He was getting turned on watching her
In fact, Guy had been turned on since the moment Cassie had shown up at his door. He shifted in his seat, hoping she wouldnât notice how aroused he was becoming, and tried to focus on their conversation.
âYou deserve better than that, Cassie.â
Her eyes met his, questioning. Challenging. âDo I?â
Suddenly he knew words werenât the answer she wanted. It was time for action.
Their lips met and he heard her sigh. Or maybe that was him.
She pressed against him eagerly, her lips soft as velvet, warm and pliant beneath his own. He opened his mouth and she followed his lead. Their tongues met, hesitant at first, then with more eagerness. He hadnât been wrong. Cassie was a woman of passion. Heâd been out of his mind to think he could resist a temptation like this.
âGuy?â Her voice was breathy as she broke off their kiss. Her tongue darted out to lick at her lips, a gesture that sent another jolt of desire through him. âWhy donât we go into the bedroom?â
Dear Reader,
Iâve always admired people who had the courage to go after their dreams. Moving away from the comfort of routine and taking risks to make a dream come true demands a special kind of bravery.
Writing has always been my dream, so Iâm especially pleased that my first Temptation novel deals with two people going after their own goals and desires. Writing this book also gave me a chance to set a story in one of my favorite places, Colorado, and to write about one of my favorite pastimes, downhill skiing.
I fell in love with Guy and Cassie as they pursed each other and their dreams. I hope youâll love them, too. Iâd enjoy hearing from you. Write to me care of Harlequin Books, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, M3B 3K9, Canada, or e-mail me at [email protected]. And visit me on the Web at www.TemptationAuthors.com.
Happy reading,
Cindi Myers
THE SLEIGH BELLS attached to the door of the Java Jive jangled wildly as Cassie Carmichael burst into the coffee shop. She shoved through the swinging half door marked Employees Only, tossed her coat and purse aside, jerked her apron from the hook on the wall and slammed her empty coffee mug down on the counter. Her T-shirt read Women For Disarmament but the look on her face said she was in the mood to shoot first and ask questions later.
âForget to take your happy pill this morning?â Her best friend and co-worker, Jill Sheldon, filled Cassieâs mug with espresso and added steamed milk and a generous dollop of chocolate syrup.
Cassie glared at her friend and grabbed the cup with both hands. She took a long drink, then set it down with a thunk, sending the mocha sloshing onto the marble counter. âDo you think Iâm too ordinary?â she demanded.
Jill turned from the coffee grinder, one perfectly arched brow raised in question. âToo ordinary? What do you mean?â
âJust what I said. Am I too ordinary?â Cassie held her arms down by her sides, palms out, inviting inspection. âIs there anything at all about me that would make the average person take a second look, or am I the kind of person other people naturally take for granted?â
âHmm.â Jill poured water into the coffee machine and flipped the switch to start a fresh pot. âLet me guess. Boring Bob is taking you for granted.â
âI wish you wouldnât call him that. Heâs not boring.â Cassie grabbed a cloth and began mopping up her spill.
âHe is and you know it. Whatâs he done this time?â
It wasnât so much what Bob had done, it was more what he hadnât done. Though Cassie had been dating him for more than two years now, he hadnât done anything to indicate that his feelings for her were serious. Lately, he treated her more like a personal assistant than a girlfriend.
âWhat did Bob do?â Jill prompted.
âHe asked me to pick up his dry cleaning on my way home yesterday.â
Jill nodded. âAnd of course, you did it.â
âYeah, I did it.â She took another sip of coffee, then moved over to straighten a stack of napkins, avoiding Jillâs gaze. âItâs not that I really even minded doing it, itâs justâ¦â The hurt formed a lump in her throat she could hardly talk around. All those times sheâd swallowed her pride and never complained had rushed back today, threatening to overwhelm her.
Jill moved over and put a hand on her shoulder. âJust what? He forgot to say thank you? He complained because the cleaners put too much starch in his shirts?â
She took a deep breath. âWhen I got to his apartment with the cleaning, he was watching a movie with his friend Don. I laid the cleaning on the back of the couch and Bob said, âGood old Cassie. She always takes care of me.ââ
Jill winced. âDoesnât Bob already have a mother? Now he needs you to be another one?â