Page 13 of Love Walks In

Forcing her attention away from him, she tore the lid off the tuna and tossed it into the wastepaper basket beside the narrow desk. A sleek laptop computer and dozens of papers and folders cluttered the surface. A business trip, then.

Which begged the question…

She glanced surreptitiously at Hunter’s left hand. No wedding ring, not that that meant much. Not that she should even care about his availability.

Porkchop side-eyed her, whiskers quivering and nose twitching. Aria set the open can in the crate. In a streak of orange-and-black, the cat leapt off the bed and into the crate. Gobbling sounds emerged.

“Gotcha.” She closed and latched the door, throwing Hunter a relieved smile. “I made the mistake earlier of leaving the back door unlocked when I was taking out the trash. That’s how he escaped. That definitely won’t happen again.”

He picked up the crate and carried it to the window. “I’ll bring it to your car.”

“No need. I can take it.”

This time, however, he appeared determined to do things his way. After he’d hefted himself over the windowsill, Aria handed him the crate and climbed through. The rain had finally stopped, and they crossed the wet grass to her old, beat-up van.

“You can put him in here.” She opened the passenger side door and indicated the seat. “I really couldn’t have caught him without you.”

“Not for lack of trying, though.” Amusement shone in his eyes as he set the crate into the van and locked the seatbelt around it. He peered through the crate slats at the cat. “Don’t cause any more trouble, okay? Your mistress isn’t one you should run away from.”

Though his tone was offhanded and casual, his remark lit a glow around Aria’s heart.

Hunter closed the door and stepped onto the sidewalk. Silence filled the space between them, threaded with a hint of tension.

“So.” She tightened her fingers around her keys. “I’m sorry again for annoying the crap out of you and all.”

“Actually, I take that comment back.” The overhead streetlight made his dark hair gleam with strands of gold. “Thanks for annoying the crap out of me. You made my evening a hell of a lot more interesting than it otherwise would have been.”

“Well, then. You’re welcome.” She took another reluctant step back and lifted her hand in a little wave. “See you.”

“See you.”

Aria dragged her gaze from him and started around the van to the driver’s side. A sudden impulse seized her. She stopped. Her heartbeat ratcheted up.

Pushing aside all misgivings, all thoughts, she turned and ran back to him. In one movement, she leapt up and threw her arms around his neck. He startled, closing his arms around her tightly the second before she kissed him.

Hard. She pressed and rubbed her lips against his and flicked her tongue out to caress the seam of his lips. He stiffened in surprise. Then his restraint snapped like a rubber band. He lifted one hand to the back of her head and crushed his mouth to hers.

Desire sparked and flamed inside her. He’d lifted her clear off the ground, and her body was pressed fully against his. Tension laced his muscles. A throb pulsed in her veins. She opened her mouth and let him inside. As she’d suspected, as she’dknown, he was as deliciously good at hot, greedy kisses as he’d been with a gentle one.

Better, even. He slid his tongue over hers, nibbled at her bottom lip, and licked the corners of her mouth. She squirmed against him, the friction of their bodies hardening her nipples against his chest. Her pleasure blossomed outward, filling her veins.

He drove one hand into her hair, threading his fingers through the damp strands before moving to press his lips to her cheek. His stubble scraped her skin exquisitely, igniting little fires in her veins. She dug her fingers into his shoulders, forcing herself to lift her head.

Lust brewed in his eyes. Her heated breath puffed against his mouth. Slowly, he lowered her to the ground, sliding her body against his. Her heart hammered.

“Thanks for your help,” she whispered.

Before he could speak, she broke away from him and ran back to the van.

“Aria—”

She shifted into gear and pulled onto the street. Every part of her felt warm and glowing. She’d thought the light inside her had gone out long ago.

How crazy and wonderful thathehad made it burn so brightly—a captivating stranger she would never see again.