He stopped and stared hard at her. His heart beat so loud in his ears. Her skin would be soft and touchable. To pretend what she said didn't dig under the skin, he leaned closer and licked his lips.
"Perhaps it's what makes you fascinating. You are not like the others."
"You used that word again." She shook her head.
"I guess I have." He swallowed. She pressed her lips together, and he lowered his gaze to her lips. "We can make this about business?" If he kept this light, then she'd relax.
"How?"
He kept his hands at his sides and pretended he was his usual confident self. "Perhaps I'll have you speak to my security and recommend any upgrades they might need."
Her gaze shot up. "I broker deals for the military, not civilians, and your company came across my desk as a cooperative effort for a military contract."
"You know what the best is then." Her lips would taste sweet, perhaps like red delicious apples. "Can you relax and accept?"
She massaged her neck. "I'm all mixed up."
This was it. She'd stay if she opened up a little. The flutters in his chest grew.
"What would help you straighten everything out without kicking me to the curb?"
With a half smile, she gazed into his eyes. "I'd have to be comfortable near you, and I don't see that happening."
"Denial can be a problem." Every muscle in his body tightened, and he exhaled through his mouth. "Comfortable comes from time and experience, which comes after you ask for that kiss."
"You don't give up." She averted her gaze and wrung her hands. "And it would probably make this even worse for me."
That might have pushed her too far, but he kept his chin up. "I won't mention it again."
"You mention it all the time." She crossed her arms. "And who knows, maybe you're right."
His mouth moistened, and his fingers ached to touch her. He brushed his hands against hers.
"What?"
She swallowed and then closed her eyes. "Peter Morgan, please kiss me."
A camera crew calling out, ‘this was a set up' wouldn't have stopped him, not that anything happened. People in business suits in the lobby walked past them. He wrapped his hands in hers and led her to the empty first floor office.
"Belle, come this way."
She stumbled at first, but he had a grip on her. She didn't fall. He flipped on the lights and locked the door.
She spun on her heels in the empty office. "Where are we?"
He wrapped his arms around her waist, and she stopped moving as heat coursed through her. "Alone."
He was lightheaded from the apple scent as he leaned down. Her lips parted and warmness filled him. She tasted exactly as she should. He loved apples. Belle fit perfect in his arms, and he tightened his hold on her, deepening the kiss. The rest of the world faded to black.
Chapter Nine
Nothing made sense. Belle's arms were wrapped around Peter's shoulders, and she pressed her lips to his for another kiss. There was something manly and full of testosterone that made him taste far better than anyone else, including Colt.
Electricity charged through her veins. He was everything a woman could ever desire in a man. A shiver rushed through her as she detangled her limbs from around his back.
She sighed and swallowed. "Peter, this was a mistake."
He blinked, but his hands fell to his sides. "A kiss?"
Too hot to handle kisses were not in the cards for her. She swallowed, and the taste of him lingered.
"That was only a kiss to you? I felt fireworks and that's bad."
"Fireworks are bad?"
"Yes."
"You're confusing." He leaned against the door. "Belle, it's not bad to be attracted to each other."
Every cell in her body yelled she ought to rip her clothes off and find out what would happen next. She'd never been this carnal about any man. It wasn't like her. She averted her gaze and made her hands into fists.
"Not bad for you. It's a horrible idea for me."
"Why?"
The question made her glance at him. She swayed on her feet. His brown eyes were like a rich dark chocolate that her insides quivered to taste. "For one, you're Colt's brother."
"Yes, he’ll be my brother-in-law tonight, that cannot be changed."
She squared her shoulders. "I fully intended to pretend Victoria and Colt never existed in my life for the next hundred years."
He scratched his chin and stood straighter. "I thought you forgave them. You came to this wedding for closure."
"I did and then the plan was to pretend they never existed, Peter."
“Forgive them and forgive yourself.”
She had come to their wedding because the fire inside her would continue to eat at her if she stayed mad. Songs about loss and losing love were on her playlist for the next year. She had intended to have a good long wallow.
"Look, I'm trying, but forgiveness and seeing things thrown in my face are two different things. I hadn't moved on yet."
"Is there any other reason other than Victoria and Colt?"
Not if he continued to stare at her with those big saucer eyes. She unclenched her hands and straightened her blouse and skirt.
"Yes. It's more important to me that our lives don't mesh. You're a fancy dinner, and at the end of the day, I'm hot dogs, beer, and a bag of M&Ms."
His tapped his finger to his lips. "M&Ms?"
Mouth-watering delicious kisses from that mouth of his sent a twinge down her spine. She'd not feed that craving. She fixed her hair behind her ear.
"The candy was created for American soldiers, so they had a sugar rush while invading Europe. I don't know anything other than war and how to prepare to fight in one. It's why I work for Century Arms."
"Belle, you are trembling."
Her legs were wobbly. This wasn't good. She widened her stance. "There is more."
"M&Ms are one of my favorite candies." He licked his lips. "And an attraction between two consenting adults means we get to live on the edge and see where the spark leads. It doesn't have to be more than that."
The empty walls needed a portrait, so she could stare at it and not at him. A distraction would stop the flutters in her chest.
"There is something in the air that goes into my brain, and I keep seeing a flashing sign to not trust you."
His cheeks blushed. "I don't know what to say."
"Okay, I'll bend. I want to go to the wedding tonight, and not let myself panic. But no more fancy gifts."
He shrugged. "We can have lunch? I am hungry."
A whirlwind spun in her mind. She took his arm and pressed her lips together. "Okay, let's go. I have luxuries at the hotel waiting for me upon my return."
He unlocked the door and escorted her into the hallway. None of the business people that rushed past them noticed anything unusual. She lifted her head as they walked toward a restaurant next door.
"Victoria decided to open a dress shop and take over a fashion empire. Handlers for people who want her good favor send free clothes all the time."
“That’s why you had women’s clothes on speeddial.” She swallowed as the staff escorted Peter to a table in the corner. "But why did you tell me that, now?"