Good grief, that man was dangerous inside reaching distance. Even without physical contact, he’d sent goosebumps out in all directions and stamped out all the other sensory inputs clamoring for her attention. Rather than turn, she kept facing toward the counter. She’d have liked it better if she could have kept her smile in check, but she lost that battle entirely. “Mr. Vasilek. I didn’t take you for the El Torro type.”

“Mr. Vasilek, is it?” He moved in to stand beside her and considered the menu as well. Per usual, he was decked out in an immaculate suit—this one a light gray and paired with a crisp white shirt and charcoal-gray tie. While his tone was conversational, the volume behind it was markedly discreet. “I’m fairly confident we’ve gone far past the point where formalities are required.”

“Is that so?”

“Well, we have seen each other naked, and I find once I’ve heard my given name on a woman’s lips mid-orgasm, my surname loses all of its appeal.”

No, Cassie. Don’t go there. That’s dangerous terrain.

But it was too late.

The intoxicating way he’d touched her—how he’d leisurely savored her skin like it was the most divine indulgence and taken time to build her anticipation—was burned in her memories. And the feel of him next to her without any barriers between them? She’d never felt anything like it in her life. It was electric. A connectedness beyond any imagining or explanation.

She cleared her throat and glanced at him. “I don’t think this is the best location to discuss our past...interludes.”

“I agree.” He faced her and motioned to the door. “Let us go someplace more palatable and we can talk about any number of things. Our...interludes...included.”

Oh, no. Thinking about them was risky enough. Talking about them was tantamount to building a bonfire at a gas station. “I think it’s a much more feasible plan for me to stay within my budget and eat something quick so I can get back to the station.” As soon as she mentioned the station, two and two finally added up in her head. “And what are you doing in this part of town anyway?”

“I followed you.”

“You what?”

“I followed you. I was sitting in the parking lot hoping to catch you after your last newscast. I saw you walk across the street. So, here I am.”

No subterfuge. No clever ploys. Just the cold hard truth.

The last of the customers in front of her slid their trays off the counter and left them face-to-face with the flushed girl manning the register. “Hi there. What can I get you?”

Go for the tacos.

Less messy.

And cheaper.

“I’ll have the monster platter for here and three crunchy beef tacos to go, please.”

And there went the opportunity to duck out of work later this week for more cheap Mexican food. Shaking off the self-recrimination, she opened her billfold and started pulling out ones. “Can I get the to-go order in about twenty minutes?”