“Oh, please,” she muttered, grinning slightly when he laughed. A small silence descended over them while he stared at her over the rim of his glass.

“So, tell me, Hailey. What do you do for a living?”

She sipped her wine, calming a bit at the mundane question. “I work for a logistics company, where I run the transportation department.”

“Do you like it?”

She paused in her answer, aware no one had ever asked her that before.

“I guess I do. I like feeling needed, and I’m very good at my job.”

He pursed his lips. “You probably know I work construction.” She nodded. “Does that bother you to be out with a blue collar kind of guy?” His words were light, but the intensity behind his gaze made her wonder.

“Why would it? Of course, I was blackmailed into this date,” she teased, “so I’m not sure my answer qualifies.”

“Good one.”

“However, I respect anyone who holds down a steady job.” She stared into his eyes, delivering the truth. “Contrary to what it seems, I’m not into appearances. I’d rather go out with a trash picker who’s caring and kind than a millionaire who’s nothing more than a womanizing jerk.”

“Ouch. Okay, I get it. I promise not to stare at the hostess’ ass while I’m with you.”

She chuckled, feeling oddly at ease with the gruff man. “Considering she’s old enough to be your grandmother, I’m sure your attention would only encourage a heart attack.”

“Or a stroke. And I’m no good with hospitals. When my dad died, it was all I could do stomach the pine-scented hallways.”

“Yeah,” she nodded, remembering her mother’s last year. “I felt the same way when my mom passed.”

After a moment, he shrugged. “Sorry I brought death up at dinner. I’m not really a conversationalist. Or so my brothers tell me.”

Death at dinner. He sounded as socially inept as she felt. The thought made her smile. “Tell me about your family.”

“Uh, wouldn’t you rather tell me about yours?”

“My mom died four years ago, my father left when I was seven, and I have no other family. Now, how about yours?”

He rolled his eyes. “Fine. You asked for it. My dad’s gone. My mother and older brother Dylan are psychiatrists, and spend too much time analyzing the rest of us.

Derrick, my other older brother—and did I mention he and Dylan are twins—and I work together in construction.”

“That’s nice to be so near your family. I used to wish for a twin sister, but then I thought we’d fight over each other’s clothes.”

“And boyfriends?”

She smiled and shook her head. “I’m not a very social person, Gage. I don’t date much.”

“Why not?” He looked puzzled, and as his stare slowly traveled over her face and breasts, she felt the temperature in the room rise. “I have a hard time believing you lack for men.”

“Oh?” She couldn’t help sounding frosty.

He sighed. “What, I offended you for hinting at your beauty? Sue me. Remember, I’m the one who felt like meat.”

“A walking, prancing hamburger,” she muttered and tucked into the food the waiter brought.

Gage laughed loudly. “Come on, Hailey. Admit it. You wanted me doused in ketchup, with you being the bun. Or maybe the pickle?”

“Shut up,” she said, trying not to smile at his joke.

“Or maybe mustard? You’re blonde, and you seem more spicy than sweet. Yeah, mustard. I like mustard.”

“Anyone ever tell you you talk too much?”

He frowned and looked like he wanted to say more, when suddenly he lifted his fork and began eating. Silently, stoically.

Taken aback, she paused. “I was just kidding. I like mustard too,” she said softly.

He glanced up, studying her for a moment, then smiled, his grin putting her at ease.

“Good. Because I changed my mind. One dinner’s not going to cover my feeling like a walking hamburger. I want desert too, at my place. Nothing more,” he said quickly, forestalling a possible rejection. “Your friend’s across the quad, and if you like, we can eat it in full view of her place.”

Hailey thought about Faith looking in on her private, intimate time with Gage and quickly quashed the notion. “No, that’s okay. I suppose I should trust you, considering you could have turned me in before now.”

He grinned, the sensual twist on his lips making her shift in her chair. Had to be his cologne or something. Around Gage, she felt in perpetual heat—and that was so not like her. “Come on, Hailey. Do you really think a guy would admit to a bunch of cops, let alone his cousin, that a bunch of women were watching him walk around his place halfnaked?”

“Um, I guess not.” She wanted to correct him, to remind him that he’d walked around completely naked, waving that impressive penis like a magic wand, and casting a spell over her. Instead she forced a grin and continued to talk with him about a variety of subjects throughout the dinner, constantly amazed at how easily the conversation flowed.

