LITMIR.BIZ

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and breathless well described the state Finn had left her in last night, and it hadn’t cleared up in the almost twenty-four hours since. Finn’s clean scent lingered in her nose, evoking painfully crisp memories of being with him, loving him.

      And suffering the agony of finally accepting that he cared nothing for her. Cared nothing for her pain at losing the brother she’d helped raise.

      All Finn cared about was zipping himself into the uniform of Delamer’s military and wearing it with nationalistic pride.

      Madness. Why had she agreed to this date again?

      Elise stuck her head in the door of Juliet’s room.

      “Almost ready? Oh. You’re not even dressed yet. What are you wearing?”

      A flak jacket if she was smart. And if they made one you could wear internally. But she’d come to America in hopes of finding a new direction. She’d stay open to the possibility that time had dulled Finn’s zealous fervor.

      One date. One night. What did she have to lose?

      Her eyes narrowed. She’d stay open, but that didn’t mean Finn didn’t deserve to suffer for his sins.

      “I want to wear something that will show Finn what I’ve endured in your makeover program because of him. The sexier and more painful for him, the better.” Hours and hours of hot rollers, facials and balancing on four-inch heels were about to hit his royal highness where it hurt.

      “Yellow dress, then. I brought you something.” Elise held out a velvet jewelry box.

      Mystified, Juliet opened the lid to reveal a silver heart charm dangling from a matching chain, and another heart dangled from the first, one clutching the other to keep it from falling. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

      Simple but elegant, perfect for a tomboy who’d rather be doing something athletic than primping.

      Elise clasped it around Juliet’s throat. “I give all my makeover clients a necklace. I’m glad you like it.”

      When the hired car with dark windows rolled to a stop outside Elise’s house, Juliet was slightly ashamed to realize she’d been haunting the window for nearly fifteen minutes waiting for its appearance. How pathetic.

      She swung open Elise’s front door, and the sheer heat in the pointed once-over Finn gave her swept everything else away.

      “Hi.”

      “Wow,” was all he said in response.

      Little pinpricks worked their way across her cheeks in a stupid blush. “Yeah? It’s okay? Elise picked out the dress.”

      And what was under it, but odds were slim this date would go well enough to model the silk lingerie.

      In answer, he grasped her hand and led her out of the house. “I like what I see so far. Come with me so I can properly evaluate the rest.”

      Her arm tingled from his touch against her palm, warming her in places Finn had always affected quite expertly.

      Whom was she kidding? Finn was nothing if not talented enough to get her out of the sunny yellow dress and ivory alligator sandals in less than five minutes if he so chose.

      She let him hold her hand down the walk. Partially because she wanted to pretend things were somewhat normal. That this was a date with an exciting man who was whirling her off to a night of possibilities.

      He tucked her into the backseat of the luxurious town car and settled in next to her, his heavy masculine presence overwhelming in such close confines. She almost jumped out of her skin when he leaned forward, brushing her arm and setting off a throng of iron-winged butterflies in her stomach. But he only pressed the button to raise the dividing panel between the driver and the back, lingering far too long for such a simple task.

      The car slid smoothly away from the curb and flowed into traffic.

      “Where are you taking me?” she croaked and cleared the awareness and heat from her throat. “Some place trendy and hip?”

      “Not on your life. I’m not sharing you with hordes of paparazzi and gawkers.”

      Oh. “Are your bodyguards in another car? They’re never far away unless you’re working.”

      He squeezed the hand he was still holding. “Worried? I’ll keep you safe.”

      Without a doubt. It was what he did. Most people ignored those in distress, but he reveled in protecting people. Always had.

      They chatted about inane topics such as Dallas weather, but thankfully, he did not mention football. The only sport he’d ever followed was Formula 1 racing, but he respected her complete boredom with cars looping a track and seldom talked about it.

      “We’re here,” Finn pronounced as the car stopped under a tree.

      Juliet took in the scene through the window. Beyond the roadway lay a secluded private park, where a single table and chairs had been set out with a perfect view of the sunset. A man in a tall white chef’s hat stood off to the side, chopping with a flashing knife on a temporary work surface.

      “Nice,” Juliet acknowledged with a nod and peeked up at Finn from under her lashes. “Out of curiosity, what would you have done if it was raining?”

      “We’d get wet. Or we’d ride around and look for a drive-through with decent takeout and eat in the car.”

      She smiled at his pragmatism. He’d never let a little thing like a change of plans put a hitch in his stride. “Then I’m glad it’s a clear night.”

      His answering grin warmed her neglected parts far past acceptability.

      “After the obscene amount of money I paid to rent this park for the night, including an added fifteen percent to buy out the existing reservation, it wouldn’t dare rain.”

      No, it wouldn’t. Rain didn’t fall on the head of the privileged. Once, he’d made her feel as if the evils of the world couldn’t reach them, as if he’d always be the one person she could count on. Until he wasn’t.

      Finn jumped from the car and helped her rise from the low leather seat. The driver sped away after being told to return in two hours. They were alone.

      Juliet started to walk up the path to the center of the park.

      Finn tugged on her hand, swinging her around face-to-face. “Maybe we should get something out of the way.”

      “What’s that?” The words were half out of her mouth when the sizzle between them and the glint of anticipation in his blue eyes answered that question.

      He was going to kiss her.

      Involuntarily, her tongue came out to wet suddenly dry lips and his eyes lingered on them before he met her gaze squarely.

      “This.”

      Juliet froze as Finn’s mouth descended.

      A part of her screamed to break his hold, to run before it was too late. Her legs wouldn’t move.

      Then his lips claimed hers, taking her mouth powerfully, demanding a response. It was Finn. So familiar and hot and everything she’d been missing for a very long time. She moaned and leaned into it, desperate to taste the divine, to plunge into him.

      Euphoria rushed through her veins, deluging her senses with sharp, slick desire. Pushing eager fingers through his short hair, she held his head in place as the kiss exploded with incandescent energy.

      Their bodies melded, aligning just right, just as always. Yes. Oh, yes, she’d missed him.

      Missed how he never held back, missed his intoxicating presence and missed how his strength enabled hers.

      His hand slipped beneath a spaghetti strap at her shoulder and he skimmed silky fingertips down her back. If he kept this up, her lingerie would be making an appearance after all, very shortly.

      He

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