“You need to be sleeping with me.”
Kate groaned. “That’s what got me in trouble in the first place.”
“So you can’t get into any worse trouble now.”
She shot him a dark look that alternated between sexy and wary. “That’s a matter of opinion,” she said and flounced toward the door. She stopped when she put her hand on the knob. “There is one other thing,” she said, not turning to face him.
Her reluctance to look at him piqued his curiosity. “Yes?”
“I realize it will be a challenge, but when we’re around my parents, you need to act like you’re crazy about me. It will be hard, but if you use one-tenth of the energy and creativity you’ve used for your business, you might be able to pull it off.”
Then she whisked out of the door, treating him to a tempting view of her curvy backside. Michael couldn’t decide if he’d just been complimented or insulted. Perhaps both.
After work, he drove to her duplex and found her on a stepladder armed with a screwdriver while she worked on a curtain-rod bracket. Anyone else looking at her wouldn’t have a clue that she was pregnant. Slim and curvy in shorts and tank top, she was barefoot, but her legs caught and held his attention. Until he thought about the nasty combination of the ladder and her pregnancy.
“Have you lost your mind?” he asked as calmly as he could.
He must have startled her because she let out a little shriek, then jumped and struggled for balance. His heart hammering, he ran toward the ladder and wrapped his hands around her waist.
“Why did you do that?” she asked, scowling down at him. “You scared the living daylights out of me.”
“Did you forget you’re pregnant?”
“No,” she said. “But as long as no one comes up behind me and disturbs me, I should be fine on the ladder.”
“Let me finish,” he insisted.
“It’s not necessary,” she protested.
“If you won’t do it for yourself, then do it for Cupcake,” he said, using her term of endearment.
She thought about it for a moment, then handed over the screwdriver. “Okay.”
Michael swung her off the ladder to the ground, and climbed it. “Nice screwdriver. I’m surprised.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re a woman.”
“That’s sexist,” she said. “Besides, there’s an unwritten rule. Every woman should have a good screwdriver, a drill, and a black bra.”
The screwdriver slipped in his hand, but he caught it. “And do you?” he asked. “Have all three?”
“Yes.”
Michael was struck with the wicked wanton image of Kate in a black bra and not much else. He sucked in a quick breath and frowned at the odor. “Still smells like smoke.”
“It was strong when I first got here, so I ran two fans on high and went out for a while. I must’ve gotten used to it this afternoon.”
“You know I can’t leave you here, don’t you?” he asked, finishing the screws and descending the ladder.
“Why not?”
“Because if you got hurt, I couldn’t live with myself.”
Her eyes widened. She folded her arms over her chest. “I’ll be fine.”
“I would have thought you’d be fine two nights ago,” he pointed out. “But you weren’t. Any other climbing you planned tonight?”
“No,” she said reluctantly. “If you keep acting nice and attentive, you’re going to confuse me.”
“If you get confused, does that mean you’ll show me the big three?”
“Big three?” she echoed.
“Your screwdriver, your drill and your black bra.”
Five
S urprised, Kate gave a double take. Her heart skipped a beat. “Are you serious?”
“Yes,” he said, moving closer to her. “I’d like you to show me your big three.”
Was he flirting with her? Michael didn’t flirt with her. “The drill is in my toolbox.”
“And the black bra?”
“Bottom dresser drawer,” she said, wondering how far he was going to take this.
“I want to see it on you,” he told her, sending a wicked rush through her.
“Maybe another time,” she said.
He took her hand when she started to turn. “Is that a promise?”
She studied him. “What is with you?”
“It’s time we left the boss-assistant relationship totally behind.”
“And how do we do that?” she asked.
“I have some ideas,” he said and pulled her into his arms.
He took her mouth in sensual exploration, quickly warming her from the inside out. “Every time I looked at you during the last three years, I said no. I’m not saying no to myself anymore.”
His words surprised and aroused her. He felt solid, strong and distinctly masculine against her. He took her mouth again, this time with his tongue, seeking and seducing her, sipping at her as if she were his favorite drink, and he’d been thirsty for a long time.
