Everything Bared (Six-Alarm Sexy) by Kristine Cayne Page B

before, certainly not like this. Hell, a couple weeks ago, he could barely stand her. Everything about Danielle had rubbed him the wrong way: her athletic figure, her brashness, the way she spoke, the way she dressed, the way she deliberately pushed his buttons. Strangely, those were now the very things that attracted him to her. She reminded him of some of the women he’d enjoyed when he’d partied at those clubs with Jamie. Free-spirited. Fearless. And totally unsuitable.
    He tossed back the rest of the Glenlivet and shrugged off his jacket. Might as well make himself comfortable. He unlaced his shoes and removed his socks, placing everything neatly beside the chaise. Then he stretched out and wiggled his toes, enjoying the cool breeze from the Sound as it fanned over his bare feet. Days like this made the winter rains bearable.
    Eyes closed, he relaxed into the thick cushions and let the sun warm him. He’d just reached that dreamy in-between state, not quite awake, not quite asleep, when what felt like a piano landed on his lap. A sharp bark identified the owner of the claws parked dangerously close to his dick. When he opened his eyes, he was face-to-face with a very playful and sweet-smelling Coco.
    The dog moved in for a lick.
    Oh no! It was bad enough he’d have fur all over his suit, he would not have dog slobber all over his face. Even if her breath did smell like she’d just had her fangs cleaned. But how to stop her? His feet were on the chaise, so saying heel wouldn’t work. The dog was already sitting, so that wouldn’t work either.
    “Down,” he ordered, accompanying the words with a snap and gesture of his hand. He hoped it was a command she knew.
    Coco barked and jumped off the chaise. Immediately, she sat beside it, tail wagging and an expectant look in her eyes.
    Remembering what Danielle had taught him, he added a hasty, “Good girl.”
    Clapping drew his attention to the woman standing in the doorway. Dressed in black running shorts that molded her thighs and a hot pink sports bra barely covered by a white tank top, Danielle was stunning. Her eyes shone with humor and her cheeks glowed with exertion. A light sheen of sweat made her entire body glisten. William’s mouth watered with the need to lick her from head to toe.
    “Sorry about the suit,” she said, stepping out onto the balcony. He watched, mesmerized, as she uncapped a bottle of water and drank deeply, the movement of her throat calling attention to the golden flesh of her neck. A drop of water escaped from the corner of her mouth. She giggled and chased it with her tongue in a long sweeping motion.
    William’s cock filled with blood at the sensory memory. He was more than ready to finish what she’d started under his desk.
    Then he remembered what he’d said to her. The harsh words, the crude insult. Shame clogged his throat and his erection wilted. He pushed himself up from the chaise. “Ah, hey. What I said to you at my office… I want to apologize again. It was sexist and demeaning, and absolutely uncalled for.”
    She set her bottle on the table and leaned against it. “Why’d you say it?”
    Like her dog, Danielle was showing her claws. His stomach churned. If she wanted him to spill his guts, he would. He owed her the truth, even if it made her mad all over again. He kept his voice as soft and neutral as possible. “Because I knew it would hurt you.”
    She held his gaze, her expression completely unreadable. His shirt began to feel tight, constricting his chest and squeezing off his air, as he awaited her first volley.
    “So, is this what you always do when you’re angry, or am I just special?”
    “It’s an attack strategy: Use your opponent’s weakness against him.”
    Her brow creased and she gripped the edge of the table. “I’m your opponent now? Maybe you should tell me what we’re fighting over and what the rules are, so I can be prepared for next time.” He marveled at her self-control. If their