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  “Don’t you ever pick up after yourself?” he asked, dodging a red, strappy sandal.

  “I’m not very domestic.”

  Gabe pushed a fuzzy pink slipper aside and set her down on the white linen sheets. He wasn’t at all surprised when she started drifting slowly to one side. Grabbing two pillows, he wedged them between her back and the brass headboard, then propped her up again.

  Almost immediately, she began struggling with her yellow cardigan sweater and had somehow managed to not only tangle her hair on one of the buttons, but she’d twisted her arms in the sleeves, as well. Her hands were now missing. “Here, let me help.”

  Leaning over her, he pulled the strand of silky, auburn hair free and helped her shrug out of the sweater. Underneath, she wore a matching yellow tank top and, as far as he could tell, no bra. Not that she needed one. Jane’s breasts were modestly small, although her nipples had hardened into tiny twin peaks. Gabe forced himself to look away.

  He tossed her sweater aside--it didn’t much matter that he’d thrown it atop a heap of clothes on the floor beside the bed. “Lean back and I’ll take off your sandals.”

  She lifted one foot and then the other, allowing him to unbuckle the straps and remove her shoes. Her legs were shapely and silky smooth, and her ankles and feet were dainty with just a hint of freckles scattered about.

  “Why are you being so nice?” she asked, looking at him skeptically.

  His brows shot up. “Just because I’m the black sheep of the family doesn’t mean I can’t be nice once in a while. Just ask Travis and Livvy.” He cracked a smile. “They love me.”

  “They love me better,” she shot back, her smile fading into a frown. “They only love you one week out of each year, Montero. The rest of the time you’re history.”

  “Jealous, are we?”

  “Hardly,” she said with a wave of a hand that nearly had her toppling off the bed.

  Gabe’s own hand snaked out to steady her.

  Her eyes grew huge. “Oh, my, that was close. Thank God, Gabe Montero was in my bedroom to help me in my hour of need.” She giggled, slapping her bare thigh, as if she’d just made the funniest comment ever. Her khaki skirt rode high on her legs, but she didn’t seem to notice, or care.

  Trying to get into the spirit of things, he asked teasingly, “Do you want me to dig through your piles of lingerie to see if I can come up with something slinky for you to sleep in?”

  “Very funny,” she said. “But I’d hate to disappoint you. I’m not exactly the sexy lingerie type.”

  Gabe’s gaze darted to a black lacy thing near the foot of the bed. “You could have fooled me. Or does your boyfriend wear this when he stays over?” With deft fingers, he scooped it up and held it in front of her. It was a very skimpy teddy, and he tried to visualize the way it would hug her breasts and skim the highest parts of her thighs. He fantasized about all the hundreds of freckles that would be exposed, too.

  Swell, he thought, running his gaze over her petite body. He was going to have a hell of a time falling asleep tonight. He’d be too busy thinking about a certain freckled minx.

  Face flushed, she reached forward, snagged the teddy from him and shoved it behind a pillow. “I don’t have a boyfriend, and you know it.”

  “Now, how would I know that? You and I barely converse, let alone share secrets.” He lowered himself to the bottom of her bed, sinking his weight into the balled-up chambray comforter. “Oh, that’s right, I do know a secret about you. You’ve never experienced the . . . What did you call it? The big O?”

  He grinned, seeing her bloom with even more color. “Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me.” He wouldn’t mind putting a dreamy smile on her face and watching her while she climaxed, knowing that he was the one responsible.

  Christ, what was he thinking? He ran a hand through his hair and blew out a noisy breath.

  “For your information, I only wear black, lacy lingerie when I’m writing.” She tossed her chin up a notch. “I have a hard time with my love scenes, and I need all the help I can get.”

  “Interesting.” He had to admit that he’d found her love scenes a little lacking. Maybe he could offer her a few pointers.

  “It makes me feel sexy, so I can get inside my heroine’s head. It’s hard to write about two people making love unless you’re in the mood, so to speak. Or unless you have a lot of experience in that area.”

  “Yes, well--”

  “Want to know another secret?” she asked with a goofy grin on her sexy mouth.

