“Legally, it’s a neutral position.”
“Oh, but it’s morally damning, isn’t it?”
“Morally?” His deep brown eyes sparkled and the weight in Tessa’s belly melted all over her insides. “Oh, yeah,” he said softly. “Morally, it’s a big problem.”
Tessa made a point not to giggle like a schoolgirl, but it was a close call. No wonder Jamie didn’t want her dating Luke. They’d gone to college together, and her brother had likely seen girls drop their panties at the first hint of Luke’s smile. His features were a little harsh. His jaw a little too cruel looking, but the sparkle in his eyes transformed him into a charming rogue. Tessa was glad her tight jeans would keep her panties firmly in place…for a few hours.
She waited till she was sure her voice wouldn’t squeak before she spoke again. “So what will you do when she has the baby?”
Luke seemed to choke on his breath. “What?”
“Your partner? What will you do when she’s on maternity leave?”
“I’ll work by myself,” he said brusquely. “That’s all.”
“Is it a sensitive subject?”
“No.”
No. And that was it. Interesting. Maybe he was worried she wouldn’t come back. Or maybe he thought she shouldn’t. Either way, he changed the subject. “Any more news on your employee files?”
“Honestly, it looks pretty good. Thanks to the security systems at the human resources firm I pushed last year.”
“You sound triumphant.”
“Eric doesn’t like change,” Tessa said, glancing out the window as if lightning might strike at such an understatement.
“Interesting. That’s a classic oldest-sibling issue, I think.”
“Oh, he’s got issues,” she started, then she noticed that Luke was slowing to turn into the parking lot of one of Tessa’s favorite restaurants. The little Mexican café had a patio that was shaded by mature aspens and provided the perfect place to sip the best margaritas in town. “Good choice,” she said approvingly.
“Sounds like this was a test.”
“One of many,” she answered with a smile that was all challenge.
Luke raised an eyebrow and turned off the car. When he got out and circled around, Tessa waited. He opened her door, and when she stood, she was only inches from him.
He tipped his chin down so that their faces drew even closer. “I wasn’t sure I was your type,” he said softly, draping his arm over the open door. “I thought you’d made a mistake asking me out to dinner.”
“Oh? Have you changed your mind?”
This time, he didn’t bother to hide the way his eyes dipped down her body. “You look different tonight. Less like…”
“Your friend’s little sister?”
The sexy quirk of his mouth widened into that wicked smile. “Yeah.”
“Good. Because I already have two brothers, Luke. I don’t need another man around asking me to be a good girl.”
Luke’s eyes dilated, his lips parted, but he stepped back so quickly that her hair shifted forward in the breeze he created.
“I’m glad I don’t remember you as a kid,” he said.
“Yeah,” she said with a big smile. “Me, too.”
Oh, it was going to be fun playing this game with him. Lots of fun. And good Lord, if she didn’t need fun, who did?
APPARENTLY TESSA DONOVAN didn’t want to be a good girl. Not anymore. And not with him.