Hero For the Asking (Reed Sisters: Holding out for a Hero 2)

"Why not?" Spring repeated incredulously, jumping to her feet to restlessly pace the room. "Summer, I've only known him for three days. And I'll be leaving California in nine more days. Besides, Clay and I are entirely different. Much too diffe

rent to even consider a serious relationship."

Summer shook her head vigorously. "Oh, no. That excuse won't wash with me. Remember who you're talking to. Spring. I'm the former party girl married to the ex-spy-turned-businessman, remember? It would be hard to find two people more different than Derek and me, but we love each other so much that we've learned to accept those differences."

"You and Derek aren't as different as you like to imply," Spring argued. "And at least you live in the same state."

"So? People relocate all the time. I did. Besides, logic and geography have nothing at all to do with this. We're talking about human emotions here. The way you and Clay feel about each other."

"But I don't know how I feel about Clay. And I certainly don't know what he feels for me."

"Are you kidding? The guy's nuts about you! He's had the look of a man who's been poleaxed ever since you walked into my den last Friday. And since Clay is not a man to hide his emotions, I'm sure he's told you exactly how he feels."

Call it love, he'd said. But she couldn't call it that. She just couldn't.

"He's told me that he's attracted to me," Spring admitted. "He's convinced we're going to have an affair."

"And would that be so awful?" Summer teased.

Spring took a deep breath and glanced at her sister, knowing her feelings were all too clear on her face. "It just might be devastating," she whispered.

Her sister's mischievous smile faded immediately and was replaced by a look of compassion. "Spring—"

"Summer, you're not in here grilling your sister for details about her date tonight, are you?" Derek's voice inquired blandly from the open doorway.

"Why, Derek. Am I the type of person to pry into someone else's personal business?"

"Yes, you are," Derek and Spring replied in smiling, unhesitating unison.

Spring thought again how very much she liked her brother-in-law. Summer tossed her head indignantly and climbed as gracefully as she could from Spring's bed. "I won't stay here and let the two of you insult me," she announced with great dignity. "I'm going to bed."

"Good night, Summer," Spring bade her fondly. "Good night, Derek," she added as he left the room with a conspiratorial wink at her.

Summer glanced back over her shoulder as she limped from the room. "Sleep well, Sis. Try not to worry about anything, okay?"

Spring assured her sister that she would sleep like a log, but she was lying through her teeth. She wouldn't sleep a wink for thinking of Clay. Her body still tingled from the desire that he'd aroused in her, desire such as she'd never known before. What was it that he did to her?

Call it love.

No, she wouldn't call it love. Not that.

* * *

During the next two days Spring discovered that Clay was a man who carried through with his promises—and threats. It seemed that every time she turned around he was there. On Tuesday night he showed up on the Andersons' doorstep and invited himself to dinner. He stayed three and a half hours. During that time he patted Spring's shoulder five times, hugged her twice, squeezed her hand nine times, kissed her cheek once and kissed her mouth twice briefly and once thoroughly. She counted.

By the time he left, she was on fire. She took a long, cold shower before going to bed, but all that did was give her goose bumps. It did absolutely nothing to dampen her newly awakened libido.

On Wednesday Clay called Summer and offered to take the three of them to dinner that evening. Being the determined matchmaker that she was, Summer cheerfully accepted. Spring tried to act annoyed, but they both knew that the scolding was only a formality. The truth was that Spring couldn't wait to see Clay again, and she and Summer both knew it.

Dressed in cream and a delectable shade of mint green, Clay was at his outrageous best from the moment the evening began. He teased the others until they laughed helplessly, then laughed good-naturedly when they teased him right back. Spring spent much of the evening capturing his wandering hands and returning them firmly to him, her stern looks not very adequately concealing what those daring touches did to her.

She could have gladly strangled him when he introduced her to their waiter—who turned out to be a former student of his—as the woman he would like to have an affair with. Eyeing her vivid blush, the young waiter grinned, congratulated Clay on his excellent taste and provided a bottle of champagne to further the cause.

"You," Spring told Clay through clenched teeth, "are going to die."

"Have an affair with me," he retorted, "and I'll die happy."

Summer and Derek laughed, greatly enjoying the entertainment provided by the other couple.