Double the Heat by Deirdre Martin, Lori Foster, Elizabeth Bevarly, Christie Ridgway

said, “No, you don’t, Skippy. No sneaking away this time.”
    He leaned over her, touching her hair, kissing the bridge of her nose. “Actually, I was hoping you wouldn’t kick me out. Can I assume you want me to stay?”
    She was so exhausted, she said only, “Please.”
    “Be right back.” After another quick kiss, he turned out the lights in the apartment, and then slid under the covers with her.
    Lisa turned to curl into his side, and it was, by far, the most comfortable position she’d ever found herself in.
    She could surely get used to this.
    Could he?
     
     
     
    When Lisa finally stirred awake, Hart sat up, ready to tackle the awkwardness of what the day would bring.
    Lying on her stomach, her face smooshed into her pillow, she opened her eyes and looked at him. For several seconds she tried to focus, and then, with a jolt, she sat up and reached over him for her glasses.
    Enjoying that, Hart kept her close and settled her into his side. “Good morning, sweetheart.”
    Chin tucked in, she mumbled, “Morning.”
    Yep, Hart thought. Awkward. “So,” he said, trying to sound cavalier, “how late do you work today?”
    “I have late appointments today, so I won’t get back here until around seven.”
    “Damn. And I have to meet Caroline at eight.” He felt her stiffen, but didn’t let her withdraw. “I know it’ll be damned inconvenient, but can I see you afterward?”
    She straight-armed him so suddenly that Hart lost his hold on her.
    Tangled brown hair spilled over her shoulders. She had a crease on her cheek from the pillowcase. And her sleepy eyes looked extra soft behind the lenses of her glasses.
    Damn, but he loved her. Every frigging thing about her, even her glasses.
    “Only you, Hart Winston, would ask to come to one woman after being with another.” She started to scramble off the bed, intent on taking the sheet with her, but he toppled her face-first into the mattress before she got far.
    She wrestled with him, but she didn’t have a chance. Laughing, Hart pinned her arms above her head and looked down at her straining shoulders, her slender back.
    “I could take you like this,” he whispered, pressing himself against her plump bottom. “We’d both love it.”
    “Hart . . .” she warned.
    “I’m not going to be with Caroline. I’m going to meet her at that shabby parking lot, let the goons attack, and then hopefully see her arrested with her two friends.”
    Lisa said, “Get off of me.”
    Instead, he kissed a delicate trail from her nape to her shoulder—and felt her shudder. “Tell me you trust me.” He nuzzled her ear. “Tell me you know I don’t want any other woman, not when I can have you.”
    He lifted up and turned her under him. She didn’t fight him, but she did have to straighten her glasses. And then her expression was so serious, so intent, he grinned.
    “Tell me that you know we have something very special going on.”
    She chewed her bottom lip. “Define ‘special.’ ”
    One thing about Lisa—she’d never make it easy on him. “Special, as in I want to see more of you. A lot more. Tonight, and tomorrow night, and the night after that.”
    She said, “And the night after that?”
    Damn, what did she want from him, a marriage proposal? Surprisingly, that thought didn’t entirely throw him. But for now, he settled on a more diplomatic reply, saying, “For as long as we’re both enjoying ourselves.”
    She touched her fingertips to his chest hair, as if in deep thought. “So . . . in that time, you won’t be with anyone else?”
    “Other than Caroline tonight.” He stroked a hand down her side to her hip. “Hell, Lisa, like I told you, I don’t want anyone else.”
    Pulling him down for a kiss, she said, “Okay.”
    Hart reared back. “Okay? What does that mean?”
    She pushed her way out from under him, and left the bed. The sheet stayed behind. “It means that I have to go get ready for the office, but there’s a spare key in a