She’d show Jericho St. James. The resolve burned in her like fire. He would be hers. She would make sure of it.
She would tease him, entice him, and in the end when he was hers, she would make him beg.
CHAPTER2
Jericho sat immobile behind his desk after the DA left. He’d blundered and blundered big. She couldn’t mistake his interest. It had been building in him for weeks. The fantasies of her had become more powerful until he was doing it during the day instead of dreaming about her at night.
She was seductive danger. He saw the potential in her. It was there like a whisper of sensation across his skin. He could see it in the curve of her cheekbone, the cool line of her neck. It wasn’t that Kate wasn’t experienced. He sensed she was. It was more that she hadn’t been awakened.
But therein lay Jericho’s dilemma. He could unlock the secrets of her body. He could feel it every time she came near him—through the starched lab coat and the dark-rimmed glasses and the flat-heeled shoes.
He sensed that Kate could be his body and soul.
It made him shake sometimes to know how much she wanted him. He could see it in her eyes.
But more dangerous by far was how much he wanted her.
She was unaware of how deep her sexuality affected him until only a few moments ago when he’d let only a fraction of it show. It had seeped out, unable to be contained because Kate in that red dress made him forget the danger and only concentrate on the sweetness.
She was still unaware that he’d go down on his knees for one taste of her. But like a drug, one taste wouldn’t satisfy him. He knew his limit and he sensed with Kate that there wouldn’t be one. Better not to take that first sip.
But the dangers were still there, still viable.
Professional danger: In that he worked with her; it just wouldn’t be smart to mix business and pleasure.
Emotional danger: When he thought about her eyes, soft and tender for him, his chest tightened. It caused a vortex of need. And in its center stood Katherine Quinn.
The hard part? Resisting the irresistible, delectable, unawakened Kate Quinn.
The easy part? Hell, there wasn’t an easy part.
The impossible? Not losing himself in her if he was weak enough or stupid enough to even think about touching her.
* * *
Kate took her stairs two at a time. She was already going to be an hour late to the DA’s announcement party. Tonight, the DA would name the person whom he’ll back in the upcoming elections. Support from DA Matt Roth was a strong endorsement indeed. When he caught up to her after she’d left Jericho’s office, he’d invited her as she’d fumed at the curb.
She almost ran into Danny Hamilton at the top of the stairs to her third-floor apartment.
“Whoa, there, Miss Kate. You could fall and hurt yourself real bad.” His hands steadied her.
Danny Hamilton smiled at her, and Kate couldn’t help but smile back at his infectious grin.
Danny was twenty-five and the maintenance man for the building. He was as sweet as they came and mentally disabled.
“I fixed the leak in your bathroom. Weren’t nothing but a faulty washer. Now, I’m holding you to those chocolate-chip cookies you promised.”
Kate smiled. “Sunday soon enough?”
“Aw, how about tonight?”
He looked so crestfallen, Kate said, “I would, Danny, but I can’t. I’ve been invited to a party and I’m spending Saturday with friends.”
He nodded. “That’s good, Miss Kate. You don’t get out enough, a pretty lady like you.”
“I’m running a little late, so I’ll see you on Sunday. I’ll save you the comics.”
He smiled and whistled as he went down the stairs. She slammed into her apartment, already untying the red wrap dress. The phone rang as she peeled the clingy knit away from her arms.