  “Sure.” What the hell?

  “I’ve been thinking about asking you to have an affair with me.”

  “Whoa!” Gabe raised both hands in front of him as he got to his feet. “What did you say?”

  “You heard me. I said . . .” She stopped suddenly and brought a hand to her mouth and giggled again. “Oh, God, did I actually say that?”

  “Yes. You certainly did.”

  “Well, now that I’ve blurted most of it out, I may as well tell you the rest.”

  Gabe wasn’t so sure he wanted to hear the rest, yet he felt powerless to stop her. Okay, so he was curious. So what? He stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets, giving her his complete attention.

  “As you already know,” she said, shrugging, “I’ve never had an orgasm. And I’m in the market for a man who can help me with that. Maybe you know of someone?”

  Shaking his head briskly back and forth, he said, “No, I don’t.” The air conditioning must not be working, he thought, feeling himself growing uncomfortably warm. Jesus, he was talking to Sara’s little sister about orgasms.

  Earlier, when he’d brought up the subject, he’d only been teasing her. He’d never in a million years expected her to expand on it.

  Pulling his hands free and dropping them to his sides, he said, “Look, maybe I should go so you can get some sleep.”

  “But, wait! Aren’t you the least bit interested in helping me?”

  “No!”

  “I should have known.” Her bottom lip puffed out and she sniffed.

  “You don’t care about me and my problems. Sara was right. You’re self-centered.”

  Please tell me those aren’t real tears. Gabe hated it when women cried. “Of course, I care.”

  She smiled suddenly, all signs of tears gone. “Then you’ll help me?”

  Uh, oh. “Help you how?” he asked with skepticism. “If you mean finding a man to jump your bones, then hell, no, I’m not going to help you!”

  “Why not?”

  “Because . . . Because it’s . . . a dumb ass idea, and it’s . . . crazy. That’s why.”

  “That’s what Sara said. Well, she didn’t say dumb ass, of course. Sara would never swear. But she did say it was crazy.”

  “Well, she’s right.”

  “She’s always right, and I hate it!” Jane repositioned herself against the pillows, her skirt hiking even farther up her legs. So far up, in fact, he caught a glimpse of her white panties.

  Jesus.

  “My sister said I was too nice a girl to jump into bed with a stranger, and even though I hate to admit it, she’s probably right. But when she mentioned you, I thought--”

  “This was Sara’s idea?” he asked, startled. “She thinks you and I should . . .” For some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

  “Well, maybe I’ve confused you. You weren’t exactly Sara’s pick. She said she wouldn’t wish you on any female.”

  “Well, that certainly makes me feel a hell of a lot better.”

  Jane brought a hand to her mouth, a guilty expression crossing her face. “Whoops. Maybe I didn’t say that quite right. Let me explain. I told Sara I wanted a man with a bad-boy image, someone with a sinister look. And you were the only one we could think of.”

  Gabe shook his head, snorting. “Jane,” he started, but she interrupted.

  “Sara said you’re the love ‘em and leave ‘em type. But that doesn’t bother me any. In fact, that’s e
xactly the type of man I’m looking for. Someone who will show me what I’ve been missing, so to speak, and then when his duty’s done, he’s free to leave.”

  “I see. So, you’re just looking to have a quick . . . affair? Strictly to satisfy your sexual needs? And you’re not interested in any permanent attachments?”

  She smiled. “Exactly! Of course, my sister thinks my lover should be ambitious, too. But, hey, a girl can’t have everything. So, now that I’ve explained it all, are you interested in helping me?”

  “No!”

  “But--”

  “Look, I really appreciate all those wonderful compliments, but I need to get going.” Gabe turned his back on her and headed for the bedroom door.

  “Wait! Did I mention you have a nice butt? That was high on my list of qualifications.”

  Spinning around, he pinned her with a look. “I’m not interested in having an affair with you, okay? So, you can stop with all the flattery.”

  “Okay,” she said, looking and sounding defeated. “But what am I supposed to do now?”

