She blushed. "That...well, yes."

He grinned at her fl.u.s.ter. He was a mechanic, living in jeans, T-s.h.i.+rts, and steel toe work boots. Maybe he shaved twice a week and despite daily showers, grime clung to him. His mother raised him right. He had good manners, but his rough edges showed.

"I could've said h.e.l.lo too." He chuckled again scrubbing a hand over his buzz cut. "Now I know why you were a scared rabbit when we crossed paths. Sounds like you've had a rough year."

Jennifer's face angled with gentle inspection. Her gaze touched his skin, lingering this time on his pecs under his white T-s.h.i.+rt. She was a doe coming in closer, getting a better lay of the land and he was a patient hunter.

Tucking loose hair behind an ear, she was calmer. "That's nice of you. You're a good man, AJ."

A breeze played with the ruffle on her dress. Twilight turned the skies deeper shades of blue and purple. Crickets sawed their first notes, night was coming. Waiting on a tow truck, his b.u.t.t planted on a Volvo hood was the last thing he expected to happen, but he'd cool his jets. Jennifer didn't need a man hitting on her.

"My offer's still good." He paused to let that sink in. "What's been hardest on you?"

"Hardest..." She let the word trail. "The loneliness You're solo at parties. There's no one to slow dance with at weddings...just you by yourself. And forget spontaneous dinners out, unless you eat alone." Brown eyes slanted at him. "And no s.e.x."

His gut clenched.

She laughed self-consciously. "You probably don't know what to say to that, but you did ask."

"So I did," he said, boot heels digging into gravel. There were a hundred things he wanted to say. Ninety-nine of them would get his face slapped.

"You know, even before my husband died, I felt restless. Everything was about his career. It was a sore point with me." She smoothed her skirt. "I mean, I loved him, I really did. But now he's gone and I feel lost."

"Yeah." A twinge made him uncross and cross his feet. He wanted a conquest, and Jennifer acted like a friend in need. Time to tamp down his inner cave man, be a nice guy, and listen.

"I have so much on my mind these days, trying to move on with my life..." Her fingernails drummed the hood. "Mmmm, but why go on about that? It's just when a man looks like he wants you for breakfast, lunch, and dinner-" She interrupted herself with a nervous laugh, her fingertips grazing her neckline. "-well, I forgot about that part of myself. Your stare was a wake-up call."

"Did you like it?"

Her smile faltered.

Way too fast, AJ. Go easy. The summer breeze teased her skirt against his jeans. Energy hummed between them, a fascinating sensation, and they weren't touching.

"Would you like to go back inside? We can keep talking." He wanted more from her, not just to touch her. But, oh yeah, he wanted that too.

Jennifer twirled a strand of gold-blonde hair. Her voice was mellow and warm. "I should wait here for the tow truck, but I wouldn't mind if you stayed with me."

The summer night was balmy, a heat wave coming on, yet her nipples jabbed the fabric of her dress.

"Sure, I'll wait with you."

He was f.u.c.ked. His brain kept looping her admission of missing s.e.x, when she needed a gentleman. As much as he battled Neanderthal urges, he liked sitting with Jennifer. He wanted to hear her voice and listen to her troubles.

"So, AJ, you come here often?" Jennifer smiled coyly.

"Say what?"

Her smile was genuine and friendly. "Isn't that what women say when they hit on you?"

Talking about women hitting on him was a danger zone.

Laughing, she batted his shoulder. "Come on. I had to lighten things up. You looked awfully uncomfortable when I confessed to missing s.e.x."

He pressed the heel of his hand harder on the hood. "I thought you wanted a listening ear."

"Or maybe I need a break...to forget about those cross roads." Her eyes lit up. "Come on play along. It'll be practice for getting back in the dating game."

"Alright." His body quickened at Jennifer angling her body toward him. "I'm here every Wednesday night with my friend, Sean. We have a few beers and shoot some pool. Most of the time I'm in bed by ten."

"Alone?"

One word from her lips and a current sparked across his chest, down his abdomen, rousing his d.i.c.k. Her dark brown eyes sparkled. Mere inches separated her thigh from his.

"Careful," he teased. "A guy might think your messing with his delicate sensibilities"

"There's nothing delicate about you." She eyed his bicep. "You're hard as a rock."

His nostrils flared, catching Jennifer's light flowery scent. He wanted to get this right with her. Despite his baser needs, he'd planned to go slow, and at the right moment ask her out for a date, but Jennifer signaled she was hot and ready right now.

"Isn't this when I tell you my sign and you tell me yours?" he asked, trying to keep things light.

"Skip that. I want to know about your Wednesday nights." She bent close, her voice impish. "Is it your night to pick up bimbos and babes?"

"Oh no, Wednesday is strictly guy's night." He smiled, playing along. "Fridays and Sat.u.r.days are for picking up bimbos and babes."

"I'm so glad." She sighed in mock relief. "I was afraid my car troubles were messing with your love life."

"Nah. You saved me from a spectacular loss at the pool table." He glanced at the bar door. "Sean was running the table."

"Your friend inside."

"Yeah." His body zeroed in on her warmth against him.

