“That’s good. Don’t pay any attention if you hear strange noises.”

“What sort of noises?”

“Drunken laughter. Breaking glass. Jukebox. That sort of thing.”

“I won’t give it a thought.”

“And if somebody named Bubba asks you what you’re doing here, you just tell him you’re with me.”

“I’ll do that.”

He began kissing her, and by the time he stopped walking, she realized he’d once again distracted her from paying attention to where they were going. Had they traveled a short distance or a long one? He wasn’t breathing hard, but he was in such good physical shape, that didn’t mean anything. She couldn’t even be certain whether he’d climbed a set of stairs or if they’d stayed on the same level.

“I’m going to set you down now. I don’t want to get you too close to the bar. On account of fights breaking out.”

“May I take the blindfold off yet?”

“I’m afraid not, honey. You’ve still got your clothes on.”

“I have to take my clothes off?”

“I’m sorry, darlin’. I thought you’d figured out how this was going to work.” He removed her coat. “Don’t you worry, though. I’ll help you.”

“You’re such a gentleman.”

He slipped off her earrings, pulled her sweater over her head, and discarded it. “Phoebe, honey, I don’t want to embarrass you, but did you know you can see right through this?”

“Can you now?”

“I’m afraid so. That means I’m going to have to ask you to stand real still for a minute.”

Through the gossamer-thin silk of her bra, she felt his mouth settle over her nipple. The warm, moist suction sent torrents of excitement raging through her body. His sensual torture continued as he moved his mouth to the other breast, while the nipple he had abandoned pebbled beneath the damp, chilly spot he had left on the silk. Her knees were growing weak, and she wanted him inside her so badly she grasped his shoulders.

“Please. . . . You’re making me crazy.”

“Shhh. I’m just getting started here, and, frankly, I expect a little more stamina from you. Maybe you could recite some batting averages or something.”

She laughed and then gasped as he gently nipped her with his teeth. A moment later, her bra fell away, and she was naked from the waist up.

“You are one beautiful woman, sweetheart. Isn’t she, boys?” /

He definitely needed to be put in his place. She began to lift her arms to remove the blindfold, but he caught her wrists and held them at her sides. “Not yet, honey. I’m real thirsty.”