside. Instead of getting his questions answered, he had a dozen more. She wasn’t just intriguing, she was infuriating. He should be grateful to get out of this so easily.

Shit.

He threw a couple of twenties on the table and then hurried after her.

3

S ARA LOOKED straight ahead until she got out of the restaurant and into the chilled evening air. She should have known better. Did she think she could get away with going to a restaurant in Buckhead and not seeing someone she knew? She’d have been better off choosing a place out of the phone book. Someplace on the far side of town. Not that it mattered now. From the look on Cody’s face, she knew she’d never see him again. Which was probably just as well.

Damn him. Why hadn’t he made a move in New York? All that time wasted…

She jerked open her purse, looking for her car keys and then remembered she’d taken a cab. Since taxis weren’t abundant in the area, she’d have to call for one. Sighing, she got out her cell phone while glancing up at the darkening sky. Looked like rain. Great.

She sensed him behind her a moment before he laid a warm hand on her bare arm. Sucking in a breath, she slowly looked up at him. His eyes were more green than blue and the surprising hint of stubble on his chin made him look more rugged than usual. As quick as that, she knew she’d been full of it, thinking his loss was no big deal.

“Okay,” he said simply. “You win.”

“It’s not a matter of winning or losing. It’s just—” A chill chased up her spine and she shivered.

He moved closer and slid an arm around her shoulders, bringing her against the warmth of his body. “Is this allowed?” he whispered.

The urge to give him a good shove faded next to the pleasure of being pressed against his chest. “Only because it’s freezing out here.”

He smiled. “Freezing?”

Sara sighed. So it was only in the low seventies. Still, it was unseasonably cool. And his chest felt so damn good. A lot stronger and more sculpted than she’d imagined. Despite his busy schedule, he obviously found time to work out. “We’re going to have to take a taxi.”

“You don’t have a car?”

“I do, but it’s in the shop.”

He gave her an odd look, though there was no way he could know she’d lied. “No problem.” Frowning, he looked down the street. But of course there were no taxis.

“This isn’t like New York,” she said. “Most people around here drive, so we’ll have to call for a cab.”

“Right.” With a look of exasperation, he removed his arm from around her shoulders and reached into his breast pocket for his cell phone.

Immediately, she missed his touch. But the sudden realization that she had no idea where they should go next sent her thoughts in a different direction. There were a dozen places that she favored but none without consequence. Of course there was always Chloe’s place. But the first night? Not a good idea.

“You wouldn’t happen to know the number?”

She shook her head. “I’ll run back inside and ask the hostess to call.”

Before she could move, he took her hand. “I’ll take care of it.”

She didn’t argue. She simply enjoyed the feel of his palm pressed to hers, the way his long fingers curled around her hand as he called directory assistance, even though the problem of where she’d take him once the cab arrived remained unsolved.

Was she being too cautious? At this point, did it really matter if he knew who she was? While living in New York, it hadn’t just been about the anonymity. She’d genuinely wanted to know how it felt to live by herself, to depend on no one else for money or influence or anything else.

But now she was back to reality. And Cody would be here for one short week. He’d actually called and wanted to see her. Only for sex, of course. And only because he was here in Atlanta, where no one knew him. She laughed at the irony. Except it wasn’t really funny. She still didn’t know what to do. After all, what if he was the one?

The sudden ridiculous thought took her by surprise and erected her defenses so fast it made her chest tighten. She withdrew her hand from his and moved away, keeping her gaze averted. There could be nothing between them but sex. Anything more, for her especially, was out of the question.

“Are you all right?”

She looked over at him. He’d already put his cell phone away. Who knows how long he’d been watching her? “Did you get a hold of a cab?”

He hesitated, and she braced herself for an unwanted question. But all he said was, “One should be here within five minutes.”

“Good.” She checked her watch. Mostly for the distraction. She’d purposely not worn the bracelet. She didn’t want him reading too much into it.

“Care to tell me where we’re going?”

This time she did the stalling. Should she wing it? Get to the other side of town and then blindly choose a place at which to stop. Or should she play it safe and take him to Chloe’s?

Safe? She nearly laughed out loud. There were so many questions in his gorgeous eyes, but there was also that spark, the connection she’d never thought she’d feel again.

