LITMIR.BIZ

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laughter. “Sully? No, he’s just a friend. I help him out once in a while, that’s all. He’s a good guy, but he doesn’t have much in the way of manners. Trust me when I say you’re better off not getting an introduction. It still amazes me that he actually managed to find himself a wife.” He nodded his head toward the opposite side of the parking lot. “This way.”

      Lacey waited while Cole stowed her gear in an oversize toolbox secured in the bed of a large, black pickup truck. There was no lighting in this area of the lot, and with his dark jeans and T-shirt, the surrounding gloom all but swallowed him up. Lacey hung back, standing just outside the ring of darkness.

      She considered herself to be an intelligent woman, but taking a ride from a complete stranger had to be the height of stupidity. It had seemed a perfectly reasonable solution when they were in the tow truck with her rental car hitched to the back. After all, she had been the customer, securing the services of a professional. But discovering he wasn’t even affiliated with the towing company, and then accepting a ride in his personal truck seemed somehow … well, personal. Intimate.

      “Hey.” His voice was quiet, interrupting her thoughts. He had taken a step toward her and now stood watching her. “Having second thoughts?”

      The man was perceptive. “No, of course not.”

      He laughed softly and stepped closer. “Liar.”

      Lacey barely resisted the urge to step backward as he advanced. His knowing look, combined with a smile that could only be called predatory, should have had her running full-tilt in the opposite direction. Instead, it caused a bolt of awareness to surge through her, rooting her where she stood.

      “Why would I be having second thoughts? You don’t look like an ax murderer, but if you are, I have witnesses who’ve seen you with me.” She indicated with a nod of her head to where Sully was climbing into the cab of the tow truck. Her voice was light. “You’d never get away with it.”

      Cole’s dimples flashed as he gave her a wolfish grin. “Rest assured, when it comes to pretty women, hurting them is the last thing I have in mind.”

      Lacey felt her pulse quicken. What, exactly, did he have in mind for her? And how would he react if she indicated, by word or gesture, that she might be a willing participant? The sudden images that swamped her imagination were so vivid and so strong that heat flooded her face, making her grateful for the dim light.

      Cole’s glance moved beyond Lacey. “If you are having second thoughts, now’s your chance to say so. Once Sully’s gone, it’s just you and me.”

      Lacey turned and watched in silence as the tow truck slowly made its way across the parking lot. She saw Sully raise a hand in brief salute, and then the taillights vanished as the vehicle swung out of the parking lot and onto the main road. Drawing a fortifying breath, she turned back to face Cole with a bright smile. “I guess you have your answer.”

      He considered her silently for a moment, his expression inscrutable, before stepping back to open the driver’s door of the pickup truck. “I guess I do.”

      He extended a hand toward Lacey, and once more she found her fingers wrapped in the warm strength of his own as he helped her up into the cab. Lacey scooted across the bench seat only to be halted midway by the sight of an enormous animal sprawled on the far side. Its tongue lolled wetly from an open mouth bracketed by long, loose jowls as it regarded her drowsily, and a long tail thumped in greeting against the seat. Her mouth fell open in wordless surprise.

      “That’s Copper,” said Cole, sliding in behind the wheel. “He has a tendency to slobber, so you might not want to get too close.” He grinned. “I think he has a thing for redheads.”

      Lacey recoiled as the dog shook its head, flinging long ropes of saliva against the back of the seat. “Oh, my,” she said, laughing in spite of herself, “you weren’t kidding. He really does slobber!”

      “Sorry,” Cole said, sounding anything but apologetic as Lacey drew closer to him in an effort to avoid being splattered. “Once we get going, he’ll hang his head out the window, so you’ll be safe.”

      At least from the dog, thought Lacey. With Copper taking up more than his fair share of the seat, it was nearly impossible to maintain a respectable distance from Cole. She could feel the heat that radiated from his lean body, even as he reached over and flipped on the air-conditioning and a blast of lukewarm air billowed her skirt up over her thighs. Lacey pushed it back down and placed her purse over her knees in an effort to keep the fabric firmly where it belonged.

      “Here,” said Cole, “let me adjust those vents.”

      He extended one arm across her knees and flipped the louvers upward. His shoulder pressed against hers and his arm brushed against her breast as he pulled back. It was purely accidental, but Lacey was helpless to prevent a swift intake of breath at the intimate contact. If Cole noticed her reaction, he gave no sign, but Lacey thought he reversed with slightly more force than necessary, the tires churning up loose gravel before he changed gears and headed out of the parking lot.

      As Cole had predicted, Copper heaved himself to his feet and happily thrust his head out of the open window, his long ears streaming behind him. His hindquarters were dangerously close to Lacey’s face, and when his tail started to knock steadily against her chest, she gave a soft exclamation of surprise and gingerly swatted at the offending length.

      Cole laughed, the sound sliding over Lacey’s senses like warm honey. “That dog,” he said ruefully, “has no sense of personal space.”

      Neither, apparently, did Cole as he leaned suddenly across Lacey’s body and with one hand pushed gently but firmly on the dog’s rear, forcing it into a sitting position. “There,” he said, and his glance slid over Lacey as she pressed herself against the seat. “You okay?”

      Lacey met his gaze. Even in the darkened cab, there was no mistaking the expression of taut awareness on his face. In that instant, Lacey knew he wanted her.

      The knowledge thrilled her.

      Terrified her.

      Caused her heart to slam against her rib cage so that she was sure he would hear its betraying rhythm. “I’m fine,” she finally managed, hating the way her voice sounded breathless, even to her own ears.

      “Where are you staying?” he asked. “Mozelle or Cumberland?”

      Lacey looked at him blankly. “Are those hotels? Because I checked and—”

      Cole laughed softly again. “No, ma’am, those are towns. The closest ones with decent hotels, at any rate. Unless you’re staying with friends here in the Gap?”

      Lacey peered at him suspiciously. “Just how close are those two towns?”

      Cole shrugged. “Well, they’re in opposite directions from here, but I’d guess they’re both about an hour away.”

      Lacey gaped at him. “You’d be willing to drive me all that way?”

      He turned to her then, surprise evident on his face. “Yeah. Why wouldn’t I?”

      Lacey stared at him for a long moment before dragging her gaze away. Of course he was willing to drive her that far. He probably thought he’d be well rewarded for his efforts. After all, she’d done nothing but ogle him since she’d first laid eyes on him. For a moment, Lacey battled with herself, torn between doubt and anticipation, because a part of her wanted him to want her. But she didn’t want him to think she was an easy conquest.

      His lips tightened before he returned his attention to the road. “I see. You think I’ll want some sort of payment in return for the lift.”

      “No—” Lacey began, ready to deny what she had, in fact, been thinking.

      But Cole held up one hand, forestalling any further words. “It’s okay,” he said. “Because you know what?” He slanted her one long, meaningful look. “You’re right. I’d be lying if I said the thought hadn’t crossed my

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