Dangerous Grounds by Shelli Stevens

it with her fork and it didn’t move. “How did you get it to stay together like that?”
    “I cooked it in a rice cooker.” He gave her an amused look as he stabbed a piece of beef with his fork.
    “Right.” She wasn’t exactly sure what the difference was between a rice cooker and cooking it in a pot, but had no intention of asking. She took a bite and decided again how great a cook he was.
    “So, what are we watching?” he asked as the previews came on.
    She swallowed the bite of food in her mouth before she answered. “ The Notebook .”
    “You’re making me watch a chick flick?”
    “No! It’s got war scenes in it, I saw it on the preview—”
    “It’s a chick flick,” he argued and continued to eat.
    “Fine. We’re still watching it.” She held her breath, wondering if he’d keep fighting her on it. He didn’t respond. Ha, I won . Her smile turned smug.
    When the movie ended some time later, an empty box of tissues lay on the couch and only one of them was crying.
    “God, that was beautiful. To have that kind of love. I swear that is the best movie.” Madison sniffled. “How can you call that a chick flick? Wasn’t it just the best movie you’ve ever seen?”
    Gabe gave her a look that said he clearly thought she was demented. “Watching that movie made me wish I drank, anything to numb the effect.”
    Madison rolled her eyes and jumped up from the couch. She knew her mascara had run and she must look a mess, which reminded her of the big moment she had planned. She needed to get cleaned up.
    “I’m going to get changed into my pajamas. But don’t go to bed, yet. I want to talk.”
    “Talk?” He gave her a doubtful look.
    “Mmm-hmm.” She avoided his gaze and hurried out of the room.
     
    Gabe watched her go and gave a weary sigh. She seemed to be up to something, but the hell if he knew what. And maybe he didn’t want to. He did know that it was ten at night and he had to be at work in eight hours.
    He reviewed tomorrow’s schedule again in his head. Unfortunately, he hadn’t been given the okay to guard Madison when she went to work tomorrow. Another officer had been assigned to watch over her shop during the day. The thought of it pissed him off.
    Round-the-clock protection had been suggested for Maddie. They had felt confident in Gabe’s ability to keep her safe at night, but tomorrow she’d be in somebody else’s care. Damn. She should just close up shop until they caught the Espresso Bandit. Even as he thought it, he knew the idea was ridiculous. Maddie would never do it. She wouldn’t let herself be intimidated. He wouldn’t do it either, if he were in her shoes.
    “Hey…”
    Gabe glanced up and his breath locked in his throat. Jesus. What was she trying to do to him? Her bare feet padded across the room toward him as the silk robe she wore swayed around her calves.
    She sank down on the sofa next to him, curling her legs under her bottom.
    “You wanted to talk?” He just managed to get the words out.
    “I do.” She gave him a slight smile. “I want to apologize for pressuring you into bed with me. You’ve been so great the past two days and all I’ve been doing is acting like a sex-starved nympho.”
    “Are you?” The words were out before he could stop them.
    “Maybe,” she admitted with a smile and shrugged. “But forget it. I just wanted to say sorry…and give you a kiss goodnight.”
    “Ah,” he murmured as his gaze fell to her lips. Warning bells were ringing like crazy in his head. Just a kiss? It was never just a kiss.
    “Come on, Gabe. Just one.” She leaned forward, her hair falling in a curtain around her face, her lips just above his.
    That kiss was beginning to sound pretty damn good. His hands circled her satin-covered waist and dragged her toward him. He slid one hand up to tangle in her hair.
    “Just a kiss,” he repeated and then she covered his mouth with hers. Her mouth rubbed against his in a light caress, retreating and returning