Sinfully Sweet

Prologue

WITH A SMILE of satisfaction, Ellie Fairbanks turned over the sign hanging on the sparkling clean shop window so that the residents of Austell would know that the town’s newest store, Sinfully Sweet, was now open and ready for business.

A combination of nerves and anticipation rippled through her at the prospect of the first customer walking through the door. She ran her fingers lovingly over the glossy black and gilt hand-painted script letters adorning the front picture window, then touched the smaller letters beneath the name that read: Extraordinary Chocolate Confections. Would this store prove as successful to their scientific research as the last one she and Marcus had opened?

As if thinking Marcus’s name conjured up her husband of twenty-seven years, his strong arms encircled her waist from behind. “Mmm,” he murmured, nuzzling his lips to the sensitive skin behind her ear, shooting the same thrilling tingle down her spine he’d elicited from the first time he’d touched her. After all these years, his effect on her, her reaction to him…well, there was nothing in the least bit logical or scientific about it. But neither was there any denying it. “You smell…délicieux.”

“The chocolate smells delicious, silly,” she said with a smile at his atrocious French accent, tilting her neck to afford him better access. She inhaled deeply and the luscious aroma of chocolate filled her head. The logical scientist in her knew that further research was required to determine the exact amorous effects of chocolate on the human body, but the intuitive female in her instinctively knew that the delectable scent alone made her feel good.

“True,” he agreed, playfully nipping her earlobe. “But you smell even better. Like chocolate-dipped Ellie. My favorite.” Straightening, he rested his chin against her temple, and Ellie knew he was surveying the shop. As a scientist, Marcus was brilliant, but as a decorator, he was definitely…challenged. For the past three years, since they’d taken early retirement packages from Winthrop Laboratories and embarked on their own research experiment, he’d happily left the store decorations up to her. So far he’d applauded all her choices. Crossing her arms, she rested her hands on his and leaned back against him, absorbing his quiet strength and masculine warmth.

Relaxed in his embrace, she allowed her gaze to wander around the room. Skeins of bright northern California sunshine poured through the windows and glinted off the long glass counters displaying the delicious, decadent, silky-smooth chocolate candies for sale. The highlight of the display was the enormous crystal bowl filled with red, gold and silver foil-wrapped chocolate hearts-the perfect Valentine’s Day display-and the distinctive pink-and-blue-wrapped oversize heart halves that were part of the store’s special Valentine’s Day prize giveaway.

She then cast her critical eye to the gleaming hardwood floors, shiny brass sconces adorning the rich, cherry-wood paneled walls, the simple yet elegant silver bud vases filled with long-stem red roses. Everything was perfect.

She felt Marcus nod against her temple. “Place looks beautiful, Ellie. Even better than the last store in the last town. Too bad we’ll only be here for such a short time. You’ve outdone yourself.”

“We’ve outdone ourselves,” she corrected. “But still, I’m worried. This location…we’re not on a main street as we usually are. I know our market research showed that Austell fit our target town profile perfectly-within two hours’ drive of a major city, growing population and low chocolate sales-but what if the potential consumers don’t find us? What if-?”

“Ellie.” He cut off her question by turning her until they faced each other. Resting her hands against his chest, she absorbed the comforting beat of his heart against her palms, looked up into his steady, dark eyes, and felt her concerns slowly dissipate.

“They’ll find us,” he said softly. “Who could resist a store named Sinfully Sweet?”

“A name you weren’t originally crazy about, if you’ll recall. What had you wanted to call the shop when we first started our research? Oh, yes. Marcus’s Candy Store.” She made a face and looked toward the ceiling.

“So I’m not creative with store names.” He waggled his brows in a very suggestive way and nudged his pelvis against hers. “I make up for it in other ways.”

She nudged him back and smiled. “No argument here.”

“And the ingenious Valentine’s Day contest you thought up is sure to entice and intrigue the fine residents of Austell.”

“I certainly hope so.”

A frown burrowed between his brows. “I only hope it doesn’t end up costing us a mint, which it might if we have multiple winners.”

