other peoples’ dreams. And she was damned good at it.
Giving in to temptation and feeling a tad horny, she called again, this time leaving a message.
***
Luke
He had a split lip, but it was worth it. Sparring with Blake always made him feel better. It wasn’t often his brother was in town, usually just Thanksgiving and Christmas, and when he visited, they often spent time at the gym. Blake immediately picked up on Luke’s foul mood and teased him voraciously about it. Something Luke would have done if their places were reversed, but he was in no mood for the taunting.
Using his towel to mop his sweat, he thought about Sage. Again. Damn, the workout did nothing to clear his mind or settle his libido. He picked up his cell phone to check the time and noticed one new message. Without looking at who it was from, he clicked on the icon and put the phone to his ear.
A sexy, sultry voice filled his head. “Hi, Luke. First, no need to apologize. You’re nowhere as creepy as Robert Barrows. Kidding. Anyway, secondly, why don’t we reschedule? I’m sure I can come up with something that will suit your…needs. I’ll be home by seven tonight. Why don’t you come over and we can…plan your party.” She rattled off her address and hung up.
Luke swallowed and headed to the locker room. If he read between the lines, Sage was asking him over for more than a business meeting. He needed to take a cold shower. Stat.
***
“I wasn’t sure if you’d show,” Sage said as she opened the door to her condo less than an hour later. Damn, she looked sexy. No business suit and killer heels tonight. Instead she wore butt-molding yoga pants and a tight T-shirt. No part of her body was left to the imagination. Her clothes fit her like a second skin, and Luke was ready to rub her all over.
“Um, yeah. I got your message,” he said nervously as he shuffled his feet. She stayed in the doorway, inviting him in with a nod of her head. His big frame couldn’t fit through the door without brushing against some part of her body. His elbow decided on its own will to rub across her chest. “Excuse me,” he muttered, covering up his moan.
“Can I get you a drink? Beer? Wine?” she asked as she walked past him, skimming his arm with hers.
“Yeah. Sure. I’ll take a beer if you have one.”
He followed Sage through a sparsely decorated living room into the kitchen, which was even more sparse. The countertops were bare, no knick-knacks, junk mail, or any sign that she actually cooked here.
Was it his imagination or was she stroking the beer bottle? Sage licked her lips as she picked up an opener and popped the top. A smoldering look darkened her eyes as she brought the beer to her lips and slowly exposed her tongue, gently licking the rim. Her mouth opened wider as she brought the bottle to her mouth and then she froze.
Deer in the headlights frozen. Her mossy green eyes locked on his for a few heartbeats before she lowered the bottle to the counter and abruptly turned her back. Luke took advantage of her turned back and adjusted himself.
“I hope Shipyard is okay? I don’t have much of a beer selection anymore.”
She fumbled in the cabinet for a glass, opened the fridge, and poured herself a glass of iced tea. The sexual tension that was in the air dissipated as she opened and shut the oven door, then banged open and closed the fridge while getting out vegetables for a salad.
“Can I help?”
“Nope,” she said, her back stiff as she destroyed an innocent cucumber with her knife.
“I’m pretty handy around the kitchen.”
“I bet you are.”
Okaaay. What the hell was that supposed to mean?
“Look, Sage, you don’t have to make me dinner. We can talk about my mom’s party and I can get out of your hair.”
“Dinner is ready. I’m hungry, so you can watch me eat or join me.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes as she placed the salad bowl on the tiny table. “It’s vegetable lasagna. Take
Fred Hoyle, Geoffrey Hoyle