Temporarily Yours (Shillings Agency #1)(9)
Author: Diane Alberts

He couldn’t help but notice the last word was more of a whisper than a word. “Then we can wait till we’re off,” he said quickly.

She laughed and smacked his arm. “You know what I mean.”

Reaching out, he grabbed her hands and squeezed them both. “It was just a kiss. We don’t have to do it again if you don’t want to.”

“I don’t.” She flushed and bit down on her lower lip. “But, God help me, I do.”

Oh, thank God. His ego had been taking a hit for a second. “You’re over-thinking again.”

“You’re right. It was nothing.”

Well, he wouldn’t say that…

“Right.” He raised a brow. “It’s not like there’s an actuary law against kissing ex-Marines. Or is there? Will you be fired or arrested? Burned in the town square as an example?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course there isn’t,” she huffed. Then her lips turned up. “But if there was, I’d so be on that stake.”

He grinned. “I’m going to tell you something about me now. I don’t often kiss girls on planes, either, but you’re f**king beautiful and interesting as hell. I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun with someone. If you want to kiss me again, then I’m here waiting. If not, that’s fine, too.”

She opened her mouth, started to speak, then gave a slight shake of her head. “I might want to, but I won’t.”

“I think you’re protesting too much.” But at least she wanted to kiss him, and this passion wasn’t one sided. “You don’t want a relationship, and neither do I. And I’m leaving the country next week. Some might say our situation is perfect for both of us.”

She eyed him suspiciously and sank back against the seat. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“How about if we go back to the topic of your fake boyfriend. We need to flesh him out more. You want him to be realistic, right?”

She dropped her head back on the seat and closed her eyes. “Yeah…I guess.”

“Then how about we base your guy on me? You ask me any questions you want, and I’ll answer them truthfully. Then, when you’re with your family the answers will come easily.”

She pursed her lips and shifted in the seat. She probably thought through everything she ever did in terms of risk assessment. He had a feeling she’d already done so with him, and kissing a guy she would never see again probably fell into the bad ideas section of her brain.

She needed to loosen up some.

Kayla opened her eyes and scrunched her nose. “Let me get this straight, you want me to build the character of my fake boyfriend around a guy I met at the airport and let grope me on my flight?”

“Yep.” Watching her out of the corner of his eyes, he added, “If you didn’t tell them a name yet, you can even use my name. You can use me in any way you desire.”

Something flashed in her eyes. Something that he liked. “Any way?”

She called to him like a siren without even trying. Leaning so close that their noses practically touched, he held onto her gaze and traced a finger down her cheek.

“Any way. Anywhere. Anytime.”

Chapter Four

Wow. He wasn’t afraid to put it all out there.

Coming from a family with military men herself, she’d known a heck of a lot of service men over her years, and none of them had acted so carefree and seductive. They’d been harsh. Serious. Not like Cooper. He was so delightful that she wanted nothing more than to let him have his way with her.

He was so handsome. She couldn’t resist thinking how explosive they could be together. Numerous times. Numerous ways. On the bed, kneeling in front of the couch, bent over the kitchen table, maybe even on the airplane…

No. She was not joining the mile-high club.

Giving herself a slight shake, she picked up her drink and gulped it down. “So you want me to use you, huh?”

He eyed her as he took a sip of his cocktail. As he moved the cup away from his mouth, he licked the moisture off his lips. She couldn’t look away. He said, “Are you talking about asking me questions, or using me in a different way? Either way, the answer is yes.”

She was tempted to do both. This had short-term written all over it, and that’s how she liked her relationships. Short and sweet. “I think we’ll start with questions for now.”

He shrugged a shoulder. “Suit yourself.”

She studied him. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-nine. I graduated college from University of Maine and then a few years later joined the Marines at my father’s urging. You?”

“Twenty-seven.” She pointed a finger at him. “But this is about you. Not me. Are your parents still married?”

“Yes, very happily so.”

“Was your father in the military, too?”

“Yes, he was a career officer, and he hasn’t stopped reminding me of that since I decided not to reenlist.” Twisting his lips sardonically, he raised his glass to her. “The captain didn’t approve of his only son deciding the military wasn’t for him. After being under his thumb all my life, the military wasn’t much of a challenge.”

She nodded. “Why did you decide to get out of the Marines?”

He tensed. “I don’t want to talk about that. Anything but that.”

“Okay.” She might be dying to know what brought the hardness to his voice, but she knew when to back off. “What does your father think of your new job?”

He scoffed. “He thinks I’m wasting my time. He owns a company for former military operatives. A private security detail. And he wanted me—”

“To run it.” The puzzle that was Cooper rapidly came together. He didn’t seem like the type to accept things being handed to him. And he didn’t strike her as kind of guy who would take the easy way out. She appreciated that in a man. “I’m guessing you’re not interested?”

“Nope.” He tossed back the remains of his drink and set the glass down. Clearly he didn’t like the topic. “I’m not taking the position because I’m his son and a shoo-in. That’s not fair to anyone. If I take a job, it’s because I’ve proven myself to be the best candidate. No other reason.”

So, she’d been right. Kayla took a sip of her drink and sat back. “What’s your biggest fear?”

“Failure.” He tightened his fists and looked down at his lap. “In particular, failure that will result in a loss of life.”