Waving away his concern, she said, “It’s a business expense. Besides, even if the contest doesn’t end up aiding our research, it promises to bring about very entertaining-and interesting-results.” A grin curved her lips at the prospect. Each single, unattached Sinfully Sweet customer would receive one of the oversized chocolate hearts that had been cut in half-a pink-wrapped half for the women, a blue-wrapped half for the men-with each half containing a hidden message. Every man and woman who, before Valentine’s Day, found the other person whose message matched theirs would receive a romantic dinner for two at The Winery, the five-star restaurant at the nearby Delaford Resort, and one hundred chocolate hearts.

Marcus touched a single fingertip to her bottom lip, yanking her from her thoughts. “That grin of yours looks positively wicked.”

She lightly nibbled his finger then looped her arms around his neck. “I was just thinking about the prize of one hundred chocolate hearts. As I well know-thanks to personal experience as well as our research-an evening that involves chocolate is just so much more exciting.”

“I couldn’t agree more. Now all we need is more proof for the scientific community. And if all goes as anticipated at Sinfully Sweet and with the contest, another step will be taken in that direction.” His gaze dropped to her mouth. “Speaking of chocolate, being surrounded by all this deliciousness is releasing an influx of endorphins-”

“That you’ll need to save for later,” she said, smothering a laugh and trying her best to look stern. “Besides, you have to actually eat the chocolate for the endorphins to be released.”

“Not necessarily, and I hope to prove it with my new hypothesis-can the mere smell of chocolate trigger the release of endorphins? Our research so far indicates that eating chocolate leads to amorous behavior in a majority of subjects. Adding scent to the mix isn’t a far stretch.”

“I can’t deny that every time I smell chocolate, I think of you.”

“That’s because it’s what brought us together in the first place.”

“Right. I probably wouldn’t have noticed you at all if it hadn’t been for the bag of chocolate kisses you always kept on your desk in the lab,” she teased.

“Smartest thing I’ve ever done. I caught me quite a prize with that bag of chocolate. Finding data to support a scientific correlation between consuming chocolate and amorous behavior is the least I can do to repay the scientific community for bringing you into my life.”

“Ditto. Besides, the research aspect is-”

“Delicious.” He lowered his head and brushed his lips against hers.

“Mmm. In more ways than one. You know, you’re pretty romantic for a scientist.”

“Back at ya, darlin’.”

“You should see me when I’m not wearing this apron.”

“I live for the moment.”

With a laugh, Ellie stepped out of his embrace. Her gaze moved to the door and her heart quickened at the sight of a car parking in front of the store. “Looks like we might have our first customer,” she said.

Marcus gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Excellent. Let the games begin.”

1

DANIEL MONTGOMERY TOSSED the large bag filled with moving supplies he’d just purchased into the back of his SUV, then closed the trunk with a satisfying thump. “That’s one more thing I can cross off my to-do list.”

“What’s next?” asked his brother Kevin, not even attempting to stifle his yawn. “Hopefully something that involves a cup of coffee. If I’d known my offer to help you pack required waking up at the crack of dawn, I wouldn’t have volunteered.”

“It’s almost ten a.m. That’s hardly the crack of dawn.”

“It is when you didn’t go to bed until 5 a.m.”

Daniel forced himself not to chuckle at Kevin’s grumpy tone. “Maybe you should have gone to bed earlier.”

“No can do. This is my last semester of college. It’s my duty to stay out late.”

Recalling that he’d pretty much felt the same way eight years ago during his last college semester, Daniel didn’t argue. Instead he resettled his glasses on his nose, leaned against the SUV’s bumper and slid his to-do list and pencil from the back pocket of his jeans.

After crossing off packing tape and bubble wrap, he said, “Still need to stop at the grocery store-”

“Yeah, where you need to get coffee-”

“-and beer and hot dogs. While we’re there we’ll pick up more empty boxes. Another dozen or so should do it. Besides my computer equipment, all that’s left to pack are my books, CDs, DVDs, some kitchen stuff and my clothes.” He blew out a long breath. “Another two weeks and I’ll be leaving Austell behind.”

Kevin’s brows rose. “And that’s good…right?”

Daniel hesitated then said, “Sure. Why do you ask?”

“Because you sounded weird. Like unhappy or unsure or something.”

“Nah, it’s all good. Taking the new job, moving to a new city, it’s the right thing to do.”

Wasn’t it?

