Free Texan Undercover (Romantic Suspense) by Anne Marie Novark

merlot."
    Claire didn't comment until after the waiter
left. "I didn't say I wanted wine."
    "You've got something against wine, too?"
    "Yes. No." She bit her lip. "I don't
drink."
    "Never?"
    Claire shook her head.
    "Maybe it's time you did. Have some fun.
Loosen up. Walk on the wild side and have a glass of wine." He
smiled that killer smile again.
    "You sound like Natalie."
    "She wants you to walk on the wild side?"
    "Never mind." She adjusted her napkin on her
lap.
    He leaned forward expectantly. "No, I want to
hear this." Claire's tummy tipped over. The table was small, tucked
in a corner of the restaurant. Next to her elbow, a candle
flickered in a red glass holder. Dillon loomed before her. He was
big and made her feel small--feminine to his masculine. And his
aftershave smelled oh so good. She glanced at his mouth and
remembered the kiss. Suddenly, she needed space. Needed to get
away.
    "I'm waiting," he said, his eyes locked on
hers.
    She shoved back her chair and stood. "Too
bad, because I'm not telling you. I'm going to the salad bar. You
do eat salads, don't you?"
    Dillon followed her. "I'm not much into
rabbit food."
    "Why doesn't that surprise me?" she said over
her shoulder.
    "You want surprises?" he whispered in her
ear. "I have several in mind just for you, babe." He handed her a
plate and took one for himself.
    Babe ? Sharp tingles of desire flowed
through Claire's body. Dillon stood close behind her. She could
feel the heat of him. So much for wanting to get away. Now all she
wanted was to plaster herself against his hard-muscled frame and
feel his arms wrapped around her. Damn, the man was pure
temptation.
    She worked her way down the salad bar,
filling her plate with lettuce, mushrooms, olives and tomatoes.
Every time Dillon reached for something, they touched. He seemed to
deliberately brush against her every chance he got.
    Claire realized he wasn't fighting the
attraction anymore. In fact, he was playing the seducer. A thrill
of anticipation blasted through her. She wanted him to seduce her,
yet at the same time, she didn't. Sex without caring wasn't her
style. She never wanted to care for a man again. And she certainly
didn't want to care for Dillon Anderson.
    This whole situation was temporary, Claire
reminded herself as she wove her way across the room back to the
table. Dillon didn't trust her. She wondered if he still suspected
her of being the hacker?
    The good-looking private eye had turned her
world topsy-turvy. He'd thrust her into a world of espionage, or
something close to it. And he made her dissatisfied with the cozy,
safe life she'd carefully constructed after her divorce.
    Temptation. Pure and simple. Could she take a
walk on the wild side? Claire knew she'd have to be careful if she
did. Very, very careful.
    ****
    Dillon walked Claire to her condo and waited
while she unlocked the door. The night air blew crisp and cold. A
direct contrast to the state of his body. Hot, edgy. Aroused.
    She turned and faced him. "Thank you for
dinner."
    "You're welcome." He took her by the
shoulders. Those coffee-colored eyes widened and she bit her lip.
Lips he hungered to taste again. "I want to kiss you, Claire."
    "I thought you had to get back to your
partner," she said, her voice breathless. "I thought you had a job
to do. Urgent, you said; it couldn't wait until tomorrow."
    He pulled her closer. "It can wait a couple
more minutes."
    "This isn't smart."
    "Aw, come on. Live dangerously. You enjoyed
the wine, didn't you?"
    "Yes, but this is different."
    "One kiss."
    "Okay, but--"
    He silenced her with his mouth. She resisted
for maybe half a second, then Dillon felt her melt into his embrace
and her arms slide around his waist. He tightened his hold, wanting
to devour her. She tasted better than he remembered. Her lips were
sweet and soft, her tongue wet and hot. His body hardened to rock
solid.
    Claire shivered in his arms, pressed her
lower body against him and groaned deep in her throat. Liquid