‘Is that the best you can do?
’ He placed a fingertip on her lower lip, idly stroking it back and
forth, back and forth, until every nerve was tingling. His tone was teasing, his look challenging,
and her pulse went haywire.
‘We agreed on one kiss.’
One of his hands slid up under her hair and cupped the back of her head, making her scalp
prickle with delight. ‘That wasn’t a kiss according to my standards.’
Millie could only imagine his standards. Sensual, scorching-hot, sexy. She knew she was
drifting into dangerous territory by not pulling out of his hold but she couldn’t seem to get her
self-control back on duty. The sensation of his large hand cupping the back of her head sent
waves of pleasure through her body.
‘I’m not sure I’m ready for this...’ It was a coward’s way out, but she used it anyway. She
was frightened of the passion he stirred in her. Passion she hadn’t experienced in her life before.
Passion she wasn’t sure she could control if she allowed it off the leash even momentarily.
Hunter picked up her left hand, his thumb slowly rolling over the diamond on her ring finger.
‘Because of your late fiancé?’
Millie swallowed and looked down at their joined hands. ‘I’ve never kissed anyone but
Julian...’
He let go of her hand and inched up her chin, locking his gaze on hers. ‘You wouldn’t be
betraying him, Millie. You have the right to move on with your life.’
Millie half-lowered her lashes over her eyes, worried he would see the truth she was trying
to hide. ‘Thank you for a nice evening. I’d better go in now.’ She made a move for the door,
but he put a hand on her arm and turned her back to face him.
‘I want to see you again.’ It was a command rather than a request.
‘I guess you’ll see me at the next meeting in your office with my mother.’ Millie kept her
tone cool and composed but inside she was trembling with excitement. Forbidden excitement
she must and would control.
He traced a fingertip around her mouth in a slow-motion movement that sent a shower of
sparks through her tender flesh. ‘I didn’t tell you my number three.’
Millie frowned in confusion. ‘Number three?’
He gave a slanted smile. ‘My third risk-assessment reason for deciding whether or not to
kiss you.’
She glanced at his mouth before she could stop herself. ‘What is it?’
He lightly tapped the end of her nose with his finger. ‘I’ll tell you when we next have dinner.
I’ll pick you up on Friday night, same time.’
‘But what if I don’t want to have dinner with you?’ The truth was, she did want to have
dinner with him again. He was the most intriguing and yet infuriating man she had ever met.
Infuriatingly attractive.
He cocked one sardonic eyebrow. ‘Then you’ll never know my third reason.’
Millie gave him a quelling look. ‘You’re very smooth, aren’t you? Do you ever not get your
way?’
‘Occasionally.’ He flashed her another smile and opened his door to get out of the car and
walk her to the door, adding, ‘But it sure is fun when I meet a little resistance. Makes me all
the more ruthlessly determined.’