For one thing, she was a career woman and, considering his history with them, he should be running as hard and fast as his legs would carry him in the opposite direction. And for another, he was having to rely on hers and the other managers’experience at Skerritt and Crowe to keep the firm running until he could get some business courses under his belt. He didn’t need an emotional involvement added to the mix. It would only complicate things and increase the possibility of one of them getting hurt.
But whether it was wise or not, he hadn’t been able to resist the temptation of holding her soft body against his, of once again savoring her perfect lips. He’d spent a hell of a day yesterday and an even worse night reliving that kiss and he needed to know if she was as fantastic as he remembered.
When she lightly stroked his tongue with hers, the sweet, shy response aroused him so fast it made him light-headed and he immediately decided that if anything, his memory had been more than a little faulty. He’d never in all of his thirty years been this turned on by simply kissing a woman.
Slowly tugging her blouse from the waistband of her skirt, he slipped his hand under the beige silk. Her smooth skin felt like satin beneath his palm as he slid it over her ribs to the underside of her breast. Cupping the soft mound, he gently caressed her as he nibbled his way from her lips down the slender column of her throat.
Her tiny moan of pleasure sent a fresh wave of heat straight to his groin. But when he realized that she’d unbuttoned the first few buttons on his shirt and was doing a little exploring of her own, his body tightened with an intensity that quickly had him shifting to relieve the pressure in his suddenly too-tight jeans. Just knowing she was as turned on as he was sent his blood pressure skyrocketing.
At that moment, he wanted her more than he wanted to draw his next breath. He wanted to lay her down and discover all of her secrets. And he wanted to share all of his with her.
“Hey man, get a room.”
Glancing through the windshield, Caleb noticed a group of grinning teenage boys walking past the truck on their way to the information center.
Damn! His timing couldn’t have been worse. The front seat of his truck in a rest area with God and everybody strolling past wasn’t exactly the place for the pleasurable kind of exploring he had in mind.
He took in some much-needed oxygen as he rearranged Alyssa’s blouse. “Sweetheart, there’s nothing I’d like more than to continue kissing you and a hell of a lot more. But if we keep this up, somebody’s going to call the cops. And I’m not real keen on the idea of our being arrested for lewd conduct in a public place.”
She made no comment as she stared at him, but the heightened color on her cheeks indicated that she’d forgotten where they were, the same as he had.
“It’s daylight,” she said, looking around. “What time is it?”
Checking his watch, he shook his head to clear it. “It’s a little past eight.”
“Where’s the rental car?” She slid over to the passenger side of the seat. “I thought it was supposed to be here by four.”
Caleb shrugged. “They’re late.”
“No kidding.” She tucked her blouse back into the waistband of her skirt. “Have you called them?”
“The driver thought we were in the rest area north of Socorro,” he said, nodding. “When he didn’t find us there, he turned around and went back to Albuquerque instead of calling roadside assistance to get a verification on our location.”
He didn’t add that he wasn’t all that sorry the guy was incompetent. Whether it was smart or not, he’d enjoyed holding her while she’d slept.
“Are they sending another car?”
He shook his head. “I told them not to bother.”
“You did what?” If looks could kill, he’d be dead in about two seconds flat.
“The mechanic from Truth or Consequences should be here any time with a new radiator hose.” He stretched to relieve a few of the kinks in his muscles. “I didn’t see the need for a car when he’ll have the truck fixed in less than fifteen minutes.”
“I suppose that makes sense.” She frowned. “But I was hoping we’d be back at the office well before everyone arrived for work. I wanted to run home for a quick shower and to change clothes.” She glanced down at her wrinkled suit. “I’m a mess.”
“Don’t worry about it. We won’t get there until midmorning.” He gave her his most reassuring smile. “Everyone will be busy and you can get your car without anyone being the wiser.”
She looked more than a little doubtful. “I hope you’re right.”
He didn’t tell her, but he hoped like hell he was, too.
Chapter Five
When Caleb steered the truck into his reserved parking space, Alyssa immediately noticed that something was wrong with her car. Instead of sitting level, it was tilted to one side. So much for making a quick getaway before someone in the office saw her disheveled appearance.
“Looks like you have a flat tire,” Caleb commented when he got out of the truck and came around to open the passenger door for her.
“Great. Just what I wanted to do before I go home,” she said, wondering what else could go wrong. “I get to change a tire.”
He frowned. “You’re going to do it yourself?”
She nodded. “I’ve been changing my own tires since I learned to drive. My father insisted on it.”
“You don’t have an auto service plan?”
“No.”
He held out his hand. “Give me the keys.”
“Thanks, but I’ll take care of it,” she said, removing her suit jacket.
“Not while I’m around.” He took the keys from her, then motioned toward the building. “Why don’t you go inside and get out of this heat?”
She nibbled on her lower lip. The temperature was rising, but so was her apprehension that someone would see her.
“I’d rather not.”
She could just imagine the stares if she walked into her office looking the way she did. Her clothing couldn’t have been more wrinkled from spending the night in the truck and her hair was hanging down her back like a limp mop because Caleb had lost most of the pins when he’d taken it out of her usual chignon.
“Don’t be silly.” He opened the trunk of her sedan. “It’s already in the nineties and—”
“No need for you gettin’ all hot and dirty, Caleb,” Ernie Clay called as he hurried out of the building toward them. The security guard stopped in front of them, then, grinning like a Cheshire cat, he nodded at her car. “Clarence noticed Ms. Merrick’s tire was flat and had me call my brother-in-law. He owns a garage and towing service and should be here in a few minutes to take care of it.”