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with approval that Jane had done the same thing without having to be told.
    A dog snarled. A tightly leashed dog, Sandy devoutly hoped. A few more feet and they’d be seen. He looked at Jane’s panicked expression and did the only thing he could think of. Yanking her onto his lap, he shoved one hand down her sweater and set his mouth on hers.

 
    Chapter Four
    I t was the last thing Jane expected. Her heart was pounding wildly, her breath coming in tortured gasps, terror and a twisted sort of excitement were racing through her body. The feel of his hand on her breast, even through the lacy bra, shocked and aroused her. His mouth was on hers, wet, hot, seeking, his tongue and lips taking complete, unquestioning control of her and overwhelming any ounce of restraint she might have had. Too many emotions were batting at her, too much adrenaline, too much stimulation. She snaked her arms around his neck, pressed her breast against his hand and kissed him back, wanting nothing more than his mouth on hers, that desperate, erotic claiming that was shaking her to the very marrow of her bones.
    Dimly she heard the dogs barking. Lights were flashing over her head, and for a moment she thought it was the force of his kiss making her see stars. Then she thought it was lack of oxygen causing the lights to go on in her brain. He tore his mouth away, gasping for breath, and she realized those celestial lights were flashlight beams.
    “Helluva place to bring a lady, buddy,” a voice called from above them. Her companion was looking at her, eyes glittering in the artificial light, and his breath was coming as rapidly as hers. Then he turned his head toward the intrusive beam of light.
    “What can I say? We were out jogging when we decided to...er...take a little break. You wanna turn those lights off?” His voice was disgruntled, a man interrupted in the throes of passion.
    “Better pick someplace else, pal,” another voice said, less amused. “This is private property, and you’re trespassing.”
    Slowly the man beside her uncoiled his body and rose, shielding her from the light. “We’ll do that. Sorry to bother you.”
    “No trouble. Just be glad I didn’t unleash the dogs.” An exuberant snarl punctuated that flat statement, and Jane shivered.
    Jimmy the Stoolie was playing his part to the hilt. He put an arm around her shoulders, pulling her trembling body against his, and started down toward the road. She could feel the inquisitive, unsympathetic eyes following them, and she shivered in the warm night air.
    “Do you think we fooled them?” she whispered under the noise of the traffic.
    “Probably.” They were back at the car by then, and he released her, too quickly, the action reminding Jane it had all been part of a very efficient charade. “You’re quick,” he said, his voice approving. “For a moment I thought you were going to hit me.”
    “The thought crossed my mind,” she lied. Hitting him had been the last thing she’d contemplated. “All in a day’s work.”
    They drove back out to Route One in silence. It was well past one in the morning, and traffic had thinned to a muffled roar. Jane’s heart had slowed to a dull, steady throb, her hands were dry, her stomach in knots. She glanced over at her companion. Jimmy the Stoolie seemed lost in thought, his gray eyes intent on the driving, his strong hands gripping the leather-covered steering wheel loosely. One of those hands had cupped her breast. That practiced deftness must have been pure instinct on his part. He couldn’t have consciously caught the tiny bud of her nipple and teased it into swollen arousal with attack dogs and armed guards looming overhead. An accident of nature, Jane decided, sinking gloomily in the seat.
    “What next?” he asked as he pulled in front of her peeling motel-room door.
    Tension shot through her body. “What do you mean?” She couldn’t deny the pseudo embrace in the ditch beside 206 had aroused her, but she