to wonder if he knew she was there at all.
How was he able to set her off balance so easily?
“Dan? Are you going to sit in the middle of my home reading all day? I have things to do.”
“Like what? I thought today was your day off?”
“Like…like…I do things on my day off. Personal things.”
“Errands?”
She actually had no errands to run, but wasn’t going to admit that. “Yes.”
“I can go with you. We can talk.”
Jodie closed her eyes, defeated. “Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what? Making you breakfast? Wanting to talk?”
“No…yes. I mean, there’s nothing to talk about. What happened happened. And we both know why it happened.”
“It happened because we’ve been attracted to each other for some time, and it was bound to happen sooner or later.”
“I don’t think—”
“It’s true. I could prove it mathematically if you like, the odds of two people as close as we are, over a number of years—”
“Stop, please. No math,” she begged. “Don’t you think your little experiment with the cologne would throw off your results, anyway? This was attraction that you manufactured, and you know it.”
Dan was nonplussed. “I didn’t wear the cologne last night, Jodie. I admit I did wear it to the shop, yes, but I didn’t wear it last night, though there was some residual effect. I could see it with women’s responses to me all day.”
“Like what?”
He shrugged. “They wanted to stand closer, their pupils dilated, their bodies and postures showed clear evidence of attraction. So I knew the cologne was probably still active in some way, even though I had tried to shower it off. For that reason, I had promised not to let anything happen with us last night, but when I saw you…it was like…” He caught her gaze and held it, his own so intense it was like a touch. “It was like an explosion.”
He frowned then and kept talking. “But let’s back up here a minute. I admit, the cologne could have had some effect, but you were clearly intent on seduction last night. The clothes, the invitation…and you planned that before I showed up at the door. Long before the cologne would have been an issue.”
He stared at her, not saying another word, and she swallowed hard.
Nailed. In more ways than one.
Throwing her hands up, she knew there was no point in denying it. “Okay, fine, that’s true. I had planned to get back at you for using me with that cologne, for that kiss. I thought I’d give you a dose of your own medicine and lead you on a little, and then let you know I knew it was the cologne, and leave you…” She stopped, feeling her face heat as she realized what she was admitting.
Dan finished her thought for her. “You figured you’d get me all hot and bring me to the edge, and then leave me there? And let me know why?”
She let out the breath she was holding. “Yes.”
“I see. I guess there’s one other thing I’m still confused about.”
“What’s that?”
Dan stood and walked over, standing close to her, though he didn’t try to touch her. “I am attracted to you, Jodie. I’ve wanted you for years, and it’s been hell watching you with other men. I won’t deny I wanted you last night, but I didn’t intend to sleep with you—until I saw you. And I think my reaction felt…enhanced, as well. Like maybe you were helping things along as well? And I don’t just mean with that sexy nightie and the seductive talk.”
Jodie looked away. “I might have had a few cookies, just to teach you a lesson. To show you what it felt like.”
“I figured. So the effects of the cookies and the remnant of the cologne in my bloodstream…do you think that’s all we can attribute our behavior to?”
Why was her heart pounding so hard in her chest? She wanted to take a step back, but the wall was right behind her.
“What do you mean? Of course that’s what happened. It was a bad plan in the first place, and I never considered that I wouldn’t be able to resist the effects of the cologne,” she said, her voice softer than she wished.
“Your pulse has spiked, your cheeks are flushed, and your pupils are dilated,” he said, raising a hand to her cheek.
“It’s that stupid cologne. Does it ever wear off?”
Dan smiled. “There’s no way the cologne is still having any major effect at this point. The ingredients break down over forty-eight