Free Last Night's Kiss by Shirley Hailstock Page B

line. Adam had been home for a few weeks one summer and done some work from here. He’d called Ben and left the number for him to return the call. Apparently, he’d kept it. If he’d called on Adam’s cell phone, his name and number would display on the tiny screen and Adam wouldn’t answer the call.
    “It’ll make your career,” Ben insisted.
    “I don’t have a career,” Adam said. “Get someone else. I’m out of the business. Good-bye.”
    Without waiting for Ben to ring off, Adam hung up. Turning around, he saw Rosa staring at him perplexed. He could tell she wanted an explanation. But he wasn’t ready to explain himself.
    “Why?” she asked.
    “Why what?”
    “Why don’t you have a career? You were the fair-haired boy, moving up the ranks, the anchor’s chair practically had your name stitched into the fabric. And without warning you’re gone.”
    “How do you know so much about me? You aren’t even in the business.”
    “According to my family, I’m a news junkie. I watch the news. And I read. You know, inquiring minds…”
    “My life isn’t exactly written up in grocery store rags.”
    “No, it isn’t. On the road, one of the models read a lot of Variety and news magazines. She had a brother in sportscasting and he’d fill her in. So of course, she’d tell the rest of us all the juicy gossip.”
    He didn’t nod, but Rosa could see agreement in his actions.
    “I have to go now,” he said.
    “Coward,” Rosa said when he began walking toward the exit.
    Adam stopped in midstride. He turned back to her. “I am not a coward.”
    “Touched a nerve, did I?” She smiled and he understood why men thought she was delicious enough to eat.
    “You’ve dodged two of my questions by retreating. Sounds like a coward to me.”
    Adam’s life was personal. He didn’t have to answer to anyone. His reasons for leaving the rat race behind were his own. And the beautiful women in his past had let him down. But when he saw Rosa standing there, he could think of nothing to say. Only something to do. Before he knew what was happening, he’d crossed the room and cupped her face in his hands.
    He saw the flash of surprise in her eyes, quickly replaced by awareness. Adam’s heart was racing, and his mind was on sensory overload. In one fell swoop he lowered his mouth to hers. Adam intended to satisfy an itch. He understood as soon as their lips touched that the itch was greater than he’d known. His arms went around her slender body and he gathered her close. His tongue dove into her mouth, the two mating and dancing the ancient tango. Rosa relaxed in his arms. He felt her body melt into his as if they were made for each other. The thought should have had him forcing her away, but the truth was he wanted her close. He hadn’t felt anything so good in years. She wasn’t enamored by his looks or his celebrity. She’d just as soon throw him out as she would feed him ice cream.
    Lifting his head slightly, he repositioned it, still holding her as close as possible. He felt her push back, but they didn’t separate. Her eyes were closed. They opened slowly like someone waking from a pleasant dream. Adam lowered his mouth and took hers again.
    What had gotten into him? He was holding fire in his arms and he knew it. The flame was bright, beautiful, enticing, but he’d dealt with fire before and he knew better than to put his hand in the flame. So why did she feel so good? Why did her mere presence send his hormones into overdrive? Why did her mouth tantalize his like a drug he couldn’t get enough of? Adam had no answers. Maybe he did, but he was unwilling to let them have a voice. At least not now. He pulled her even closer, never thinking two people could withstand this much closeness without passing through each other.
    His head bobbed with hers. Their mouths danced in unison. Every inch of them touched. Her arms were around him, his circumventing her. He could feel her heart beating, his own thundering