Dara Girard - Her Tender Touch

“Jason, it’s okay.”

“Now.” His gaze never left the man.

Abby grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the door. “Jason, I have to talk to you.”

He glared at the man, then let her lead him outside. “What?” he asked, once they were in the hall.

“Congratulations. You have just failed your first test.”

“Test? I thought we weren’t doing tests anymore.”

“You can’t, but I can. I’m the teacher, remember?”

He rested a hand against the wall behind her. “Yes, I remember.”

“Nicholas Brant is a dear friend of mine.”

“You mean what happened in there was an act?” he asked, doing his best to rein in his temper.

“Yes,” Abby said in a clipped tone. “I wanted to see what you would do. How you would respond.”

“How was I supposed to respond?”

“With more tact. Not so aggressive. You looked like you wanted to slug him.”

“I did.” He sighed, hating that he’d disappointed her when today had meant so much to him. He’d wanted to make a good impression, but he kept failing. First, missing her presentation and now, this. “I didn’t like how he was treating you.”

“And that’s not the problem,” Abby said, softening her tone, as though he were a wayward child she wanted to correct. “You could have just led me away.” She smiled briefly. “However, the look you gave him was eloquent enough.”

He drummed his fingers against the wall with irritation. “That sounds like something from out of a textbook, not real life. What would you have done if you were me?”

She paused. “If I were you?”

“Yes. What would you have done if you saw a beautiful woman you were attracted to being disrespected by another man?”

Abby opened her mouth to say something, then closed it and shook her head. “That’s not a fair question.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s hypothetical. What really happened in there was about a man who was embarrassed about being late, who was annoyed that he had to come here in the first place and who wanted to handle his frustration by throwing some punches.”

Jason narrowed his gaze. “I thought you knew me better than that.”

Abby licked her lips. “I do.”

He watched the motion with interest, wishing he could moisten them some more for her. “Then why would you discount the fact that I’m attracted to you?”

“How you feel about me is not the issue here.”

“How come?”

Abby licked her lips again. He groaned inwardly, wishing she’d stop doing that. “Do I make you nervous?”

“You make me angry.”

He sighed, wanting so badly to kiss her, he had to grip his hand into a fist. “I’m sorry I missed your presentation,” he said with sincerity. “I won’t do that next time.”

“Don’t worry, there won’t be a next time. Right now you need to focus on smiling and shaking hands.”

He caught and held her gaze. “The only hand I want to hold is yours.”

“Jason.”

His gaze dropped to her lips. He wanted to do more than hold her hand. “Don’t pretend you don’t feel it, too.” He met her eyes, seeing the sizzling awareness in her gaze that mirrored his. “From the first moment, I knew you were the one.”

She shook her head. “I can’t risk it.”

“What?”

“Anything more than a personal relationship with you.” She shook her head again. “I mean professional.”

He grinned, pleased she was flustered. “You were right the first time.”

“No, I wasn’t. I can help you, but not if you’re going to play games.”

His grin fell. “I’m not playing games.”

“What happens if you’re disappointed?”

He frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“What if I let you kiss me right now and it’s awful?”

“It won’t be.”

“Will you stop working with me?” she continued. “Or will that satisfy your curiosity enough to let you realize that—”

Jason didn’t hear the rest of her words. Only one important thing echoed in his mind. “You’re going to let me kiss you?”

Abby threw up her hands. “Were you listening to a word I said? I said there are con—”

* * *

She didn’t get to finish before his mouth covered hers. Abby felt herself sinking into sweet ecstasy as his mouth claimed hers, and he crushed her body to him. His demanding lips caressed hers, his large hands exploring the hollows of her back. He was hard and hot, sending her senses reeling. In his arms she no longer felt like a cold day, but like a hot summer night. She now knew —not just imagined—what he felt like.

He fumbled behind her, opened the door to an empty room and pulled her inside. Jason was delicious, like double fudge chocolate, and although he could be misunderstood, she felt she knew him more than any man she’d ever met. When she heard him groan, then suck in his breath in surprise, she pulled away and noticed her hand had dipped dangerously below his belt. He was clearly aroused. She shoved him away, horrified by her behavior. “I am so sorry,” she said, coming to her senses with a painful thud.

“Don’t be,” Jason said quickly. “It’s nice to know you’re as eager as I am.”

He could be casual about it, but she couldn’t. “No, that was wrong, and I sincerely apologize. I promise it won’t happen again,” she said, breathless but fighting for composure.

“You’re joking, right?”

“I made a mistake.”

“No, you didn’t. Let me treat you to dinner.”

“I can’t,” Abby said, sounding miserable to her own ears. “I feel awful, you’re my client and I—”

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