The Billionaire's Matchmaker(25)

He caught her elbow and dragged her to a dark corner, away from the crowd. “He marries the wrong woman.”

Though she knew all about bad marriages and bad spouses and should have sympathized, the way he’d insinuated that she’d faked an emergency to get him to her house still rankled. He deserved a little teasing. “Ouch, wife took you to the cleaners?”

“Yes. Now—” He leaned in a little closer. So close she could smell his aftershave and feel the masculinity rolling from him in waves. It seeped into her pores, sending heat shimmering through her.

Her breath stuttered in and out.

“I don’t think you’re in any position to be laughing at me.”


“Why? Because I think you’re good looking?” She chuckled. “Like that’s a big news flash to anybody. Every woman in the world is probably attracted to you. Outing me for agreeing with them isn’t much of a threat.”

He stepped away and combed his fingers through his hair. “Come on. Cut me a break. I don’t want my identity getting out in Chandler’s Cove.”

She almost told him that he didn’t have to worry. She wasn’t a snitch. But she wasn’t quite ready to give up the teasing yet. He’d refused to accept that she’d accidentally turned off her alarm. Worse, he’d thought she’d called him just to meet him. A few more minutes of teasing wouldn’t hurt. “I’m not sure why. Most people would be proud to come from the family you come from. You’re the black sheep.”

“No kidding.”

She feigned innocence. “Oh, that’s what you don’t want to get out.”

His pretty blue-gray eyes narrowed. “You think you hold all the cards here because I’m trying to keep my background private?” He stepped close again. “I’ve got cards you haven’t even seen yet.”

That made her laugh. For a guy who could dish it out, he sure couldn’t take it.

His face turned to stone. “You think this is funny?”

“I think this is hysterical.”

Before the word hysterical was fully out of her mouth, he swooped down and kissed her. His lips moved over hers roughly and though a tiny part of her brain told her to be insulted, all she could think to do was enjoy. His mouth was warm and firm, his lips practiced in the art of kissing. He nipped and sipped, then smoothed his mouth over hers, sending tingles of delight careening through her. Her insides warmed. Her body became pliant, boneless.

When his tongue slid into her mouth and the rough ridge sent an explosion of joy straight to her femininity, she didn’t even pretend to put up a fight. She melted against him.

Which caused her common sense to return. What was she doing? Dell O’Neil was an arrogant, conceited man. He’d thought she’d called 9-1-1 just to get to meet him. He hadn’t listened when she’d tried to explain.

She didn’t want anything to do with him.

Her hands flattened on his chest to push him away but they met a solid wall of muscle.

Oh, man. Really? Did her pride have to demand she break this delicious kiss?

She thought of the smug look on his face at her house and her boneless body solidified.

She pushed.

…

He stepped backward. He never let a sexual fog go so far that he didn’t recognize a “No,” but it took a few seconds for him to get his bearings.

The woman could kiss.

Then he realized who the woman was and he remembered why he’d kissed her, and he groaned internally.

Why didn’t he just give her a whole arsenal of ammunition to ruin his reputation in town?

“The next time you want me to shut up, just ask.”

She thought he’d kissed her to shut her up?

In a way he supposed he had. She was feisty and gorgeous in the shiny red dress that outlined curves so perfect they should be illegal, and, honestly, he hadn’t cared to hear her talk any more. His body wanted some action.

Which was stupid. Childish. He had much better control than this.

“Look, let’s just forget this happened.”

She yanked up the strap of her glorious red dress. “No argument from me.”

Turning, she headed out of their dark corner and disappeared into the crowd.

Damn it! He hadn’t gotten her promise to keep his identity a secret.

He forked his fingers through his hair. Nothing with this woman went the way it was supposed to.

…

The kiss confused Marney so much she decided not to stay at the fundraiser or even in Chicago. Though it was after ten, she took the limo back to the hotel, changed clothes, re-packed and drove home. Tomorrow morning’s visit with her parents would have to wait for another time.

After Doug, she’d vowed to stay away from demanding, controlling guys—and she suspected that control was exactly what the good sheriff was after—so why had she virtually melted for Dell O’Neil?

She parked her car in her garage, entered her house through the kitchen, and carried her suitcases and red sparkly dress upstairs. She showered, wrestled herself into boxers and a tank top, and just as she slid under the covers, she heard the noise again.

Damn it!

She refused to call 9-1-1 because they’d probably send her stupid next door neighbor to check it out. There was no way in hell she wanted to be at Dell O’Neil’s mercy again. She liked it too much.