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Environmental Issues at the University of Mars. Not a socialite who jetted about society dating powerful men. Especially with a man who’d sabotaged her research, her dreams. It felt like she was betraying something very important. But was she?
    “Or I think I have another bottle of the champagne if you’d prefer.”
    “I need to leave,” the words came out as a whisper.
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    “Sorry?”
    “I think I need to go,” she said louder, pausing for a moment before she made her way back to the door.
    With her hand on the knob, Jenna turned around to face him. He hadn’t moved from the bar. He was watching her intently, but made no effort to stop her. She opened her mouth to say something, but the words didn’t come. Instead, she took another look at her perfect match.
    Sometime in the last ten minutes he’d taken off his jacket and stood there in his crisp white shirt. The buttons were now undone at the collar and sleeves, exposing the promise of a well-defined chest. He looked completely relaxed, as if her uncertainty meant nothing to him. If she walked out that door, he’d simply pop back online to find his next date.
    It wasn’t until she looked at his hands that she realized he was just as tense. His fingers clenched the bottle of Scotch so tightly his knuckles had turned white.
    Something about the fact that he stood there, waiting for her to make a decision, trying not to influence her, let her relax.
    “I’m sorry. I guess I’m more nervous than I wanted to admit to myself,” she said, darting a glance towards where he stood.
    “Why? You know me.”
    “Exactly.”
    Ben didn’t say anything at first. He released the bottle and walked in long, determined strides across the room to her. He stopped within a few inches of her, reached out and placed his hand on top of hers on the doorknob.
    “Stay for supper at least. If you want to leave after that, then I’ll call for Matt to come get you and take you home.”
    Warmth from his hand enveloped hers. Tiny jolts of energy seemed to pulse from the spot where their skin contacted up her arm and into the core of her body. She’d never been so turned-on in her life, never responded to any man this way before. All from the simple touch of their hands. Jenna’s body was screaming at her to take him up on the offer. That’s why she was here after all. And if she was reading his signals correctly, he was genuinely interested in her. But that silly professor side of her, the logical, practical and, most importantly, safe part of her was waving a very large red flag in her mind.
    “If it would make you feel better, simply consider this a business dinner. Things won’t go any further than you want them to.”
    Was that what she wanted? Something safe? All of the feelings of loneliness came rushing back. All of her fears of growing old alone. No, she wasn’t going to be like that.
    Not when she had a chance to grab a little excitement for herself.
    Jenna stood a little straighter. “I’ll agree to stay on one condition.”
    Ben cocked an eyebrow, but nodded for her to continue.
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    “You are a very powerful and obviously influential man. I am, well, just me. To be honest this date is by far the riskiest thing I’ve ever done in my life. The last thing I want to do is turn tonight into something…”
    “Yes?”
    “Safe.”
    Jenna took a deep breath to steady her nerves. She wanted this, didn’t she? No, being with Ben would mess everything up. She’d finally gotten back on track, everything was great. Then why the hell couldn’t she think with him looking at her that way! Jenna looked back at him and sighed. Why was she cowarding out? She wanted him, didn’t she? I can’t believe I’m about to propose this.
    “I’ll agree to stay if you kiss me first. But I have to like it.”
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Chapter Three
    For some crazy reason Jenna knew he would say no. It was moving too fast for him.
    Hell, things were moving too fast for her. This was the first