The Bachelor's Bed by Jill Shalvis

were alone, she brushed her lips over his.
    At the touch of her mouth, his body jerked in surprise. And instant arousal.
    But beyond that was another confusion. There were no recriminations from her. Not a word about the fact that he’d stayed at work to avoid her, and yes, that’s exactly what he’d done.
    She was smiling at him, just a sweet, simple smile. No tears, no pouting, nothing to indicate she was annoyed at him for disappointing her.
    Shelly, his ex-wife, would have skinned him alive for far less.
    â€œWill you come home with me now?” Lani murmured, looking deep into his eyes. She cupped his face, stroked his jaw with her long fingers, all in front of an avidly curious Claudia. “It’s late, and I want you all to myself for this last night before your family comes.”
    He stared at her, having trouble putting thoughts together with her hands on him, her gaze holding his, promising things that he couldn’t remember why he didn’t want. “Lani—” She’d forgotten again, dammit, that this was all pretense. “Lani, this isn’t—”
    â€œYou’re absolutely right,” she said smoothly, smiling as she stepped back and shot Claudia a laughing, sheepish look. “This isn’t the place to talk like that. I’m sorry Claudia, sometimes we get carried away.”
    â€œThat’s okay,” Claudia said, gaping.
    â€œI’m going to take my future husband home now, for a little privacy.”
    Claudia shut her mouth carefully. “Well. Have a good night.”
    But as Lani took Colin’s hand and led him out of the office, Claudia shot her boss a reassessing sort of look.
    Colin wasn’t sure if she was shocked that he’d let Lani lead him away, or if it had been the kiss.
    Definitely the kiss he decided, rubbing the heart that was still threatening to explode out of his chest.
    With her hand still holding his, Lani tugged gently, not saying another word or even looking at him as she opened the front door of the building and brought him out into the warm night.
    Above them stars twinkled in the sky. The storm of the night before might never have happened. He might never have held this slight, charming, far-too-cheerful woman in his arms.
    But he had, and the knowledge of her sweet, delectable body would be with him forever.
    â€œWill you follow me back to your house?” she asked, apparently oblivious to his discomfort.
    Forever.
    â€œColin.” Lani shook her head at his silence. “This is difficult.”
    He shook off his reverie. “What?”
    â€œYou trying to figure out if I’m acting or if I’ve forgotten our deal.”
    â€œYou kissed me.”
    â€œFor Claudia’s sake. Remember? She doesn’t miss much and she needed to know we’re crazy about each other.”
    â€œYou were pretending?” He couldn’t possibly be disappointed. Could he?
    â€œThat’s the idea, right? Pretend?”
    The kiss, the one that had both wowed and warmed him, hadn’t been real. He laughed a little athis own stupidity. “Uh…yeah. Pretend. That’s the idea.”
    â€œI came to get you because this is our last night, and we have stuff to go over.”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œI wasn’t sure if you remembered.”
    â€œI remembered.”
    She nodded, dragged her teeth over her lower lip. Despite the warm air, she wrapped her arms around herself and stared at the mountain peaks surrounding them. The moon was nearly full, and it bounced a silvery light over the dark night. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, staring at the sky. “This is awkward and I didn’t want it to be. I know you overheard my conversation with Claudia.”
    â€œI’m everything she said I was.”
    She whipped around to face him, her eyes fierce. “You’re not! You’re kind and decent and sweet—”
    â€œI think you’re confusing me