Free Body Language by Suzanne Brockmann

up throwing himself at Sandy’s feet, begging her to have mercy on him.
    “Would you like a glass of wine?” He leaned toward her in the crush of people gathered around the long bar. Crowds usually bothered him, but he liked this one. It forced Sandy to stand close enough to him so that he could breathe in her delicious scent. Mercy, she smelled good. She never wore perfume, but the mixture of the shampoo and soap that she used, along with the unmistakable musky scent that belonged to Sandy alone, was better than any bottled aroma.
    He felt his body respond to her closeness. Oh, man, he wanted her. Right here and now. He wanted to pull her into the empty coat-check room, lock the door behind them, and—
    “Can I get you something?” the bartender asked.
    “Beer,” Sandy said. “Right, McCade? Bottled and imported. Make it two.”
    She smiled at the bartender as he poured two bottles of beer into tall, V-shaped glasses. She handed one to McCade and raised the other in a small toast. “Here’s to body language.”
    Their glasses clinked, and they both took a long sip of the foaming beer.
    “Speaking of body language…” McCade moved her away from the crowded bar. “I think you should pretend…”
    He took another sip of his beer while Sandy waited for him to continue. “What?” she finally said.
    “Pretend that you want me.” He was serious. He smiled as she gazed up into his eyes, but this was no joke. She had never seen him so absolutely serious.
    Sandy was silent as he pulled her farther away from the crowd. When they reached a small, deserted cluster of white wicker chairs and a glass-topped table, he stopped and gently took her beer from her hand, setting both of their drinks down.
    “First thing you need to do is relax,” McCade said, and she realized she had her arms tightly crossed in front of her. “Start at least by pretending that you like me.”
    “McCade, I don’t have to pretend
that.
”
    “Good.” His smile widened as he took both of her hands in his, tugging on them slightly. “Now pretend I’m an old friend who’s come into town. Pretend I’m just here for tonight, and pretend that you’ve just realized that you’re in love with me. Pretend that you’ve only got a few hours to let me know how you feel, and pretend that you’re not the type to blurt out the truth.” He dropped her hands and stepped back, away from her. “What are you going to do?”
    “This is silly,” Sandy said. “Why do I have to pretend all of those things?”
    “Because if I told you to pretend I’m a stranger who caught your eye, we’d get into an hour-long discussion on the stupidity of picking up a person you know nothing about. Besides, you’re going to come on differently to a man you know isn’t a potential ax murderer, like James…or me.”
    Sandy nervously picked up her glass of beer and took a sip. “But I don’t know James well enough to be sure he’s not an ax murderer.”
    McCade laughed. “Now you’re stalling.”
    She frowned into her beer, watching bubbles escape from the amber liquid. “But I’m…” She shook her head. “I’m lousy at pretending, and on top of that, I’m lousy at seduction. It’s a wonder I’m not still a virgin. Do you think it’s too late for me to become a nun?”
    “Yes,” McCade said firmly. “Much too late.” He took a deep breath. “You don’t need to know how to seduce a man. You just need to know how to…let yourself be seduced.
    “Trust me,” he added softly. “Do you trust me?”
    She nodded, looking down into her beer again.
    “Use your eyes. Remember what I told you about eye contact?”
    Sandy nodded again.
    As she looked up to meet his eyes he smiled ruefully. “I’m reading scared in your expression. Shyness too. You’ve got to be bolder. Let me know you’re thinking about sex.”
    “But I’m not.”
    “You should be. Watch me, Sandy. Cassandra.”
    As Sandy watched, McCade’s gaze turned fiery, burning hot. He