Free Temperature's Rising by Karen Kelley Page A

swept over her. Damn, she looked sexy as hell and, from the looks of it, fidgety. She was furiously twisting the top button of her peach-colored blouse.

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    Think innocence! He’d spoken with Mike one more time, just to make sure he’d understood her cousin. Mike had confirmed that Jessica was practically nun material.
    Damn it, her kiss hadn’t felt innocent, but her cousin had no reason to lie. He definitely had no room in his life for someone who was inexperienced.
    The way she twisted her button, he didn’t think she’d hang around long. Apparently, she had no taste for burglars. What the hell was she doing here anyway?
    “You’re posing as a pawnshop owner?” she asked.
    “How’d you know my cover?” He held up a hand, guessing the answer. “Never mind. Your father, right?”
    “Dad thought I should know a little about the prospective buyers.”
    “Surely the chief could’ve sent someone else. You shouldn’t be here. What was your father thinking?” How could he put his daughter in danger like this? Mike had spilled the beans about how shy and timid Jessica was.
    She should never have joined the police force.
    “I beg your pardon,” she said, her hands braced on her hips as she glared at him. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. For your information, I’m still a licensed police officer. I’m also in real estate. If anyone checks, it’ll be legit. And I’m pretty damn good at doing both.” She scanned the living room before turning her gaze back to him. “I could have you salivating to buy this house.
    I’m very good.”
    He just bet she was—nun material or not. She looked ready to take on half the police force, and any bad guy that got in her way. How the hell could he concentrate on the suspects with her around? Jessica tempted him to do more than just look, even if she didn’t realize it.
    He wanted her gone.
    “This isn’t a game,” he warned. “Those are real criminals next door and they’re very dangerous, so I suggest TEMPERATURE’S RISING
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    you get that cute little fanny of yours back in your car.
    Angie and I can look at the place by ourselves.”
    “Oh, is that right? I’m sorry to disappoint you, but you don’t have any say in the matter.” Conor admired her spunk, but he still wanted her somewhere far away from him. In two steps he closed the distance between them. “Don’t try to play with the big boys, Jessica. You’re out of your league.” Anger flared in her eyes, but just as suddenly it disappeared. Her gaze softened as she looked at him through partially lowered lids.
    “So tell me, who’s more dangerous, you or the people next door?” Her tongue darted out to lick her lips.
    His gaze slid over her. From the top of her golden halo of hair, down past the open neck of her shirt and to those incredibly long legs. Her words were a challenge if ever he’d heard one.
    What the hell was he thinking about? Back off, Conor!
    Casual affairs were his M.O. Skimming the surface—no pain, no regrets, no woman telling him he needed a safe desk job.
    Jessica would be more than a casual fling. She had that look about her. The one that said she wanted a real good time, but he was certain it meant, as long as a ring followed. He wasn’t about to let her experiment with him.
    No, she could test her sexual wings on some other poor sucker.
    Still, he couldn’t seem to stop himself from cupping her chin, drawing her even closer, until he tasted the cinnamon of her breath as it fanned across his face. He didn’t mind so much giving her a lesson in kissing. It might even scare her off.
    “Maybe you’re the most dangerous.” He trailed his fingers down the side of her jaw, feeling the smoothness before lowering his mouth. He inhaled the sigh that escaped 70
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    her lips as his lips brushed across hers before fully tasting the sweetness she had to offer.
    For someone supposedly so innocent, she kissed damn good. God, she was hot.