ET.
One step through that door and the adventure ends.
Interlacing his fingers with hers, he drew her away.
“If we leave, they might see us on the cameras.” He guided her around the corner to a set of stairs.
“But—”
He pulled her into his arms. His hands wrapped around her hips as he bent his forehead to hers. “What’s upstairs?”
“The dinosaurs,” she said. “But we should leave—”
He pressed one finger to her lips. “Listen.”
The footsteps faded. The sound of her sharp breaths filled the space between them. He listened a moment longer. “The guard’s gone.”
He felt the tension ease as she let out one slow exhale. “You’re sure?”
Nodding, he drew his hand away from her lips. He fought the temptation to kiss her. Not now. Not here. He wanted to put more distance between them and the guard.
“Still,” she whispered. “We should leave.”
“If you take me up to the T. rex, you’ll have more time to convince me,” he said. “Unless you’re giving up.”
“Never.”
She pulled free from his hold.
I should have kissed her while I had the chance.
She grabbed fistfuls of her gown. Glancing over at him, she lifted her skirts. His gaze shifted from her determined expression to her hemline.
When was the last time I was turned on by the sight of a woman’s ankles?
“I’ll race you,” she said. And, damn, if there wasn’t a sultry note in her voice. What if her passion had shifted from science to him? He’d seen the way she looked at him as she dropped to her knees. What if—
“Ready, set, go!” She bolted up the stairs.
Carter tossed back his head and laughed. Then he followed, taking the marble steps two at a time.
Chapter 12
“Look at him.” Ivy placed her hand against the case holding the T. rex skull. “He’s magnificent.”
Carter stopped at the entrance to the Museum of Natural History’s famous fossil display. The scene in front of him blew his fantasies away.
A beautiful woman in a sparkling gown—check.
The rush of adventure—check.
One of the world’s best fossil collections—check.
Carter moved behind his dream date. He reached for the case holding the massive skull and placed his hand over hers, his front brushing against her back. Would they set off an alarm if he pressed her up against the case? Would security come running if he drew her up onto the raised platform holding the fierce predator’s remains?
“This is a first for me,” he murmured.
“You’ve never seen the dinosaurs at the Museum of Natural History?” She kept her gaze fixed on the T. rex fossil. “I thought you grew up in Brooklyn. How is that possible?”