“Oh? So, if I kissed you, you would be fine?”
“More than fine.” She tried to keep her face calm, though her body ached at the mere thought of his lips on hers. Her mouth suddenly felt dry, her tongue in need of champagne.
She sipped at it, eyeing him. “Not that I’m saying you should.”
“Oh, but I will,” he said, eyes glowing with determination.
He took the champagne flute out of her hand, set it down, and wrapped her in his arms. Her heart skipped a beat and her hands clutched his shirt.
He plundered her mouth, his tongue stroking hers. His hands gripped her hips, pulling her close. She whimpered low in her throat, eagerly returning his kiss. With a groan, he tore his mouth away, breathing heavily. He rested his forehead against hers. Their breaths melded into one as she fought to regain control of her mind.
“Not a problem, right?” he breathed, his hold tightening on her hips before he released her. He shoved his hands into his pockets. She couldn’t take her eyes off his moist lips. She ached to taste them again. “Uh, Johanna?”
She snapped to attention, her cheeks heating. “Perhaps we shouldn’t try that again.”
He grinned. “Too much?”
“No. I just don’t want to kiss you anymore. It’s a bad idea for business partners.”
“We could be more,” he said, gaze dropping to her lips.
“I’m not going to change my mind. Business. Not pleasure.”
“Hm.” He saluted her with his glass. “Challenge accepted.”
Chapter Six
Damon knocked on Johanna’s bedroom door. His nerves threatened to bring him to his knees. He’d meant it when he said he would woo her—and win. Tonight marked phase one: date night.
He held his breath until she opened the door. Her cheeks were rosy and her eyes bright. What had she been doing?
Over her shoulder, he could see that the TV on the wall was paused.
“What are you watching?” he asked.
She threw a guilty glance at the screen and then met his eyes. “A Lifetime movie.”
He choked on a laugh. “Christ. It’s true, isn’t it? All women are addicted to those things.”
Throwing the door the rest of the way open, she chuckled.
She headed for the bed, flopped onto her stomach, and cradled her chin in her hands. “Hey, at least if you try to hire a thug to kill me, I’ll see all of the warning signs. Unlike this fool.”
He walked to the side of the bed. If only he could lie down next to her, he’d be a happy man. Hell, he would even willingly watch crappy movies if it meant being with her. “I assure you that I will do no such thing.”
“That’s what he said.” She gestured at the TV and hit play.
“She believed him.”
He watched for a minute before he rolled his eyes. “I’m starting to see why he’d be tempted. She’s annoying.”
“So he should kill her?” she scoffed.
“Well, perhaps not kill her.” He grinned. “Maybe divorce her, though.”
“Since I know you didn’t come in here to watch a movie with me…what’s up?” She clicked pause and rolled onto her side.
“We’re going out tonight.”
She blinked. “Is it one of those social things you mentioned before or something? I don’t remember you telling me about it.”
“No.” He cleared his throat and shifted. “It’s a date.”
Her eyes narrowed. “A date? Why?”
“I’m determined to make you like me,” he said.
“Why?”
“Because I like you.” He straightened his shirt sleeves and fidgeted with the cuffs. “It’s just a date.”
She ran her fingers through her hair. “I don’t know about this. It seems like a bad idea.”
“It seems like a bad idea to have fun on a Saturday night?
That seems awfully convoluted. It’s just an outing. I promise I won’t throw myself at you—without explicit permission, anyway.”
“Well…when you put it that way…”
He grinned. “See you at eight.”
…
Johanna smoothed her ponytail and sighed. She’d been an idiot to agree to this. A complete fool. Deranged. She had a date with her fake husband. How much more messed up could they possibly get? But even so, excitement made her shaky.
Where would he take her? Would he try to kiss her? If he thought she’d be easy, he was wrong. She might be up for a fun friendship, but that’s all. The sooner he realized as much, the better off they would both be.
“Johanna, are you ready?” he called through the door.
She smoothed her hair one last time before snatching her purse and hurrying to the door. When she swung it open, he grinned at her and held up a red rose. “For you, my lady.”
Damn it. “Thank you. It’s lovely.”
She took the rose, making sure not to touch his fingers.
If she let herself touch him, all common sense would fly out the window. She brought the rose to her nose. The sweet fragrance washed over her, and she looked into his eyes.
“I was torn between a rose and a tulip. A rose is more romantic…but you seem to not want romance from me,” he said.
His intense stare sent a jolt of molten heat through her.
Screw coffee. She was awake. Definitely awake.
“You thought correctly,” she murmured. She tore her gaze from his and gulped a deep breath of air. Why was she so damn lightheaded? “I’m not interested in romance.”
“Yet you seem to like that rose quite a bit.” When she said nothing, he chuckled. “Are you ready?” He offered his arm and she slipped her palm into the crook. Their upper arms brushed against each other as they walked.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“You’ll see.”
She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. “Really?
We’re gonna play that game?”
He gave a one shouldered shrug. “Game? I’ve no idea what you mean. But I’m not telling you where we’re going, if you’re asking me that.”
The night air slapped her in the face as they left the house, and she gave in to temptation and swayed closer to Damon’s warmth while they waited for the car to come to the door. He grinned at her when she melded against his body.
“Don’t look at me like that.” She squinted up at the sky.
“I’m cold, not in love.”