All right. There was safe, and then there was safe.

She smiled up at him. “How about we go to my place?”

S ARA NEEDN’ T HAVE opened the door to Chloe’s apartment to realize how incredibly dumb it was to have brought him here without having checked out the place first. Chloe was a terrific hairstylist but she was rather odd.

So was her taste in decorating. And that was putting it kindly.

As much as Sara wanted to block Cody’s view, she knew there was no turning back now. Not without making him think she was nuts. There was nothing to do but plunge ahead and try not to cringe.

Taking a deep breath, she led Cody into the rather vibrant front room. Orange wasn’t the color Sara would have chosen for the walls but there it was, an interesting contrast to the oversized lemon-yellow sofa that curved like a snake halfway around the freestanding fireplace.

Dreading it, she turned to look at Cody. She had to hand it to him, he kept a straight face. Of course, good lawyers could do that, and he was one of the best in the country.

She steered them farther into the room, and out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the small but open kitchen. Thankfully, she eyed a hutch near the glass dining table stocked with several bottles of booze. Premium stuff, which didn’t surprise her. Chloe was truly gifted and commanded a hefty fee for her work. And she did enjoy the finer things. Even her furnishings, although on the bohemian side, looked like the highest quality.

“I see you like the retro look,” Cody said, eyeing the lime-green side chairs with amused interest.

Sara paused, taking a new look at the place. It was retro, which, for whatever reason, seemed to make it less tacky. “Not really. I have a roommate. This was originally her place. I just moved in two weeks ago.”

“Ah.” He looked relieved.

She hid a smile and dropped her purse on a black lacquered console table beside a sculpture of a nude couple embracing.

Cody came up beside her and studied the sculpture. “Is she going to show up at any moment?”

“No, she’s on her way to Europe.”

His head reared back slightly. “Is that some kind of code?”

“Excuse me?”

“Didn’t you say your sister—”

Sara laughed. “Yes, she really is in Europe. And Chloe left for the French Riviera—” she glanced at her watch “—about three hours ago.”

“Quite a jet-setting crowd you hang around with.”

“Chloe’s also my hairdresser and with what she charges for a haircut, she could probably retire.”

He didn’t comment, just continued to check out the odd pieces of art that adorned the walls, the knickknacks of wrought-iron stick people holding silk flowers and glass fuchsia-colored high heels filled with colored marbles scattered about.

“Why don’t you fix yourself a drink?” she suggested, trying to divert his attention so she could check out the rest of the apartment in privacy. “I’ll be right back.”

“All right,” he said, turning to look at her. Their eyes met and his crinkled with humor. “Going to slip into something more comfortable?”

“You wish.”

“Indeed.”

She laughed, delighted to see this side of him. “I’ll take a club soda while you’re at it.”

“Glasses are in the kitchen?”

Sounded logical. She nodded, and then hurried down the small hall with the sudden hope that there were two bedrooms. Otherwise, she wasn’t sure how she’d explain that.

The first door to the left was a bathroom, the yellow and orange living room colors repeated in its abstract wallpaper. Further down to the left was a nice-sized bedroom decorated in a surprisingly subtle palette of taupe and blue. Placed in the middle of the queen-sized bed was a piece of folded paper. Sara moved in closer to read the writing.

The sheets are clean, it read in large bold letters. Punctuated with a smiley face.

Sara quickly snatched the note and crumpled it in her hand. She turned around just as Cody appeared at the door. She jumped back, coming up against the bed and quickly having to steady herself. “Good grief, you scared me.”

“Sorry, but you don’t have any club soda.” Scanning the room, his startled gaze briefly rested on the dresser, before he stared questioningly into her eyes.

She turned to see what had caught his attention. A picture of Chloe. Naked.

Sara sighed and with great reluctance, looked back at him. This was it. He was going to leave, and she’d never see him again. Wouldn’t blame him one bit. He had to think she was a lesbian. Or at the very least, bi. “That’s my roommate.”

His eyebrows rose slightly. Clearly at a loss for words, he could only stare.

Sara decided that sticking as close to the truth as possible was her best avenue. “She’s a nudist.”

He frowned.

“She’s also a practical joker.”

His frown deepened. “Are you…?” He spread his hand as if he couldn’t bear to finish the question.

