We can do what we want.
It was prom night. Or as close to prom night as she was ever going to get.
He deepened the kiss and Amy welcomed the moist heat and slow, penetrating slide of his tongue. A purr of passion rumbled in her throat. Dan was an irresistible temptation and the kiss made her hungry and restless for more of him.
She wouldn’t sleep with him…that would be just plain foolish. But everything but did hold a certain decadent appeal. Amy turned in her seat and offered him the back of her dress. “Unzip me, please.”
Chapter Ten
Unzip her?
The moment the words left Amy’s lips, part of her wanted to laugh and pretend she’d only been joking. But the other part, the part that wanted, no, needed to feel his hands on her body kept silent, waiting for Dan to make the next move.
For half a heartbeat Dan hesitated as if he, too, realized the enormity of the step they were taking. But then his hand moved to the zipper and the back of her dress eased open.
Amy’s skin turned to gooseflesh and anticipation skittered up her spine. While she didn’t expect Dan to go caveman on her, she did expect things to start moving. But Dan didn’t seem in any hurry.
After what seemed an eternity he placed a lingering, openmouthed kiss on the back of her neck. The mere touch of his smooth, moist lips sent blood surging through her body. Amy closed her eyes and exhaled a ragged breath. This was definitely a good start.
Now, if only the dress was off…
Despite knowing it would only take the slightest of shrugs to drop the silky garment to her waist, Amy waited. As eager as she was for some skin-to-skin action, she was a traditionalist. Old-fashioned to the core, Amy liked the man to take the lead. But when Dan placed his hand against her back, Amy jerked upright and stiffened, her reaction more like a high school sophomore who’d never been touched than a mature woman.
“Relax,” he said in a low soothing voice, rubbing his palm lightly over her skin.
Amy’s face burned with embarrassment and she opened her mouth. But once his hand settled on her back, she found it difficult to breathe, much less talk.
His fingers were strong, yet gentle and her entire body tingled at his touch. Warm shivers of sheer pleasure coursed through her veins.
“Mmm,” she sighed. Had she died and gone to heaven? It seemed entirely possible.
“Want me to continue?” His deep voice held a teasing lilt.
“Mmm-hmm,” was all Amy could manage.
Thankfully Dan understood what she wanted. While scattering kisses across her shoulders and up her neck he continued to gently move his hand over her lower back. With each slow stroke, each unhurried touch, her desire grew. When he slid his hand upward, she moaned softly and arched her spine against him.
He played her like a fine violin, drawing her out, making her respond as she’d never responded before. The darkness and solitude inside the car lent a dreamlike air and Amy wasn’t sure what part of this wonderful experience was fantasy and what was reality. But whichever it was, one thing was certain—she didn’t want it to end.
“That feels incredible,” she said, exhaling a long breath. She desperately wanted Dan to keep touching her. Her breasts ached to be touched and lower, between her thighs, she felt a heavy warmth and a dull throb.
His hand slipped deeper inside the dress and curved around her waist. Slowly and ever so sensuously, his hands slid upward until his fingertips were no more than an inch from the underside of her breast.
Breath held, eyes closed, Amy quivered with anticipation. She felt him lean close, felt the warmth of his breath on her shoulder, felt him gently turn her in the seat so she faced him. Her eyes fluttered open and excitement coursed through her when she saw the gleam in his eyes. There was a promise there, one that said there was more, much more to come.
“You are so beautiful.” His voice was soft and gentle as a caress.
Though she knew he was only being kind, Amy loved the way the words sounded on his lips. She wished she were beautiful. For herself. For him.
Dan saw the wistful longing in Amy’s eyes and he vowed that by the end of the evening she’d believe his words. He’d make her feel beautiful.
A warm rush of emotion filled him. Amy was such a good person. So kind. So sweet. So incredibly sexy.
He raised a hand and cupped her face. Lowering his head, he pressed his mouth against hers. He ran his tongue over the fullness of her lower lip, coaxing her to open to him, sweeping inside when she did. She tasted of wine and breath mint, a ridiculous combination that was wildly erotic.