He frowned at the scuffed toes of his well-worn Nikes, his stomach tight with the same odd feeling that gripped him every time he questioned his decision to move. Which was crazy. Of course leaving Austell was the right thing to do.

In recent months it had seemed that his life had fallen into a boring, predictable rut. Something was missing-something he couldn’t quite put a name to other than to know it filled him with an unsettling sensation of discontent. His recent thirtieth birthday had proven a turning point, jolting him to reassess his life. Make some changes. Try something new. Surely, it was just the anticipation of moving to Boston and starting a new job that caused the momentary stomach jitters.

Not only would the managerial position with prestigious Allied Computers’ information technology department be a feather in his cap, being in a corporate office would get him out more. Give him more opportunities for a social life. Force him out of his well-worn rut.

“I think leaving this small town will be good for you, man.” Kevin said as if reading Daniel’s thoughts. “How you can have a social life here,” he waved his arm to encompass all of Main Street, “is beyond me.”

“It’s a challenge,” Daniel agreed. It didn’t help that his current job of designing websites didn’t require him to leave his home office. In the last two months especially, ever since he’d broken up with Nina-or rather, she’d broken up with him-it seemed as if he’d turned into an all work, no play recluse. But thanks to his life reassessment, all that was about to change.

He looked up and his gaze wandered over the old-fashioned storefronts cast in golden rays of sunshine. He could understand why at twenty-one Kevin couldn’t see Austell’s quiet appeal, but then he and Kevin were pretty much opposites when it came to living arrangements. Daniel had always preferred low key while Kevin thrived in his frat house surroundings.

Yeah, it would be hard to leave this quaint, picturesque town with its historic downtown, quiet streets, well-kept park and friendly residents where he’d lived for the past eight years, ever since discovering the town while attending the nearby college. Austell had given him a sense of belonging that he’d missed after leaving home. But hey, bigger and better things awaited him.

“So what’s next on the list?” Kevin asked. “Tell me quick. Before I fall asleep standing here.”

Daniel’s gaze fell back to his list and his jaw tightened as he focused on the next two items. “Sod and some top soil.”

“Yippee. What’s that for?”

“I guess you didn’t see my backyard.”

“Nope.”

“Consider yourself lucky. Another plus about moving is that I’ll have new neighbors. No more dealing with Carlie Pratt, aka The Scatterbrain With the Unruly Dogs That Routinely Dig Up My Yard and Wake Me Up At Ungodly Hours With Their Barking, or Miss Headache and the Crazy Canine Crew, for short.”

Kevin grimaced. “Bummer. Maybe you should get earplugs.”

“I’m better off with the top soil. I’d need a hell of a lot of earplugs to fill up those holes in my backyard.”

Daniel pressed his lips together so as not to burst out laughing at Kevin’s blank expression. Humor that wasn’t Three Stooges slapstick or didn’t involve bodily functions more often than not sailed right over his younger brother’s head. “Dude, I meant for your ears,” Kevin said slowly, as if explaining it to a first grader, “so the barking wouldn’t wake you up.”

“Oh,” Daniel said, very seriously. “Good idea.”

Actually, he’d tried earplugs but they didn’t help much as they always seemed to fall out. Not much fun waking up with a wad of wax stuck in your hair. But in two weeks, he wouldn’t have to worry about that anymore.

Nope, he sure wouldn’t miss the chaos that had lived on the other side of his backyard fence since Carlie and The Hole Diggers had moved in three months ago. He wouldn’t mind so much if she’d just keep her chaos on her side of the wooden fence that separated their backyards, but her dogs-two rambunctious puppies, both of whom showed promise of growing to be horse-like in size-managed to escape almost on a daily basis. And they somehow always ended up in his yard, much to the detriment of his lawn. His Realtor had taken one look at the crater-like muddy holes marking his grass and then decreed in an ominous tone that reeked of plummeting property value, “That mess must be fixed immediately.”

Well, he’d fixed it, but it wasn’t long before Peanut Butter and Jelly, P.B. and J. for short-and sheesh, who named their dogs after food anyway?-had returned and wreaked havoc on his yard again. Since when did dogs like to dig holes so much? It was as if those crazy canines thought freakin’ pirate booty was buried in his backyard. Yeah, Carlie had profusely apologized each time, and he couldn’t deny she looked pretty cute while doing so, but, c’mon, enough was enough. Probably he wouldn’t have minded so much if he weren’t selling the house. Probably. But according to his Realtor, many potential buyers harbored aversions to backyards that looked as if explosives had detonated in them.

