Touched By Fire

Rachel had been taking notes while Sam talked. “Well, that’s going to make our clients very happy. You took pictures, right?” Sam nodded. Rachel collected Sam and A.J.’s written reports and added them to her folder. “That’s about it then. I’ll call the bookstore owner tomorrow.”

Quickly, before Rachel could find an excuse for her to stay, Sam rose to make her exit. She’d had about all of A.J.’s sexual aura she could take for one night. “Well, I’m gonna hit the road. Thanks for everything,” she said, making her way to the door.

“Good night,” Rachel and Luke called as she hurried out of the air-conditioned house and into the humid Florida night.

Without turning, she waved at them over her shoulder.

“I’ll walk you to your car,” a deep voice said from just behind her.

She spun and came face-to-face with A.J. “Ah, thanks, but I’ll be fine.”

“That wasn’t a question, Sam.” Her name rolled off his tongue like a caress after a night of hot sex. She shivered and fought to keep her equilibrium.

Leaving her no room for argument, he took her arm gently in his grasp and steered her down the driveway to her car. The nearly moonless night closed in on them, creating an intimate atmosphere that Sam—with A.J.’s warm fingers still wrapped around her upper arm—found way too confining. She tried to pull free, but his grip tightened just enough to prevent her escape.

Halfway down the front walk, he pulled her to a standstill. “Unlock the car.”

She looked at him, then remembered that unlocking her SUV had been the trigger for the bomb. Without a word, she hit the remote. The lights on the car flashed, and they could hear the distinctive click of the door locks releasing.

“Okay, let’s go.” A.J. pushed her forward.

When they reached her car, he held her away while he looked into the backseat. Only when he was sure it was safe did he release her.

She turned and, before she could express her thanks, she found herself pinned up against the cold fender, staring straight into the eyes of the first man who had brought her blood to a rolling boil since Sloan Whitley. No, she corrected, Sloan had never made her feel as if her body had all the rigidity of cooked spaghetti and as if her head were filled with helium.

As A.J.’s face moved closer to hers, she stared at his mouth, full and tempting.

He’s going to kiss me. I have to stop him. I have to…

Any warnings her brain sent her vanished, burned to ashes with the invading heat, leaving behind only a deep longing to feel his lips pressed against hers again.

“I was going to apologize for kissing you today,” he growled, his voice low and sultry, “but I decided that would be hypocritical.” He lowered his mouth toward hers.

Chapter 4

Sam held her breath in anticipation of a repeat of the wild rush of desire she’d experienced the last time A.J. had kissed her. Though she tried to clear her mind and fight him, she was failing miserably. His warm breath heated her skin. His aftershave drugged her senses, willing her to surrender herself to this man who had become far too important in her life.

His mouth was coming closer. Sam’s blood pressure skyrocketed.

“Wait!”

Sam and A.J. sprang apart like two teenagers caught necking in the back of the classroom.

For a moment, Sam’s blurry mind thought the interruption had come from her, but then it registered that it wasn’t her voice. Rachel had broken the spell. Thankfully, A.J. moved in front of her, giving her a few seconds to clear the cotton wool of passion from her wayward senses before facing her friend.

Once she had the sexual magnetism under control, or as under control as she could get it with A.J. so close, Sam stepped around him and saw Rachel standing on the front porch, a knowing smile curving her lips. Damn her! Sam promised herself a long talk with her matchmaking friend the next day. This whole thing with A.J. was hard enough without Rachel’s interference.

“Sorry.” Sam knew Rachel wasn’t sorry at all. Her expression was one of pure delight. “I just wanted to remind you, Sam, that you still need to get a date for the burn unit ball next Saturday. You, too, A.J.,” she added, emphasizing too.

As if Sam could forget with Rachel calling it to her attention daily. “I know. I’ll take care of it.”

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