The Secretary Gets Her Man. Mindy Neff

he asked softly.

      So softly, her hands trembled. She wouldn’t melt, she told herself. She wouldn’t fall into the depths of those intoxicating hazel eyes. “Yes. I’ve just driven over six hours. I’m punchy. Not nervous.” Rather than waiting patiently for the coffee to brew, she took advantage of the pause feature and set her cup right under the drip mechanism.

      “Whatever you say. You know you’ll get a damn strong cup of coffee that way.”

      “I like it strong.”

      “What else do you like?” His voice was deep and provocative.

      She laughed. “I’m not a pathetically naive girl anymore, and I’m not biting, Colter, so you can just rein in the flirting.”

      She didn’t know he’d moved until he put his hand on her shoulder. She jerked and coffee hissed, spit and danced as it hit the hot plate.

      “I think there’s something we need to get out of the way.” He reached around her to put the carafe back on the hot plate and took the mug out of her hand, then turned her to face him. “I owe you an apology.”

      She frowned. “For what?” He was so close she could feel the heat radiating from him. The urge to press against him had her heart pounding.

      “For what I did to you. I know I’m late by sixteen years, but I wanted you to know how sorry I am for hurting you.”

      Penny was mortified that he’d actually brought up the subject and was thankful for the shadowy light in the kitchen—hoped it hid the immediate tinge of color that rushed to her cheeks. Color that might have been anger or embarrassment, she wasn’t totally certain which. Probably a little of both.

      Gathering her dignity, she ducked beneath his arm and moved away from him. “Really, Joe. Get over yourself. Do you actually believe I’ve given you a thought after all these years? I can’t believe your ego.”

      He went very still. Similar to a panther watching his prey, waiting for the precise moment to pounce. Danger radiated a second before he took his next step, crowding her against the cabinets.

      And Penny found herself frozen in place.

      “Haven’t you?” he asked softly. “Thought of me?”

      Since her tongue was stuck to the roof of her mouth, she shook her head.

      “Liar.” He put a finger under her chin, tipped it up. “Everything about you radiates a challenge, y’know that? And I never could resist a challenge.”

      She knew he was going to kiss her and she knew she should stop him. But she didn’t do a damn thing to evade him.

      His head lowered. A breath away from touching, he said, “I’ve thought about you. A lot. And I’d wager hard-earned money you’ve thought about me, too.” His gaze dropped to her lips, moved back to her eyes. “Maybe this’ll refresh your memory.”

      Chapter Two

      I’d wager hard-earned money.

      The words stung like bees around her heart, but her traitorous, needy body overruled common sense as she melted into the kiss.

      His hips pinned her against the counter and his belt buckle pressed against her middle. For an instant she wondered why he didn’t wear a thick holster with all the latest weaponry and gadgets, then remembered where they were. Darby, Texas. A little blip on the map outside of Austin. Here, there were no drug cartels or terrorists.

      Just Joe Colter. The man by whom she’d judged every relationship over the years. The man who’d been her first love, who’d toyed with her affections and broken her heart.

      The man who could still kiss like nobody’s business. Just a minute longer, she told herself. Because she had thought of him. And she did remember. Oh, how she remembered.

      But she couldn’t allow herself to get caught up, to entertain any silly dreams or listen to mythical biological clocks ticking—a clock she intended to ignore, had to ignore.

      Joe Colter was obviously entrenched in this town, the very town that she’d once run from—because of him. Her life was with Texas Confidential now.

      Indulging a moment longer, her heart pumped when she felt Joe’s fingers tremble as his hands gently framed her face. That she could cause the reaction in him filled her with feminine power.

      As though a floodgate had suddenly been opened, she poured herself into the kiss—just to show him what he’d missed, she told herself.

      The problem with cockiness was that it often backfired.

      And Penny’s intentions definitely backfired.

      He insinuated a knee between her thighs, exerted just enough pressure to have her aching and throbbing and yearning to take him right down to the floor with her, to put out the fire.

      And that was very dangerous. Joe Colter wasn’t for her. He never had been and never would be. He made her vulnerable. And she’d spent the last sixteen years teaching herself not to be vulnerable—or at least how to hide it well.

      She put a palm on his chest, eased back.

      “Looks like you win the bet again.”

      He winced, closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers. “I didn’t mean—”

      “I know.” Why did she keep needling him in ways that reminded them both of the past? “Forget I brought it up. I participated as much as you did just now.”

      He leaned back and watched her for a long moment, looking as though he wanted to say more. Instead, he swept a finger beneath her eye. “You’re tired. I shouldn’t have taken advantage.”

      Gentleness. She wasn’t used to it, and ridiculously, it made her want to cry.

      Pretend, Penny. She deliberately let her gaze drift down the front of him, below his belt, then back up to his blazing hazel eyes. “From where I’m standing, looks like I’m the one who might have taken advantage.”

      His brow cocked. “You always did pack a hell of a punch. Both with your fist and with your mouth.”

      “Nice to know some things stay the same, hmm?”

      “Or get better.”

      She saw the appreciation in his eyes. She knew she looked good, much better than she had as a nerdy high school girl. But beneath the makeup and casually provocative clothes, she was still no-nonsense Penny Archer. She hadn’t been able to hold him sixteen years ago. She wasn’t even going to try now.

      “It’s getting late…” she hedged.

      “You’re right. I’ll find something to board up that window.”

      “That’s not necessary. It’s a warm night, I’ll leave it for morning.”

      “The mosquitoes will likely carry you off by then.”

      She smiled. “I’ll shut the kitchen door.”

      “It’ll only take me a minute.”

      She let out a breath in a hiss. “I really am capable of boarding up—”

      He winked, interrupted, “We aim to protect and serve.”

      “Fine, then. I’ll help you.”

      “I didn’t ask for help.”

      “Neither did I.”

      He shook his head and let out a sigh. “Why are you being so stubborn?”

      “Oh, I don’t know,” she drawled, charmed despite herself. “Maybe because it’s after midnight and I’m kind of tired? Or maybe because I’m just not used to being treated like a damsel in distress?”

      “Baby, you don’t