Worth the Risk_ A Contemporary - Megan Hart Page 0,154

to pummel him soundly. Tom responded by twisting her arm up behind her back and tickling her mercilessly. Both ended by laughing hysterically.

"So when can I meet Lila the Great?"

"How about tonight? She’s supposed to come over and watch a movie."

Emma nodded. "Cool. Maybe I’ll ask Mike to come over, too. It can be a double date."

A discreet knock came at the door. Jennifer stuck her head inside, her brilliant smile fading a bit when she saw Emma. The spunky redhead took that as her cue to leave and pressed another kiss to Tom’s cheek.

"Tom." Jennifer’s voice was smooth. "Wendi and I are going to Wanda’s Beach Club after work. Do you want to come?"

"Thanks, Jen, but I’ve got other plans." Wanda’s was a meat market that Tom had never liked. The thought of going there with Jennifer and Wendi made him shudder.

Already the thought of curling up on his battered sofa with Lila was making him smile. They’d make some popcorn. Maybe they’d play a board game with Emma and Michel. It was the kind of domesticated evening that would have made him run screaming into the night only several months ago, but with Lila, it seemed perfect.

Jennifer pouted. "Too bad. We’ve missed you coming out with us, Tom."

He shrugged. Jennifer’s wide-eyed gaze and pouty smile were starting to wear thin. She was acting as though the few times he’d seen her socially had been dates, which they most adamantly weren’t. Tom didn’t do anything beyond casual flirtation with anybody he worked with.

"Got other plans."

She just didn’t seem to be getting the hint.

"A hot date?" Her voice made it clear that any date not with her couldn’t possibly be hot enough.

"Just renting a movie."

"Alone?"

For some reason, he didn’t want to tell Jennifer he was planning on staying in with Lila. It was just the sort of private information that could lead to rumors around the restaurant, and he didn’t want that. Besides, what he did on his own time was his own affair. More than that, he had an idea telling Jennifer about Lila would only lead to more questions he didn’t feel like answering.

"Yeah."

"Okay for you." Jennifer shrugged. "You’re going to miss out on a great night. Tonight’s the wet T-shirt contest."

Tom managed a smile. "I’ll survive."

"If you say so." She left the office.Tom hooked his coat from the rack and grabbed his keys. The evening manager, Frank Philips, had already come on duty, so The Foxfire was under control. As he slipped out the back exit and into the parking lot, however, Tom discovered he wasn’t going to be heading straight home after all. The Foxfire back lot edged up against the parking lot to the building housing offices for one of Harrisburg’s most prestigious law firms. Typically, the building was dark and the lot empty at this time, but tonight Tom saw a dark-colored Lexus still there. It was parked facing him, just a few spaces away from the Tahoe.

The car’s presence was a little strange. He headed toward his truck, but it wasn’t until he saw a brief flash of white from the Lexus’ passenger side that he could tell how strange. As Tom got closer, he realized with some surprise the flash he’d seen was flesh. Bare flesh.

The Lexus was moving a little, rocking slightly back and forth in a very characteristic way. Now that he drew nearer the car, Tom could see its windows were steamed up. Another flash of white, and this time he recognized it as a foot pressing against the front windshield.

Now he was uncomfortable. In order to get to his truck, he’d have to pass right by the Lexus, close enough to see inside. Whoever was in there wouldn’t appreciate an audience, of that Tom was certain. He was debating whether to slink by with eyes averted or go back to The Foxfire and catch a cab when the Lexus’ front door opened and a woman almost tumbled out.

She was, Tom was immensely relieved to note, clothed. Not fully, and certainly not well enough for the cold weather, but she wasn’t naked. A tall, chesty brunette, the woman leaned against the car and began taking long, deep drags on her cigarette. She didn’t notice Tom.

"Get back in here!" a male voice demanded from inside the car. "You want someone to see you?"

The brunette stuck up her middle finger at him. "If you won’t let me smoke in the car then I gotta do it outside. And I ain’t giving