“Can’t say I’m turning cartwheels at the prospect of going to the nursery for sod and dirt,” Kevin said. “What else ya got?”

Daniel once again consulted his list. “Stamps at the post office.”

“That doesn’t sound the least bit like ‘coffee at Starbucks.’ What else?”

“Spackle and caulk at the hardware store.”

“You’re killing me.”

“Birthday gift for Mom.”

Kevin’s eyes widened. “Whoa, I’d totally forgotten.”

“So you owe me big time.”

“Oh, boy. That doesn’t sound good. I’m going to end up filling doggie-dug holes with dirt, aren’t I?”

“’Fraid so.”

“But her birthday’s on Valentine’s Day. That’s, like, two weeks away.”

“I want to buy her present today and get it mailed off before I get buried under with moving.”

Kevin’s expression turned hopeful. “Since we always get Mom chocolate for her birthday, I foresee something sweet to eat in my immediate future. And where there’s chocolate, coffee can’t be far away.” He rubbed his hands together. “Let’s go.”

Since he couldn’t disagree that buying chocolate sounded a lot better than buying sod and dirt, Daniel pushed off the bumper and slipped his to-do list and pencil back into his jeans’ pocket.

“There’s a new candy place opening today that I read about in the newspaper.” He headed toward the corner and Kevin fell into step beside him. “It’s called Sinfully Sweet and it specializes in chocolates.” He grinned. “I think Mom has met her match.”

His grin widened at the thought of their mom, a teacher at the same high school he and Kevin had graduated from. Those teenagers didn’t stand a chance against Norma Montgomery. With thirty years of teaching under her belt, not to mention raising two kids of her own-three if you included Dad as she laughingly insisted you should-she knew every trick in the book. Since her birthday was on Valentine’s Day, no one in the family ever had a problem figuring out what to buy her for a gift. Ever since he’d been a kid it was the same thing: chocolate. Over the years it had become something of a joke among them all, with Mom trying to guess what sort of chocolate concoctions she’d receive, and he, Dad and Kevin trying to come up with something unusual she’d never guess. Only she always seemed to guess-had to be that “eyes in the back of her head” mom thing.

Well, Mom might be hard to catch off guard, but this year he had an advantage, or so he hoped, in the form of Sinfully Sweet. According to the ad in the newspaper, the shop promised an amazing array of extraordinary chocolate confections.

While he and Kevin walked the short distance to Larchmont Street where the store was located, Daniel enjoyed the contrast of the warm northern California sun tempered by the cool breeze. They’d no sooner turned the corner, however, when the sight of a familiar figure walking toward them slowed his footsteps. Then he halted abruptly. As if he’d walked into a wall, and stared.

Kevin, who’d fallen a few steps behind him, bumped into his back and grunted at the impact. When Daniel remained frozen in place, Kevin moved to stand beside him and asked, “I thought you said the store was this way. What’s the problem, bro?”

His powers of speech freakishly suspended, Daniel continued to stare. At Carlie Pratt, sans P.B. and J.-which meant the devilish duo was probably at this very moment joyfully digging more holes in his yard. Carlie Pratt, who, with the golden sunshine gleaming on her tousled, shoulder-length reddish brown curls, appeared to be surrounded by a gilt halo.

But that was the only angelic looking thing about her.

She moved forward with a slow, wickedly seductive stroll that brought to mind cool satin sheets, and hot, sweaty sex. Damn, what a walk the woman had. Like steamy sin in motion. How was it that he’d never noticed it before? Probably because every time he saw her she was rushing around after her dogs. Or driving her car. Or had her arms filled with grocery bags. Or was carrying the large, portable padded table she brought to her massage therapy clients’homes. Or was sitting on a lawn chair in her backyard, where the grass, to be fair, was marred with even more holes than his.

