Personal Assets (Texas Nights) (7 page)

Allie bent over him and braced her palms on the chair arms. “I’m talking about a taste test.”

His pupils dilated. Oh, yeah, she had him right where she wanted him.

“Why do I get the feeling we’re not talking about cheesecake anymore?”

“Because we’re talking about this.” Allie closed the gap to press her lips against his. The kiss wasn’t hesitant. It wasn’t aggressive. It was a soft, smooth joining as she rubbed her lips across his, learning texture and taste.

Delicious.

When he angled his head to move the contact deeper, closer, Allie almost collapsed into his lap with relief. Without a word, he shifted, grabbed her by the waist and lifted her onto his desk.

This time, he initiated the kiss and immediately licked at her mouth, silently persuading her to open for him. She parted her lips, ready for an all-out invasion. But he used his tongue to tease and taunt. Daring her to come out and play.

As they sank deeper into the heat of each other’s mouths, Allie’s brain stayed plugged in just enough to produce a bleeping signal of
Thank you
,
sweet baby Jesus.
She ran her hands up Cameron’s forearms, sprinkled with silky dark hair, and wrapped them around his biceps. The heat poured off his skin and lit her up from her fingertips to the spot between her legs.

She tested his muscles, lightly sinking her nails into resilient skin.
Yum.
She scratched down his sensitive inner arm, as much for her pleasure as his. With a shudder, Cameron gently broke the contact between their lips and pulled away far enough so they could look at one another. Allie wasn’t sure what he saw in her face, but his expression was a little dazed and a whole lot aroused.

“Would you like paper or plastic?” she said, panting the words.

It didn’t take him a split second to catch on this time. “Princess, I’ll take it any way you package it.”

* * *

After Allie left, Cameron was tempted to check his parking lot for a railroad crossing gate.

Because, sure as hell, he’d just been flattened by the Allie Shelby Express. All his good intentions, all his thoughts of pursuing a relationship that led to somewhere other than between the sheets. Run over like a penny left on the tracks.

He leaned back in his chair, trying to catch some of the air his half-ass air conditioner was coughing out. Didn’t do a thing to dry the sweat in the small of his back.

Why had he told her yes?

Because she was soft and strong in his arms. Her tongue was wild and hot in his mouth.

A man made rash decisions when he was thinking with the head below his belt buckle. And that one definitely had more juice going to it. Had since the second he’d seen her in that intersection.

Because why else would he have scooped Allie up and jammed his tongue down her throat like he hadn’t had a woman’s mouth on his in years? She’d made it more than clear that this...thing...she was offering was a hands-on, commitment-off proposition.

But what if that good girl from high school still lurked inside this assertive risk-taking Allie? A good girl would eventually go for a long-haul relationship rather than just a short haul in and out of bed.

Cameron’s chest tightened. Allie Shelby was the last woman he ever would’ve placed on his Ms. Right for Mrs. Wright list. She wasn’t a down-to-earth, keep-the-hearth-fires-burning woman by any stretch. But they’d already proven they were more than compatible sexually and, regardless of her controversial business, Allie was well connected and regarded in this town.

A woman who was hell on wheels in bed and poised in public.

Jesus, talk about a potential win-win.

* * *

Allie wandered into Personal Assets’ kitchenette for the sixth—no, make that seventh—time since she arrived at nine that morning. She made herself a cup of chamomile tea and stirred in a spoonful of honey.

He’d said yes. Oh, had Cameron said yes!

She glanced at the cup in her hand. Had she added honey or not? She was such a mess, she’d come darn close to simply dialing it in during her morning counseling sessions. Now she had to make it through the group session, and the ladies would want to know all about her special project.

Special? Smoking was more like it. After those kisses last night, she’d known she couldn’t stick around or there would’ve been serious consequences. And neither of them had been seriously prepared. Even if the garage’s restrooms had condom machines, she’d had no desire to find out how fresh they were. Kind of like the peanuts he’d offered her.

She’d be ready next time. An anticipatory shiver cruised over her skin because next time was Sunday night. After their kiss, she’d been dazed, but she’d kept it together long enough to coax Cameron into a day and time. Now she just had to find the perfect place.

