Free Temperature's Rising by Karen Kelley Page B

She pressed her body closer, her soft curves melding with his hardness. Just how well did Mike know his cousin?
    Her body language told him an entirely different story, the kind that said she was an open book and wanted to be read. Blood began to pound through his veins and his belly knotted with the effort it took to keep his emotions in check as her tongue stroked against his. God, she tasted good. He wanted to strip her clothes from her body and caress every inch of her naked skin.
    Conor was so lost in the kiss he didn’t realize anyone had entered the room until he heard a throat clear. It vaguely registered inside his brain that Angie had finally arrived. As much as he wanted to continue, Conor pulled away.
    “You don’t have the best timing in the world . . .” he began, turning around. His words faltered when he realized it wasn’t Angie at all, but the next-door neighbor.
    George.
    The wiry man stood in the doorway that led to the living room. He’d seen everything. Damn! How could he be so stupid? Not in the house five minutes, and he’d blown his cover. The chief had trusted him with this assignment. He could visualize his job slowly being sucked down the drain.
    Or maybe not. His brain kicked into overdrive.
    “I thought you were the woman who’s going to show us the house,” he told George, and squeezed Jessica’s arm, hoping she’d go along with him.
    “Excus-a. I am-a sorry to startle you.” He clicked his heels and bowed. “I am-a Georgio, the neighbor from-a next door.”
    George spoke with the worst imitation of an Italian ac-TEMPERATURE’S RISING
    71
    cent Conor had ever heard. It went well with his maroon, polished cotton suit and black patent-leather shoes. And the guy had so many gold chains draped around his neck it would be fatal if he fell into the deep end of a swim-ming pool.
    When the other man’s gaze slithered over Jessica, though, he realized what it was about George that made his skin crawl. He didn’t like the way George looked at her, like he was starving and she was his next meal.
    “When I see the lady, well, I just-a thought I would check and make-a sure everything was okay.” When George smoothed the side of his slicked-back hair, his gold-nugget ring caught on his hoop earring. He sucked in half the air in the room and carefully tugged his ring free, then smiled as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
    Gritting his teeth, Conor smiled back. “That’s nice of you to watch out for other people’s property.” He turned and faced Jessica. “See, honey? I told you this looked like a great neighborhood.”
    Her expression said she thought he’d lost his mind.
    Great, she wasn’t going along with the change in plans.
    He waited for her to stalk out of the house and run to her father. As it was, the chief would probably kill him for involving his daughter this much. Then he’d fire his butt.
    Suddenly, she smiled smugly, as though she was telling him if not for her, he’d have blown the whole assignment. He wanted to strangle her, right after he kissed her one more time. Damn, she’d been sweet snuggled against him, all feminine and soft. She’d fit perfectly in his arms.
    She sashayed around him. “You’re right. I love the house,” she said. “The bookcases are just what I’ve always wanted. It will be a great place to lease.” Conor breathed a sigh of relief. He’d figure some way to get her out of the picture as soon as possible.
    “Let me be the first-a to welcome you to the neighbor-72
    Karen Kelley
    hood.” George’s smile broadened as his gaze leisurely raked over Jessica. “My door will-a always be open for you.” He brought his fingers to his lips and kissed the tips. “ Bella, bella .”
    Yeah, his bedroom door! Okay, he’d had enough.
    Conor stepped forward. Job or no job, he wasn’t about to let this creep . . .
    Jessica hurried across the green carpet with an outstretched hand. “It’s nice to know we’ll have such