“Well, as much as I’d miss you at the office, I hope you go for this.” They stopped at the town’s sole traffic light. He reached over and held her hand. “You deserve this next adventure.”

When they pulled into her driveway, she realized with a sudden panic that she wasn’t ready for the night to end. Not by a long shot.

Hell with leaving the man wanting more. She wanted more of this, more of him, this very instant.

“Why don’t you and Moe come inside for a nightcap?”

He looked warily at his furry friend. “Are you sure? He sheds.”

Renee laughed. “The last time I checked, I owned a vacuum cleaner. Bring him on in. I’ll get him a bowl of water while we enjoy our wine.”

As Moe lapped up water from the plastic mixing bowl on Renee’s kitchen floor, she fumbled with the bottle of merlot. Her hands were shaking as she retrieved a pair of wineglasses, and her breathing had turned shallow.

Renee racked her mental repertoire of every Sex and the City episode she’d ever seen. She was no Samantha, but what would Charlotte do in this situation? Turn on some jazz and discuss art as they sipped on their wine, waiting for her sophisticated date to make a move?

When she turned around to hand Dan his drink, he was staring at her with such desire, such urgency, it took her breath away.

Locked in his gaze, she asked, “Still want a glass?”

“Nope.” He shook his head once. “Just you.”

She set the glasses back on the countertop just in time.

He reached for her wrist and raised it to his mouth. Warm lips pressed to her skin as he gave her a gentle kiss right where her pulse fluttered. He lifted his gaze to hers and while the expression was still gentle, it was overwhelmingly certain. He wanted her. He was sure of it. Something surged in her chest and before she could second-guess, she leaned in, angling her head to brush his lower lip with hers.

It was so light, just a graze, the faintest suggestion of a kiss.

And that was all it took.

“God, Renee,” he growled her name in a rasp that fell somewhere between a plea and a prayer. His hands flew to her hair, where he pulled her updo loose, sending her curls cascading over her shoulders. He pulled her closer, her body practically vibrating the moment their tongues touched, stroking once, twice, then tangling together in delicious strokes. Her whole body arched, like a plant starved for the sun, reveling in his heat. He shuddered when a hitched sigh escaped her lips, hiked her onto the table, and kissed her like she’d never been kissed before.

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

When was the last time she’d felt so good on so little sleep?