She curled her fingers into the fabric of his shirt and leaned into the kiss, her tongue fencing with his. The slow, delicious thrust and slide brought his body to high alert.
Her skin was like warm silk beneath his fingers and Dan fought the urge to slide his palm upward and feel the firm weight of her breast in his hand. He reminded himself there was no reason to rush. They had all the time in the—
A light flashed and a sharp rap sounded on the window.
“Sheriff’s deputy,” a deep voice announced. “Everything okay in there?”
Amy jerked back, her eyes, which had been heavy-lidded with passion, suddenly wide-open. “Police.”
Dan whirled in his seat and stifled a curse. Despite the outside darkness and his vehicle’s tinted windows, he could still see the uniformed officer and the flashing lights.
“I need you to step out of the car,” the man ordered.
“I’ll take care of this.” Dan flashed Amy what he hoped was a reassuring smile, pushed open the door and stepped out into the cruiser’s spotlight. “What seems to be the problem, Officer…Wayne?”
Though it had been almost five years since he’d seen Wayne Bojanski, Dan recognized him immediately. Wayne had been his buddy in grade school, a casual friend in junior high and a football teammate at Barrington High.
“Dan Major?” A grin of recognition split Wayne’s ruddy face. “I never thought I’d find you and Tess gettin’ frisky on a country road.”
Dan’s smile faded as the realization hit. Wayne didn’t know about Tess. He’d last seen Wayne at their ten-year high school reunion and back then Tess had been very much alive.
Dan didn’t even need to close his eyes to remember the evening. That night had been classic Tess. She’d been laughing, dancing up a storm and charming everyone in sight. But it all seemed so long ago and Dan was surprised to find that the memories of Tess didn’t hurt as they had before.
“Tess died three years ago,” Dan said finally as the silence lengthened.
Wayne’s eyes widened. His mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding.”
Yeah, Dan wanted to say, I’m kidding, she’s really alive. But he understood Wayne’s comment was just an expression of his shock and disbelief.
“It was sudden,” Dan said. “A medical problem.”
Wayne pulled his mouth shut and cleared his throat. “So then, who’s in the car?”
Dan blinked, the blunt question catching him off guard. “A friend.” Normally cool and collected in any circumstance, Dan found himself stammering. “We had some things to discuss and wanted some privacy.”
“Friend? Discussion?” The deputy’s lips twitched. “C’mon, Dan. This is ole Wayne you’re talking to…”
Dan couldn’t help but smile. Okay, so maybe his explanation was pretty lame. He probably should just admit he and Amy had been parking. After all, Wayne and his wife, Tami, had spent more than their fair share of time locking lips—and doing God knows what else—in the back of Wayne’s old Buick.
But the words wouldn’t come. Something in Dan wouldn’t let him joke about it with Wayne. He couldn’t shrug off the feeling that by doing so, he’d cheapen what he and Amy had shared.
“It’s quiet out here,” Dan repeated, lifting his chin and meeting Wayne’s gaze head-on. “Not many distractions.”
“Good for discussions,” Wayne added, barely able to keep a straight fac
e.
“Is this going to take much longer?” Amy’s voice came from inside the Land Rover.
Wayne’s face broke into a grin and a devilish gleam lit his eyes.
“You can go now. I’m sure you and your friend have a lot to discuss.” Wayne placed an arm companionably around Dan’s shoulder and lowered his voice. “You just have to do it somewhere else.”
Dan couldn’t speak for Amy, but for him dirt roads no longer held any appeal.
“Don’t worry,” Dan said. “You won’t see me around here again.”
Wayne glanced at the car then back at Dan. “One more thing—”
Dan wished he could just jump in the Land Rover and speed away. He remembered that tone. Wayne had always considered himself to be an expert on women. He loved to offer his own kinky brand of relationship advice. Dan braced himself.