She couldn’t help but laugh. “No. Never. Not in this lifetime.”

His mouth curved in a slight smile. “Good.”

“Can’t stand the thought of seeing me naked?”

Cody’s eyes darkened. “Try me.”

“Funny.” She abruptly turned away to get rid of Chloe’s picture. Damn, the man could reduce her to Jell-O with just a look. “I think I’d like something stronger than club soda, after all.”

She approached him, and since he was blocking the door, she expected him to lead them out of the bedroom. Instead, he grasped her by the shoulders and kissed her lightly on the lips. She stiffened, even though she hadn’t meant to.

He pulled back with a weary smile. “I’m hungry. How about you?”

“Starved.”

He stepped aside to let her go first. As she left the room, she saw another door at the end of the hall to the right, which had to mean there was another bedroom. Unfortunately, he already thought this one was hers.

“So, I assume we’re ordering dinner in,” he asked, once they’d returned to the living room. He went back to the small bar where he’d set out two glasses. Ironically, he already knew the apartment better than she did.

“I’m sure not cooking.” She briefly studied the liquor offerings. “Is there any tonic?”

“Right here.” He picked up the bottle. “Plain?”

“Add some gin.”

He uncapped the bottle. “All right, back to dinner. Any preference?”

“I’m easy. You?”

His mouth started to slowly curve. “You’d be amazed how easy I am.”

She flushed at his teasing, knowing if she lobbed the ball back into the same court, there would be no dinner. Nope, she wasn’t ready quite yet.

“I’ll check in the kitchen for takeout menus.”

His shoulders sagged just enough to let her know he understood. Poor guy. She knew she was sending him mixed signals.

She headed for the kitchen, anxious to escape his probing eyes. “As I mentioned, I just moved in. And since it’s a temporary arrangement…”

“Then what will you do?”

“Depends on what job I get.” She found two menus held to the side of the refrigerator with magnets. “Chinese or Italian do anything for you?”

“Either one.”

At the sound of his voice right behind her, she started. “Would you quit sneaking up on me?”

He handed her the gin and tonic. “I didn’t think I had.”

“No, of course not.” She shook her head. “Sorry. It’s been—”

“A bad day. I know.” He took her free hand. “Come here.”

She let him guide her to the living room, her heart beginning a slow steady beat. Then he took her drink and urged her to sit down. After placing both their glasses on the coffee table, he shrugged out of his suit jacket and sat beside her.

“Turn around,” he said.

It took her a moment to realize what he wanted. The second she’d shifted and her back was to him, he pushed her hair aside and then started kneading the tension at the base of her neck. This man definitely had done this before. With his strong fingers, he followed the cords of muscle, applying the right amount of pressure to make her sigh with pure bliss.

“I assume I’m getting the correct spots,” he said in a husky voice, his breath skimming her sensitized skin.

“Oh, baby.”

He slid his hand down her upper arms, and she felt his lips on the side of her neck. She closed her eyes, allowing the pleasure of his touch to wash over her.

Right now, this second, with her eyes closed and the tension easing out of her shoulders, it all seemed like a dream. How many nights had she lain awake in her tiny Manhattan studio apartment, imagining that he was with her, both of them naked, him running his palms over her body?

Her fantasies had been so intense they’d actually elicited dreams so vivid she had barely been able to meet his eyes the next day in the office. And now he was here. Touching her with his strong, capable hands, his warm breath on her neck and his hard body there for the taking. Making her wet and wanting. Maybe…

Oh, don’t let it be a…

He dispelled any possibility that this wasn’t real by crossing his arms over her breasts and pulling her back to lie against his chest. She clutched his forearm, and he apparently misunderstood because he loosened his hold and started to retreat.

Already having screwed up the kiss earlier, she quickly pulled his arms back around her, strategically placing one of his hands over her breast. His sharp exhale stirred her hair and she smiled. He hugged her closer and began to gently knead her breast.

“Sara?”

His gruff whisper took her breath away. She didn’t speak, only tilted her head in answer.

“Look at me.”

She turned around in his arms. His lips were parted, his lids lowered so that his eyes were only slits, but there was no mistaking the smoldering gleam that told her exactly what he wanted.

