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as she slid out of the alcove. “What about your sister?”
    “No answer. Hopefully she’s on her way.” He sighed and helped Meredith to her feet. She wobbled slightly, squeezing his hand, so he cupped her elbow. “You okay?”
    She flattened her palm against his chest. The lightness of her touch surprised him. “I don’t know if it’s the shoes or the sangria.” She glanced at her feet before looking up at him.
    The drowsy sparkle of her green eyes made him smile. Warmth spread through his shirt where her hand rested. She smelled sweet and spicy, just like the chocolates. “I’m thinking a little of both.”
    She moved her hand from his chest and tugged at her skirt. “I guess I should switch to club soda.”
    He offered her his arm and she took it as they started for the elevator. “You’re quite the gentleman for someone your age.”
    “My age? Just exactly how young do you think I am?”
    She shrugged. “Thirty-ish.”
    “So we’re right around the same age then,” he teased. He knew better but a gentleman never guessed high.
    “Hah! I don’t think so. I’m forty-fo—” She snapped her mouth shut. “I’m forty-ish.”
    Forty-four, huh? Damn. Forty-four was looking good. He laughed softly as he pushed the button for the elevator. “I’m thirty-two.” No point in lying. Every bit of press he got mentioned his age like it mattered.
    “You’re just a boy,” she said.
    “Oh really? Just a boy?” He let go of her arm, planted a hand on the wall behind her and angled closer. Every ounce of Texas male in him itched to prove otherwise. He’d love to show her just how wrong she was.
    The doors opened and they got in.
    She backed up against the elevator wall. “It’s a scientific fact that women mature faster than men. They’ve done studies that prove it.”
    As soon as the doors closed, he tagged the stop button with the side of his fist. A man could only take so much. “That so?”
    “Whoa.” She lurched sideways as the elevator stopped. “Yes, it’s so.”
    “Well, if I’m so immature, you’ll forgive what I’m about to do.” He laced his fingers into her hair and tipped her face to his before capturing her mouth for a kiss. Something clunked to the floor. He sucked her bottom lip between his, gently opening her mouth. She tasted of chocolate and spice and a hint of the forbidden. He teased his tongue across hers, just the slightest touch, then broke the kiss. Let her tell him he was just a boy now.
    She opened her eyes, blinked twice, swayed slightly, then looked at the floor. “I dropped my purse.”
    A slap across the face would have been a better response. “You dropped your purse? Damn it, I just kissed you and that’s all you have to say?”
    “It was nice.” She shrugged. “I’ve had two husbands. I’m hard to impress.”
    He nodded, realized his mistake. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
    She was halfway through another shrug when he slipped his hands around her waist, snugged her body against his and kissed her hard. He sucked and nibbled, teased and tortured, savoring the lingering sweetness of the chocolates she’d eaten and the champagne she’d drunk. Thoughts of long, hot nights filled his head and he let them fuel his movements. Relentlessly, he put every wicked thought he’d had about her since he’d seen her into the kiss. Heat swept his body like he’d just opened an oven door. Her hands gripped his biceps, and she moaned, the same moan he’d heard when she’d had a mouthful of chocolate.
    Satisfied by the sound, he released her. “I should have done that.”
    This time her eyes stayed closed, her lips parted. Her chest rose and fell as she breathed little panting breaths. “That was better,” she whispered. Her eyes flew open and her hand rushed to her mouth. Heat glittered dangerously in her gaze. “Do that again and your sister’s on her own.”
    A laugh died in his throat. Still, he’d proven his point. He bent down and