Pushing the Limits by Jennifer Snow Page A

work going?” Doug asked.
    Could they stop talking about it already? “Work’s fine. Hey, did you hear about the new tennis courts they are building near the center?”
    â€œDon’t change the subject. I’m dying to hear about that new position you mentioned,” her mother said.
    She could feel Dane’s eyes burning a hole through her forehead. “I haven’t heard anything yet,” she mumbled. Great, now he knew she was a reporter. It wouldn’t take him long to figure out the rest. She expected him to stand up and leave, but when she dared a look at him, he shot her a knowing look from across the table.
    Huh?
    She had no idea what was happening or why he didn’t look ready to tear her apart right now. Didn’t the revelation bother him? She barely tasted her dinner or heard the conversation going on around her as they finished eating.
    â€œLet me help,” he said as she started clearing the dishes from the table half an hour later.
    â€œNo, that’s okay,” she said quickly.
    â€œIt’s the least I can do.”
    He’d saved the company a lot of money and the future business of a new client that day. She figured he was off the hook for dishes, but she nodded when he insisted further, gathering the plates on the other side of the table.
    In the kitchen, he set them down on the counter. “So about . . .” he started.
    â€œDane, let me explain,” she said, quickly.
    He shook his head. “You don’t have to. I get it.”
    â€œYou do?” No way was it possible that he was
that
understanding. He couldn’t be that much of a saint. She waited to hear exactly what he thought he understood.
    â€œYour family obviously has high expectations for you and you didn’t want to tell them the truth,” he said with a shrug.
    Her mouth fell open. Oh, shit, he didn’t understand at all. He thought she’d lied to her family about being a reporter when really she was a ring girl? He had it completely wrong. She opened her mouth to try to explain, but then closed it quickly. Hating herself for not having the guts to come clean, she nodded slowly.
    He came toward her and touched her arm. “Don’t worry. I won’t say anything, but I really think you should be honest with them. They are wonderful people. You are really lucky to have such a supportive family.”
    She swallowed hard, his words getting lost somewhere in her brain as her body tried to process the tingling sensation running through her at his touch, at the sight of him in the too-tight black T-shirt that barely held together at the biceps and chest. Her family’s company logo stretched across his chest, distorted. It had never looked so good.
    â€œAnyway,” he said, letting his hand drop, and checking his watch. “I should go. Thank you again for putting in a good word for me with your dad.” He paused. “No one’s ever really helped me out like that before.”
    The awkward tension filling the kitchen nearly suffocated her. She forced a smile. “Yeah, no problem,” she croaked.
    â€œOkay, well, I’ll see you around?” he asked.
    Unfortunately, he probably wouldn’t be able to shake her. She nodded. “Yeah, see you around.”
    As he left the kitchen, she released a deep sigh, falling back against the counter. What a mess she’d created. Myriad emotions ran through her, and she couldn’t decide which was the most unsettling—the guilt she felt for lying to him and her family or the desire for him she’d fought moments before. Oh, shit. She was screwed. No matter what the outcome of all of this, somehow things would end badly.
    Her mother entered the kitchen, a wide smile on her face. “Oh, my God, he’s gorgeous,” she whispered.
    â€œIf you say so,” she muttered, busying herself with the dishwasher.
    Her mother shot her an I-know-you-have-eyes look.
    She