Well, she wasn’t rushing or driving or sitting now, and the sinuous sway of her curvy hips as she leisurely walked, her attention focused on the store windows, rooted him to the spot as if he’d turned into a pillar of cement. Normally she was dressed in either a bulky sweater or loose-fitting clothes that resembled hospital scrubs. But not today. No, today she was dressed in a pair of snug faded jeans that hugged every gorgeous curve-and damn, she had more curves than a roller coaster-and a V-neck sweater the color of a ripe, juicy peach. She all but made his mouth water.

Kevin clapped a hand on Daniel’s shoulder then said in an undertone, “Whoa, dude. I see what put you in this trance. She. Is. Fine.”

Yes. She. Was. He’d thought her attractive from the day she’d moved in, but had ignored the observation as he’d been with Nina at the time. Then, even after Nina was out of the picture, with both him and Carlie working, they’d seen little of each other-except for the puppy incidents.

Well, he was seeing plenty of her now.

And liked everything he saw.

For a guy who prided himself on being practical, logical and sensible, he experienced a rush of heated lust that all but incinerated and stupefied him where he stood. A reaction that could be described as neither practical, logical nor sensible.

And apparently he wasn’t the only one who liked what he saw.

“If that’s what the girls in Austell are like,” Kevin said, “I’m thinking you’re crazy to move. And the way you’re looking at her, man, you’re a goner.” He tapped Daniel non-too-gently under the chin. “You might want to lose the slack-jawed, bug-eyed look before you introduce yourself.”

Daniel swallowed and relocated his voice. “No introduction needed. I already know her.”

“Yeah? Know her as in the biblical sense?”

A crystal-clear image of Carlie naked in his bed, materialized in his mind’s eye, and with a frown, he blinked it away. But not without the image leaving a trail of heat in its wake.

“No.” He lowered his voice further. “She’s my pesky neighbor, the one with the hole-digging dogs.”

From the corner of his eye he saw Kevin’s speculative look. “You’re not looking at her as if you think she’s a pest. If you want my opinion-”

“I don’t-”

“She’s enough to make a guy want to cover his yard with dog biscuits.”

Daniel turned and looked at his brother. He wasn’t sure how his expression appeared, but whatever it was, it had Kevin putting up his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, I was just making an observation. No need to shoot me the ‘hands off’ glare. I want a yard like I want a bad rash. She’s all yours.”

A frown yanked down Daniel’s brows. “She’s not all mine. I don’t want her. Hell, I can’t wait to move away from her.”

“Uh huh. Okay. Whatever you say.” He jerked his head. “She’s stopped.”

Daniel’s head whipped around. Carlie had paused to look into a store window, affording him a side view, which was just as curvy and outstanding as the front view. The breeze caught her hair, blowing several shiny curls across her face which she tucked behind her ear with an absent gesture. Then without glancing their way, she entered the store and vanished from his view.

Her disappearance yanked him from the stupor into which he’d fallen, and he blinked and rubbed his hand over his face. That’s when he realized that his glasses had slid down his nose and his jaw was once again hanging open. Definitely not his best look. Good thing she hadn’t seen him. She’d think him a gawking, slack-jawed, nerdy techno-geek. While he couldn’t deny he was a techno-geek, and by association kinda nerdy, no way was he a slack-jawed gawker.

At least he hadn’t been until thirty seconds ago.

He started walking, his limbs feeling oddly stiff, as if they really had turned to cement, and he craned his neck to see which store she’d entered. He vaguely noted Kevin walking beside him and pretended he didn’t hear his brother’s poorly suppressed chuckles. Seconds later he realized she’d gone into Sinfully Sweet.

It suddenly struck him that the words sinfully sweet and Carlie Pratt seemed to go together very well. Sorta like hot and steamy. Hot and bothered. Hot and who the hell had lit his jeans on fire?

Hmmm…was she making a purchase for herself-or looking for a Valentine’s gift for a boyfriend? He frowned. Did she have a boyfriend? He hadn’t ever seriously considered that question before. When she’d first moved in, he’d assumed she had several boyfriends after he’d observed, through his home office window, a number of men entering and leaving her house. Then, when he’d returned her muddy puppies to her the first time they’d dug under the fence into his yard, she’d told him she was a massage therapist at The Delaford Resort just outside of town near Crystal Lake, but that she freelanced on the side, treating a select few, long-term clients at the house. She’d made no mention of a boyfriend, and he hadn’t particularly wanted to know.

But all of a sudden, he very much wanted to know.

