Reaching across the console, he found the hand resting on her thigh and entwined their fingers together. "They like you, too."

Was he saying that just to be nice, to make her feel good? "And how do you know that?" she asked casually.

He came to a stop at a red light and glanced her way, the tenderness and caring in his gaze just as genuine as the tone of his voice. "Because they all told me so."

Little did he know, he'd just given her a perfect ending to an equally perfect day.

Chapter 11

Steve disconnected his evening call with Liz, ending another night of phone sex along with a second attempt to express his interest in meeting Liz in person.

Tonight, she'd delighted and aroused him with a personal fantasy of her own that had stirred his libido into a raging inferno of need. Even now, as he lay on his bed, his cock was granite-hard, full to bursting beneath his boxer shorts, and lust clawed at him as he replayed Liz's provocative fantasy in his mind while he waited another ten minutes for her to sign out and get to her car.

She wanted to be chased, captured, and forced to submit to a virile, lusty pirate, a man she secretly desired but would never admit to being attracted to, because it was so forbidden. In explicit, vivid detail, she'd pulled him into her enthralling tale, explaining the various methods by which the bold, dominant pirate would stake his claim on her, and how he'd possess her in wild, wicked, thrilling ways. But she wouldn't be his prisoner against her will, because despite all rules of propriety, she wanted the dark and dangerous pirate. And in the end, she'd surrender to him with abandon.

It was an erotic, exciting fantasy Steve wouldn't mind enacting for her. In fact, he was already considering the different ways to bring her private adventure to life.

For another few minutes he let his mind create various tantalizing scenarios; then he picked up the portable phone again and punched in her cell phone number. The line connected on the second ring.

"Hi there," she said, her voice soft with fatigue and not nearly so perky as she'd been with him just fifteen minutes ago. Her exhaustion wasn't surprising, considering the long day she'd had, and it was after midnight.

"Nice fantasy tonight," he complimented.

"You liked that, did you?" she murmured huskily, sounding pleased at her ability to seduce him.

"Oh, yeah, I liked. Very much." The hard-on that was still raging at full mast was testimony to her extraordinary talents to weave such sexy, tempting tales. "Would you like me to buy an eye patch?"

Her gentle laughter tickled his ear. "You look enough like a pirate without one."

He shifted on his bed, trying to find a cool spot on his sheets for his overheated body. "You sound tired."

"I am." She sighed, the slow exhale backing up her claim. "I think this week of working double shifts is finally catching up to me."

"You're probably right." He heard her stifle a yawn and smiled. "And today was busy, too."

"But well worth it." Honest appreciation laced her voice, making him glad he'd extended the invitation to his father's party, and that she'd accepted.

He'd only meant to share the day and his family with her, to distract her from everything else going on in her life. But she'd fit in so well, and having her meet his brothers, parents, and other relatives had evolved into something more significant for him. The emotions filling his chest definitely conflicted with the years he'd spent avoiding any kind of serious relationship with a woman, yet Liz wasn't like any other woman he'd dated since his divorce.

He had no idea what would happen between them once they located her cousin and the case was over, but he hoped Liz would be open to pursuing their relationship and seeing where it led them. A huge step for him, but one he was willing to take with her, because he just couldn't imagine letting her go.

"Tell you what," he said, making a split-second decision on both their behalf. "I'm kinda beat myself, so why don't we call it a night?"

"You don't mind?"

"Of course I don't mind." He ignored the throbbing in his groin that protested otherwise, telling himself a night of abstinence wouldn't kill him. "As much as I'd love to come over and be your pirate, I think you need a good night's rest more." And he needed time and distance to sort through his growing feelings for her.

"I can't argue with you there."

Steve couldn't tell if she was relieved or disappointed, but imagined she was a little of both.

"By the way," she went on, "I checked my schedule at The Ultimate Fantasy, and I have tomorrow night off, but I'll be spending the entire day at the cafe, getting caught up on paperwork and inventory for next week."