Allie headed for the conference room with a legal pad and pen. When Suzanne Jensen walked in an hour later, Allie’s tea was cold, but she’d made a list of fifty potential date locations. Only problem was she’d scratched out all but the fiftieth. And that was the Dairy Queen. She drew a big black line through the letters, tearing the paper in the process.

Suzanne squeezed her full-figured body into a chair and eyed Allie’s list. She crumpled the paper and stuffed it under her leg.

“Planning something?”

“Just a workshop idea I don’t think will fly.”

“Why don’t you tell me about it and I’ll give you a client’s perspective?”

“Thanks, but it was just mental masterb...brainstorming.”

Suzanne nodded, but the tilt of her lips said she wasn’t sold on Allie’s explanation.

The three other ladies in the group rushed in at the last minute, laughing and chatting. Allie’s heart expanded. They liked the special project idea. They were happy. By darn, she was doing her job.

Allie rocked in her chair. “Okay, ladies, is everyone ready to share?”

The door eased open and Emmalee poked her head in. When she saw everyone was already seated at the table, she shuffled back. “I’m late. I’ll leave—”

“No, we were just getting started.” Allie shot out of her chair and hustled Emmalee inside. “We were wondering where you were.”

The other women nodded and smiled.

“If you’re sure.” Emmalee sat but positioned her purse on the table in front of her as though it might shield her from having to actually participate.

“Who wants to share first?” Allied asked.

Suzanne was vibrating with repressed excitement and her hand speared the air. “Me, me, me.”

Everyone laughed.

“Do y’all remember the Woodway drive-in?”

Nostalgia settled over Allie. The old movie theater hadn’t been open to the public in many years, but when she was a child she’d watched a couple of G-rated shows with a friend’s family. They’d gorged themselves on popcorn and then abandoned Becky’s parents to play in the grassy area in front of the huge screen. Becky’s parents had been pretty darn clever to bring along a playmate for their daughter. She and Becky had returned to the car to discover the windows fogged up and her parents breathing funny.

“Well,” Suzanne said. “I bought it a few weeks ago for my special project.”

Wow. Real estate transactions went above and beyond Allie’s idea of homework.

Suzanne’s cheeks matched her dusky pink shirt. “I took Carl parking Wednesday night.”

“Parking?” Emmalee asked, like she’d never heard of the concept.

“All right, by
parking
I mean getting after it like two lonely minks,” Suzanne said. “He was so surprised and...um...happy, that he was up for a second round, which hasn’t happened in years.”

“I’m jealous you’ve already started your project.” Another client clasped her hands to her heart. “I remember some great times in the backseat of my high school boyfriend’s car at that drive-in.”

A jolt zipped through Allie. Oh my God, that was it. The drive-in was where she’d take Cameron. Only her SUV didn’t seem too sexy. Umm...could she possibly get her hands on BB?

She could sure try.

They went around the table, taking turns ironing out details of each other’s projects.

“Emmalee, how about you?” Allie asked.

“Oh, please tell me a project’s not required to participate in the group.” She glanced around at the others. “I’m enjoying this so much, but I’m not sure I’m ready for...that. I don’t even have a boyfriend. Is that what they call them now? Or is it significant other? Or maybe booty call?”

Allie bit the inside of her lip to keep it from curling into a smile. “Whatever term you’re comfortable with. But your special project doesn’t require another person’s participation.”

“You mean I can—oh!” She glanced at the door to Red Light and lowered her voice. “Get one of those battery-operated boyfriends instead?”

This time Allie had to roll both lips in.

Suzanne reached over to pat Emmalee’s hand. “Oh, honey, you’re gonna love that Promise Keeper. Now I adore my Carl. But my PK, well, let’s just say he’s never let me down.”

Emmalee’s grip on her purse tightened, but there was a sparkle in her eye. “I’ll think about it.”

“You know, as Allie’s client, you get a twenty percent discount, right? Girl, that is the best hundred dollars you will ever spend.”

“A quick reminder that what happens in group session, stays in group session.” Allie jotted a note in her group file and glanced at the wall clock. “Anything else before our time is up?”

All her internal organs cringed at her mistake. Graduate school had taught her never to ask a question she didn’t want to have turned around on her.

