mouth,” he said between kisses as he pushed up her shirt.
The cold night air washed over her but she was too hot for him to care.
“ Unfasten your bra.”
Hands trembling with desire and excitement went to the fastening in the front, his dark gaze tracking her movements. With one tug, the fabric fell away and her breasts spilled out.
“ Jesus Christ that’s a sweet sight.” All at once, he pivoted and her back hit the brick wall of the restaurant. He sealed his mouth over hers and cupped her breasts. For long, sweet moments, there was nothing but his mouth on hers. Nothing but tasting and pleasure. Nothing but Carter.
Then his head dipped, lips wrapping around a taut nipple. She cried out when he began to suck, deep pulls followed by slow swirls of his tongue. “You taste so damn good.”He sandwiched a thigh between her legs, pressing against where she throbbed the most. “There you go…grind down on me.”
Shamelessly, she rolled her hips and rode him. Moan after moan sang out. At this moment she didn’t care who heard her.
From a distance she heard the squeaky hinges of the back door of the restaurant open. “That’s it—you’re fired.”
Carter jerked away from her and she opened her eyes. “Oh my God.” Her body ran cold, then hot with embarrassment. They’d been like two alley cats, in heat and going at it.
Light from the interior of the restaurant shone on him. His cheeks were flushed and he was breathing hard, but desire no longer flared his gorgeous eyes.
His gaze moved lower. “Fix your clothes before someone sees.”
Trying not to flinch at his harsh tone, she refastened her bra and smoothed down her shirt. “Someone already saw.” Us , she wanted to add, because she knew that was what he had meant to say.
His jaw worked. “I’ll make sure Jack keeps his mouth shut.”
Fisting her hands on her hips, she lifted her chin. “Worried about your reputation?”
“ You’ve said and done some dumb things, Melanie,” he said with a shake of his head, “But that blows them all out of the water.”
If it had been anyone but him calling her dumb, she would have rolled her eyes and laughed it off. But this was Carter, the man who never said anything he didn’t mean. “That’s me: the town dummy,” she said, tears gathering in her throat.
“ You’re twisting my words.”
“ Whatever.” Pulling his coat from around her shoulder, she threw it at him and started for the door. “You always mean what you say.” Her purse and fleece pullover were inside, under the utensil station. Maybe she could get in and out of there before anyone saw her.
He grabbed her arm, but she shook it off. “Don’t touch me again. You know I have a good left hook and I’m not afraid to use it.”
Carter let go. Actually, her left hook was great and he’d been the one to teach her how to make a fist properly. The rest came naturally. But none of that mattered, because he’d hurt her. “Would you stop and listen to me?”
She tossed her ponytail and crossed her arms. “Why—so you can tell me how smart I am?”
“ No.” A little gasp left her mouth and she spun on her heel. Son of a bitch. Way to go, Carter. He strode after her. “Let me finish.”
Ignoring him, she kept walking and he kept following.
“ Melanie Ann Smith, with God as my witness, if you don’t quit acting like a child, I’ll turn you over my knee and spank your ass.” That got her attention. He smiled in grim satisfaction as she froze in place. Unfortunately, it also got the entire kitchen staff’s attention.
All conversation stopped. Eight pairs of eyes stared at the two of them. Only the radio blared and pots of noodles bubbled in the background.
“ I have to get my things,” Melanie said, her voice hoarse. She knelt in the floor and pulled out her purse and pullover. “We can talk tomorrow morning, unless you’re firing me, too.”
He scrubbed his hand over his face. Her job. It was all his fault.