“You, too.” She hesitated, then decided she should tell him. “As they were walking away down the hall, I heard Garrett say that I’d been hired to convince you to join the team. Zacharias asked him what would happen if you refused.”

“And what did Garrett say?”

“I don’t know. By then they’d gone too far for me to hear. But it scared me, Burke. It made me afraid for you.”

His arm tightened in a protective hug. “You don’t have to go back there,” he said. “We’ll find another way. I told the people at the bank that we need an answer on the loan as soon as possible. If we get the money—”

“I thought about that. The Edgeway Group could still fight us. We might even have to take them to court, which could hold up the renovations on the theater for months. And what if we don’t get the loan?”

“I don’t even want to think about that right now.”

“I’ve got to go back there, Burke. We need a copy of that contract with the forged signature—or some other evidence we can take to the authorities. It’s the only way we’ll beat them.”

Burke took a deep breath. “I told you to get out while you could. It’s still not too late.”

“I know,” Allison said. “But I’m not going anywhere, so deal with it, mister.” She tilted her face upward and gave his cheek a playful kiss.

A small, broken sound rose from his throat. His arms went around her, pulling her to his chest. When his mouth found hers, his kiss was fierce and hungry, devouring her with his need. Her arms went around his neck, fingers raking his hair. Her mouth opened, her tongue meeting his. The contact triggered a spark that became a bonfire of desire.

Where her hip pressed his sweatpants, she could feel the hard bulge of his erection. It could happen now, she thought. Except it wouldn’t because Brianna was still awake and might decide to join them in the den. But it could happen later tonight, if she could find the courage to tiptoe down the stairs and slip into the double bed beside him.

She moved against him. He groaned. His hand found the hem of her shirt and slid up her back to her sports bra, feeling for the clasp that wasn’t there. His fingers fumbled in mounting frustration.

“Damn it, Kate,” he muttered. “Where’s—” He broke off, realizing what he’d just said.

Kate.

Allison went rigid in his arms. Her hands pushed him away. “Not another word,” she said. “I have to go.”

Half tripping over the ottoman, she stumbled blindly out of the room and headed for the stairs.

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 13