“Well, Miss Allie,” Suzanne drawled. “We seem to have skipped you and your special project.”

“We don’t really have time...”

The women all settled back in their chairs.

“Honey, we have all the time in the world.”

Exactly what she feared. Fine, she’d give them something. “All I can say right now is I’ve identified my project...coordinator.”

Smiles broke out around the table.

“Suzanne, if it wouldn’t be too awkward or inconvenient, I’d like to borrow the drive-in Sunday night.”

Whoops nearly lifted the conference room’s ceiling.

“You bet your sweet patootie you can.” Suzanne slanted Allie a speculative look. “I sure would like to know the name of your special project.”

“Sorry, but I’m not naming names.”

“Fine, be like that.” But Suzanne smiled and rummaged in her bag to pull out a ring holding a key and a large, fluffy rabbit’s foot. “Couple of things. Make sure you turn the sign on the gate to Trespassers Will Be Shot. That’s our do-not-disturb signal. Lock the gate when you leave and turn the sign back to Private Property.”

Allie took the keychain and tossed it into the air. “Perfect.” She caught the rabbit’s foot and ignored the sharp toenails gouging her palm. “Because Allie Shelby is about to get lucky.”

Chapter Six

On Sunday evening, three short taps sounded at Allie’s door. He’d ignored the doorbell. Her breathing shallowed. What did it say about Cameron, that he hadn’t rung the bell?

He’d insisted on picking her up even after he agreed she could plan their first date. Interlude? Rendezvous? She didn’t know what to call it, but hoped she’d be calling it a success tomorrow morning. She’d begged him to drive BB so she could see the full extent of the damage she’d caused.

Allie steadied her breathing and tightened her halter top’s tie to simulate cleavage.

She swung open the front door. Cameron, wearing a pair of starched khakis and a light blue polo shirt stretched enticingly over his chest, leaned against her porch rail. She glanced down at his feet and had to grin. His cowboy boots would look more at home on a tractor than paired with date clothes.

He held a handful of summer flowers in his calloused fist, and warm pleasure welled up in her chest. “Princess, you can take the frog out of the pond, but...”

“I was thinking how much cuter you are than my first high school date.”

“Well, I can guarantee your daddy would’ve had a heart attack if he’d ever opened the door to find me waiting on the porch for his teenaged daughter.”

Would her life be different now if she’d dated Cameron back then? She probably wouldn’t have pursued her current career. Heck, she wouldn’t have needed to. Dating the hottest boy at Shelbyville High would’ve given her sexual knowledge and self-confidence to spare.

“And I would’ve had a heart attack if fifteen-year-old Alice Ann Shelby had come to the door wearing that scrap of a top, those sexy shoes, and a skirt that had a teenaged boy’s hands itching to find out what was underneath it.”

The phantom sensation of his hands under her flirty full skirt trailed up the backs of her thighs. Allie suppressed a shudder.

He was going to play it that way, was he? She could handle a battle of sexual wills. She was a sexually confident woman and he would not melt her into a puddle of teenaged uncertainty.

Cameron didn’t have to know it had taken a lot of courage for her to wear a flimsy crocheted halter. Achilles had a bum heel and Allie had itty-bitty titties.

At least her physical shortcoming wouldn’t kill her.

Men didn’t care about ninety percent of the physical hang-ups women stressed over. So Allie made a statement for all womankind by squaring her shoulders and proudly displaying what little God had given her.

Cameron pushed away from the porch railing. Instead of handing her the daisies and yellow daylilies, he tucked a loose strand of fine hair behind her ear and pressed a gentle, hot kiss to the curve of her jaw. Heat flared along her nerve endings and arrowed straight to her nipples. She stepped closer, brushing her breasts across his shirt front. The friction of fabrics radiated down and out, loosening everything inside her.

“Mmm...you might want to stop that.”

“Why?” His breath skimmed her ear.

“Because I didn’t charge my neighbors for premium seating.” She shuffled back a half step. “And if you don’t stop that, they’re going to get a front row seat when clothes start flying.”

“I like to take things slow.” He skimmed the flowers across her collarbone and down the vee between her breasts.