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His desire intensified He was ready all right, but not for so that involved anyone but the or we’ll be late But before we do, I think we need to take care of so”

Whitney looked around the roo then back at hi look on her face

“I know you said only when necessary but I ht in front of the others so I think we should practice Get that first uncomfortable one out of the way Settle the nerves, so to speak” Yeah, like that was going to happen Nothing about the reaction she was creating in his body was settling

“I guess we could do that”

He found Whitney’s lips with his

They were soft and inviting Plump and perfect He pressed ripped his biceps yet she didn’t return his kiss Tanner pulled back and searched her face Her eyes ide and she looked dazed

“It ht be ain?” He waited This he wouldn’t push

“Yes, please I think it’s necessary” Her lips hardly moved as the soft words left them

Tanner chuckled softly What little taste of Whitney he’d had made him want more She lifted her mouth to his This tiainst him When her lips stirred, his heart dru in his shirtsleeves

The kiss was quicklyaway from practice to pleasure

Seconds later, with one sharpher back to hio” She picked up a shawl frohtly controlled woman had returned

Their si where they as more of what Tanner had in mind But he was aphysical Their kissesthe rule but he’d not push further Nothing about Whitney struck him as someone who didn’t invest e that involved his heart

“I guess we should” Even to his own ears he sounded disappointed

Tanner’s kisses had been sweet and nonthreatening yet they sure had rocked Whitney’s world Even now as they walked across the parking area toward the winery she still trembled She’d been kissed before but none had been as divine as those Tanner had gifted her with The problem noas that she wanted more, but she wouldn’t let that happen

She could be in trouble on so many levels He was her client He didn’t believe in love He was looking for a wife She was nothing like what he wanted He would break her heart Of that she was confident She had to get through this weekend and see to it that they returned to their business relationship

When she stumbled, Tanner’s hand was on her elbow to steady her instantly “I’ physical I shouldn’t have kissed you It won’t happen again It’ll be your call from now on”

Was that stateretted their kisses Here she was trying to hold herself together while it hadn’t had any effect on hi that she was some ninny who fell apart when a man kissed her

Long ago she’d learned to cover disappointment and hurt She’d just do it oncedeal”

Had she felt his fingers flinch?

“I’lad you understand” His hand re-rooo she felt the loss in more ways than one That tentative friendship they were building had lost some stones

“I hope I don’t slip up and say anything wrong,” she whispered

“Don’t worry about it Let’s just concentrate on having a nice evening”

Tanner seemed far too laid-back for so out she was actually hisIf it was fro him, she couldn’t say

He held the large curved door open for her to enter Inside, the lights were turned low, giving the stone-walled space a cozy feel It reminded her of pictures of a French farmhouse To one side there was a bar with a full wine rack behind it To the other side was a sed shop area where shelves held wine flutes, cork relass-doored cooler containing ses of meat and cheese was discreetly positioned in a corner

Sharing the other half of the roo of café tables and chairs Each table was covered in a bright yellow cloth with a white dahlia in a vase They were a pop of sunlight in the otherwise dark area Greenery and tiny lights were draped above the doors and along the shelves Whitney was instantly charmed

“I love this place” Whitney couldn’t help but be ient look

“Has anyone ever told you that you have a beautiful smile?”

“No”

He held her gaze as he said softly, “They should have because you do”

Tanner’s voice vibrated through her Had anyone ever looked at her like that before? Like she was thein the world?