"So, I should feel pretty special. You made time for me on your guy's only night."

"Doing my part to help a lady in distress." His shoulder b.u.mped her arm. The tingle came back.

"Keeping me safe from the mayhem of Hidden Valley," Jennifer said, waving a hand at the empty road.

Moonlight s.h.i.+ned on car hoods, on the long asphalt road, on the bar's metal roof, and most of all moonlight s.h.i.+ned on Jennifer. It caressed her skin, her hair, her plump kissable lips. It was scary how easy this was...relaxed conversation, light flirtation. The day's tension dissipated the longer he breathed the same air as her.

"And you're not married," she said abruptly.

"No." He squinted at her. "How'd you know I wasn't married?"

"No ring." She pointed to his left hand resting close to her thigh. "But, I figured I'd ask. You know, to get to know you better."

He stifled a wolfish grin...all in the name of getting to know her better. He didn't want to get his wires crossed, but Jennifer was sending signals he wanted to answer.

She gazed up at him with an openness setting his body on high alert. Her pupils spread wider in her eyes. "You seem like the dependable type, ready to listen and be a friend."

She spoke softly, inserting the safe friend word. She was saying one thing, but Jennifer's big brown eyes told him something else. His d.i.c.k twitched. Alarms went off inside him to the tune of sizzling heat. Her mixed messages sounded a lot like she was hot for s.e.x and in need of a platonic ear. He should be the better man, help Jennifer, and ignore the l.u.s.t roiling between them, but her nipples poked her dress, the twin circles more prominent than moments ago. He was a pig for ogling her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Jennifer stopped her fake flirtation and was pouring out her heart again. "...I appreciate you helping and listening to me. Not many people just listen to me nowadays. I've got so much on my mind, but everyone tries to tell me what I should do." Her brows scrunched. "Know what I mean?"

He dragged his attention off her chest. "People should listen to their friends, instead of giving unasked for advice."

It'd strip his nerves, but he'd listen. And he's keep his eyes focused above the neck even if it killed him. Jennifer launched into her fears about returning to work and her life before her husband died. Explaining how she used to help her late husband, she wasn't kidding when she'd said everything was about his career. She'd practically been at his beck and call. Time pa.s.sed, her voice rose and fell, as animated as her hands. She was a livewire of energy.

"...everyone says I should-"

"Stop, Blondie." He grabbed her hands. "What do you think you should do?"

Her dark-fringed eyes spread wide. Warm feminine hands relaxed in his. He would've pulled her flush to him to comfort her and test those yes signals of hers.

"Oh, I like that, AJ. 'Blondie.'" She smiled as if getting a glimpse of herself for the first time.

Her soft hands stayed clasped in his. Air was lax around them. Jennifer's nervous jitters had unwound and come loose in the summer heat. Their corner of the lot was unlit, the night hinting at temptation. The better part of him spied the bench tucked safely in front of the bar.

"Why don't we take a seat over there?" He pointed at the bench. "We can see the tow truck when it comes."

"Sure. If you think that's better."

AJ set a guiding hand on her elbow and a s.h.i.+ver rippled through her body. His d.i.c.k roused from Jennifer's t.i.ts bouncing lightly as she navigated the dark in her strappy heels. The bench in front the bar was a good idea. They barely got away from her car when Jennifer lost her footing and banged into him, her t.i.ts ramming him. He grabbed her arms to steady her.

"Sorry," she mumbled, both hands splayed over his ribs.

His sight line dropped and he froze. Abundant cleavage pillowed his abs. He could gorge on those curves. Stare at them all night. A woman's chest was a thing of beauty. Big. Small. Flat chested. Or full and round. Nipples thin as pencil points or thick as a felt marker. He loved them all. But the sight of Jennifer's t.i.ts plump against his T-s.h.i.+rt roused his d.i.c.k in a hot, hard flash.

"AJ?"

He sucked in a sharp breath. f.u.c.k. Her t.i.ts were inches from his d.i.c.k and his brain wouldn't let that image go. Throat dry, his fingers dug into her. Moonlight washed over big round doe eyes and velvet soft skin. Her lips parted. He was ready to do the right thing and help up, but Jennifer rubbed against him slowly, her eyes locked boldly on his.

That's an invitation. Body humming, he had to have her.

One taste. That's all he'd take.

He grazed Jennifer's lips once, twice, a third time. She melted into him from a few soft pecks. Talk about a woman in need of kissing, deep kissing. What would happen if he started touching her? Really touching her?

She moaned into his mouth. Her tongue swept boldly across his lower lip. She tasted of warmth and spearmint gum, biting his bottom lip, his chin. Her teeth grazing him, the little bites hinted at a wilder woman beneath the mannered veneer.

Both his hands slid down smooth, slender arms. Tenderly they linked hands at their sides, his d.i.c.k wedged between them. She had to feel it pressing her belly. Shockwaves pulsed inside him the longer they kissed. Jennifer wiggled. Her mouth devoured him as hot and hungry as he devoured her. Jennifer's flimsy summer dress rasped his T-s.h.i.+rt her t.i.ts rubbing big blatant circles on his chest. His d.i.c.k got painfully hard at the image of riding her cleavage.

