Kissed by a Carrington. Linda Hudson-Smith

the daylights out of her to see Houston’s mesmerizing eyes peering back into hers. Dazed by his sudden appearance, it took her a minute to realize she had to turn on the engine before lowering the window.

      “Congratulations and welcome aboard,” he stated, sounding quite genuine.

      “Thanks. I’m excited about working with and getting to know the team before the official season.” She paused a moment. “I apologize for not giving you a heads-up on my professional role with the team. I now know that I should have.”

      “You aren’t obligated to tell me anything about your personal life. I was there to fulfill my obligation to help Haven House collect the bid you made. That’s done now.”

      Kelly looked nonplussed. “What do you mean by that, Houston?”

      Houston shrugged. “It was my understanding you might not cough up the funds unless I agreed to the luncheon date in place of my brother.”

      “Excuse me!” Kelly felt terribly affronted. “There’s nothing further from the truth. That’s thinking I may be a thief. Who in Hades did you hear that from?”

      “Afraid I can’t give up my sources.” Houston was now wondering if Austin had lied to him just to get him on the date. His two brothers would never stop the irritating attempts at matchmaking. “We’ve met the perfect woman for you,” Austin and Dallas had crooned to Houston.

      “Then you shouldn’t repeat what you thought was said. It is a bold-faced lie. I rendered the entire bid amount in a check made out to Haven House before I left the event. Have a nice life!” Angrier than she’d been in a long while, she smashed her finger against the button controlling the driver’s-side window.

      Houston reacted quickly to the unexpected rising glass in an attempt to avoid decapitation. For several seconds, he just stood there, looking after Kelly’s car, which sped through the parking lot like it was on the track at a NASCAR racing event.

      It looked as if he owed the vivacious Dr. Kelly Charleston an apology. If that was the case, Austin was guilty of putting him in an unattractive position. As he thought back on his comments about collecting on the bid, he realized he hadn’t exactly been sensitive in how he’d phrased it. It was so unlike him.

      Houston knew he had to see Kelly again, at least one more time. An apology was necessary, no matter who’d misrepresented the reason for the date. Her thinking he was an insensitive jerk didn’t sit well with him, not when he wasn’t like that. As he conjured up the stunned, wounded look on her face, he felt a sharp ache of deep regret.

      Why do I act so out of character when I’m around Kelly? Houston wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer, since he probably wouldn’t like it.

      By the time Houston made it to his Porsche, which was a different color and model from Kelly’s, he had his mind made up about seeing her again. As he settled onto the driver’s seat, he thought about how to apologize. No one had to tell him he’d hurt her feelings and no one had to advise him to make it right.

      Houston turned the key in the ignition and revved the engine for a few seconds. The car shot out across the lot, slowing as it turned out of the parking area and onto the street. He looked ahead to try and spot Kelly’s car. By the way she’d sped off, he wasn’t surprised she was nowhere in sight. Just as he came up on the next exit, he saw her car moving slowly down the ramp. Following the Porsche off the freeway, he kept her in sight until he could signal her to pull over. Then he recalled they’d exchanged cell-phone numbers in case either had to cancel the luncheon date.

      With his Bluetooth earpiece in place, Houston used the phone’s voice-command capability to get Kelly on the line. She responded on the first ring, sounding irritated and a bit disgusted. “Hey, Kelly, think you can pull over for a minute? I need to talk to you.”

      “Who is this?” she asked, knowing full well it was Houston.

      Houston didn’t believe for a second Kelly didn’t recognize his voice. If she’d stored his number in her cell, his name had also shown on the viewing screen. “It’s Houston,” he said, tolerating her petulance. “Let me have a word with you, please.”

      She sucked her teeth. “You’ve said enough. Frankly, I don’t want to hear another remark coming out of your mouth.”

      Houston chuckled under his breath. She was red-hot and he found her little temper tantrum bold and sexy. “Suit yourself, but you don’t know what you’re missing out on.”

      “Like hell I don’t!” Kelly pressed the end button on her cell phone just to show him she didn’t care about anything that had to do with him. It hurt her to know he believed she’d withhold the promised donation. The reason she’d supposedly reneged on the deal hurt her more than anything else.

      His mood turning somber, Houston repeated the voice command. It rang several times before he realized she was refusing to take his call. He understood her anger and could appreciate her feelings. However, he aimed to apologize…and his intent was steadfast. One way or the other, he planned to let her know how sorry he was.

      Minutes later, Houston caught up to Kelly again, leaning on his horn to get her attention. As she glanced over at him, he gestured for her to pull over. Please, he mouthed, hoping she’d comply. If not, he’d follow her to her destination, wherever that was. She’d either park somewhere or eventually run out of gas. His tank was full.

      Houston had pretty much shown Kelly how persistent he could be during their lunch date so she wasn’t surprised by his actions. If she didn’t pull over, she didn’t believe for one second he’d give up. Houston was no quitter.

      Slowly, Kelly steered her car over into the right-hand lane so she could turn up into the Walgreens discount store parking lot. She had her choice in slots since the area was near empty.

      Houston pulled his car in right next to hers and got out.

      Kelly’s hands began to tremble. As Houston tapped his fingers lightly against the passenger-side window, she suddenly realized he intended to get into her car with her. She certainly hadn’t bargained for that. The idea of him seated so close to her, in such tight quarters, made her sweat. Yet she popped the lock open.

      While easing his body onto the seat, Houston felt cramped in her car because his Porsche was custom-designed for his tall, athletic physique. He looked over at her and smiled gently. “I was an absolute horse’s behind back there. I was insensitive to you. I was at lunch on behalf of Haven House, but I’ve never enjoyed myself more. I know you are an honest person and would never skip out of a commitment, financial or otherwise. Can we please get past the bad start? I take full responsibility for it. I’d love to be forgiven.”

      The soft and sincere way in which Houston had spoken had Kelly reeling. Her head was going around and around. The man made her dizzy. She didn’t even want to deal with her desire issues. Wanting him in a way she hoped he’d one day want her made her feel mental. “Why should I forgive you?”

      “Because I asked you to and ‘cause I really want you to. I don’t want you upset with me. Just the idea of you mad at me is upsetting. The reason why I feel this way is that I like you, Kelly. You’re fun to be with. I’d love for us to become friends.”

      Friends. She both liked and disliked the sound of the meaningful noun. Friend was too tame for what she wanted. Sharing in fire and brimstone and hot, breathless passion was more to her liking. Envisioning his beautiful body naked and steamy, stretched out on her mattress, his manhood hot, hard and ready for her, made her wish she was anywhere other than in the confines of her car. Imagining eating ice chips from his body and lapping the melting water with her tongue only heated her up more.

      Kelly turned slightly in her seat and looked directly at Houston. “Why did you insult me like that? What you heard about the bid, do you believe it?”

      “I didn’t intend to affront you. I believe you and what you told me. I plan to find out the truth. I don’t like being lied to, especially if it was intentional.”