Free New and…Improved? & Andrew in Excess by Jill Shalvis Page B

to show me how to rock climb, then I got a ticket in his car—”
    â€œYou got a ticket? This evening?”
    â€œJust a little one. And getting another would sort of ruin our plans.”
    The cop studied Kent’s driver’s license. “What plans, ma’am?”
    â€œAnother adventure.” She looked at Kent and smiled. It wasn’t a casual, oh-let’s-go-eat-sushi smile either. No, it was the mother of all smiles, a cat-in-cream smile.
    â€œAn adventure,” the officer repeated doubtfully, dividing an annoyed look between the two of them. “And would this include anything illegal?”
    â€œAbsolutely not,” Becca said sweetly, with contrasting fire in her gaze.
    Kent’s heart stopped. Desire flooded him.
    The policeman sighed in annoyance. “Just make sure you go home first, could you? I don’t know what you people see in these woods. It’s damn cold out here.”
    â€œYou’ve never been in love,” Becca decided.
    No, Kent thought. Not love. Never love.
    Vaguely he heard Becca answer another question before they were left alone, but he couldn’t concentrate on any of that now.
    He’d only offered an adventure, nothing else, he assured himself. He hadn’t led her on.
    Not on purpose anyway.
    â€œWhew, that was close,” she whispered with a smile, moving close again. Happiness shimmeredfrom her. “This must be what it’s like to be a lust-struck teenager. I think I like it.”
    Her eyes were shiny with excitement. Just excitement, he told himself, but that was a lie, too. There was more in her gaze, much more, and he felt his heart crack.
    Dammit!
    He’d known this would happen, that his fondness for her as a friend would war with the part of him that lusted after her. They hadn’t even done anything more than kiss, and already he was feeling responsible for her, worried that he was going to hurt her.
    He wasn’t even aware of moving back away from her until she sighed, a wealth of sudden sadness in the sound. “You have that panicked look on your face,” she said quietly. “The one that Cookie told me about. She said it’s the look you had last summer when your girlfriend brought up the price of diamonds.”
    â€œShe wasn’t my girlfriend.”
    Wrong answer. Becca’s face blanked, all emotion cleanly wiped away. “Oh, would you look at that?” she said, glancing at her watch. “It’s late. I’m sorry.” She rose gracefully. “I’ll walk.”
    â€œNo, you won’t.” He managed to hobble afterher and after a brief hesitation, he handed her his keys.
    â€œWhat if I get another ticket?” she asked coolly.
    â€œYou won’t.” He held the driver’s door open when she would have shut it on his face. “Becca…I’m sorry.”
    She looked straight ahead through the windshield. “Nothing to be sorry for. You’ve changed your mind. You can’t handle it. No biggee.” Disturbingly distant, she put the key in the ignition. “Get in, Kent. I’ll drive you home and walk from there.”
    â€œAnd then what?”
    â€œThen you leave me alone.”
    Leave her alone. Was he really supposed to be able to do that?
    Hunkering down, ignoring the pain in his ankle, he leaned into the car, putting a fist on either side of her hips, caging her in so that she had no choice but to look at him. “Becca—”
    She simply started the car and put it in gear. “Better get in,” she said casually, revving the engine. “I know how fond of your toes you are.”
    Â 
    A T S IERRA L AB’S weekly staff meeting, everyone currently involved in a project read off their latest progress.
    Becca was up.
    She had the most erotic voice, Kent thought, lost in it like a stupid lovesick fool.
    Around a table laden with donuts, bagels, croissants and various juices sat Dennis, Jed and two of