Free Temptation's Kiss by Janice Sims

impression of her had been correct.
    The aromas in the air were mouthwatering, and the table had been set for four. Patrick said, “Would you like something to drink? I think there’s beer in fridge.”
    â€œIf you’re having one, I’ll take one,” T.K. said.
    Patrick got a Corona for each of them from the refrigerator and popped the lids off the bottles with an opener that was stuck on the fridge door by a magnet.
    He handed a bottle to T.K. “They shouldn’t be too much longer.”
    Patrick felt ill-equipped to entertain a movie star. He wished his sister had been dressed so that she could have answered the door. What was he supposed to do while they waited for the women to put in an appearance?
    They stood awkwardly next to the refrigerator for a couple minutes. Then Patrick said, “There must besomething on ESPN. Wanna check it out while we wait?”
    T.K. said that he would, and they went to the living room where Patrick turned on the TV and they sat on the sofa and watched soccer. That’s where Patrice and Nina found them a few minutes later when they joined them.
    â€œGood evening, T.K.,” Patrice said, smiling warmly. Behind her, Nina stifled a squeal of delight.
    T.K. rose. “Hello, Patrice.” Their eyes met, and he was instantly reminded of the expectant, wholly unsettling feeling he’d had the last time he was alone with her. Her beautiful wide-spaced brown eyes were lit with humor, and as his eyes lowered to her mouth, she moistened her lips and he sighed involuntarily. Thank God Patrick had the TV volume up. No one could have heard him.
    She placed her sister-in-law in front of her. “This is Nina, Patrick’s wife.”
    T.K. offered Nina his hand. “It’s good to meet you, Nina.”
    â€œHello,” Nina said shyly with downcast eyes. Her voice was barely audible.
    T.K. bent down. She was a tiny girl. Her husband must have been an entire foot taller than she was. “So, how long have you and Patrick been married? You both look so young. You can’t have been married long.”
    Nina smiled, revealing dimples in both cheeks. She finally met his eyes. “Nine months,” she said softly, eyes sparkling with happiness.
    â€œNewlyweds,” said T.K. enthusiastically. “Congratulations on your marriage.”
    â€œThank you,” Nina said. Patrick got up and stood behind Nina and wrapped his arms around her. “She’s a keeper,” he said fondly.
    Nina beamed her pleasure.
    Patrice was happy that Nina had been able to avoid embarrassment when she met T.K. She had felt like squealing with excitement upon seeing him herself. Years of training at Juilliard had come in handy.
    Her whole body was tingling. She wanted to grab him, kiss him and run her hands all over his bald head. What was wrong with her? Each time she saw him, her body went crazy, and she had to rein in her girlish tendencies toward throwing herself in his arms and pressing her body against his. Was it pheromones? Whatever it was he had, it was so strong she was barely able to resist. How was she going to get through dinner, let alone months of filming in Wyoming?
    She could admit it: her attraction to him was growing. Her initial attraction, the day of the interview in Mark Greenberg’s office, had been strong, but this was bordering on overpowering.
    â€œWell,” she said breathlessly, after a brief silence during which they all stood around and smiled at one another, “dinner’s ready!”

Chapter 6
    â€œC areful,” Patrice cautioned T.K. as he was about to put a forkful of the main dish in his mouth. “I made it with several kinds of hot peppers. It could be an acquired taste for you.”
    T.K. thought it was sweet of her to be concerned, but he considered himself somewhat of an aficionado of foods of a spicy nature. He munched on raw jalapeno peppers just to add flavor to the experience whenever he ate