All I Ever Need Is You (The Sullivans #14)(10)

The things he could do to her with words had her wondering just what he was going to be capable of once mouth and hands and naked skin were involved. And oh, wasn’t it lovely to know that she was actually going to find out?

Still, their negotiations weren’t over yet. “Your brother and Brooke can’t know. None of your family can know, either.”

Now his eyebrows were going up. “You want me to be your secret?”

“Rafe and Brooke are very important clients. I won’t jeopardize their wedding for any reason.”

“Not even for hot sex with me?”

Honestly, by now she didn’t want to walk away, not when her body was already humming and buzzing with desire. But if he couldn’t even agree to this? “If you won’t keep it a secret, then it looks like you and I won’t—”

“How many siblings do you have?”

Frowning at the sudden change of subject, she said, “One. A sister.”

“Then you’ve got to know just how good family is at getting up into your business and sniffing out anything even remotely secret. Fortunately, I have a few tricks of my own.” He grinned, more than a little wickedly. “You want us to keep each other a secret, then that’s what we’ll do.”

“Good.” She was pleased, turned on...and out of her depth all at the same time. Which meant that she needed to turn back to what she knew better than anything else—putting together meetings and calendars. “Are you free Friday night?”

His nod was so easy that she had to wonder how many times he’d done this before. Then again, it didn’t matter, did it? Because there was no place for jealousy in one night of sex.

Instinctively knowing they shouldn’t bring anything personal into it, she said, “The Four Seasons is halfway between our offices.” She’d been meaning to check out the recent renovations they’d made to the location for her clients. Her night with Adam could also double as research for her business. Perfect.

“I’ll make the reservation,” he said.

“Thank you.” This was good, their being so businesslike and efficient. It was as far from setting up a date as she could imagine. “I should be able to get there by seven.”

But businesslike and efficient went out of the window as he took another step closer to her, reaching out to brush away a lock of hair from her shoulder. Even through the layers of wool and silk, she could feel the heat of his touch, and barely fought back a shiver of need.

“Seven will work for me,” he said, “although I hope you don’t have anything you have to get to in the morning. Because I’m not planning on letting you get much sleep, Kerry.”

Before she could respond—or even begin to untangle her overexcited synapses into thinking of a response that might make the slightest bit of sense—his secretary beeped him on the intercom.

“Jay Jones has arrived for your eleven o’clock meeting, Adam.”

The sound of the buzzer yanked Kerry back to reality. One where she’d been about to ask—to beg—Adam to pretend that it was already Friday night.

“I have a meeting soon, too.” She backed away from him so quickly that cool air rushed between them.

“I’ll walk you out.”

She nodded, calling on her poise as she said good-bye to his employees on her way out of the building. After opening the front door for her, he stepped outside with her and closed it behind them.

She couldn’t read his expression as he gazed at her, his eyes dark and intense. “Anything you need before Friday night, call me.”

“The plans for the gazebo look great, so we shouldn’t need to go over them again.”

“I’m not talking about the gazebo or the wedding.”

She’d known that, and knew he deserved her being just as direct as he was. “I’m not going to change my mind about meeting you on Friday.” She wasn’t going to wimp out, wasn’t going to let nerves take away the only chance life had ever given her to focus solely on pleasure with no emotional repercussions. “But if you need anything before Friday—”

“Nothing is going to keep me from you, Kerry.” His eyes darkened even further. “Nothing.” With that, he leaned forward, and her heart nearly leapt out of her chest as he lightly pressed his lips to her cheek and whispered, “See you soon.”

It was the kind of kiss friends gave one another. It should have been sweet. Perfectly innocent.

But, oh God, just the barest brush of his lips against her cheek was hands-down the hottest thing she’d ever experienced in her entire life.

Just minutes ago, when she’d made the decision to sleep with him, she’d been so confident, so rational, so certain that everything would be okay. But as she walked back to her car, her legs were a heck of a lot less steady than they’d ever been before.

If the brush of his lips on her cheek could turn her insides to mush, what would a real kiss do to her?

The question should have scared her. Should have made her spin around and tell him to forget the whole thing.

Instead, Kerry couldn’t stop smiling.

CHAPTER FOUR

“Give me the sander.” Adam’s brother Dylan stood above him on the deck of the new boat he was building, holding out his hand. “Either your workmanship is slipping, or you’ve got something on your mind.”