Free Only His by Susan Mallery Page A

work?”
    She nodded, aware of him walking close to her. The days were still warm, so she was in a T-shirt. Every now and then her bare arm brushed against his. She told herself not to notice, that the whispers of heat had nothing to do with the man and everything to do with…
    She sighed. She would have to come up with some handy excuses to trot out when she needed them.
    Working with Tucker was both easier and harder than she’d thought it would be. He was a fair boss, who trusted his team to get the work done. That was the good part. He was also a hunky guy with whom she shared relatively close office space. In the trailer, as here on the narrow sidewalks, it was difficult not to be aware of him.
    â€œI thought the guys might put a bigger snake in mytruck, but I guess I passed the test.” She glanced at him. “Unless you told them to back off.”
    â€œNope. You want the job, you have to be able to handle yourself with the guys. I figured you’d hit me harder than Ethan if you found out I was going behind your back.”
    â€œGood. Because that’s true.”
    He grinned. “You’d have to catch me first.”
    A group of teenage girls walked toward them. Both she and Tucker moved to the right, stepping into the doorway of a clothing boutique to let the girls pass. The space was small and she found herself crowded up against him, her butt pressing against his hip.
    She told herself to ignore the heat and the way her hand bumped his.
    â€œHey, Nevada.”
    It took her a second to realize one of the girls was Melissa. “Ah, hi. What’s going on?”
    â€œWe’re getting ice cream.” Melissa looked past her to Tucker and raised her eyebrows.
    â€œThis is my new boss. Tucker Janack, Melissa Sutton. She’s my niece.”
    Melissa grinned. “Sort of. I guess explaining our relationship would be too complicated.” Melissa waved and hurried after her friends. “Nice to meet you.”
    â€œThat’s one of Ethan’s girls, right?” Tucker said as they started walking again.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI saw her picture when Ethan and I had lunch.”
    They’d reached the truck. He held open the passenger door for her.
    â€œExplain that to me,” she said, not yet climbing in.“How can he punch you and then the two of you have lunch?”
    â€œWe’d worked through everything. Why not have lunch and catch up?”
    â€œMen are very strange.”
    He laughed.
    She stepped into the truck, but her boot slipped on the metal by the door. She started to fall forward. Even as she put out a hand to brace herself, Tucker wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back.
    For the second time in as many minutes, she found herself pressed against him in a tight space.
    Her body enjoyed the moment, getting all tingly and aware. She knew this was potentially dangerous, not to mention foolish, so she told herself to act as if nothing had happened and everything was fine.
    â€œI’m good,” she said.
    â€œI don’t want my newest employee getting hurt on the job and suing the company,” he told her gruffly as he released her.
    â€œI wouldn’t do that.”
    She went to climb into the truck, only to find herself shifting toward him instead. She wasn’t sure if she was the one doing the turning, or if he was helping. Either way, she was suddenly facing him, their bodies still close, his dark eyes staring into hers.
    Without wanting to, she found herself moving back through time. Instead of being in a Fool’s Gold parking lot, she was standing in the living room of a Hollywood Hills mansion.
    She’d only gone to the party because it was a chance to spend time with Tucker again. Even if Cat was theone to ask her. She’d known the evening would be miserable, but she couldn’t help herself.
    Standing in a sea of people she didn’t know, she realized she should have stayed back at the