  Go see a shrink, maybe? “How the hell should I know?”

  “This is so embarrassing, and it’s not fair. I’ve spilled my guts, and now you won’t even help me. I’m at an unfair disadvantage. The least you could do is be honorable about this.”

  She had to be kidding. “Trust me, I’m being as honorable as I’ve ever been in my life.”

  “Well, what if you were me? What would you do?”

  “I’d buy a vibrator.”

  “They don’t work.” Her eyes grew huge with alarm. “Not that I’ve ever tried one.”

  “No, of course not.”

  She released a long breath. “What if it’s just me? What if I’m defective?”

  “You’re not defective. It’s just that these things take practice sometimes. You’ve had practice, haven’t you? I mean, you’re not a virgin, are you?”

  “No,” she said, laughing. “And I’ve had plenty of practice, too.”

  Sure you have, he thought.

  “So, how will I ever know for sure if I’m defective or not, unless I follow through with my plan?”

  Gabe didn’t know how much more of this talk he could take. The fly on his jeans had grown uncomfortably tight. “Did you ever hear the phrase ‘Good things come to those who wait’?”

  “I’m twenty-eight! How long do you want me to wait? Till I’m old and wrinkled?”

  He supposed she had a point, but he didn’t budge.

  “Did I mention that I was willing to pay you? How does one hundred dollars sound?”

  That did it! He crossed the room in two strides and loomed over her. “What the hell is your problem?”

  Her head shifted backward a few inches. “All right, I get the hint. You’re not attracted to me. But I have a feeling you’re the perfect man for the job. Couldn’t we just do it with the lights out? That way, you wouldn’t even have to look at me? Unless you wanted to,” she added.

  Gabe couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Jane Callahan was begging him to have an affair with her, had offered to pay him, in fact. Moving to the bottom of the bed, he dropped down beside her feet. He placed his elbows on his knees and rested his head in his hands for a moment before looking at her again.

  “Jane,” he said, raising his head and meeting her gaze. “It’s not that I’m not attracted to you. You’re . . .” He waved a hand along the length of her.

  “What?” she asked, her expression curious.

  “You’re . . . a very sexy woman,” he said, truthfully. “But we’re practically related.”

  “We’re not related.”

  “Okay, then.” He needed another excuse. “Alex and Sara would probably castrate me if I laid so much as a finger on you. And then they’d probably forbid me to see Travis and Livvy ever again.”

  “I promise not to tell them,” she said, leaning toward him and folding her legs beneath her. “It’ll be our little secret.”

  Gabe’s gaze dropped to her lap where the khaki material had practically disappeared, leaving only silky bare legs in its wake. He looked skyward. Give me strength. “I’m sorry, but I can’t . . . help you.”

  Her expression changed quickly. “Fine. I’ll just have to get someone else.”

  An angry lump formed in his throat, surprising him. Why should he care who she slept with? She didn’t mean anything to him. He forced himself to nod. “Good,” he said, knowing he didn’t mean it, but refusing to back down. “Get someone else. I have to go.”

  “I understand,” she told him, leaning back against the pillows. She shrugged. “It probably would have been a disaster anyway.”

  Gabe nodded. “Probably.” Then, puzzled, he narrowed his eyes and asked, “How so?”

  She smiled and flushed again. “What I mean is, just because you’re every woman’s sexual fantasy . . . well, not every woman’s,” she corrected, “doesn’t necessarily mean you can put a smile on their faces. Right?”

  “Right,” he agreed, then changed his mind. “Wait a minute. Was that a trick question?”

  Laughing softly, she waved a hand. “Let’s just forget that I mentioned any of this.”

  “Easy for you to say.”

  “I am curious about one thing, though.”

  He was almost afraid to ask. “What’s that?”

  She smoothed her hair from her face. “Are you very good at it?”

  “At what?”

  “You know . . . putting smiles on women’s faces.”

  Gabe couldn’t help but laugh. “Let’s just say I’ve made more than a few women smile. Now, I really have to be going.”

  “Before you go, could you do me just one little favor?”

