All Night Long (Man of the Month 9)

Her wet hair was slicked back from her face, and her mascara was running. And when that wide mouth curved into a seductive smile, all Easton could think was that her face was the most erotic thing he'd ever seen. And that, sadly, really wasn't the direction he wanted his thoughts to be going.

"You're in Matthew's contacts," she said. "He shared them with me last year so I could throw him a birthday party. I kept your address." She tilted her head in a casual, flirty way. "I thought I might want it again someday. Guess I was right."

His head was spinning. "And my security? The house and the backyard are all set on an alarm system."

"Yeah, well, I've got mad skills." She flashed a flirty grin. "Don't worry. I didn't go into your house. I was tempted--I'd love to know if your bedroom is the way I imagine it--but I exercised self-restraint."

"That must have been hard," he said dryly.

"Oh, you have no idea."

He spread his hand over his forehead, massaging his temples with his thumb and middle finger. "I think it's time for you to go."

When he looked up, she was staring at him. "Seriously? You didn't used to be so boring. Oh, wait. Yes, you did."

"I think the word you're looking for is responsible."

"Hmmm." Her lips pressed together, and her head tilted as if she was seriously considering his suggestion. "Nope. I'm gonna stick with boring."

"Selma..."

"What?"

"You broke into my yard."

"True. But only because I knew you wouldn't mind."

He resisted the urge to rub his temples again. "Except I do mind."

"Right. Apparently you do." She clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth. "So, um, does that mean you want me to leave?"

"Very perceptive of you."

"Oh. Well. Then, fine." She stood up, water sluicing off her naked body as it glistened in that surreal light, making her variety of tattoos stand out. And in that moment, Easton more or less forgot how to breathe.

"Christ, Selma." His voice sounded raw.

"Sorry. I guess responsible means modest, too." She settled back into the water, but it didn't matter. The image of her exceptional body was burned into his mind. Her lush breasts with the dark nipples he wanted to taste. That narrow waist that was the perfect size to slide his hand around. Those long, lean thighs leading up to her bare pussy. His imagination had kicked into overdrive and his body was on fire simply from the fantasies of how she would feel beneath his fingers. How soft her skin would be against his mouth. And how her deep, throaty voice would sound when he made her come so hard she screamed.

She cleared her throat, and when he jumped, she laughed and settled back into the water. "Maybe you ought to bring me a towel. Or you could just join me."

He wished he wasn't so damn tempted, but he forced himself to head toward the cedar-lined chest that held the pool towels. He picked one, then set it on the coping, within easy reach of her.

She sighed. "Come on, Easton. Give me a break. Maybe tonight was a little over the top, but at the end of the day, I'm trying to be responsible, too. I need an attorney. Truly need one. And that's why I came to you."

"There are hundreds of attorneys in this town."

"Yeah, but aren't you the best?"

He said nothing. Just scowled.

She rolled her eyes. "Look, I considered at least half a dozen others, but yours is the name everyone came up with. And yet you won't let me hire you. Not even for a short-term deal that will probably be over even before you officially announce that you're trying for a seat on the bench. Or maybe there's another reason you don't want me to retain you. Maybe you're punishing me for what happened over a decade ago? In which case, that seems petty. I mean, don't they say we're basically a new person every seven years? And that means you're punishing me for something another person did."

He couldn't help laughing. "I really do love the way you think."

"I just need help. I am who I am, Easton."

"Aimless?"