Free Checking It Twice by Jodi Redford Page A

There’d been no mistaking Kevin’s stunned hurt when he’d walked in and seen her in Nick’s arms. For someone who didn’t want to get involved with her, he sure as hell had looked like he cared whether or not she played tonsil hockey with another man.
    Well, he’d had his chance, damn it. She wasn’t going to wallow in guilt over kissing Nick. Squaring her shoulders, she lifted her head and watched Nick’s approach. Her attention fell on his mouth. Despite the grim line his lips were set in, her stomach still experienced flutters as she recalled the sensuous rasp of his tongue along hers. A corresponding beat echoed in her clit. Holy damn, he knew how to kiss. All that intensity and single-minded focus. Goose bumps broke ranks across her skin at the memory.
    She could only imagine what he’d be like in bed. All too easily. Great. Like she needed that erotic fuel added to the sexy fantasies she already had about him.
    He offered her a chagrined smile that made his features edge farther into the territory of devastatingly gorgeous. Detailed and explicit as her fantasies tended to be, they hadn’t come close to the reality of how breathtaking he was. She’d never thought she’d meet a man capable of giving Kevin a run for the money in the sexy department, but Nick sure as hell fit the bill. God, if she was ever treated to the sight of him naked, she’d probably orgasm on the spot.
    His teeth flashing white against his olive complexion, Nick loosened the buttons he’d secured on his coat before he’d dashed outside after Kevin. “Sorry for rushing out like that.”
    “It’s okay.” She fiddled with the nightie for a second before freeing the wrinkled fabric from her grasp. “So how long have you and Kevin known each other?”
    “We were roommates in college.” He absently scuffed his shoe on the carpet. “And afterwards, up until five years ago.”
    She chewed her lip. “Huh. He’s never mentioned you.”
    “I’m not surprised.”
    A lengthy silence stretched between them while she waited for him to elaborate. He didn’t. She tucked her thumbs in her rear pockets to keep from fidgeting. “I kind of get the impression things are strained between you guys.”
    He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’d say that’s a good assessment.”
    “Why?”
    “It’s a long, complicated story.”
    She rocked back on her heels and tried for a casual expression. “You can share it during dinner.”
    He released a slow breath, the sound of it prodding the indignant butterflies in her belly into action, along with her exasperation.
    “You are not about to back out on me.” Maybe saying it would make it so. She gave a silent snort. Yeah, right. She could read the writing on the wall, and what she saw there sucked.
    “Jana, I still want you. More than ever, after that kiss.” The smolder in his dark cocoa-brown eyes authenticated his declaration.
    Recalling the bone-melting kiss in question, she shivered. “Then what’s the problem?”
    “ That’s the problem.”
    She frowned. “What, wanting me?”
    “Hell yeah.”
    “I don’t get it. Shouldn’t that be a good thing?”
    “It would be if you weren’t in love with my best friend.”
    She sucked a harsh breath between her teeth. “How…?” She mentally rewound to the moment when she’d broken away from Nick’s kiss and spotted Kevin standing shell-shocked in the doorway. Her shoulders slumped. No doubt her feelings for Kevin had been stamped across her face like a neon banner. It wouldn’t have taken much for Nick to put two and two together and conclude that Kevin was the guy she’d been stupidly pining for all these years. “It doesn’t matter. I already told you he doesn’t feel the same way about me.”
    “Don’t be so sure.”
    She squinted. “Take my word for it. I’ve all but stripped naked in front of Kevin, with little result.” Okay, not entirely on the mark. Her naughty-elf costume had delivered spectacular, orgasmic results.