“You smell like sex,” he whispered.
Kate felt her knees lose their starch. His desire for her was intoxicating. She slid her fingers through his hair and rubbed her chest against his, craving a closer touch. The atmosphere in the room turned steamy. He slid his hands down to her bottom, guiding her against his hardened masculinity. Long denied needs rushed to the surface, and Kate fought against letting go. “I’m not sure about this,” she asked.
“I’m just practicing,” he said, skimming one of his hands over the side of her br**sts. The movement teased and taunted.
Kate bit back a moan. “Practicing what?”
“Practicing for when we’re married.” He skimmed his hand over her breast again, this time closer to, but not touching her tight nipple.
Kate’s moan escaped her throat.
“Do you like that?” he asked, rubbing his thumb over her nipple.
She pressed her breast into his hand, an unspoken confession.
“I’m going to find out what else you like,” he said, and pulled her with him down onto the sofa. Pulling her onto his lap, he lifted her shirt and flicked his tongue over the tip of her breast.
Kate couldn’t suppress another moan. When he unfastened the top button of her jeans, she put her hand on his. He was making her dizzy. “This feels fast.”
“It could be faster,” he said.
She shook her head and swallowed over her dry throat. She lifted her hand and was surprised to find it trembling.
Michael looked down at her hand and took it in his.
“It’s going to sound crazy,” she said, searching his gaze, “but when you said those things in your office the day I quit, a big part of me gave up on you.”
“What are you afraid of?” he asked. “That I’ll abandon you or stop supporting you? Because I won’t. I—”
She shook her head. She couldn’t tell him what she feared. She had too many fears, and, unfortunately, she had every reason to believe they would come true. “I think I need some time. I think we need to take this slowly.”
His gaze held hers for a heart-pounding moment. “Okay, we’ll trade,” he said. “We go slow, and you come back with me tonight.”
Kate started to shake her head.
“This isn’t negotiable,” he told her. “You can pack or I’ll pack for you.”
“Why? I’ll be fine.”
“I’m here to make damn sure of it,” he said. “You can either walk out of here or I’ll carry you out to my car and let the neighbors stare when you scream. But I’m not leaving you here until your parents arrive.”
She didn’t like having her wings clipped. “I thought you said we were leaving the boss-assistant relationship behind.”
“I’m just practicing to be your husband,” he said in a maddeningly calm voice.
“I wish you would practice differently,” she retorted.
“I will,” he said, his tone dark with sensual promise.
“You’re getting what?” Justin nearly shrieked as he slammed his mug of beer down.
“I’m getting married in less than two weeks, and you two are invited,” Michael calmly said.
Dylan just stared at him for a long moment, then cleared his throat. “Isn’t this a bit sudden?”
“Yes,” Michael said, although he still preferred the idea of chartering an airplane to Las Vegas and taking care of the vows instantly. “It would have been sooner, but Kate’s mother wants a church wedding.”
“Why the speed?” Dylan asked, his eyes narrowed as if he sensed there was more to the story.
“Because there are no doubts,” Michael said. Except on Kate’s part. Michael was damned sure of what he was doing; he just wanted it done as quickly as possible.
“Kate?” Justin said in disapproval. “The only Kate you’ve ever mentioned is your assistant.”
“She’s no longer my assistant. She’ll be my wife.”
“Something about this doesn’t smell right,” Justin said with a frown. “I could have sworn you were just as anti-marriage as I am.”
“Don’t dig,” Michael said in a level tone. “I just wanted to invite you to the ceremony. Kate’s mother asked me to invite my family and I have none. You’re the next best sorry thing, so if you want to come, great. If you don’t, that’s okay, too.”
Justin exchanged an uncomfortable glance with Dylan. He shrugged. “Well, sure, I’ll come. I just think you’re making a big mistake. Marriage is a messy, expensive business. It sucks the life force out of your wallet like nothing else. Of course, kids are next in line for expensive, but—” Justin broke off as realization hit him. “Kids,” he said, shaking his head. “You didn’t—” He made a grimace. “Oh, damn. She’s not—”