“I’m sorry to hear about Tess.” Wayne kicked the gravel with the tip of his boot. “I liked her. She was spunky.”
Dan’s heart stuttered, the unexpected sentiment taking him by surprise. He silently accepted the condolence. Dan appreciated Wayne’s words. But he didn’t want to talk about Tess tonight or even think about her. This evening was about the future, not the past.
The deputy wasn’t even in his cruiser when Dan pulled away from the side of the road and cast a sideways glance at Amy. “Thanks for getting things moving back there. Wayne will talk forever if you let him.”
Amy’s lips quirked upward. “I guessed as much.”
“I’m sorry about that.” Dan gestured toward the darkness. “I didn’t plan on the cops showing up.”
Though his gaze was on the road, Dan sensed Amy’s scrutiny.
“You knew him,” she said simply.
“Wayne and I go way back…to kindergarten. We played football together in high school.” Dan kept his tone deliberately light. “The guy always did have bad timing.”
“It was probably for the best,” Amy said in a matter-of-fact tone. “I have the feeling things would have gotten out of hand.”
“And that would have been a…bad thing?”
Amy chuckled and Dan felt the tension ease from his shoulders. At least he could still make her laugh.
“I’ll definitely remember tonight.” Her lips twitched. “A girl always remembers her first time.”
Startled, Dan’s brows shot up.
“The first time—” Amy’s smile widened “—I was ever busted by the cops.”
When she began to laugh, he laughed along with her. Her eyes shone like the finest emeralds and the enticing scent of her perfume wafted around him. All he wanted to do was pull over and take up where they’d left off. But Dan wasn’t seventeen. He was an adult and wise enough to realize they’d been lucky. Five or ten minutes later and Wayne would have gotten an eyeful.
No, a car was not the place for a romantic interlude with Amy. But there were plenty of other options they could explore.
“Tonight was definitely an evening to remember,” Dan said. “Care to go out again and make some more memories?”
Amy lifted a finger to her lips and thought for a moment. “As long as the memory doesn’t involve law enforcement or dirt roads.”
Though he agreed wholeheartedly, Dan couldn’t resist a little teasing. “Where’s your spirit of adventure?”
“Oh, I can be very adventurous.” Amy shot him a sultry look from beneath lowered lashes and Dan’s mouth went dry. “It’s just that when I’m kissing someone, I don’t want to worry about being interrupted…especially not by the police.”
Impulsively Dan reached over, grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips.
“Next time there won’t be any interruptions,” he said. “I guarantee it.”
No interruptions.
Amy stared up at the ceiling of her bedroom. When she and Dan had walked through the front door, their time alone had come to an abrupt end. Dan had done his best. He’d kept his voice low and hurriedly paid the sitter. But Emma must have had her “Daddy radar” on because Dan had barely ushered the baby-sitter out the front door when Emma had come running down the stairs.
The child’s appearance had brought reality back with a vengeance. Amy was once again the nanny and Dan was, well, Emma’s daddy and her employer. While Amy understood—and completely agreed with—the need for discretion around Emma, she still felt like a child whose favorite toy had been snatched from her hands.
Amy’s fingers rose to her mouth as the disappointment resurfaced. She hadn’t even gotten a good-night kiss. Unless you counted the ones in the car, that is. A smile touched her lips. She never realized parking could be so much…fun.
Dan certainly knew how to kiss. When he held her in his arms and his lips closed over hers it was as if nothing else in the world existed. It was—
A familiar melody rang out from the cell phone on her nightstand and Amy jerked upright. She glanced at the clock and frowned: 2:00 a.m. Why would Steven be calling at this hour?
Amy considered letting the call go to voice mail but curiosity got the better of her. She grabbed the phone and flipped it open. “Hello.”
“Amy.” Even across the airwaves she could hear the surprise in his voice. “I didn’t expect you to answer. I was just going to leave a message.”
