Past Midnight (40 page)

“Not before we make a date.”

That made her stop. “A date?”

“Tomorrow evening.”

“Why on earth would you want to go out with me?” Screw her, maybe. But a date?

He chuckled, his chest rumbling against her back. “Because I like the way you laugh.”

“The way I laugh?” She was repeating like an idiot.

“In the ballroom. Trinity made you laugh.”

No one had
ever
thought her laugh was special. She wanted to accept his invitation, but the whole incident was a fluke. And she was the one who’d get hurt. “You think I’m easy because of what just happened. But that was a strange combination of events, and it’ll never happen again.” Except in her fantasies.

“Not a date, then. Coffee.”

“No.” She squirmed against him once more.

“I’m not letting you go until you agree.”

“Why?” It was the dumbest thing to ask, making it sound as if she couldn’t understand why a man like him would want to see a woman like her again. But really, she
didn’t
understand.

“I like your laugh, and I like the way you feel in my arms.”

He was seducing her with just a few wonderful, tremendous, unbelievable words. He couldn’t mean them.

“Meet me. Say yes. Please.”

Dammit, the please did it. “Just coffee. And this will be the only time.”

He sighed, his breath fluttering her unbound hair.

She said it would be the only time, but she knew without much pressure, she’d do anything he asked. That’s how frighteningly hungry
she
was.

 

 

HE HAD A KING KONG–SIZED HARD-ON FOR HER. SHE’D BEEN equally affected. He could have made her come with one more touch. A woman hadn’t felt that good in his arms since . . . not since he was teenager and still believed in love.

Step one complete. He’d secured the first date. Connor had a plan for Faith Castle, a mutually advantageous plan.

He’d considered Trinity Green for a few short weeks, but while she was beautiful, sweet, and loyal, she was a little too absorbed with outward appearances, not to mention she’d probably freak if she perspired during sex. Besides, he had nothing to offer Trinity in return for what he asked, and he didn’t intend making a one-sided deal that benefited only him. But with Faith, he had the one thing she wanted, and, according to Trinity, the thing Faith wasn’t sure she’d ever get.

Yet, instead of pulling together a strategy for his campaign, all Connor could think of was the exquisite taste of her on his lips. That was a boon he hadn’t anticipated.

Oh yeah, Faith was the one he wanted to marry. The moment he touched her, no other woman would do.

With a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo,
Jasmine Haynes
worked in the high-tech Silicon Valley for twenty years. Now, she and her husband live in the Redwoods with Star, the mighty moose-hunting dog (if she weren’t afraid of her own shadow), plus numerous wild cats (who have discovered that food from a bowl is easier than slaying gophers. It would be great if they got rid of the gophers, but no such luck). Jasmine’s pastimes, when not writing her heart out, are hiking, gardening, needlepoint, and brainstorming with writer friends in coffee shops. Jasmine also writes as Jennifer Skully. Please visit her website and blog at
www.jasminehaynes.com
and
www.jasminehaynes.blogspot.com
.

 

 

PAST MIDNIGHT

MINE UNTIL MORNING

HERS FOR THE EVENING

LACED WITH DESIRE

YOURS FOR THE NIGHT

FAIR GAME

UNLACED

SHOW AND TELL

THE FORTUNE HUNTER

OPEN INVITATION

TWIN PEAKS

SOMEBODY’S LOVER