7 Minutes in Heaven (Are You Game?) by Rhian Cahill

cupcakes.”
    Lucas strode past, a smile curving his lips, and Cassie wasn’t sure if she was happy or sad that he could function so well after their kitchen encounter. With no time to dwell on her turbulent thoughts, she headed back to the scene of the crime and steeled herself against the memories of their scorching kiss.
     
    Luc breathed easier as the echo of Cassie’s footsteps faded. He wasn’t sure how he’d kept his hands to himself. She tempted him in so many ways. The stunned look on her face when she’d jumped off the counter made him want to pull her in and hold her close. Soothe the alarm he’d seen in her eyes. Reassure her they’d done nothing wrong. Only they had. He’d all but screwed her on the job. Would have if his own panic hadn’t forced him to back off. Last night, he’d acknowledged their chemistry was volatile, but what he hadn’t realised was his complete lack of control over his lust for Cassie.
    He slid the box in his arms onto a shelf and with his hands free, drove his fingers through his hair. Today would be an exercise in restraint. One he figured he’d fail. Keeping Cassie at a distance, one where he couldn’t get his hands on her, was impossible. Only he had to try. Had to get the raging inferno burning between them under control until they were somewhere less public. Somewhere other than her place of work. Or his. He’d forgive himself for this morning in her bathroom but not the other times he’d dragged her against him.
    Each time he’d been powerless to stop—a shudder ran through him—helpless in the face of his want for her. She was like lightning. Cracking hard and fast across his nerves. Sending his heart rate into overdrive and his mind blank in a flash of spine-bending need. He’d never felt anything like it, and he couldn’t bring himself to walk away from her. He knew they were bound to get burned. The flames between them were too hot to do anything else. And still he wouldn’t take the cautious path. For once in his life, Luc was walking into something without knowing all the possible outcomes.
    Shaking his head, he headed back to the van and got to work. He’d promised to be at her beck and call for twenty-four hours and he would be. Even if he had to sit with a bunch of six-year-old girls for most of the day. With any luck, Cassie would let him hang back and not get too close to the birthday girl or her guests. Somehow he didn’t think he’d be that fortunate.
    He worked up a sweat. The air inside the warehouse was still and as the sun heated the metal walls, the temperature rose to a stifling level. He’d rolled up his sleeves, undone the top four buttons on his shirt, but neither gave him much relief. They’d have to make a detour to his house on the way to the party. There was no way he wanted to spend the rest of the day in yesterday’s clothes. Not to mention he was commando since he refused to wear his boxers for a second time.
    Luc climbed out of the van with the last box and was headed over to the racks when Cassie came through from the kitchen. She carried a tub that almost blocked her view. With a skill that spoke of numerous trips of a similar nature, she navigated around shelving and came towards him. He couldn’t help but return the smile she aimed his way. Waiting where he was, he watched her as she sailed past and slid the tub onto the van floor.
    “Oh good, you’re almost done.” She aimed that smile his way again and his knees actually went weak. “We’re ahead of schedule so we can grab something to eat on the way to the party unless you’d prefer cupcakes.”
    This time her grin grabbed him by the balls. He wanted to see her smile like that all the time. It wasn’t just a curve of her lips. Her whole face lit up. Her eyes sparkled and the little creases beside them told him she did it often in spite of the fact she’d never graced him with one this genuine. But it was the dimples that did him in. God, they were so deep. How