Obviously startled, she lifted her head and searched his expression. Her eyes were wide, and she looked just as surprised as he felt, though he didn't regret issuing the invitation now that it was out in the open between them. He wanted to share something special with her, to make her forget for a little while about the anguish and uncertainties she'd been living with for the past week. There was no reason for her to be alone with her turbulent thoughts tomorrow while he was celebrating his father's birthday with his family. Not when he had the power to give her a sense of belonging and unconditional acceptance at a time when she doubted both.

She licked her lips nervously and shook her head. "Steve… I don't think that's such a good idea."

Cupping her cheek in his palm, he smoothed his thumb along her baby-soft skin, inhaled her shower-fresh scent. "Sweetheart, it's just a party."

"A family kind of party," she pointed out, making it clear that she wasn't related in any way.

"And what-I can't bring friend?" he countered wryly, and swiped a playful finger down the slope of her pert nose.

"Is that what I am to you?" she asked quietly, the question loaded with meaning. "A friend?"

She was his lover. A sexy siren who was tying him up in knots. A fascinating woman he couldn't seem to get enough of. "I'd like to think we're friends, yes. But you're also the woman I'm currently going out with." A woman he was falling hard and fast for.

So simple, yet so complicated.

She moved off his lap and sat on the cushion beside him, their warm and cozy moment over. "I don't want to give your family the wrong impression about us. I mean, we're not really going out going out."

An unexpected wave of frustration swept through him. "No?"

"We're not, well, dating." She waved a slender hand in the air between them, grasping for the right words. "We're just… having an affair."

The corner of his mouth twitched with exasperation. She made their relationship sound so brief and impersonal, and he was unjustifiably annoyed that she wanted to keep things so superficial, when that was what they'd agreed upon in the first place.

"Maybe we need to go on a date so that we're officially going out," he suggested quite seriously.

She laughed, but there was no real amusement in the sound. "I'm not asking for a date, Steve, or anything else from you. I accept our relationship for what it is, and I know where we stand with each other."

So she kept reassuring him, and she seemed fine with the arrangement. He was forced to admit that he was the one feeling restless, and wanting… more.

"I can promise you that my family will accept our relationship for what it is." He reached for her hand. Her fingers were cool against his palm, and he wrapped them in his heat. "Unlike my brother Adrian, who believes inviting a woman to meet Mom and Dad is the curse of his beloved bachelorhood, I have no problems bringing a lady friend to meet my parents."

He didn't bother to tell her that she was the only female he'd wanted to bring home since his divorce. "My family understands that I'm not looking for anything serious, but I know they'll like you."

The lamplight in the living room softened her features and made her eyes appear luminous. He could tell she was wavering, and pressed his advantage.

"And it's not like you won't know anyone at the party." His thumb caressed her knuckles. "You've met my partner, Cameron, and my brother Eric, and you know Jill, so that's nearly half the family right there." Not counting the other fifty or so friends and relatives who would also be there. But there was no sense overwhelming her with that small detail.

"As for you," he went on purposefully, "I think the break will do you good and take your mind off of things for a few hours."

She opened her mouth to reply, and he instinctively knew what was coming, and thwarted her response. "And don't give me the excuse that you have to work at the cafe, when I know you have capable employees who can handle things for an afternoon."

A reluctant but humorous smile made an appearance. "What are you, a mind reader?"

"I'm just trying to head off every foreseeable argument you might come up with, because I'm not taking no for answer." He placed a kiss in her palm and enjoyed her reaction.

A matching spark of desire lit her gaze. "You're very bossy and persistent, you know that?"

"And you're very stubborn, so I think that makes us just about even, wouldn't you say?" He lifted a brow, daring her to still refuse him.

She rolled her eyes and conceded defeat. "All right, fine, I'll go."

"Good girl." Framing her face between his hands, he brought her mouth to his and kissed her, long and slow and deep. With a sigh of acquiescence, she entwined her arms around his neck, and he pushed her down onto the couch and stretched out beside her, so that he was half covering her body and one of his legs was insinuated between hers. With their lips still fused, he slid a hand beneath the hem of her pajama top and strummed his fingers along the underside of one plump breast in a featherlight caress, and felt the mound grow taut.

