LITMIR.BIZ

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can never refuse a dare, never back down from a challenge. Xander holds the Little Creek RBI record, but you, Zane, won three pink slips racing your Chevelle on Old Marsh Road. Nobody has ever broken your doughnut-eating record, but one of this year’s graduates got within touching distance of taking Xander’s role as chug-a-lug champ.”

      “As always, our reputation precedes us.” His laugh faded into a wince as he looked at the mess at their feet. “I’ve got to say, this is the first time I’ve plowed into a gorgeous woman so hard that she lost her...” He glanced down again with a frown. “Is that candy?”

      Sexy-lingerie bridal shower candy, as a matter of fact.

      At her silence, he knelt down to help her gather her ruined chocolate. After scooping up a few, he glanced at them and laughed.

      “Is this a bikini top?”

      Actually, it was a bra. It went with a thong. Vivian bit her lip to keep from blurting that out.

      “Sure,” she said, since bikini was easier to explain than lingerie to a gorgeous man who made her breathless with need. Vivian scooped fast, snagging tiny chocolate nighties, baby dolls and corsets. It wasn’t that she didn’t want Zane to see her undies, but maybe not here on the street.

      “I had no idea Little Creek Bakery was quite so imaginative,” he said, grabbing another piece, lifting it high to see the details in the streetlights. “Whoa, is this a garter belt?”

      Hoping the cloak of night hid her embarrassment, Vivian wet her lips and fought the urge to grab the candy out of his hands.

      “How many styles have you got here?” he wondered, bending down to scoop up another handful. Instead of tossing them into the box like she was, though, he took time to inspect every one of them. “I’m impressed. There might be some here I didn’t know existed until now.”

      Yeah, right. She was willing to bet that Zane Bennett knew just about everything there was to know about women’s sex wear.

      “If rumors are anything to go by, though, you have plenty of personal experience to call on. Maybe I should ask you for advice for my next batch?”

      “Sweetheart, I wrote the book,” he teased. “You want suggestions, I’m your man.”

      Vivian was proud of herself. Her breath only shuddered a little and she managed to keep her moan of delight in her head.

      “So what’s the deal?” He lifted another piece of candy, this one a little bigger than the others, and frowned. “A chocolate homage to Victoria’s Secret?”

      “They’re an experiment,” she explained. “Um, there’s this bridal shower and after making the cake, I had this idea for party favors.”

      “And I ruined them,” he realized, not looking the least bit sorry. “Guess you’ll have to make another batch. You want help?”

      Oh.

      Vivian’s mind went blank. Mouth dry and heart racing, she could only stare. She wanted to think there was a double entendre in that offer, but the dim light wasn’t enough to judge his expression.

      “Do you have any experience?” She waited a beat, long enough for his eyes to meet hers. The look in those dark depths made her want to squirm. Oh, yeah. He had plenty of experience. She took another moment to steady herself before adding, “With making chocolate?”

      “Making...chocolate?” He smiled suggestively. “What do you think?”

      Oh, God.

      She tried to come up with a witty comeback. Or, hell, she’d settle for a lame one if she could just get the words out of her mouth. But how was she supposed to think with all this lust pounding through her system?

      “Chocolate is tricky to work with,” she babbled. “It’s better to do favors like these at night when it’s cooler.”

      And when the bakery was empty.

      “A lot of things are better made at night,” he murmured.

      He was flirting with her.

      Vivian wondered if it was bad form to do a butt-wiggling victory dance in the alley this late while surrounded by chocolate lingerie.

      “You’re melting.”

      “What?”

      How’d he know? Before she could figure it out, Zane angled the hand he captured up so the streetlight shone on it. Her heart pounding at the feel of his fingers on hers, Vivian caught a glance of the streak of chocolate.

      “Um, yeah. It’s warm,” she started to say.

      Then he shifted her hand to his lips.

      And sucked on her finger.

      “Delicious.”

      Desire, hot and needy, coiled tight in her belly, making Vivian want to moan.

      “Oh. My. God.”

      She didn’t know she’d spoke the chant out loud until a wicked smile flashed over Zane’s face. Not sure if she should be embarrassed or grateful for the invitation in that smile, Vivian reluctantly pulled her fingers away from those tempting lips.

      “Do you live nearby?”

      Oh, yeah.

      Her arm was in the air, ready to point toward the stairs that led to her apartment over the bakery. Inside her apartment was a bed. A big, comfy, private bed.

      But something made her freeze midgesture.

      Dozens of stories ran through her head. Stories about Zane Bennett and his legendary skill with women. The only thing more legendary was his inability to refuse a challenge.

      Ding.

      Vivian lowered her hand, letting it rest on his shoulder, her fingers tracing little circles on the back of his neck to buy time as her mind raced.

      She took a step closer, so their bodies nearly brushed, but not quite. Then she gave him her sexiest smile. She sighed, deep, so her breasts skimmed over his chest. And watched his eyes blur.

      Good, she thought as she stepped back enough to let him miss the contact. She had his attention.

      “I have some damage control to do here,” she said, lifting the box of ruined chocolates and giving it a shake. “Why don’t we meet somewhere tomorrow?”

      “Somewhere?” he repeated, his eyes boring into hers as if he could see all the way to the depths of her soul where her secrets were hidden. “Where did you have in mind?”

      Oh, so many possibilities came to mind.

      A hotel. A motel. Hot Tub Heaven. A mattress store. The back room of the bakery, where there was an ample supply of chocolate to pour over his body, then lick off.

      “Drinks,” she said, shoving the words out fast before any of those other ideas could escape. “We could get a drink.”

      “A drink sounds good.” She had to give him credit. He didn’t look upset about being put off. “Does Carvellos still have great appetizers?”

      She’d figured on meeting at the pub, with her thoughts on easy access to her apartment. Vivian’s breath caught, delight pouring through her. With its moody lighting, private booths and piano bar, Carvellos was the go-to spot for romantic dates.

      And he wanted to take her there.

      Oh, my.

      “They still have an amazing appetizer menu,” she said, blaming the giddiness in her voice on the fact that he wanted to romance her. Romance. Her. That was worthy of another “oh, my.”

      Vivian bit her lip, her gaze shifting toward the stairs and her apartment. No, she scolded herself. Stick with the plan. She wanted his attention for more than one night. Now she had it, along with an invitation for drinks at the swankiest spot in town. “Is six okay?”

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