Free Love and Other Surprises by Robin Wells Page A

good to be true, it usually is.”
    “Oh, Matt. I’m so sorry.” A smile ruffled the corners of her mouth.
    Matt looked from her to the car and back again. He could tell she was trying hard not to laugh, but her eyes gleamed with amusement and her lower lip trembled with her effort to maintain a straight face. She broke into a grin and, despite his annoyance, Matt found himself returning it.
    The next thing he knew, they were leaning against each other, laughing like tickled hyenas. They paused for breath, glanced at each other, and broke up all over again.
    It felt great to cut loose like this, Matt thought with a little jolt of surprise. How long had it been since he’d laughed until his sides hurt? Too long. He’d been so busy working on the development, worrying about financing and generally being responsible that he hadn’t made any time for fun.
    He caught Ali’s eye and burst into another round of laughter, putting an arm around her. She gave a little shiver and his arm tightened instinctively.
    Was she trembling because she was cold or was she feeling the same surge of electricity, the one that was making him feel as though he’d touched a downed power line? He gazed into her eyes and her laughter abruptly ceased. Her lips parted and her breath came in fast little puffy clouds. His eyes riveted on her lips—lips so full and flushed and inviting that his head began lowering of its own volition.
    The moment his mouth settled on hers, shock waves of pleasure pulsed through him. She moved her lips against his and reached her arms around his neck, pulling him down, and her responsiveness sent his temperature skyrocketing. He clutched her to him and deepened the kiss, laying siege to her lips like a man possessed.
    What the hell was he doing? This was Robert’s little sister, for heaven’s sake. Any man worth his salt knew that you didn’t fool around with your best friend’s sister unless you were plenty serious about her, and he had no intention of getting serious about anyone, let alone a woman who would completely disrupt the calm, orderly life he’d built for himself.
    He abruptly pulled back and dropped his arm from her shoulders. “Sorry,” he muttered. “I don’t know what happened. Must be the champagne.” He’d had less than half a glass, but it was the only excuse that came to mind.
    “Weddings make people sentimental,” she mumbled.
    “Yeah, that must be it.” He grabbed at the explanation, grateful for any excuse. “Well, you’re freezing. Let’s go inside.” Taking her by the elbow, he headed toward the building.
    Ali walked stiffly beside him, her arms folded across her chest. Tension hummed between them, mounting into an awkward silence. Anxious to diffuse it, Matt strove for a conversational tone. “Don’t worry about the car. Anyone could have made the same mistake.”
    He held the door open for her and she brushed against him as she walked through it. A burst of adrenaline again shot through him at the contact, and he leaned away from her to minimize the effect. She turned toward him in the foyer. “The least I can do is give you a ride home. In the morning I’ll bring you back and help you wash off your car.”
    She was standing close enough that Matt could again smell her intoxicating scent. He was tempted; he could invite her into his house for a drink, and then…
    What on earth are you thinking, Jordan?
    “I’d better get that goop off the car tonight or it’ll ruin the paint job,” Matt said curtly. “But thanks for the offer.”
    Ali brushed a stray curl from her forehead. “You’ll have to clean off the windows to even drive it to a car wash. I’ll go borrow some towels from the kitchen and meet you back outside.”
    She darted down the hall before he could object, her high heels clicking on the terrazzo. Matt jammed his hands in his pockets and walked back outside to survey the damage.
    Ali joined him a few minutes later, bundled up in a black wool coat and