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IZZY STIRRED, MISSING the warm embrace of Gunner’s body against hers.
Her eyes fluttered open, finding Gunner at the foot of her bed pulling on his pants.
“What are you doing,” she murmured, having difficulty keeping her eyes open at the early hour. “What time is it?”
Between blinking, she saw him reach for his shirt from the floor. Stretching the lean length of his body offered Izzy’s eyes a nice dose of morning man-candy. By far the best man-candy she’d ever seen.
He grinned, catching her staring and strutted to her side of the bed. She loved his powerful, take-charge movements. “Like what you see?” he teased, pulling the t-shirt over his head and covering the morning view.
She inhaled the smell of their lovemaking mingled in her sheets and murmured a soft, “Yes.”
“Yes?” The sexy way his half-hooded eyes raked over her, as if he could devour her, set off cravings inside her to be devoured.
She bobbed her head as he bent down and softly brushed her lips with his. “I have to meet the guys in the library. They start early. Six.” He nipped her bottom lip, sending warmth shooting through her.
“Way too early.” Izzy wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him in for a deeper, longer kiss. The flavor of warm, fresh coffee teased her taste buds. He must have been up for quite a while. She stroked his warm, clean skin and felt his wet hair. He’d hit the shower, too? Just the thought of this man’s morning routine exhausted her.
“Are you coming down later?” he asked against her mouth.
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
She pulled away to look at him. Finding concern and compassion in his eyes, she left the snarl out of her tone and replaced her intended snarky remark for surprisingly her own thoughtfulness. “I heard you last night, Gunner. I understand what you’re saying about learning the truth about Robert. I just can’t right now. I’m not ready.”
His fingers played with her hair. “I won’t be here forever to explain what you need help sorting.”
She looked away. “I know.”
His fingers caught her chin, forcing her to look back at him. “What was that?”
“What was what?”
“That look. What was that look?”
She bit her lower lip, catching his indication, but not about to admit the truth to him. She didn’t even know this man, or his past and he’d given her every warning of darkness about his former years.
Last night she’d carried no expectations into her bedroom, and had harboured no underlying ideas of starting a relationship. She did, however, feel a blanket of sadness at the thought of him leaving.
Silly, she knew. It was immature, teenage, wishful thinking.
Only, Izzy had never been the love-struck teenager, googly-eyed over the popular boys and today wouldn’t be the day she began.
“Izzy, you understand I’m leaving, right?” She absolutely hated the domineering tone resonating in his voice. Not a good, strip-down-naked-and-let-me-kiss-you-now sexy domineering way, but instead, like an adult to a child.
“Of course.” Did she say that too fast? Or with hesitancy? This is why she never stayed the night with men, the morning after always promised to be awkward. She’d rather walk the walk of shame than have this conversation.
He sat down on the edge of the bed, the features on his face struggling. He didn’t believe her. She couldn’t blame him. Had she even sounded an ounce convincing? For crying out loud, it was too early to talk files and parting.
Izzy’s fingers touched his chin, forcing him to look at her. “I’m not that girl, Gunner. I don’t do relationships, dating, the whole boyfriend/girlfriend thing. I never have and I likely never will.”
He kissed her palm. “I’m not the guy who’s going to tell you to go find your happily ever after, because I’ve been burned by the woman I fell in love with...”
Izzy didn’t like the wave of jealousy that washed over her at the mention of another woman. Not just any woman, the woman he had fallen in love with. Who was she? And what happened between them? Or to her? Was she alive or dead? More importantly, why on earth did Izzy care?
If her fingers weren’t laced in his she’d be on the move, needing to walk or shake off the weird feelings developing inside her.
“And I don’t believe two people are destined for each other. I guess you’d say I don’t believe in love anymore.”
But he once had? That sounded sad, but Izzy related. She’d never had a man break her heart...except the two men she’d known as fathers.
She forced a smile. “I promise you, Gunner, I’m good with what we’re doing. You know, the stripping, pole dancing and sex.” She purred at him and he laughed.
“Good.” The lines of his face grew serious. “Please come down today.”
“I’ll think about it, if you come out with me tonight.”
“It depends how long we work or what time you’re thinking.”
“Pick me up here at nine.”
“I doubt that will happen, especially after Marc’s engagement last night cutting our time short.”
She ran her hands down his chest and slipped under his shirt, running her fingers along the lines of his tight abs. “But, if you are off, you’ll pick me up at nine?”
He moaned. “Yes.”
“Then I will seriously consider meeting you in the basement. But if I don’t show, you can’t get all huffy and mad.”
He frowned at her, or tried to, while her touch moved further down his abs. “You’re not going to show, are you?”
“I feel like I need to absorb all that you told me last night before I can face more. But you can’t miss our date.”
“Don’t get your hopes up.”
She kicked the sheet down her body, pulling him further onto the bed and covering her naked body with his clothed one. She pulled his shirt up to his throat, their torsos touching, flesh on flesh.
His groan of defeat lit her insides. His mouth trailed down her neck leaving sparks of fire. Izzy moaned, anticipating a morning of lovemaking like the night before. Passionate lovemaking that she would never tire of.
“Maybe I can be a little late this morning.”
“If you start this, it won’t be a little,” she threatened.
“Just shut up and kiss me.”
***
GUNNER SHOWERED AND dressed quickly. He couldn’t believe Izzy had pulled it off, and damn, he couldn’t think of a better way to spend his evening.
Anton hadn’t moved from the sofa where he’d brought some files to read for the evening, defeating the entire purpose of having Marc supervise them. “Where are you off to?” he asked.
“Supper.”
“We can order in.”
Gunner shrugged his coat over his shoulders, leaving the buttons undone. “Thanks, but I’m grabbing a bite to eat with Izzy.”
Anton shook his head. “This is a dangerous game you’re playing, boy.”
“Anton...”
“I’ve told you before and I will tell you again, this isn’t only about you. And you’re being one selfish prick. What about the girl? You plan on taking her out in public? What if your location is compromised?”
Gunner stilled, chills of fear cooling his body. “Did you hear something?”
“I don’t know their every move. I’m old, and out of the loop. If you’re depending on me, you’re in for a big surprise and you know all about this girl’s type. She is the spitting image of—”
Gunner held up his hand. “Don’t cross that line.”
“I’m not giving you freedom to screw it all up again. If you keep down this path, it’s inevitable.”
“I got this.”
“Bullshit,” Anton muttered, dropping his gaze back to his book. “I’ve seen the way she looks at you and how you look at her. Makes me wonder if you disclosed your retired position in the firm she might look at you differently.” He looked up through thick-rimmed glasses. “Like the way she sees Robert. Because we all know you weren’t always considerate, kind or gentlemanly.”
“Don’t wait up,” Gunner said.
“Don’t be a foolish ass.”