Page 17 of Hard Rock Heat

"You sexing with someone?" he asked. "Is that why you're hiding your phone? I think I'm getting jealousagain."

I turned to face him, folding my arms over my chest. "I was having a perfectly productive afternoon before you showed up. You ruined myday."

"How so?" He raised an eyebrow. "I'm bringing new business to your company. You should be thankingme."

"You could have at least emailed or called instead of ambushing me in a surprisemeeting."

"Where would be the fun inthat?"

Damon took two steps toward me. I held my hand up to stop him from coming any closer. He kept moving forward until my hand was pressed against him. He radiated heat even through his dress shirt. A full body flush went through me. I pressed my hand against him to push him away. Or maybe to get a better feel of those firm muscles. My brain fizzled out the moment my fingers felt the hardness of hischest.

His hand covered mine, keeping it in place. My fingers curled into his shirt. His head angled toward me. I inhaled a sharpbreath.

Damon plucked my phone from my other hand and darted sideways. I gaped as he chuckled, my mind stillreeling.

"Give it back." I made a half-hearted grab for the phone, but he kept it out of arm'sreach.

He tapped rapidly on the screen. "Hm. No sexting. Just work emails. Boring." He tossed it back. I caught it with two still-trembling hands. "Don't know why I'm surprised. You probably haven't sent a dirty text in yourlife."

"I have so," I shot back, heart still pumpingmadly.

I should have just agreed. But he already thought I was an uptight killjoy. I didn't need to give him any moreammunition.

Of course, he jumped onit.

"Prove it," he challenged. "Send me somethingdirty."

"I don't have your number," Ideflected.

"I just programmed itin."

With a frown, I scrolled through my contacts. Sure enough, he'd put his number in there. First name, Damon. Last name, Rock Star SexGod.

"I'm still not sexting you," Isaid.

"What about a kiss?" His eyes glinted withmischief.

"No!"

"A quickgrope?"

"Not achance."

The elevator doors opened and I stepped outquickly.

"What about holding hands?" he called out,teasing.

"GoodbyeDamon."

As I hurried out of the building, I heard him laughing the wholeway.

Chapter Five

Iwas still flusteredby the time I got home. I stood outside my apartment door for a few moments before opening it, willing my flushed face to go away. I didn't want my sister to notice and start asking questions. She always called me the calm, unflappable one. If only she knew how close my inner rage monster always was to bursting from my chest with an explosion of gore and cursewords.

"Hope? I'm home," I called out when I stepped through thedoorway.

Noanswer.