"Jennifer...we should stop." His voice sc.r.a.ped low.

None of this jived with the tame society woman who gave him sheepish half smiles. His d.i.c.k and half his brain raced ahead, but the other half of his brain stalled on gentleman mode.

"No." Her mouth sucked his neck.

He groaned and let go of her hands, needing to hold her. Jennifer's hands shot up to his shoulders. Her mouth worked a lazy line under his ear lobe, nibbling and sucking. A hot shudder went up and down his spine like fingers strumming a guitar. His eyes spread, trying to focus. Blue and white neon flickered. His b.a.l.l.s ached and his d.i.c.k throbbed because a hot woman was devouring him in a parking lot. If she didn't think clearly, he needed to...to save her the embarra.s.sment of getting caught.

He walked them backward to the front of her car until his b.u.t.t hit the hood. Jennifer never stopped kissing his neck and nibbling his ear lobe. f.u.c.k, it felt good.

"Your mouth..." he whispered, angling back on the hood.

She went with him, sprawling between his legs, humming soft laughter against his neck, the vibration ticklish. Jennifer's park job had pointed her car away from the bar at the far end of the lot. They were on a country road surrounded by trees. A little hot and heavy kissing wouldn't hurt.

His hands flattened on Jennifer's ribs. Slowly he memorized her back. The line her bra under her dress. The b.u.mp her bra hook made. Her spine and the pearled rise of each small bone, down to her narrow waist nipping above smooth, curvaceous hips. Jennifer was a pin up in a society woman's dress. Every inch of him rioted to get her naked.

She tipped her head back, shadows and moonlight painting her features in seductive, pale light. s.e.x-hazed, feminine eyes searched him.

She smiled, revealing a dimple in need of kissing. "Are we good?"

A beautiful, curvy woman between his legs? "Yeah." His thumb brushed her dimple. "We're good."

He rolled off the hood, kissing the tiny indent, working his way to the bottom her chin. Legs spread wide, his boots. .h.i.t the ground. Jennifer stayed planted between his legs like she belonged there. Male satisfaction settled inside him. His kisses devastated her. He read Jennifer when her breath hitched from his wandering hands and when it skipped faster. Soft sighs and frenzied wiggles. He took it all in, her body language for him alone.

Jennifer's head lolled back and moonlight touched her neck. Splotchy circles marked pale skin. Whisker scratches.

His fingertips grazed her neck. "I should slow down."

"No. Keep going." Jennifer gripped his waist, her manicured nails frisking dangerous territory at his waistband. One French tip almost sc.r.a.ped the tip of his d.i.c.k. f.u.c.k. His toes curled in his boots.

Jennifer raised her head as if by unspoken agreement it was her turn to lavish kisses on him. Dark, carnal eyes met his. Wanton. Animal. Like she'd take a bite out of him.

"I want you," she said her tongue teasing his upper lip.

Goose b.u.mps flowed over his skin. Jennifer rocked against him in an age old rhythm. In the shelter of darkness, he held on tight. Their kisses went from slow and tender to fast and hot. Her minty tongue rubbed his. When her hands wandered over his shoulders, he flexed from the heightened pleasure of her fingers exploring his body. He fought the throb between his legs. Through the haze, her fingernails dug into his back. The hurt was so good.

He pulled away, sucking air. "If we don't slow down, your skirt'll be at your waist."

Both his palms rubbed calming circles on her back. His calloused hands made crackling sounds on the fine fabric. When was the last time he reacted with such intensity to a woman? Jennifer couldn't or wouldn't stop. Her pelvis nestled into him and she wouldn't stop her unhurried, rhythmic rocking. She nudged the base of his neck. Smelling. Sucking. Nipping.

Air hissed between his clenched teeth. His d.i.c.k ached inside his jeans. Anymore of this friction and he'd come in his pants. "Watch it, Blondie. You're playing with fire."

"I. Don't. Care." She couldn't have been more firm about wanting him.

Little by little, his hands worked the cloth up her thighs. His resolve dropped the higher her skirt went. Jennifer nuzzled his neck, and he stared down at her backside, a grunt rumbling out of him. She wore white mesh see through underwear. Two pale moons peeked at him. Smooth, toned curves and a dark cleft. A perfect pin up girl's a.s.s.

His fingers slipped under the sheer covering. Both hands ma.s.saged her tight globes. He pinched them, rubbed them. Jennifer couldn't get enough. She ground her crotch harder against the bulge in his jeans. If that torture wasn't enough, she toed the b.u.mper, rubbing her tanned knee up his thigh.

What would make him snap first? Her body rubbing against him? The purring sounds she made? Or his hands on her a.s.s cheeks? He needed to do something. Fast.

He squeezed her b.u.t.t so hard she yelped. "Stop grinding me like that," he growled, gripping her shoulders and putting inches between them. "Unless you're ready to do something about it right here, right now."

That got her attention.

"Here?" Hair fell over her eyes. She brushed it back, taking in her surroundings as if she'd forgotten where she was.