Sean could definitely relate. Ill bet hes more than a little overprotective.
He thinks my brothers can take care of themselves. My mother died when I was young, so I get a lot of his attention. He had a heart attack that forced him into early retirement, and I try not to aggravate his concerns. I lead a pitifully sheltered life for a twenty-seven-year-old woman. I havent been any mans girlfriend for over a year, much less any mans mistress. She folded up the faded T-shirt shed been wearing earlier and clutched it in her lap. I suppose you want to drop me off at the nearest bus station and send me home now.
Sean slid his eyes across the dashboard clock and let her sad, dull tone sink into his bones. He was at twenty-one hours and counting. He wanted to do the right thing here, but he had a job to do, too.
Met with his moody silence, Caitlin rambled on. At least I got to change my clothes in the back seat of a sports car. Ive never done that before. Heck, Ive never even ridden in a car like this before. Low-slung and fast and hot.
Heck? Was this innocent act for real? Seans jaded sense of trust was being thrown off-kilter by her guileless confessions. She had a body made for sex, but she talked like awell, someone very naive.
Needing some fresh air, he pushed a button on the dashboard and opened up the sunroof. Caitlin angled her head to watch the smoked Plexiglas slide back and reveal the full moon above them. The rush of cool night air lifted her hair and made it dance along that tantalizing column of bare neck.
So much for cooling off.
Nice touch, she whispered.
Ill say.
Though she was still talking about going home, her voice picked up a more positive note. You asked me to go away with you. A decently attractive man, on the spur of the moment without knowing anything about me, asked me to go away with him for the weekend. Thats something that would happen to Cassie, not me.
Decently attractive, hmm?
The sudden stain of color on her cheeks made him think that had been more than a pretty decent compliment. Those big gray eyes, when she turned them on him, were full of honesty, a trace of embarrassment and something bolder that reflected her intelligence and strength. The effect was absolutely bewitching.
That didnt come out the way I intended. Youre not conventionally handsome, but When her gaze dropped to his chest, Sean inhaled deeply, trying to dispel the curious warmth that suffused him. Her eyes darkened in response and the warmth refused to leave. youre put together very nicely. And I love your accent. It almost sounds foreign. Even when youre all-business, I like listening to it.
Sean narrowed his focus to the endless white lines dotting the road in front of him. Maybe he was the crazy one. During his relationship with Elise, shed never once got him all hot and bothered with just an appreciative look and an ingenuous compliment. But Caitlin McCormick did.
It had to be those damn months of all work and no sex that had him wanting to teach this sheltered wannabe adventuress how to act on those longing looks. Hed never been a sucker for sad stories or quirky charms, but he half wished he and Caitlin were really going away for a weekend of sex together. Damn, what hed love to teach the teacher.
Stick to the job, a nagging voice tried to warn him. But his brain had been working overtime for these past few weeks. Another part of his anatomy needed a workout right now. Caitlin liked him. He liked that she liked him. Probably more than he should.
My mothers American, but my fathers British. Ive picked up some of his speech habits.
Sean could tell she liked that revelation by the smile that softened her worried expression. So youre a real James Bond.
He shook his head. My dad was, though. You like James Bond?
Of course. Fast cars. Evil villains. Gadgets and intrigue and sex and adventure.
And then Sean had his answer. They both needed what the other had to give. Do you still think you can handle this weekend? I cant promise itll be stress free. But if youre up to it, Ill even put you in charge of distracting the other guests while I do some in-depth searching of the premises.
She perked up another notch. Youd give me an assignment?
He glanced across the car at her. She was quite pretty when she smiled like that. If youre up to it. I dont really have time to find someone else, he added honestly.
Now she sat straight up. I can do it. I have all my meds in my purse in case I have a reaction. I want to help.
Sean hoped he wasnt making a mistake here. He promised himself to keep a very careful eye on her. He promised to remember her concerns about her father. But there was something strangely seductive about granting Caitlin McCormick her wish. Something that coursed through his veins just as powerfully as his sexual attraction to her did.
All right, then, Agent 99, prepare yourself for a weekend of adventure. He twirled his finger in the air. Turn around.
Why?
At last he felt like smiling. Because you havent really finished dressing inside a sports car yet.
Oh. Her cheeks flushed with color before she scooted around in her seat and offered him her back.
He squinted assessingly. Hed never really thought too much about the type of woman he liked. But right here and now he decided that tall was the way to go. The black dress opened in a V, revealing a long stretch of lightly tanned skin. The pink bra strap halfway up wasnt a barrier, but a reminder of the small, pert breasts that graced the other side of her wonderful body. He found the tongue of the zipper and slid it slowly up her back, wishing he could put his tongue there instead.
Maybe before the weekend was over
When his fingers brushed against her nape, she shivered. He shivered, too. But cold was definitely not the sensation he was feeling.
Fully dressed, Caitlin settled back into her seat and turned those dove-gray eyes on him. He discreetly pulled his hand away before giving in to the urge to touch her again.
I suppose well need to practice that kissing and cuddling part you mentioned. So I dont get goose bumps every time you touch me.
Her invitation was the best birthday present he could have hoped for after what had started out as a rotten, frustrating day.
The goose bumps are a nice effect. Instead of driving as fast as he legally could, Sean was suddenly looking forward to their next stop. But Id be willing to put in some practice time.
After too many weeks of all work, it was high time this birthday boy enjoyed a little play.