Arriving at his home, each having driven their own cars, they walked together, close but not holding hands, up the stairs. Whereas before, their evening had been filled with wry laughter and interesting conversation, now Hailey felt a sexual tension that refused to let her go. Sure, she’d been drawn to him from the first. But she felt downright edgy, aching for him in the most carnal of ways.

The hot stares he kept giving her when he thought she wasn’t looking didn’t help, especially since she’d been staring at him, and none too subtly, since they’d arrived at the apartment complex.

He opened the door and followed her inside, his breath hot on her neck as he trailed her through the foyer. She couldn’t help a shiver, nonplussed when he noticed.

“Cold?” he asked quietly, his eyes burning.

“A little,” she lied, embarrassed to be so reactive to his presence. Good lord, but he made her as jumpy as a cat.

“Then I guess hot fudge sundaes are out of the question.” He looked disappointed, like a small boy told he couldn’t have a favorite treat, and she smiled.

“Well, I guess I could make an exception for chocolate and ice cream. I’m not a monster, you know.”

“I know,” he murmured, staring at her. He shook his head and turned into the kitchen. “Sit at the counter and prepare to be amazed.”

Unable to eat more than half her bowl, Hailey sighed and leaned back, staring woefully at her uneaten chocolate sundae.

“That’s a waste.” Gage echoed her feelings, his bowl licked clean.

“Sorry. But I honestly don’t know where you put it all.” She couldn’t help staring at his lean torso, still in awe of his perfect body. He was all tendon and muscle, whereas she still had an extra five pounds spread between her ample thighs. And she didn’t want to think about her butt.

“I could say the same about you,” he murmured, his gaze riveted to her face, wandering from her eyes to her lips.

Her nerves tingled and she felt her nipples bead into stiff points of arousal. Damn.

And she’d been doing so well. She’d spent a good twenty minutes with him without thinking about sex…much.

“Hailey, about the other day,” he began, and she immediately pictured him in nothing more than boxer-briefs.

Her heart thumped wildly. Hailey had never wanted anyone so much, and it scared her to feel so intensely about a man she barely knew. She quickly stood and placed some distance between them. “Look Gage, this was fun. But I need to head back.”

“Hailey, what’s wrong?” he asked quietly. He traced her face with his eyes, and his gaze roamed further down, resting over her taut breasts with what looked like satisfaction. Then he glanced at her face again and frowned in thought.

His quiet did little to ease her tension, and in fact irritated her that he felt so damned calm around her.

“Look. We had our dinner and our dessert. It’s been fun, but I have to go.” Before I jump you, acting like one of the desperate sleazebags I work with. He leaned closer and she took another whiff of his cologne. Angered at her faltering control, she snapped.

“This is really your fault anyway.”

“Oh?” he asked coolly, his eyes flashing. Good. Not so calm now, are you? “How so?”

“If you didn’t want to be watched, you really should have closed your curtains,” she said primly, aware she was acting like a complete idiot. But how was she supposed to act when her blood wouldn’t stop rushing to her breasts, to her loins? She throbbed as she watched him, wondering how to handle her reactions, let alone this man. “Just like a man to blame a woman for something that’s his fault.” Come on, Gage, get angry. Tell me to leave before I jump you like a starving woman.

She took a hasty step back when he pushed off the kitchen stool and approached her slowly, carefully, like a predator stalking prey.

“Now, honey, who said I didn’t want to be watched?”

Her eyes widened, and she gasped when he caught her in a tight embrace.

“I knew you were looking at me, Hailey. And I could only imagine those honeybrown eyes wide with desire, those full, cherry-red lips slick and open, just waiting to be filled by my tongue, or even better, my cock.”

Before she could protest, he ravaged her mouth with enough heat to make her melt, while stealing her very breath. He tasted like chocolate, and his lips felt like velvet.

Gently prodding, he entered her mouth with his tongue, sweeping the moist cavern with delicious licks that set her heart hammering for more. She could feel her womb pooling with want, her clit pulsing from just the touch of his carnal mouthon hers.

“Mmm, better than I’d imagined.” He chuckled throatily. He increased the pressure of his kiss, taking and plundering, making her knees weak and her head spin. The feel of her breasts pushing against his unyielding chest thrilled her. And when his large, callused hands moved from the small of her back to her ass, she almost sobbed his name as he pulled her tight against that most impressive part of him.