She sucked in a quick, aroused breath. His cock hardened in a rush.

Lifting his head, he flashed a wicked grin down at her. "I'm glad you changed your mind, or else I was going to have to resort to some very stimulating torture tactics."

She laughed huskily, clearly unthreatened. "Maybe you could torture me anyway?"

He tugged on the drawstring of her pants, loosened the ties, and skimmed his palm over her hip, dipped his hand between her thighs, and discovered that she wasn't wearing any panties. She was also hot and wet, and his fingers slipped inside her with ease, stroking deep. She moaned and arched into him, her eyes glazing over with passion.

"Oh, yeah," he rasped as he drew out the tension he was building within her, watching as she shuddered with need. "It would be my absolute pleasure to torture you."

And he did… a slow, sweet, delicious kind of torment that brought them both sensual enjoyment and immense satisfaction.

Chapter 10

Liz had been under the mistaken impression that Steve's father's birthday party was going to be a small family affair. Apparently, the man who'd coaxed her into coming to the celebration had failed to mention the fifty or so friends and relatives who'd been invited as well.

Sitting at a round table shaded by a large tree, Liz took a drink of her lemonade, completely overwhelmed by the sheer volume of guests milling about in the Wildes' large backyard, which had been festively decorated for the occasion in a country-western theme. A live band belted out all the latest country-tunes as party-goers two-stepped on the patio. A catered barbecue buffet, the selections of which had been absolutely delicious, had been set up to feed everyone, and an open bar flowed with unlimited beer and drinks. Adding to the gaiety, the sun shone bright and warm, though a light breeze made the afternoon bearable.

The atmosphere was casual and fun, and while her appearance definitely drummed up interest and glances of speculation, especially with Steve insisting on holding her hand whenever he was by her side, his immediate family was just as accepting and genuine as he'd promised. She'd been introduced to his mother and father, whom she immediately liked. The only brother she'd yet to meet was Adrian, who, according to Steve's mother, Angela, was running late on a rock-climbing expedition he'd taken a client on earlier that morning. Adrian was expected to be there soon, and Liz was undeniably curious about the sibling both Steve and Eric referred to as the Wilde One.

A round of jovial laughter brought Liz's attention back to the occupants seated at the table. With herself, Jill, and Steve's good friend and partner, Cameron, as an audience, Eric and Steve were sharing humorous tales about years gone by, and their power of persuasion with the female gender at a very-young age.

"Remember when you coaxed Tess Callen into our clubhouse and convinced her to play doctor with you, Eric?" Steve drawled, and took a drink from his cold bottle of beer. "The two of you were only seven, but even then she had a crush on you and willingly played as your patient."

Eric ducked his head and chuckled. "Yeah, I remember."

Jill slanted him a curious look, tempered with amusement, from her seat beside him, obviously wanting to hear more. "I can't wait to find out how you took advantage of that situation."

"Me?" Eric feigned innocence, though the naughty sparkle in his eyes gave him away. "I'd never do such a thing."

"Uh-huh, sure. I know better." Jill motioned for Steve to continue the story.

"Mom thought the kids might like some fresh-baked cookies, and when she peeked into the window of the clubhouse, she caught Tess with her pants down around her knees, and Eric giving her a pretend shot on her bare rump."

Laughter erupted around the table, and Liz joined in. She could easily imagine Eric as that precocious, mischievous little boy, flirting with girls to get his way.

Cameron saluted Eric with his beer and scooped up a handful of party mix out of the bowl on the table. "What a charmer you were."

"Still am," Eric replied with that trademark Wilde grin that had no doubt set plenty of pulses aflutter, but which now only belonged to one woman. "I've always been a sucker for a nice butt, even then. Lucky for me, Jill's is world-class."

Jill rolled her eyes, her cheeks flushing a becoming shade of pink. "Flattery will get you everywhere."

Eric nuzzled her neck, not bothering to hide his affection in front of friends and family. "God, I'm hoping," he growled playfully.