Free Heart of Steel by Jennifer Probst Page B

smile. The corridor was quiet, and the lights had been adjusted to the late hour. Their figures cast dim shadows against the wall.
     
         “I had a good time tonight.” He gave a lopsided grin. “At least until the boss showed up.”
     
         She laughed. “So did I.”
     
         “I’d like to take you out again.” The grin faded and became replaced by a serious expression. He reached out and enfolded his hands within hers. “I think we have a lot in common, Chandler. It took me a long time to realize what’s important in life. For years, I thought power and money were my only options. Now I know I want a woman with the same values, who wants to grow with me on the same path. Does that make sense to you?”
     
         Her gut twisted. She wondered if she was scared because she finally found a man who believed in the same things. He told her everything she wanted to hear.
     
         Everything she wanted to hear…
         She nodded. “It makes perfect sense.”
     
         His lips touched hers. Tentative. Polite. A kiss from a man who respected a woman and wanted to take his time. Definitely not like—
     
         She broke off the thought and kissed him back. When he finally raised his head, she caught a gleam of satisfaction in chestnut eyes, before being quickly masked. “Friday night?”
     
         She smiled. “Sure. Friday night.”
     
         He squeezed her hands and walked down the hallway. She heard the echo of footsteps on the stairway, and leaned against the door. Richard Thorne was a man who held the same principles. His embrace comforted, and made her feel safe. Surely, those feelings were everything she searched for? Surely, she wasn’t shallow enough to think a quick sexual attraction meant more than building a solid friendship with a man?
     
         “At least you didn’t invite him in.”
     
         She gasped and spun on her heel. Logan Grant stood at the end of the corridor. Still dressed in his evening clothes, every powerful muscle cloaked in elegant fabric, he cut an intimidating figure. His tie had been ripped off, and the first buttons of his shirt undone. Curly dark hair peeked from beneath the pristine white cloth. A muscle worked in his jaw as his silvery gaze drilled into her. His voice was a low growl of sound. Rough. Sexy. Her stomach slid and dipped to her toes. She made sure her face showed nothing.
     
         “Why am I not surprised? Logan, don’t you think this could be considered stalking? We live in a modern age, remember? You can’t drag me to your cave just on a whim.”
     
         The corner of his mouth kicked up in a grin. “I never stalked a woman in my life.”
     
         “First time for everything.” Her eyes narrowed. “What do you want? Have you trained your women so well that your date is sitting in the car?”
     
         He moved toward her like a predator and stopped a few inches away. The scent of musk aftershave and male teased her senses. “I took her home. Did you enjoy kissing him, Chandler?”
     
         Her temper surged. “Did you enjoy kissing your red-head, Logan?” Immediately, she realized her mistake and almost bit her tongue with frustration. He’d watched her all through dinner with a possessive gleam in his eyes which annoyed her. The casual intimacy he treated his date with made her angry, too. Those emotions she could deal with. However, it was the way her body jumped at the mere sound of his voice, melted at his touch or look, which made her really crazy.
     
         The amusement was back. “Lisa? I gave her a polite kiss on the cheek and dropped her at the door. Why? Does it matter?”
     
         She shrugged. “No.” Then glanced around the empty corridor. “Look, it’s late. I’ve got an early class in the morning.” She turned to dismiss him, but his hand shot out to grasp her wrist. Her heart slammed in her chest. “Is there something