“How can I forget? But you and Nick are just getting your balance. This is bound to tilt the scales, Zack. I think it’s best if I try to handle it.” A smile played around the corners of her mouth. “I guess I should apologize for coming here and jumping on you.”

“At least it got you here. We’ll handle it.” He brought her hand to his lips, enjoying the way her eyes darkened and became cautious. “You let him down easy, and I’ll let him take it out on me. After all, I can’t blame the kid for trying, when I’m doing the same myself.”

“One has nothing to do with the other.” She pushed away from the desk, but he continued to hold her hand.

“I’m glad to hear it. Feeling better?”

Her lips quirked. “Fighting always makes me feel better.”

“Then, sugar, by the time we’re through with each other, you should be feeling like a million bucks. I don’t suppose you’d like to hang around for a couple of hours until I can close the bar.”

“No.” Her heart picked up a beat at the thought. A dark, empty bar, blues on the juke, the world locked outside. “No, I have to go.”

“I’m shorthanded tonight, or I’d see you home. I’ll put you in a cab.”

“I can put myself in a cab.”

“Okay. In a minute.” He caught her by the hips, lifted her, then set her on the desk. “I’ve missed you,” he murmured, nuzzling her neck.

Without thinking—he certainly had a way of making her stop thinking—she tilted her head to give him more access to her skin. “I’ve been busy.”

“I don’t doubt you’ve been busy.” He moved up to nip at her earlobe. “But you’ve been stubborn. I like that about you, Rachel. Right now I can’t think of a damn thing I don’t like about you.”

This was a mistake. Any minute she’d remember why it was a mistake. She was sure of it. “You just want to talk me into bed.”

His lips curved before they came down on hers. “Oh, yeah…” He fisted his hands in her hair, and a deep sound of pleasure came from his throat when she arched against him. “How’m I doing?”

“You’re making things very difficult for me.”