turned to smile up at him. “I told you; we can share the title.”
He tightened his arm around her and dropped a kiss on her lips. He was afraid that any minute now she was going to get out of bed, get dressed, and go. He didn’t want her to. He had no idea what he was doing here—other than earning himself a place on Callahan’s shit-list.
He was starting to question whether Callahan’s reasoning was even valid. Sure, he didn’t need any distractions, but …
She started to pull away from him. But he hugged her tight to his chest. “Stay?”
She sagged against him. “I shouldn’t.”
“Why not, Leanne? Give me a clue.”
She sat up and looked into his eyes. “Are you going to give me a clue why you shouldn’t be asking me to?”
He shrugged. “I shouldn’t, but I will.”
She watched his face, waiting.
He smiled. “And when I do, will you tell me?”
It was a tough decision for her; he could see it in the way she swallowed and chewed the inside of her lip before she nodded. “I’ll tell you a little.”
“Okay, deal.” He smiled. “I’m only going to tell you a little, too.”
She leaned back against the headboard. Her smile was gentle as she said, “Before you say anything, I promise I’ll keep your secrets.”
That made him hesitate, wondering a second time if she was some kind of setup. Was someone trying to find out what he knew and using her to do it? Or was Callahan testing him to see how much he might give away?
He searched her face, but the only answer he found there was that she was beautiful and that she did indeed have some kind of power over him.
“I shouldn’t ask you to stay because I shouldn’t allow myself to get close to anyone—to get attached to anyone—while I’m here.”
She looked up at him. “Your rules or someone else’s?”
“Someone else’s.”
All the color drained from her face and her nostrils flared. “Oh, God. Please tell me you’re not married?”
He wanted to laugh, but her horror was real, so he reassured her quickly. “I’m not married. Not in a relationship. Don’t have a significant other of any description. In fact, there isn’t a woman on earth who would have a problem knowing that I’m here in bed with you now.”
She gave him a skeptical look. “I think you might actually believe that last part, but I’m telling you there are plenty who would.”
“What do you mean?”
She smiled and ran a hand over his chest. “Any woman who’s ever slept with you would have a problem that you’re in bed with me instead of her.”
He dropped a kiss on her lips. “I’ve told you, flattery will get you everywhere with me.”
“Perhaps so, but it’s not flattery, just the truth. Anyway, if you shouldn’t get involved with me because of someone else’s rules—someone who isn’t a woman—can you tell me who?”
“Not exactly. My employer. You already know that I’m not exactly what I seem.”
She looked up at him. “I had a feeling about that. The whole, not really a student, not really a banker. This is like some secret spy shit, right?”
He had to laugh. “You could put it like that, yeah.”
“How would you put it?”
“I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t say anything. All I’ll do is tell you a couple things that aren’t true and let you make of it what you will.”
“I don’t need to know the details. It’s probably better that I don’t, right?”
He nodded. Callahan had told him enough horror stories. He knew that when you had people you were close to, they could become targets when things went wrong. The less they knew, the better—for everyone’s sake.
She was frowning now. “So, being with me might blow your cover or something?”
“No. It’s not that. More that I might be distracted.”
She smiled. “I promise not to distract you. You can save me just for bedtime, if you like.”
He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her to his chest. How many women would be happy with that arrangement? And why was it that she was the only one who he wanted more than that with?
“I don’t just want you at bedtime, Leanne.”
“Did you consider that might be all I want you for?” She was laughing at him.
He made a face at her. “I did, but I know you can’t get enough of my personality—not just my cock.”
She rolled her eyes. “So full of yourself.”
He chuckled. “With good reason, as you now know.”
She nodded. “There’s no way around