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saw something special in me, something worth pursuing.”
    Bolstered by her reassurance, he swallowed his pride and continued. “I asked Bruce about you the next day. He told me that you’d just taken over your old man’s Porsche dealership, so I did a little digging and found out what I could about you.”
    “Yet you waited this long to come in and introduce yourself. Why?”
    “Like I said, I was involved with someone else. Once it was over, I thought I needed a little time to figure out whether I was ready to pursue another relationship, especially since I’m so busy with work right now.”
    Propping her head in her hand, she asked, “So, what made you come in today? And don’t tell me you were in the market for a new car, Doc.”
    He laughed as he raised his right hand. “Okay, I confess, that was just a ploy to meet you. But that is a sexy car, and I do intend to buy it.”
    Shaking her head, she said, “Ryan, I can’t let you do that. It would just be a pity sale.”
    After sliding down so he was positioned under her, he said, “Honey, I work hard, and if I want to reward myself every once in a while, I do. It’s as simple as that. So write up the sale, email the details, and I’ll drop the check off on Monday.”
    Kissing him gently, she stroked the stubble on his cheek as she looked him in the eye.
    Fisting his hand in her hair, he said, “I hope that’s not how you thank all of your customers.”
    With a wicked gleam in her light blue eyes, she said, “Just the handsome ones.”
    He stared at her a long time before he said, “I’m crazy about you, Alana. I came to your dealership today because I tried to get you out of my head for months, and I couldn’t. Now I know why.”
    Her eyes traced his face before she asked, “Why do you suppose that is?”
    “I learned a long time ago not to fight fate, sweetheart,” he whispered, pulling her head down. He poured everything he had into that kiss, exploring her, arousing her with his tongue until they were both breathless. “I don’t want to fight this, do you?”
    She closed her eyes and trailed her lips over a path along his jaw. “I don’t know what I want anymore. I’m so confused.”
    Skimming his hand down her back, he buried his face in her hair. “Please, just give me a chance, baby.”
    She pressed her lips to his chest. “I’m tempted to say yes, but I don’t want to disappoint you.”
    He flipped her over and straddled her, pinning her arms above her head. “Before long, you’ll be asking yourself how you ever lived without me.” At least he prayed that was the case, because if she ended this now, he would be crushed.
    “I don’t doubt it; that’s the problem. I can’t afford to be dependent on anyone. Not when so many people are depending on me not to screw this up.”
    Suppressing the urge to growl in frustration, he bit back an angry retort. She shouldn’t have to face this crisis alone. She needed a strong shoulder to lean on, and he intended to be there for her whether she liked it or not.
    He dipped his head and sucked her nipple into his mouth, swirling his tongue around and around the rigid tip until she was fisting her hands in his hair and wrapping her legs around his waist. He loved the fact that she was so sensitive, so responsive to his touch. He intended to use that knowledge to his advantage. “Hands above your head, and don’t move them until I tell you to or I stop.”
    “But I want to touch you.”
    He looked up, grinning at her petulant pout. “You’ll get your chance, I promise, but right now it’s my turn. Deal?”
    She raised her clasped hands above her head and sighed dramatically. “Fine, have your way with me.”
    He intended to. He continued to sweep his tongue over her nipples in short strokes until she was thrashing and whimpering, begging for more. Smiling, he slid down the length of her body, licking her everywhere as he proceeded to her sweet spot. He grabbed a bottle of lube from his