Page 10 of Daring Lance

She took a small step back and away from him-a very small step, she didn’t fail to recognize. “I told you, Lance. I’m not interested in starting something with someone who is going to leave in a few weeks, regardless of how I may feel about him.” Willow let that last part slip out before she had the chance to stop herself. Damn, why couldn’t her brain keep up with her mouth for once?

The tiniest of grins curved his lips. “Willow, I didn’t propose we run off and get married. I’m simply suggesting we go out, get to know each other. Besides, I’m here for a couple of months, not a few weeks. The eco-friendly condominium complex design Luke created has taken off, and we already have three more projects lined up in the area.”

“Oh,” she managed to eke out underneath his fingertip.

Lance removed his finger from her lips, sliding his palm to cup the back of her neck. “What do you say? How about you admit that I’m your type and that you want me, and we see where this takes us? It won’t be anything serious because I heard you loud and clear, and I understand. We will follow your lead. You’ll call the shots and be the one to say yes or no at any time. Although, I doubt you will be able to keep your hands off me.” His lips parted in a large grin while his eyes sparkled with distinctive playfulness.

Willow’s lips formed a small “O” before they curved upward into a smile that reflected the excitement building inside her. She was unable to contain it any longer. Was she contemplating befriending Lance and potentially something else? Something that sent serious shots of desire through her? Had she completely lost her mind? He did say it would be her call as to how far they took their relationship and that it wouldn’t get serious. Certainly, if they made sure they stuck to the agreement he offered, she could guard her heart from any damage when the time came for him to leave. His eyes held her captive as he stared back at her, waiting for her response, and she decided that she had indeed lost all common sense because she was even considering his suggestion. “I admit? What about you? You seem to be the one doing the pursuing here while I’m the one who has yet to give you any indication that I am interested in you.” The way the lie slid off of her lips so easily was not something she wanted to consider right now.

Lance laughed, and Willow was tempted to punch him in the gut. “You’re right.” Lance’s expression became sober as his eyes darkened. “I am interested—”

Willow wasn’t certain she could hear much more about his desire for her without throwing herself at him. Better to cut him off before she did it. “Lance—"

“Willow?” His voice was soft, a distinctive huskiness to it that sent a thrill of awareness through her.

She was unable to keep the quiver from her voice. “Yes?”

“That’s all I wanted to hear.” She drew her brows together in confusion, and before she understood what he meant, his mouth slowly descended on hers. Without hesitation, and to her frustration, her lips parted in eager invitation. The hand behind her neck nudged her closer to him until she was pressed against the hard wall of his chest. Hesitantly, she raised her arms to anchor her hands around his neck as his lips continued in their sensual assault. Unfilled need cursed through her as his free hand caressed her lower back, easing her body flush against his.

His kiss was everything she remembered from the wedding reception, only more, the sensation of drowning under his touch overcoming her. This time was different as they were free from the eyes of a hundred other wedding guests, able to allow their hands to explore each other, to let a low growl escape as they discovered a craving for the other that continued to grow in intensity. When Lance finally broke his lips from hers, they were each panting, their breath coming out in deep gasps.

“Willow—”

It took all the willpower she possessed to hold up her hand and stop whatever it was he planned to say. Her heart hammered in her chest and a pool of heat simmered low in her belly. “Lance, please don’t suggest anything I can’t say no to right now.” She tucked a large hunk of hair behind her ear as she tried to slow her heart rate.

Lance chuckled between deep breaths. “I was going to recommend that I leave because if you even so much as nod toward your bedroom, there will be no turning back, and I’m not sure either of us is ready to move to that stage yet.” He grinned, one eyebrow raised. “Unless you think we are?”

