him.
Against his mouth, she whispered, “We shouldn’t be doing this.”
“No.” But he kept kissing her, over and over. He let one hand slide over the curve of her hip, palming her backside to hold her to him. He slid his other hand slowly up her front, tracing the line of buttons, taking his time in anticipation. He let the back of his knuckles brush over her breast and was rewarded with her groan.
“Adam.”
His name on her lips was a breath of sound, of need, and he cupped her breast, pressed his hips against hers as he explored the thin bra that revealed the hard point of her nipple. He imagined the pretty underwear she’d mentioned, and he started to unbutton her shirt so he could see.
“Whoa,” she said, suddenly putting her hands flat against his chest. “My mom is waiting for us.”
He kissed her cheek, her brow, and murmured, “Is that the only reason you’re stopping us?”
Her hesitation was the only answer he needed, and he kissed her again, deeply, before stepping back.
“Adam . . .” she began, even as she tried to zip up her coat.
Her fingers were trembling so much that he brushed them aside and zipped her up himself. Then he cupped her face in his hands and gently kissed her again.
“Oh, Adam,” she breathed, sounding forlorn.
“I know. This is wrong, but I couldn’t stop myself.”
She flipped on the light and opened the door again. “You said it right the first time. This is wrong. It’s only happening because we each haven’t had anybody in a long time.”
“I haven’t said that. I have a different woman every week.” He teased her and didn’t know where that came from.
She stared into his eyes without any humor at all. “I don’t think so. In fact, I don’t think you’ve kissed a woman in a long time. And I’m convenient.”
“You’re not convenient,” he said, following her down the steps to the back of the pickup. “Hell, this lust I feel goes against everything I think is right.”
“I’m hardly flattered,” she said, hefting a sack of mineral pellets over her shoulder and going back up the stairs.
He grabbed two of them and followed her. “Don’t be like that. I can’t do this because I work for your family, and I want them to trust me.”
“Our reasons aren’t too different.” She dropped the sack onto the floor and watched as he piled both of his on top. “You work for me. This has to stop. And it doesn’t mean anything, Adam, you know that.”
They finished unloading the truck in silence, then went up to the house. Brooke shivered as the light snow touched her hat, then the back of her neck, but she wasn’t cold. Oh, no, she was hot and achy and aroused and frustrated. What had gotten into Adam, kissing her like that? Pushing her up against the door, his big body holding her there, his mouth hot on her neck, his hand on her—
She pressed her lips tight together, or she would have embarrassed herself with a groan.
Once they’d pulled off their coats and boots in the mudroom, Adam excused himself to wash up, and Brooke went into the kitchen.
It looked so normal, the big windows full of light, Sandy behind the counter enjoying the food prep. Brooke had heard often enough from her mom that feeding your family was an act of love. Brooke couldn’t be surprised that it was one of the first chores her mom wanted to reclaim, but still, it gave her a lump in the throat just seeing the radiance of her smile.
“Before you say anything, I didn’t go crazy,” Sandy assured her. “It’s a simple meat loaf, nothing fancy. You can help me make a salad.”
Her dad and Josh came in just as Adam returned, and the three men grabbed beers and started to discuss football. Brooke was a fan of the Broncos, so she chimed in occasionally as she chopped and started to relax.
Adam volunteered to help prepare the salad, and Sandy shooed him away. “We’re almost done,” she insisted.
Brooke was relieved. She was afraid she’d start blushing too much if she stood next to Adam. As it was, Josh gave her a curious glance at one point, and she gave him a curious glance back. When they all sat down to dinner in the kitchen, she hesitated, trying to decide if it was better to sit next to Adam or across from him.
Damn it all, he was affecting too much of