“And won?”
“Of course, why else enter a contest if you don’t intend to win. What’s the point?”
“Those are my thoughts exactly.”
She studied him and smiled. “If you’re talking about our challenge, then you’re going to be disappointed. I’ll win, Jericho.”
He reached out and captured her hand. Turning it over, he gently caressed her palm. “What makes you think you won’t give in first?”
“Pure determination.” It took all her concentration to speak. “Mind over matter. I’m very good at that. What are you good at?” she threw at him.
“Making you scream out in gut-clenching, heart-stopping pleasure.”
CHAPTER6
“Good answer,” Kate said, her eyes widening.
“I’ve got a bargain for you.”
“Yeah, what?”
“I’ll break the rules for you. Give me a week and I’ll bring out the passionate woman in you.”
“What do you want from me?”
“Heat, Kate. I want to see that hot woman in you.”
“After that, things will go back to normal and we’ll be boss and coworker again?” she asked, finally picking up her sandwich and taking a bit.
He nodded.
Kate’s cell phone rang. She chewed quickly and wiped her mouth before she spoke. “Quinn. I’ll be back over in a minute. Thanks.” She ended the call. “The fingerprints are done. We can go have a look now.”
He grabbed her arm. “What do you say?”
“Okay. I’ll agree to that, but you have to give me something in return.”
He narrowed his eyes at her and asked, “What?”
“I want a souvenir from you when this is all over. You see, my two friends and I made a pact. We each had to seduce a man and get a souvenir because we’re women who dare.”
* * *
Jericho suddenly understood why it was so important to Kate to be the one in charge. This dare dictated that she become a daring woman, but her fear still held her back. He could cut her some slack. He wanted that daring woman very much. “It’s a deal.”
They got up and crossed the street. “There is something else you’re good at, Jericho.”
They entered the building, and he stopped near the doorway to the stairs, “What’s that?”
“You’re absolutely amazing in court, riveting. I can’t keep my eyes off you or stop my heart from beating fast. It’s very exciting.”
The praise coming from her made him warm inside, a place that craved soft, sweet words from this woman. He grabbed her arm and dragged her into the stairwell. She made a little squeak as he hauled her through the door. He pressed her back against the wall.
“This is insane,” she managed to say.
But he saw the desire in her eyes, and it spoke to him. Then his mouth closed over hers.
She didn’t push him away. For nearly one heartbeat, he was lost, paralyzed, struck deaf, dumb, and blind. In a tidal wave, every sense flooded back, every nerve snapped, every pulse jolted.