h Jean. I don’t want people saying I broke up the two of you. And if she’s going to be a dragon, I won’t date you.”
Colin snorted in laughter. “You’ve been talking to Rachel. She calls Jean the Dragon Lady whenever she messes up her kitchen. Jean and I’ve known each other a long time, and between you and me, I think there’s another man in her life.”
She looked at him sharply. “Is that why you’re going after me? To get her back? To make her jealous?”
“Don’t you think that the fact that I’m not jealous of whoever Jean is seeing says everything?” He smiled at Gemma. “So would you like to start dating and see how we get along?”
“I would consider it,” she said, then looked away so he wouldn’t see the pleasure in her eyes. “On one condition.”
“And that is?”
“That you quit being so damned secretive with me! I want to know about you, the real you. I’m tired of hearing how the Fraziers keep to themselves. I thought you were about to get married and no one seemed to know any different.”
Colin nodded. “Reasonable requests. I apologize for everything. It’s just that you’re the first woman I’ve been interested in for a long time, and I make mistakes.”
She liked what he was saying, but she was cautious. She stood up. “I think we should get back now.”
Colin didn’t move. “Watching your workout exhausted me. Help me up.” He raised a limp hand up to her.
Smiling, Gemma took his hand and pulled—and he drew her down so she was standing between his legs, her face level with his.
She didn’t have time to draw in her breath before he put his lips on hers and kissed her. It was a gentle, sweet kiss, but it had all the passion in it that she’d felt since she’d met him. His strong arms encircled her and pulled her close to him; she could feel the heavy muscles of his chest against her breasts.
She opened her mouth under his and when she felt his tongue, she groaned. Her body grew weak in his arms as she became soft and pliable. Submissive. Do with me what you will, was her attitude.
Colin abruptly set her in front of him, at arm’s length. “Real enough for you?” he asked in a husky voice. “Do you want me to tell you that I’ve desired you since I saw you reaching for a book on a top shelf?”
“Have you?”
He kissed her cheek. “I like your mind.” He kissed her other cheek. “I like your body.” He kissed her nose. “So far, Gemma Ranford, I haven’t found anything that I don’t like about you. Give me a little time, and I think I could feel something more than just ‘like’ for you.”
“Me too,” she whispered.
He again pushed her to arm’s length. “That’s it? No more words?”
“If I wanted more words in my life, I wouldn’t want you, would I?” she said with as much haughtiness as she could muster.
Colin laughed. “So now I hear the truth. It’s not my brain you like at all, is it?”
She ran her hand up his arm, over his bicep, up to his big, hard deltoid. “If all I wanted was a brain I’d have gone after Kirk.”
Colin chuckled as he got up. “Let’s—”
“I agree. Let’s keep this quiet until you’ve told Jean. I really do like her and I don’t want her hurt.”
“Jean’s tough, but I’ll take care of it. Actually, I was going to say, ‘Let’s go see if Sara’s brought out the desserts yet.’ She makes these fabulous fruit things.”
Gemma groaned. “I’m talking about affairs of the heart and you’re only concerned about your belly.”
“I rather like your belly too,” he said. “When things get to that stage, will you wear those gloves for me?”
“Of course. Maybe we can spar.”
“I was thinking more of you wearing only the gloves. Nothing else.”
“Colin!” They heard a voice calling. “Are you out here somewhere?”
“It’s Ramsey. I guess dessert is ready. You want to leave together or separately?”