EXCERPT INCLUDED – 99¢ sale
When Dr. Avery Brown’s scientific research jeopardizes her safety, her ex is assigned to protect her. With every moment they spend together, the lines blur, and it becomes harder to remember why she shouldn’t fall for him all over again.
~ check prices before you buy ~
Gareth reclined on the couch, arm outstretched across the top, fingertips brushing Avery’s shoulder. A heater purred in the corner, keeping the room toasty warm. She had cocooned herself in a blanket from the loft, and was near enough that if he shifted even a fraction, his side would touch hers. Her laughter rang through the air, husky and rich, as the closing credits rolled. He smiled in appreciation, keeping his eyes open though he longed to close them and bask in the sound of her laugh. He couldn’t get enough of looking at her. Her strong chin that tilted upward, the indent that gave her a stubborn countenance, the lips that parted as the breath left her in little puffs, and deep-set eyes that shone with humor.
This was the Avery he’d missed—the woman who expressed her happiness openly, but could flay you with a sharp tongue if you deserved it. Warmth grew in his chest and diffused through his body, making his limbs languid, his soul content. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d experienced such a perfect evening.
“I’ve really enjoyed this,” he told her, hoping she felt the same way and wouldn’t clam up.
“So have I,” she agreed, lips still twitching with mirth. “It’s been nice.”
Nice. He could think of many better words, but hey, he’d take it. “Nice” meant she might give him the chance to have a repeat.
“Very nice,” she amended.
He realized she’d gone still, her face angled toward him. The gray of her eyes had darkened to the color of gunmetal and he almost couldn’t tell where the irises ended and the pupils began. She sucked her lower lip into her mouth, then released it. Blood rushed away from his head, leaving him giddy. She looked like a woman who wanted to be kissed. All the reasons why he shouldn’t fled from his mind and his heart sang as he claimed her lips. He kept the kiss chaste, enjoying the sensation of his mouth sliding over hers, like silk against skin. She tasted like the coconut lip balm she’d always favored.
It was Avery who deepened the kiss, swiping her tongue across the seam of his lips as her hands came up to rest on his shoulders. His heart hammered against his rib cage almost painfully and he reminded himself to go slowly and not frighten her. He stroked her tongue with his, pleased at the breathy sound that escaped her. She dug her fingers into his shoulders and her fingertips could have been hot pokers for all that they scalded him to the core of his being.
He grabbed her by the hips and lifted her onto his lap. She shook free of the blanket and growled in frustration when their lips separated, but kissed him with renewed vigor once her bottom was cushioned against his crotch. In hindsight, perhaps this position wasn’t such a great idea. She was nestled against him in such a way that she couldn’t possibly mistake his arousal. She wriggled, and he moaned. She stiffened.
“Oh, god,” she groaned, and not in a good way. More like someone who just decided they’d made a mistake. Gareth’s stomach sank to his feet. They had made a mistake. Or at least, he had. He was working. Regardless of how pleasant the evening had been, he couldn’t kiss Avery while he was on the job. Especially when that job was to keep a professional distance and protect her at all costs.
“We shouldn’t have—” she muttered, at the same time that he cursed. They exchanged wry glances. “That was a bad idea,” Avery said. “Been there, done that, you know.” She swung herself off his lap.
Ouch. He grunted, annoyed by her attitude, especially since she’d instigated the kiss. Just when he was becoming optimistic about the future, too.
“You started that, A-Bee, not me.”
“I know.” She rubbed her eyes. “I’m sorry, G. Believe me, I don’t want to lead you on or freak you out. This evening has been intense. It brought back old memories and I guess I got carried away.”
“That’s not such a bad thing,” he replied. “This isn’t the best time for it, but you don’t have to act like you’re made of stone. It’s been a tough few days. You’re allowed to let loose a little. I’ll be here for you, I promise.” He only hoped she didn’t crush him while she was figuring out how she felt.
“I—” The noise came out choked. “I can’t let loose. If I do, I might never pull it together again.”