Willow couldn’t stop herself from smiling. Her heart beat wildly whenever she was in the same room with him, so there was no denying she was tempted. But she wasn’t one to fall into bed with a guy soon after meeting him, even if his golden hair begged for the touch of her fingers or the well-defined contours of his chest muscles needed attention from her lips. She wanted some time to get to know him better, for the two of them to know each other, before she would be willing to take their relationship to a more intimate level, and, God bless him, Lance understood that about her. While her body was more than eager to tangle the sheets with her gorgeous neighbor, her brain insisted that they slow things down, to keep their relationship as platonic as possible, at least until she could get her heart under control.

Willow placed her hand on Lance’s upper arm. “No, we’re not, especially if we are keeping it casual, nothing serious like we agreed-or, actually, you decided and I sort of, um, complied with willingly.” She smirked as there was no denying that she had held on to her resolve to not get involved with him for less than two minutes once he’d done nothing more than simply touch her. “I appreciate you not pushing it.” Lance covered her hand with his own, and her body instantly responded with an acceleration of her heartbeat. She had to put the brakes on what was happening between them, or at least hit pause, to give her some time to think. “For now, I prefer we stay friends,” she blurted before her libido could stop her. “And maybe, and I emphasize the maybe, it will lead us elsewhere somewhere in the future.”

Lance let out an exaggerated groan. “You are determined to torture me.” He released his hand from over hers, and Willow dropped her arm to her side. He walked to the front door, and she followed him.

He took a step into the hallway and then turned around to face Willow, now standing in the doorway of her apartment. “Don’t look into the money laundering thing without me. While I think it’s likely some mistake, like an association fee refund or something, we need to be sure. I don’t want you getting involved in anything that might be dangerous.”

His concern washed over Willow like a warm blanket, and she couldn’t deny that she liked the feeling. “Thanks, but I’m sure you’re right. I doubt it’s a money laundering scheme.”

“Probably not, but I’d rather you not find out otherwise. Let’s speak with Bernadette and her gang of octogenarian rebels before you start snooping around on your computer.”

Willow nodded rather than argue with him. She doubted that it was anything more than a refund they were due and had forgotten about, but she would do as Lance asked if for no other reason than it gave them a reason to time to spend together. They could get to know each other like she wanted to do. Her earlier resolve to stay clear of him had completely vanished, something she’d have to analyze later, when she was alone and could think straight again.

“I’d be up for some snorkeling tomorrow after work, if you’re game? Or did I just violate my own rule and make the first move?” Lance’s eyes lit with a hint of hope that she couldn’t ignore and, if she were honest with herself, she didn’t want to.

Willow rested a hand on each hip. “Technically, yes you did. Am I going to turn down an opportunity to go snorkeling? No. Although, I think windsurfing might be a better option given the weather forecast for tomorrow.”

Lance raised an eyebrow in challenge. “You’re on. I’ll text you when I get home from work.”

“See you tomorrow, Lance.”

Lance bent his head toward her and, to her shock, immediately pulled it back. “Almost forgot, you’re calling the shots. Until tomorrow, Willow.” And with a wink that could be considered nothing less than seductive, he walked away.

Willow watched him until he disappeared into the stairwell. She shut the door and then rested her back against it. “Willow, girl, what have you gotten yourself into?” She squeezed her palms together, taking several deep breaths as she made her way back to the couch to continue her review of theLily’s Lingeriewebsite. Lily’s items were beautiful, and it was no surprise to Willow that Lily was ranked in the top ten for online sales.

Willow brought her fingertips to her lips as she scanned the website, swearing she could still feel Lance’s mouth pressed against them. Hmm, she might just become one of Lily’s newest customers. Ahhhhh…Willow mentally shook herself, dropping her hand to her side. She had to stop her wayward thoughts and focus on guarding her emotions because Lance wasn’t just one of many types of guys she was attracted to, he was exactly her type. That’s why she was certain that when he walked away from her, he would break her heart.

She had to keep their relationship platonic. Unfortunately, ideas on how she would resist Lance and maintain a friends-only relationship were beyond her rational thinking right now. Soon, she was clicking through several website pages of lingerie, grateful to lose herself in determining which language she should translate the website into first.

FOUR

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