"I have things to do at the office, too." Sitting up on the edge of the mattress, he stared at his reflection in the mirrored closet doors across from him, which conjured up an idea or two in terms of her pirate fantasy. "I'm sure I'll talk to you at some point tomorrow."

"You know where to find me."

"That I do." He chuckled and regretted that he wouldn't be seeing her tonight, but knew it was for the best. "Drive home safely, and dream of me when you fall asleep tonight."

"Believe me, I already do."


***

Liz finished balancing her business checking account and was overjoyed to find that after all her expenses, she actually had a decent amount of money left over. According to her profit-and-loss statement, business was up by a good ten percent from the previous month, all great news since she'd spent the past three years struggling to claw her way out of debt. Gradually, she was getting there.

Now paying off her aunt and uncle was her main priority, and she was whittling away that financial obligation little by little, as well. She wrote them out a check, adding a couple of hundred dollars more to the monthly amount they'd agreed upon, because she could afford to do so this time around. She also earmarked another few hundred to add to the money she owed Steve for his PI services. Another debt she intended to pay off in full.

Satisfied with her day's work, she closed her accounting journal and slid it back into the office safe behind her desk. It was nearing seven-thirty in the evening, and while it had been a busy, productive Sunday, she felt more exhilarated than tired, because she'd gotten so much done.

She was surprised, however, that she hadn't heard from Steve. When she'd called her answering machine at home that afternoon to check her messages, there had been a call from Antonio, asking her to meet him at The Ultimate Fantasy Monday morning at eleven A.M., saying that there was an advancement opportunity within the company that he wanted to speak to her about. She'd been excited to have gotten the call both she and Steve had been waiting for, and had immediately dialed his cell phone number, only to get his voice mail. She'd left him a brief message but hadn't heard back from him yet- and that had been nearly three hours ago.

With a sigh that held too much disappointment, she picked up the stack of paid receipts and statements and began filing them in the old secondhand cabinet against the far wall. The task was a mindless one, allowing her thoughts too much freedom to stray and wonder about where Steve was, and what he was doing. One day apart and she missed him, more than was prudent, considering that such a wistful emotion had no business playing any part in their short-term relationship.

Her heart thumped hard in her chest, making her breath catch with deeper meaning, as was happening much too often lately. She shook herself hard. She couldn't afford to fall in love with Steve, knew she'd be setting herself up for heartbreak if she did so. Yes, he was wonderful and caring and a generous lover, but she didn't need another bad boy who rode a motorcycle and enjoyed adventure and spontaneity and said he didn't want a lifetime commitment.

He was fine for the moment as a fun fling, but not for the future. She'd already let one bad boy lead her astray, and she was still dealing with the fallout of that tumultuous relationship. Still trying to pay off debts and keep her business running smoothly and profitably while establishing her independence all over again-not to mention the responsibility she'd taken on to watch after her cousin.

"Hey, sexy," a low, deep voice said from behind her, jarring her out of her private thoughts. "Wanna get lucky tonight?"

Liz whirled around-startled, pleased, and thrilled to find Steve leaning lazily against the doorjamb of her small makeshift office. He was wearing tight black jeans and a long-sleeved black turtleneck, and his leather jacket was casually slung over his shoulder. He obviously hadn't shaved that day; dark stubble shaded his jaw and cheeks, and his thick, sable hair was rumpled around his head. A roguish grin curved his lips, and his bright blue eyes sparkled with shameless purpose.

He looked disreputable, gorgeous, and ready and willing to commit a whole lot of sin.

Okay, so he wasn't husband material, but the man was most definitely her every fantasy come to life. She'd already given herself permission to enjoy him for the time being, and that was exactly what she intended to do.

"Hi, yourself." She filed the last of the statements, closed the cabinet, and went back to her desk. "What are you doing here?"

He pushed off the doorjamb and strolled into the room, filling her sanctuary with his dominating masculine presence. "I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by."

"I'm glad you did." She smiled as she secured a rubber band around the paid bills she needed to mail tomorrow morning. "Are you here for your caramel frappuccino?"