  “Sure,” he reluctantly agreed.

  Smiling shyly, her green eyes flickered with excitement. “I know you don’t want to sleep with me, but could you kiss me, at least? I promise not to rip your clothes off or anything.”

  His heart pounded an erratic rhythm as he studied her. He was strangely flattered by her interest, even though he knew he’d made the right decision not to get involved sexually with her. But now she only wanted a kiss. One kiss couldn’t hurt anything. “I’d be happy to kiss you.”

  He heard her swallow as he closed the distance between them. Until his face was just inches away from hers.

  And then their lips touched.

  He’d only planned to have a quick taste of her, but after one kiss, he swiftly changed his mind. He had to have more.

  Angling his head to gain better access of her delicious mouth, Gabe folded her into his arms and pulled her close. He forced her warm, velvety-smooth lips open with his thrusting tongue and devoured her. She tasted of sweet Chianti.

  Jane brought her hands up and dug her nails into his shoulders. Moaning softly, she pressed her small breasts to his chest and kissed him back.

  Gabe’s breath came in fast gulps and he was rock hard. Knowing he had to stop before things got out of control, he reluctantly raised his mouth from hers and watched the dreamy look on her face.

  Her eyes slowly opened and she gazed back at him. “Wow,” she breathed, dropping her hands to the bed.

  Gabe laughed. “Yeah, wow,” he agreed. Who would have thought that Jane Callahan could make him feel like a high school boy again? “Maybe I should go.”

  She nodded. “I think that’s a good idea, or I may have to break my promise and rip your clothes off, after all.”

  “And I just might let you,” he teased back. Gently nudging her shoulders, he managed to help her into a reclining position. “Close your eyes, Jane.”

  She rolled to her side, and curling into a fetal position, she let her eyes drift shut. But they’d only been closed for a few seconds when she asked, “Could you just do me one more favor before you leave?”

  “Uh, sure.”

  “Could you sit by me while I fall asleep? The room is spinning, and I’m scared.”

  “I can do that,” he said.

  She
fell asleep instantly. Time for him to return to his motel, take a cold shower, and then, maybe he’d count freckles. “Sheep!” he groaned out. “I meant sheep.”

  * * * * * * * * * *

  It sounded like a fire alarm, and it wasn’t the first time she’d heard it that morning. Janie sat up in bed, or tried to sit up, rather. And if her head didn’t feel as if someone had dropped an anvil on it, she probably would have made it, too.

  Her mouth felt funny--kind of dry and furry, like she’d swallowed a tennis ball. Come to think of it, maybe she had swallowed a tennis ball. Picking at whatever was stuck to her tongue and the roof of her mouth, she was relieved to see it was only pink fuzz, obviously from her slipper, which lay beside her pillow.

  What on earth had possessed her to drink all that wine last night? she wondered, slowly draping a leg over the edge of the bed and placing her foot on the floor.

  Maneuvering her body around so she was lying sideways, she placed the second one on the floor. Good, she thought. Both feet were on the floor. It was a start, at least. Now, all she had to do was lift her head, shoulders and hips from the mattress, crawl to the window, and jump.

  Sucking in a huge breath for strength, she leaned on her elbows and pushed, but her head only made it about two inches off the mattress before crashing back into place. Moaning softly, she decided it was no use. And it would be worthless shouting to the neighbors for help because she didn’t have the energy to do that either.

  She was a toasted marshmallow for sure. She just prayed it would be a quick and painless death. Although she hadn’t seen any flames, nor had she smelled any smoke. And she noticed whatever had been making all that noise had finally stopped. Blessed silence, at last. It must have been a false alarm.

  “You’re awake.” A man’s voice echoed into the room and throbbed against her brain. Gabe was still here? His deep, sexy baritone held a rasp of excitement. Only right now, he could be standing there bare-ass naked, and she wouldn’t find him any more exciting than a dust bunny.

  Okay, so maybe she was lying. Just thinking about him naked got her excited. God only knew how she’d react if she actually saw him in the nude. Fat chance of that happening, she thought, remembering how he’d turned her down last night.