Worth the Risk_ A Contemporary - Megan Hart Page 0,99

to see Shane’s grin.

“I think I might be, if it’s okay with you and your mom,” was what he said, as casually as if she’d asked him if he was going to stay for dinner.

“It’s about time,” Maeve said and continued on her way, followed by Aislin, who gave a heartfelt, “You said it!”

Arden looked back over the railing, her cheeks aflame, but her heart pounding in triple time. Shane curled his fingers in a little half-wave, and his smile shot deep inside her, all the way to her core.

“I’ll be down in a few minutes,” she told him.

“I’ll be here,” he replied, and Arden went upstairs to tuck in her angel-monsters and send them off to their dreams, while one of her own waited for her below.

Downstairs she kissed him again and settled onto the couch to turn on a movie neither of them would remember much of, if they were lucky. And they would be, she thought as Shane put his arm around her more comfortably than he ever had. Some doors stayed open for a reason.

Nothing in Common

Dedication

To Billy Zane for being just too darned pretty

Chapter 1

Men like that should be illegal.

The man standing across the room from Lila Lazin was utterly, unquestionably perfect. Broad, strong shoulders, flat stomach, narrow hips, long, lean legs. His midnight-colored hair was cropped short around his smooth neck and perfectly shaped ears, but left longer on top so the errant pieces fell across his forehead to brush eyes a pure light hazel, like amber touched with green, contrasting sharply with the brows the same inky shade as his hair. His strong, firm jaw and sensuous lips looked as though they could bring a woman to her knees with one kiss.

Some other woman, maybe. Handsome men were like bargain basement grab bags. They came in attractive packages that promised an exciting surprise inside, but once you got them home, all you ended up with was a bunch of junk. He’d spout words as pretty as his face until a better prospect came along, just like her last boyfriend had done. Though it had been over for two years, the memory still stung enough to make her rattle the ice cubes in her glass. William Darcy had told her he’d only dated her to do her a favor. He’d left her for a woman who looked like she’d been built from the Everyman’s Dream catalog.

No, Lila had been there, done that, didn’t need to do it again. Men who looked like that were great as eye-candy, but anything beyond that, she could do without. Unfortunately, he’d caught her staring. With a slight smile playing about his incredible mouth, he headed toward her. Now she’d done it.

It’s all fun and games until someone catches your eye.

"Excuse me, but I couldn’t help noticing you from across the room," the object of her attention said.

His voice, low but not rumbling, smooth like silk, went straight to the pit of her stomach, where it took a sharp turn south. Satin sheets and candlelight, she had time to think before he spoke again and saved her from her own long-ignored and petulant libido.

"Have we met before?"

That mouth and those eyes might be thigh-opening, but his opening line left her flatter than day-old beer. In a way, it was a relief. A convenient buffer against his unbelievable face and perfect body.

"I don’t think so."

"I’m sure I’ve seen you before. I’m pretty good with faces," he insisted.

"Me, too, and I’m sure I would have remembered yours." Distracted by the sight of his mouth moving, she spoke before she knew it. Her cheeks heated as she realized what she’d said. Of all the idiotic replies! Not that he seemed to mind or even notice. Then again, a man who looked like he did must surely be used to women drooling and fawning all over him.

He smiled and stuck out his hand. "Tom Caine."

"Lila Lazin." She allowed him to capture her hand with his for a moment. His fingers were warm.

The silk of her dress began to rub her in all the right places. Lila shifted, and the cloth whispered first on her stocking-clad legs, then higher up, against the bare skin of her thighs. Damn her laziness for not buying more pantyhose. She'd thrown on a garter belt and stockings earlier because she had no pantyhose without runs, and they'd suddenly started to seduce her. She forced herself to stand still, even though the pressure of his fingers on hers still