Dangerous Love Read Free Page A

rode him hard. Under him, whispering erotic words in his ear, driving him insane.
    Christ, how could the snapshots of her still be in his head? A night of wild, mind-blowing sex and he’d been completely whipped. Ken swiped a hand over his face and tried to think of something else, anything to cool his heated blood before he could speak.
    She’d walked out on him, damn it. Refused to return his phone calls and reduced what they had to a fling when he stopped by her store. But he’d bounced back, hadn’t he?
    “Yeah, who’s this?” He knew it was immature to pretend he couldn’t recognize her voice, but over twelve months of reliving that one night and comparing her to every woman he slept with was a real libido killer.
    “It’s Faith. I’m sorry if I caught you at a bad time. I can call later.”
    “Hang on a second,” he interrupted, panic spiraling through him at the thought of her hanging up. He rested the hand holding the cell phone on the desk and smothered a curse under his breath. Where the hell was his control? She was no longer important. Remember your motto. No emotional entanglement with women, especially this one.
    Ken brought the phone back to his ear. “Faith…Fitzgerald, right?” He strived to keep his voice neutral.
    “Yes. I’m at your agency and no one will tell me where you are.”
    “I’m at a job.”
    There was brief silence. “I need to talk to you, Ken.”
    “Why?” That didn’t come out right. “About what?”
    This time the silence lasted longer. “I need your help with something but I’d rather explain the details in person.”
    His help? After she screwed with his head. She must take him for a patsy. He punched a button on the keyboard to save the incriminating footage and e-mail on a memory stick. “Sorry, can’t help you. I’m swamped.”
    “Please, Ken. I wouldn’t come to you if it weren’t important.”
    He checked at his watch and sighed. It was half past eleven. He was tired from staring at the screen for hours on end and needed to eat something other than cold pizza. “Fine.”
    “Thank you.”
    Oh, sweetheart, you don’t want to thank me yet. “Have you had lunch?”
    “No, but I’ve a rather busy schedule this afternoon.”
    “I’m sure you can make time to eat. Wait for me outside my office. I should be there in fifteen minutes. Twenty tops.” He hung up before she could protest again.
    He ground his teeth, hating himself for giving in to the plea in her voice. His day had just gotten worse, or better, if he played this right. The woman who’d haunted his dreams was in desperate need of his help. Whatever she wanted from him, she wasn’t getting it unless she played according to his rules.

 
    CHAPTER 2

    Faith watched Ken’s SUV roll toward her. She held her breath as he pulled up at the curb, got out, and rounded the hood. Dressed in black jeans, a matching tee, and boots, he looked like a panther strolling through the jungle, stalking his prey, green eyes alert. Faith shivered. Wrong metaphor.
    She frowned. He looked harder than she remembered. The stubble on his chin enhanced his tanned skin. His high cheekbones were more chiseled, and the slanted eyes he’d inherited from his Japanese mother narrowed. Had he grown leaner too?  
    She smiled. “Hi, Ken.”
    “Faith.” He closed the gap between them and enveloped her in a hug. “It’s nice to see you again.”
    His whispered breath brushed her sensitive ear. What was he doing? He was supposed to be impersonal and business-like. Not wrap her in his masculine scent and warmth, and screw with her thought process. It took all her self-control not to melt in his embrace. She’d forgotten how wonderful it was to be held by him, how fragile she felt. She didn’t return the embrace, her body stiffer than a plywood plank.   
    If Ken noticed her lack of response, it didn’t seem to bother him. He stepped back and flashed his signature half-smile that caused a lone dimple to flash. “How