Free For the Love of Pete by Sherryl Woods

something dark and dangerous in his eyes, a look she couldn't quite interpret.
    "I'm getting paid to do the job," he said, trying to nudge her aside.
    "And I imagine you're being paid by the hour, so if I help, it will cost Ashley less," she said, grabbing for another board.
    "Jo!"
    She bit back a grin at the frustration in his voice. "Yes, Pete?"
    His fierce look finally vanished and he sighed. "What am I supposed to do with you?"
    "Let me help," she suggested lightly.
    "I don't think that's the answer," he said, and took a step toward her.
    "Pete?"
    "Yes, Jo," he said, a smile tugging at his lips.
    "What are you doing?"
    "Give it a minute and I'm sure you'll figure it out," he said softly, just before he lowered his lips to hers.
    She should have protested. She should have pushed him away. But his kisses had lived in her memory for so long, how could she resist a chance to see if she'd gotten it right?
    His taste was as familiar to her as her morning coffee. The texture of his lips was soft. His tongue was wickedly clever. A tiny spark turned into a full-fledged conflagration in a matter of seconds, just as it always had.
    It wasn't supposed to be like this. She was supposed
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    to be over him, not putty in his hands. She wanted to mold herself to his body, wanted his hands to work their inevitable magic, but he seemed to be satisfied with the kiss. In fact, he seemed dedicated to perfecting it.
    Her head was spinning, her knees were weak and her body was on fire when he finally dragged his mouth away with obvious reluctance. No, no, no, she wanted to protest, but she couldn't summon up the strength to utter a word.
    Calling herself every kind of idiot under the sun, Jo stepped away from him and grabbed onto the truck for support. At least, Pete looked a little dazed, she decided, taking some satisfaction in that. It would be hell knowing that he'd emerged from that kiss unscathed, while her whole world had been rocked.
    "Why did you do that?" she asked shakily.
    "Because I had to," he said. "I couldn't survive one more second without it."
    Her lips quirked. "Really?"
    He laughed. "Don't be smug, darlin'. It's not becoming."
    "I thought maybe you kissed me because I was annoying you," she retorted.
    "And if that had been the reason, would you be on your best behavior from here on out?"
    Jo considered the question, then shook her head. "No. Actually I think I'd go right on annoying you."
    "And damn the consequences?"
    "Pretty much."
    He gave her a curious look. "You've changed."
    "We all do."
    "But this goes deeper than changing hairstyles or getting a college education."
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    "Oh?"
    "You're obviously willing to play with fire."
    Jo thought about that with a sense of shock. Was she? Ten minutes ago she would have sworn that the opposite was true, that she never wanted to take another emotional risk in her life. That kiss had changed everything.
    "Maybe I am," she said slowly, then regarded him with an innocent expression. "Is that a problem?"
    Pete stared at her for a very long time before a grin spread across his face. "Not for me."
    "Okay, then, let's get the rest of this lumber off the truck and after that I'll fix dinner." She met his gaze. "If you're free."
    He hesitated then. "This is just about dinner, right?"
    She wanted to throw caution completely to the wind and say no, that it was about seduction, but some lingering shred of common sense crept in. This was the man who'd almost destroyed her, after all.
    "It's just about dinner," she confirmed.
    Pete nodded. "Good to know."
    Because he looked so sweet trying to hide his disappointment, she couldn't resist adding, "I'll let you know about dessert later."
    That ought to keep his hormones twisted in a knot all through dinner, she thought with satisfaction. Maybe she had a wicked streak, after all.
    If so, nobody deserved to see it in action more than this man, who'd left her questioning everything about herself seven years ago. Maybe they'd