“Do I?” One of his eyebrows arched and her stomach rolled over. He was so damned sexy, so raw and male. As he drank from his glass she watched his Adam’s apple move and she found the involuntary motion decidedly seductive. What was wrong with her? Why did she always see Luke Gates as a raw, sexual man; not just someone she wanted as a friend. “How about the men in your life?”

“‘The men’?” she repeated and smiled. “The dozens of men?” When his smile faded she shook her head. “The truth of the matter is, there just haven’t been many.”

“There was Josh’s father.”

Dave. Her heart twisted a bit. “He was a long time ago. I was in high school.”

“And since?”

I’ve dated a little. Nothing serious. I had Josh to think about, to protect, and of course, my job. I . . . I told myself I couldn’t get involved with anyone, I had too many responsibilities and maybe it was just a defense mechanism, but the truth of the matter is that no one interested me.” Until you.

“Most women want a man to be a father to their kids.”

“I’m not most women,” she said, lifting her chin defiantly.

“I noticed.” His eyes locked with hers and in that instant she knew she would make love to him. It was inevitable, like the ebb and flow of the tide. The wine was beginning to warm her blood and the intimacy of the room enfolded her in a soft, seductive cocoon. Raindrops sparkling with firelight trailed down the windowpanes and she felt as if she and Luke were the only two people on earth. She licked a drop of Merlot from her lips and his gaze followed her movement.

Slowly he took her glass from her hand, set it along with his in a corner near the fireplace, then stretched out beside her on the carpet and wrapped his arms around her. She turned her head up expectantly but wasn’t prepared for the onslaught on her senses as his lips met hers, his tongue delved between her teeth and a rush of desire as hot as lava sped through her blood.

This time there were no excuses, no interruptions. His tongue and hands were everywhere and without a thought she kissed him back, her arms drawing him closer still, her mind swimming with erotic images as he pressed wet, warm kisses onto her eyes, her neck, her shoulders. He stripped her clothes from her body, leaving her naked, her skin shimmering with perspiration before the fire. And she, too, worked at the buttons of his shirt, tore open the waistband of his jeans, pulled hard and heard a sexy series of pops as his fly gave way.