LITMIR.BIZ

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to know her. The fact seemed to startle him if the frown that tugged at his mouth was any indication.

      For the first time, she noticed that he wasn’t carrying edible undies or massage oils or anything else out of a Naughty Nights catalog. Rather, he carried a duffel bag and a clipboard. Realization struck, along with a rush of disappointment.

      “You’re not here about the personal ad, are you?”

      He shook his head. “I’m the private security consultant hired by the county to analyze your current system. I’m sure Sheriff Keller must have mentioned me.”

      “He did. He also said to expect you tomorrow.”

      “I finished up my previous job a little early so I thought I’d get a head start.” He gave her a disarming smile. “We’re not talking any major changes. Just a few added precautions to keep you guys on the transfer schedule with the major prisons. You do take transfers, don’t you?”

      She nodded. “We had one delivered a few days ago. There was some confusion with his paperwork. He’s sitting here while they sort out the transfer details and then we’ll be handing him off to El Paso.”

      “Perfect. I’ll take a look inside, make sure he’s safe and secure.” His gaze slid past her and for a brief moment, without his full attention fixated on her, she felt a niggle of doubt.

      There was something slightly off with Colton Braddock. Something she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

      “It’s really late,” she heard herself say, “and I’ve got a lot of loose ends to finish up before my shift ends. Why don’t you come back tomorrow? I can show you around then.”

      “And give you time to check out my credentials?” He arched an eyebrow.

      “I have to follow procedure.” She shrugged. “I’m sure you understand.”

      He swept a gaze around the room, seemingly memorizing every detail before his attention shifted back to her, his gaze a brighter shade of blue this time, and she forgot what she was about to say.

      Instead, she found herself wondering what he would taste like. Sweet and intoxicating and addictive? Dark and dangerous and forbidden? All of the above?

       And then some.

      The sound of his voice floated through her head, but his lips didn’t move. Instead, they tilted in a sensuous grin that did wicked things to her self control. Her hands trembled and her mouth watered.

      She wanted to kiss him so badly.

      And he wanted to kiss her.

      She could see it in the way his eyes darkened and the muscle in his jaw twitched. He wanted to close the distance between them. Just a few feet and bam, they’d be toe-to-toe.

      Touching.

       Kissing.

      “Tomorrow it is,” he murmured. And then, just like that, he vanished. No creak of the door. No click of the knob. Nothing. It was as if he’d disintegrated into thin air.

       As if.

      She’d been on the job for twelve hours straight, pulling a double shift yet again to prove to Matt that she was more than capable and dedicated. She was starting to get punchy. That was the reason she hadn’t seen him turn and walk away. Even more, it explained the crazy disappointment whispering through her.

      A kiss?

      Seriously?

      She hardly knew him and he hardly knew her. Even more, she wasn’t going to get to know him because he was only here to tweak their security system. It was business and everyone knew that the town’s first female deputy didn’t mix business with pleasure.

      No matter how hot he was or how sexually frustrated she was.

      Rather, she was going to go home just as soon as Bobby got back, drown her troubles in a hot bath and get some much-needed sleep before she came face-to-face with Colton Braddock first thing in the morning.

      Until then …

      She walked over to the box of pastries, unearthed a chocolate-covered donut and took a big bite. The sugar melted in her mouth, sending a rush of satisfaction through her, albeit a temporary one. They weren’t that stale. At least not to a desperate, deprived woman.

      It wasn’t sex, but it was definitely the next best thing.

       4

      COLTON CLIMBED BEHIND the wheel of his truck and tried to figure out what the hell had just happened.

      He’d tried to glamour her and it hadn’t worked. Not a lick.

      Sure, she’d looked as if she’d wanted to fall under his spell with her parted lips and her smoldering eyes and her take me now vibe. She’d even leaned toward him once or twice, as if she meant to give in to the pull and cross the room. But then …

      Nothing.

      Not a damned thing.

      She hadn’t launched herself into his arms and begged him to come closer, to make himself right at home.

      Hell, no. She’d stood her ground and told him to come back tomorrow.

       Tomorrow.

      If he hadn’t been so irritated, he might have actually smiled. It had been a long time—over one hundred and fifty years to be exact—since a woman had faced off with him and actually won.

      Women typically melted at his feet when he looked into their eyes. Not that he was proud of that fact.

      It was simply the nature of the beast that he’d become and, he had to admit, it had its advantages. He didn’t have to worry about showing his true nature when he was having sex. All he had to do was stare deeply into his partner’s eyes and will away her memory of him.

      But there was too much riding on this moment and he needed inside of that jail too badly to be the least bit amused right now. Or turned on. He needed Shelly’s cooperation more than he needed her luscious body.

      The thought struck and conjured all sorts of images and he damned himself for thinking with his dick. But that, too, was the nature of the beast.

      He wanted her the way he wanted all women.

      Okay, so he wanted her a little bit more. She was more sexually frustrated than the average female which meant she had all that sweet, succulent energy bottled up inside of her, just waiting to be unleashed. That made her all the more attractive and damned if he didn’t want to peel away her stiff exterior and see the delicate curves hiding beneath.

      Hiding. That’s what she was doing.

      He knew because he’d been doing it himself for more years than he could count. Living in the shadows, protecting his true nature, surviving.

      For revenge.

      That’s the reason he’d kept going all those years ago when he’d lost everything. The reason he kept going now. He’d dreamt of payback, lusted after it, and now was his chance to have it.

      He didn’t have time for some stubborn female with a badge. No time for touching or kissing.

      Especially kissing.

      He played the scenario over and over in his head for the next few minutes. The desperate urge to cross the distance to her, lean forward and touch his lips to hers.

      To distract her. Persuade her.

      It certainly hadn’t been because he’d wanted to kiss her. Sex was one thing. It was all about survival. Sustenance. But kissing? Talk about personal. Colton had no intention of getting personal with any woman.

      No matter how much he suddenly wanted to.

      “There’s no reason

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