Hot in Here: Uncovered / Tailspin / An Honorable Man. Lori Foster

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СКАЧАТЬ His shorts rode low on his hips, hugging a narrow behind and strong thighs. “This is kind of embarrassing.”

      She knew all about embarrassing. “Why? We’re friends.”

      He nodded, turned to face her. “She said I’m generous.” Harris looked uncomfortable. “And funny and heroic.”

      Men could be such dolts. “Well, of course she did. Because you are.” Clair handed him his water. “You’re one of the greatest guys I know.”

      The water never made it to his mouth. “You think so?”

      “Absolutely.”

      “But I didn’t know....”

      “Harris,” she said with aggrieved sigh. “Do you think I’d hang out with a guy who was an idiot?”

      His mouth tipped in a crooked grin. “You call me an idiot all the time.”

      Too true. It had always been her way of making sure she kept her feelings to herself. A self-protection mechanism of sorts that reminded her she wasn’t to get too romantic with Harris.

      Clair moved back to the living room and dropped onto her overstuffed, oversize couch. She stretched out her legs, caught Harris staring at them, and smiled. “Yeah, well, I insult you with affection. I don’t mean it.” She sent him a quick grin, just to keep her comments from getting too dramatic. “If I didn’t like, respect and admire you, I wouldn’t want your company.”

      His brows came down, his expression arrested. Clair stared at him over her glasses. “Now what’s wrong?”

      With a small shake of his head, Harris muttered, “I need to think. You’ve sort of thrown a bunch of stuff at me all at once.”

      “Thinking is good.” Clair waited while he, too, plopped onto the sofa. Because of their conversation, sitting so close to him felt different this time. “You should decide what you’ll do once you find this woman. I mean, have you considered that?”

      He propped his big feet on her coffee table and let his head fall back. “At least a hundred times.”

      Clair stared at his abdomen. It, too, was hard, lean and ridged with muscle. A dark, silky line of hair led from his navel to beneath the waistband of his shorts.

      She held herself in check, when what she wanted to do was attack him again. “So,” she said, sounding a little strained, “what if she’s a witch? What if she has an ogre’s personality? She could be like a fatal attraction or something. A nut. A slasher even.”

      Harris rolled his head toward her. “You made your point early on, hon. Now you’re just stretching it.”

      Clair shrugged. “But the point is valid.”

      “Maybe.” Harris stared at her, surveying her face as if trying to read her thoughts. “She didn’t sound like a slasher in her notes. She sounded like a nice lady.”

      Here we go again. “You don’t want a nice lady, Harris, remember? You want someone who’s out for kicks. Nice women tend to get serious thoughts when they’re having sex with a guy.”

      His blue eyes filled with speculative interest. Still lounging back lazily, he said, “You’re nice.”

      Nervousness fluttered through her. Was there a point to that? Maybe something she was missing? She took a big gulp of her water, then agreed, “I’m very nice.”

      Harris warmed to his topic, leaning toward her a bit, resting his arm along the back of the sofa. His fingers just touched her nape, teasing her a bit. “So if we slept together,” he asked in a slow drawl, “you’d want to settle down with me?”

      Lord yes. She wanted to claim him as her own, and have babies and make love every night.... “I dunno.” Her feigned indifference was laudable. “See, even if we did sleep together...”

      “Yes?”

      “I have an advantage.”

      “Do tell. I’m on the edge of my seat here.”

      Smugly, Clair stated, “Unlike other women you know, I have no illusions. I’ve watched you revel in your bachelor ways.”

      “I don’t revel.” His mouth flattened in distaste. “You make it sound like I go around dancing and singing about it. I just enjoy my life, that’s all.”

      “Thing is,” Clair continued, ignoring his protests, “I’m not sure you really know what you want or feel.”

      “So I can’t figure out you or me, huh? What a dope I must be.”

      “I didn’t say that, Harris. Don’t put words in my mouth.” He grinned at her, seeming far from insulted. “Look at the way you’re panting over a photo. That proves you’re anxious for a serious relationship.”

      “You think so? I thought it just meant I was curious.”

      So curious, he’d hired two very expensive detectives to find the woman. Clair made a face at him. “What if,” she said, determined to get her theory out in the open, “what you really want is to be loved?”

      For a suspended moment in time, Harris froze. Then he jeered. “Do I look that needy to you?”

      “No.” Given the perfect opening, Clair spoke from her heart. “You look like a guy who’s a great catch. Earnest when you need to be. Reliable. Dedicated.” Melancholy got a stranglehold on her. Helplessly, she said, “You’re a hero, Harris. A gorgeous, sexy, funny, bona fide hero.”

      He slowly straightened in his seat. “Don’t overdo it, Clair.”

      “I’m serious.” She scooted closer to him on the couch. “You’re an incredible guy.”

      His gaze zeroed in on her mouth. “Clair, you do realize you’re turning me on again, right?” His big warm hand came up to cup her cheek. “I hope that’s your intent and not part of this new sadistic streak you’ve developed.”

      Clair chewed her lower lip. She did want to arouse him, but she didn’t want to push him too far. She wanted them to talk more before they took the plunge.

      “Listen. I’ve told you what I really think of you.” She drew a deep breath for courage—and inhaled his scent. After their jog, he was a little sweaty, but he smelled delicious. The way a man should, the way Harris always did. “Now why don’t you tell me what you think of me?”

      His thumb brushed her jaw. “Sure.” The left side of his mouth kicked up. “You’re cute, in a funky egghead, jock sort of way.”

      The romantic haze cleared from around her. “Be still my heart.”

      The teasing glimmer in his blue eyes clued her in. “Now Clair, what did you want me to say? You keep changing on me, so I don’t know your personality anymore.”

      He knew her better than anyone, including her family. He just didn’t realize it yet.

      “I can’t even tell what you’re thinking most СКАЧАТЬ