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inside.
    “That’ll never happen
here. You’re already family here,  cher .”
    Before she knew what
was happening, Aidan leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. Her insides
sizzled at the brief touch of his mouth. She breathed him in, that essence of
male that so mesmerized her. His lips tasted spicy and faintly of wine. She
licked at his lower lip, then tugged it lightly with her teeth, shocked at her
bold behavior.
    Their kiss lasted an
eternity as he tasted her, licked her lips, gently probed the recesses of her
more than eager mouth. Then he pulled away and she realized what had seemed
like forever must have lasted only a few seconds. Aidan smiled at her, his eyes
blazing desire. She shuddered and tried to clear her head, then realized where
she was and closed her eyes against the mortification that washed over her.
    Once again she’d
shocked herself at her behavior. Here she was at the dinner table with Aidan’s
entire family, and she’d allowed him to kiss her. Kiss her! A business
associate, and nothing more.
    Appalled at her
reaction to him, she opened her eyes, intent on apologizing to his family.
    She and Aidan were
completely alone in the dining room.
    No way had she been so
wrapped up in Aidan’s kisses that she would have missed a mass exodus of
people. And yet the room was empty. The dinner plates had been removed and a
bustle of activity could be heard in the nearby kitchen.
    When had everyone left,
and how could she have been so immersed in Aidan that she had tuned them out?
    * * * * *
    Aidan could have
laughed at the stunned expression on Melissa’s face when she looked around to
find his family had left the room. He made a mental note to thank them later
for instinctively knowing he wanted those few seconds of privacy to touch his
lips against hers.
    She’d tasted sweet like
wine, and spicy, too. A promise of heat and an element of raw passion that shot
through him like an electrical current. He’d hardened instantly, realizing how
wild they could be together in bed.
    The thought of taking
her right there in the dining room had flashed through his mind, especially
when he’d connected with her and tasted her essence. But he also knew that
fucking Melissa in his family dining room wouldn’t fly, no matter how liberal
his parents were.
    But he’d been damn
tempted.
    Now, watching her wash
dishes side-by-side with his sisters, stabbed him with a pang of longing he’d
never felt before. He’d never brought a woman home, a fact that wasn’t lost on
him. And even though his mother had insisted he bring her to dinner, even
though she was only a business associate, it didn’t change the fact that he’d
never brought any woman home to meet his family, business or personal.
    So why Melissa?
    And what was all that
destiny stuff his mother spouted off about him and Melissa? He was well aware
of the family history, knew the magic associated with both his parents,
recognized the powers he possessed. But destiny? Him and Melissa Cross?
    Not likely.
    Then again, watching as
she laughed with his sisters, she looked like she belonged there. It felt like
she belonged there. With them. With him.
    Shit . He didn’t need this complication. He had a job
to do with Melissa, and that was all they’d be doing. Granted, he’d like to
explore a sexual relationship with her, but that would have to be one with no
ties. If she was agreeable to those terms, great. If not, he’d go without.
    Aidan jammed his
fingers through his hair and blew out a frustrated breath.
    “Problems?” Logan
whispered behind him.
    “I wish you wouldn’t
sneak up on me all the time, “Aidan said, not even turning around to look at
his brother.
    “I didn’t sneak. I
practically stomped in the room. You couldn’t hear me because you were focused
on the gorgeous blonde over there.”
    “Was not.”
    Logan laughed. “You
used to argue the same way when we were kids. As I recall, you always lost.”
    Aidan turned and found
Logan