Page 46 of Professional Consult

He’s warm underneath this cold exterior, melting me from the inside out. A part of me knows this is a bad idea, but instead of retreating to safety, I press even harder against him so that my chest is against his.

His hand finds the small of my back, and his eyes eventually go half-lidded. Slow, sensual, hungry sounds escape his mouth into mine. He deepens our kiss, his fingers digging into my flesh like he never wants to let go.

I wasn’t the only one hungry. We were both starved.

It’s Riggs that draws us back to reality, barking at Luke for trespassing on me.

Yes, Riggs has totally claimed me.

Luke looks away shyly, his eyes darting back to me every few seconds.

“Um, we should probably get over to Tiffany’s,” I say.

He nods, as though relieved that he doesn’t have to talk about what just happened. “Yeah, we’ll head over now.”

What I don’t tell him is that I fully intend to devour him once we get back.

CHAPTER11

LUKE

What the hell was that? What did it mean?

LexifreakingDash mauled my mouth.

The American Sweetheart I so love to loathe.

The woman that’s sent my life into a tailspin.

And I liked it.

More than liked it.

But she’s a Hollywood girl, prone to fantasies and fleeting feelings. The kiss meant nothing. Not a damn thing.

To her.

To me, it was everything.

I pull into Tiffany’s driveway, remembering the last time I did this some seven years ago. Before Clint ran off to Hollywood.

Her parents have since moved to Florida, leaving her and her husband the house, which has hardly changed.

The steps creak as we climb to the front porch, and I make a mental note to bring over my toolbox one night to take care of the issue.

The door opens before we have a chance to knock, and I’m taken aback by how familiar it feels.

“Lexi! It’s so good to see you again,” Tiffany enthuses, pulling her into a hug.

“Luke,” her husband Mike says, extending a hand out for me to shake.

I accept his hand. “How’s it going?”

“Pretty good. Yourself?”

“Ever since this pain in the ass came into my life,” I gesture to Lexi, “it’s gone downhill pretty quick.”

Everyone laughs except Lexi, who socks me in the arm.