Page 2 of Mr. Dangerous

"You don't want a bunch of people waiting on you, you just want me waitingonyou?"

He smiled, white teeth flashing out of his handsome face. Oh, forget him and his perfect dental work and unnecessary gorgeousness. "When you say it like that, it sounds soinappropriate."

I took a deep breath.Think of the money. Think of the kittens. Don't think about being trapped in close proximity to your childhood crush who turned out to be a total dick, aka a typical billionaire.“Fine. It’ll beextra.”

“I’ll pay whatever you want,” heagreed.

I swung open the door to the basement stairs again. “Whatever. I have to finish cleaning yourbasement.”

"I wanted to go grab some lunch. I took a cab from the airport. Didn't stop. I'mstarving."

I leaned against the doorway, gathering myself, because my heart was beginning to pound with irritation.I will not yell at the billionaire. I will not yell at the billionaire.My voice came out low and cool. "I stocked thefridge."

He leaned back against the wall, crossing his muscular arms across his chest. Slowly, it dawned on me that he was mimicking me. I straightened up, letting my hands fall to mysides.

"Clam cakes?" heasked.

I sighed and took an assenting step toward him and the garage. "How do you stay so thin, eatinglikethat?"

"I burn a few calories, here and there," he said. "BeingaSEAL."

He held the door open for me, and I passed in front of him into the three-bay garage. The garage was empty except for the Suburban parked in the far stall. He locked the door behind us as I walked down the garage steps and then strode past me towards theSuburban.

I couldn't help staring at the lean V of his waist. Those broad shoulders made me want to run my hand over his back, to feel the hardness of his muscle under that soft-washed t-shirt. It was just as intense and impossible a desire as the temptation to punch him in his smug,beautifulface.

"I'd heard you joined the Navy," I said. "Didn't hear muchbesidesthat."

"Really?" he asked, sliding into thepassengerseat.

When I swung up into the driver's seat, I breathed in the scent of leather and the citrus air freshener Dad had tucked beneath my seat.Little touches,he had told me, while we stood in the garage to start the unusedvehicle.

"Guess we don't run in the same circles." I twisted the key in the ignition. The engine turnedrightover.

Rob pulled his seat belt across his chest, leaning towards the window to clip in. He was so big. Besides his intimidating height, he had broad shoulders above that narrow waist and powerfully muscled arms. His knees bumped into the dashboard before he pushed hisseatback.

Even in such an oversized SUV, he seemed to take up all the space. I couldn't sit far enough away from him. I breathed in a new scent besides the leather-and-air-freshener smell: the minty, soapy scent ofhisbody.

"You've taken good care of it," he said, pattingthedash.

"Yeah," I said. "Well, that's whatwedo."

We take good care of theDelaneys.

We don’t expect them to take care of us. We don’t expect them to evennotice.

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