While Amy wasn’t used to getting calls at this hour, she welcomed the distraction. Maybe talking to Steven would take her mind off Dan and help her relax. “I usually shut off the ringer but I guess I forgot.”
“I’m sorry I woke you.”
His distress was palpable and Amy hastened to reassure him. “You didn’t. I was lying here looking up at the ceiling, trying to decide if I should count sheep or get up and read when you called.”
“I’ve had trouble sleeping, too,” Steven said in a low, husky timbre. “I wanted to hear your voice, even if it was just a recording.”
Warning bells sounded in Amy’s head. She liked Steven but the truth was, she hadn’t given him much thought since he’d been gone. Of course if it had been Dan who’d been out of town…
“—fly here.”
Amy’s fingers tightened around the phone. She realized with sudden horror that while her mind had been wandering, Steven had continued to talk. The question was, about what?
“Fly to Boston?” Amy asked, slowly, cautiously.
“I want you with me,” Steven said in that take-charge way that was as much a part of him as his hand-tailored suits. “My days are booked, but you could shop or sightsee. We’d have evenings together.”
Amy couldn’t help but be flattered that he’d want to spend his free moments with her. Steven was a handsome man, a successful attorney…not to mention a fabulous cook. He had a lot to offer a woman. But even if she was interested, there was no way she could go.
“You forget I have a job.” She deliberately gentled her tone wanting him to understand she appreciated the offer even if she couldn’t accept. “It’s impossible for me to get away.”
“A-my.” She could almost see Steven shaking his head. “Dan Major can find someone else to watch his daughter and clean up after him for a week.”
“I’m sure he could,” Amy said, feeling a pang of distress at the thought. “But I was actually referring to the Chez Gladines business.”
Getting this chance to show off her talents was a major accomplishment for an untried chef. Amy wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip away before she’d proven herself.
“I have this job on a trial basis,” Amy explained. “Keeping it is very important to me.”
“I understand.” Admiration filled Steven’s voice. And something else. Something that sounded like relief. “That job is your first step toward true independence.”
Amy pulled her brows together. “I’ve been on my own since I was eighteen.”
Silence filled the phone line for several seconds.
“Don’t take this wrong, but you really haven’t been independent. Not in the truest sense of the word.” Once Steven got started he seemed
to warm to the topic. “You went from your aunt’s home to your first nanny job and from there to your current position.”
Amy’s heart picked up speed and irritation warmed her face.
“You make it sound like I’ve been mooching off these people,” she said. “I work hard for the salary I receive. Just because free room and board is part of my fringe benefits, that doesn’t mean I’m not independent.”
Steven had definitely hit a nerve. From the time Amy had been small she’d been determined to be self-sufficient. She was not going to end up like her mother, depending on a man to “take care” of her.
“You have so many talents, Amy,” Steven said. “I just want to make sure you take the chance to develop them.”
Amy’s anger fled, replaced by curiosity. “Why do you care?”
“Because I like you.”
It was a logical answer but there was something in his voice, some element of restraint that told Amy this went beyond a pat answer. “There’s more to it than that.”
After a moment of silence, Steven spoke. “My mother worked for years as an administrative assistant for a wealthy Chicago industrialist. She was a smart woman with a lot of talent but he refused to promote her. Having her around met his needs.”
Amy leaned back. “What happened?”
“He decided it was in his best interest to move to France last year.” Steven’s voice tightened. “Now she’s in her late fifties and back pounding the pavement.”
Amy could appreciate Steven being protective of his mother but it sounded as if she’d made a choice to stay in the job. Just like Amy had. “But she could have gotten another job at any point. Couldn’t she?”
“Of course,” Steven said. “But he constantly told her how important she was to him, how they were a team…until he no longer needed her. He used her, Amy. I don’t want to see that happen to you.”
The degree of bitterness in Steven’s voice startled her.
“Still—”
“Think about it,” Steven said, his voice low and tight. “If Dan remarries, the new wife might decide she wants you gone and just like that you’re history.”
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