“I can’t begin to tell you,” she murmured. It was, perhaps, something every adult should experience for himself. “And the swimming.”

“I was captain of the swim team in college. All state.”

She glanced up at that. “I thought you played baseball. Uh, Keenan mentioned it.”

“Yeah, I did. Two hundred and twelve RBIs my last season. I played basketball, too, averaged forty-two points a game.” He was bragging, Coop realized. Like some gawky teenager trying to impress the head cheerleader. He frowned down at the little cars, began to slide one over the table.

“Keenan says you make great engine noises.”

“Yeah, it’s a talent.”

He’d embarrassed himself, Zoe realized, and she wanted to hug him. “Tell you what. Why don’t we take it a day at a time? If you decide you can’t handle it—”

His eyes flashed up at that. “I think I can handle one scrawny kid and a few of his pals.”

“Okay. If you decide you don’t want to handle it, no hard feelings.”

“Fine. When do you want to start?”

“Tomorrow would be great.”

“Okay.” That was settled. Now, he thought, it was on to other business. “How about dinner?”

Her eyes widened in surprise. “Um . . . sure. We’re just going to have chicken. I’ll probably fry it.”

“No.” He stepped closer. She stepped back. “I mean, why don’t we have dinner? Out. You and me.”

“Oh, well . . .” Good answer, she thought foolishly. Very succinct. She took another step in retreat. “I have to work tonight.”

“Tomorrow.”

“I don’t really go out.”

“I’ve noticed. What are you backing away from, Zoe?”

“You.” Annoyed with herself, she held up a hand. And found it pressed against his chest. “I don’t want to date anyone. Start anything. I have very good reasons.”

“You’ll have to tell me about them sometime.” He reached up, combed a hand through her hair and loosened the band that held it back.

“You’re not going to kiss me again.”

“Sure I am.” He touched his lips to hers to prove it. His eyes remained open as he drew her lower lip into his mouth, as he used his tongue, his teeth, to tease and seduce. “You’ve got an incredible mouth.”

She couldn’t get her breath. Even as she gasped for it, her vision dimmed. It was all she wanted. It seemed her life depended on keeping her lips against his. This wasn’t fair, she thought dimly as she began to sink into the glory of sensation. Too long, she told herself. Surely she was reacting this way only because it had been so terribly long since she’d allowed herself to feel only as a woman.

She was melting against him like wax. He hadn’t known how painfully erotic it would be to feel that long, lean body go fluid. He’d only meant to kiss her, to test them both, but his hands were already reaching, stroking, exploring.

His touch, those hard, callused hands against her bare skin, all but brought her to her knees.