Free Treacherous (The Wolf Pack Series) by Maureen Smith

chocolate.
    He held it out to her. “Why don’t you try a bite first and see if you like it,” he suggested.
    Holding his gaze, Celeste leaned forward and opened her mouth. As her lips closed around the dark chocolate bar, Grant’s eyes glittered in a way that made her pulse race.
    “Mmm,” she murmured, chewing slowly. “That’s good. Very rich and exotic.”
    “It’s imported from Belgium,” Grant told her. “It has a high percentage of cacao.”
    She smiled. “So it’s the good stuff.”
    “Absolutely,” he said huskily, watching her mouth as he fed her another bite.

    “Nothing but the best.”
    “Um-hmm,” she agreed.
    When he bit into the chocolate bar, her nipples hardened and heat pooled between her thighs. She’d never realized that sharing candy with a man could be so tantalizing.
    When Grant offered her another bite, she laughed softly and shook her head.
    “That’s enough for now.”
    “You sure?”
    She nodded. “It’s so rich and decadent. I don’t want to overdo it.” He chuckled, rewrapping the half-eaten candy bar. As he handed it to her, their fingers brushed. A current of pure sexual awareness quivered between them.
    They stared at each other for several charged moments before Celeste glanced away, tucking the chocolate into her tote bag on the floor.
    Grant remained kneeling by her chair. “Have you ever been to Belgium?” She shook her head.
    “It’s a beautiful country. You should go sometime.”
    “Sure,” she drawled. “Just as soon as I win the lottery.” Hearing the trace of cynicism in her voice, Grant searched her face. “You don’t think you and your husband could set aside some money, maybe a little at a time—”
    “No,” Celeste said flatly. If she and Sterling couldn’t even afford a seventy-five dollar application fee, a trip to Europe was out of the question.
    “That’s too bad,” Grant lamented. “You seem like a woman who’d enjoy traveling, seeing other parts of the world.”
    “I’m sure I would,” Celeste retorted. “But since that’s not an option for me, it doesn’t make much sense for me to dwell on it, now does it?” He looked taken aback by her harsh tone. “Celeste—” She glanced impatiently at her watch. “Look, it’s getting late. I should go.” He grabbed her wrist, detaining her as she started to rise from the chair.
    “Don’t go,” he said with gentle urgency.
    “Grant—”
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you by prying into your personal affairs.
    Please forgive me.”
    Celeste wavered, staring into his earnest face. After another moment, she blew out a resigned breath and sank back against the chair, dragging a shaky hand through her hair.

    “It’s not your fault,” she murmured. “I overreacted.”
    “No, I was out of line.”
    “Maybe you were,” she conceded. “But I wouldn’t have reacted that way if…
    well, if I wasn’t dealing with some issues at home.”
    “I understand,” Grant murmured, rubbing his thumb back and forth across her hand. “Do you want to talk about it?”
    Celeste hesitated, torn between her loyalty to her husband and her overwhelming need to confide in someone.
    After several moments of indecision, the loyalty instinct won.
    “I appreciate the offer,” she said ruefully, “but it’d probably be best if I kept my marital problems to myself.”
    Grant nodded. “I understand. But if you ever need a listening ear, just remember that I’m here for you.”
    “Thank you.” She lowered her gaze to their joined hands, watching as his thumb stroked her knuckle in a slow, gentle caress that sent heat coursing through her veins. She swallowed tightly. “Grant—”
    “The reason I asked you up here,” he interrupted softly, “is that I wanted to thank you for your help tonight in the OR.”
    Her eyes lifted to his. “You don’t have to thank me. I was just doing my job.”
    “And you do it very well. You’re an outstanding nurse, Celeste. You’re