He lowered his head, and she lifted her mouth to his. Even though they’d already touched, when their lips met, everything changed. A fine tingling started at the crown of her head and traveled down her spine, straight to the dampness between her thighs.

It didn’t help that he took his time, exploring the inside of her mouth with his tongue, leaving no inch untouched. This wasn’t foreplay. It was sheer torture. Exquisite pain, but still.

Unable to stand it another moment, she broke the kiss long enough to turn around. Facing him took the torture to another level. She barely recognized the man. The feral color of his eyes darkened his face, and the normally stoic expression had morphed into pure desire.

He didn’t seem in a hurry to resume the kiss. Instead, he touched her face. Gently, using the back of his hand, he stroked her cheek. And then he drew the tip of his finger across her damp lower lip before leaning in to reclaim her mouth.

She gladly submitted. The urge to touch him, and not only his face, was strong, but if she did, there would be no going back. This was it. The moment of decision. His low moan made it an easy one. As she pushed her tongue into his willing mouth, her hands moved to loosen his tie.

She felt the change in his kiss. They had crossed the border into uncharted territory. It took her a minute, but she finally got his tie undone. He, on the other hand, was far more dexterous and had her blouse all but unbuttoned. She yanked his shirt from his waistband. He did the same with her blouse.

Some part of her brain still persisted in worrying that they were going too fast. That they should talk more, get to know one another better. Then his knuckle lightly caressed her nipple.

“Oh, Sara,” he whispered, pulling back to look at what he’d just touched.

She gave a silent thanks for push-up technology before she got busy taking off his shirt, only to be disappointed that he was an undershirt kind of guy. Not that she hated undershirts, but she really wanted skin. “Wouldn’t you be more comfortable without that T-shirt?”

The corners of his mouth twitched as he reached for the hem. He pulled off the T-shirt, and she could only stare. She knew by feel that he was in great shape, but my, oh, my. This man definitely took good care of himself.

“Your turn.” He didn’t wait, but pushed the front of her blouse open. He ran his gaze from her breasts down to her belly. She’d barely had time to suck it in. “As pretty as that bra is,” he said as he pushed the blouse off her shoulders, “I’d like it off.”

The silk fabric slid down her back. “I’m sure you know how to handle that.”

A slow sexy smile curved his mouth and within seconds he unfastened the front clasp and tossed her bra atop his jacket.

4

H ER BREASTS were small and perfect all the way to the pink tips. He’d been hard for the last ten minutes; if he didn’t unzip his fly soon, there’d be damage. And pain. When was the last time he’d wanted a woman like this?

It was definitely worth it. All of it. Coming to Atlanta for this menial case. Suffering Dakota and her annoying I-know-what-you’re-up-to look. The curiosity from everyone in the office, including Teddy in the mailroom. Even enduring Gwen’s undignified temper tantrum because he wouldn’t be in New York to escort her to the Heart Ball that she was cochairing.

Cody knew he was insane, but right now he didn’t give a damn. Sara was every bit as beautiful as he’d imagined.

“I didn’t think you did anything but work.” Sara flattened her palms against his chest and ran them up over his nipples, which promptly responded.

“Where did that come from?”

“You don’t get a chest like this sitting at a desk.”

He laughed, a little surprised at her bluntness. “I play tennis and jog. I even catch a pickup game of softball on the occasional Sunday.”

“Are you serious?”

He touched the tip of one budded nipple, enjoying the way she shivered. Maybe now she’d stop talking and start doing far more interesting things.

She ran her hands back down his chest, to his belly, stopping right above his fly. “I can’t imagine you playing softball.”

“Why not?”

“Must be tough playing in a suit.”

“Hey, I played baseball all through high school and for three years in college.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

Instead of being satisfied and moving on, she looked even more curious. “Were you playing on a scholarship?”

“No.” That would’ve pushed his parents over the edge.

“What happened the fourth year?”

“I decided to concentrate more on my studies.”

“To get into law school.”

He nodded. “You don’t think it’s rather absurd that we’re both half-naked and talking about baseball?”

Sara smiled. “To be honest, this is killing me.”

“I see,” he said slowly as he palmed her right breast.

She moved into his touch, but just for a moment, and then settled back, her eyes full of misgiving. “Do you realize this is the most you’ve ever talked to me?”