Yet with his brain once again firing on all cylinders, he frowned and shook his head at this sudden need for knowledge about her personal life, then decided to call it…simple curiosity. Yeah, that’s all it was. It wasn’t as if her boyfriend status really mattered-especially as he was moving in two weeks.

Kevin nudged him in the ribs. “Hey, there’s a coffee shop. I’m going to go order a caffeine I.V. drip. Once I’m revived, I’ll meet you in the candy store. That’ll give you some time to chat with your neighbor you don’t, um, like.”

Man, was there anything more annoying than a smirking younger brother? “I never said I didn’t like her.”

“Oh. Right. You said you didn’t want her.”

“That’s correct.”

“Oh, yeah, that’s totally obvious. Anybody could see that. Really.” With a chuckle, Kevin made his way toward the coffee shop.

Daniel stood on the sidewalk for several seconds, reorganizing his thoughts that the sight of Carlie Pratt had scattered, splattered and fried. What the hell was wrong with him? Clearly he, too, suffered from caffeine deprivation for the mere sight of her to knock him sideways like that. And why the hell was he still standing out here? Sinfully Sweet had been his destination. He had every reason to go into that store. And if he just happened to strike up a conversation with her, well, that was only the neighborly thing to do, right?

And as much as he might not like it or want to, he was feeling downright neighborly.

Pulling in a bracing breath, he rolled his shoulders, then walked purposefully toward Sinfully Sweet’s glass door.

2

THE INSTANT CARLIE stepped inside Sinfully Sweet, her senses were inundated with chocolate, coaxing a moan of pleasure from her throat. Decadent treats beckoned from behind the counter and tempted from a colorful display of foil-wrapped hearts in the center of the store. She inhaled, filling her head with the luscious, mouth-watering aroma. She could almost hear the delectable sweets chanting, Taste me, taste me.

Oh boy, this upscale store was the last place a self-confessed chocoholic on a tight budget should be, but after seeing the newspaper ad announcing the grand opening and the intriguing Valentine’s Day promotion, she’d been unable to resist the temptation. She could resist a lot of things, but chocolate wasn’t one of them. Nor was the chance to win a fabulous Valentine’s dinner date at The Delaford’s five-star restaurant. One glimpse inside Sinfully Sweet let her know that her willpower not to overspend would be sorely tested.

Just think about the whopper tuition you still have to pay, her inner voice advised. And the freakishly expensive text books you need.

Right. As if she could forget. With another year to go before she earned her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy, and the added burden of having to shoulder the house’s entire rent payment after her friend Missy had eloped two days before they were supposed to move in together, money was tight. Certainly tighter than she’d envisioned it being by the time she was twenty-eight, but as she’d discovered, life had a habit of throwing curve balls when you expected a nice, easy slider.

Still, she wouldn’t let anything keep her from finishing her degree, then securing the job she’d dreamed of-one where she’d help people who faced challenges helping themselves. Like her grandfather, whose stroke ten years ago had set her on the course she’d chosen for herself. And whose recovery continued to inspire her to this day.

At first she’d considered not moving into the house, but given that she would have lost two month’s rent and her security deposit, not to mention the fact that she desperately wanted a place with a yard for P.B. and J., she’d moved in, thinking she’d look for another roommate. But after enjoying a few weeks of just her and the puppies, she’d stopped looking and tightened her financial belt in other places to make up the difference.

Indulging in gourmet chocolates had been one of the luxuries she’d painfully axed. Good for her piggybank, but tragic as far as her taste buds were concerned.

But surely after two months of denying herself, of surviving on supermarket chocolate, she deserved a small treat. Right? Her gaze zeroed in on a display of imported truffles and her mouth watered. Oh, God, something from Belgium would be so fabulous…

Clasping her hands together, she closed her eyes and drew in another delicious breath, vaguely aware of the door opening and closing behind her, then the sound of approaching footsteps.

“Wow, it smells really good in here.”

Her eyes popped open as she instantly recognized the deep, husky voice coming from directly behind her, and with a quick intake of startled breath, she whirled around. Less than an arm’s length away stood Daniel Montgomery, her very attractive neighbor. Who looked very attractive indeed in a dark blue flannel shirt that did great things for his hazel eyes rimmed by his black rectangular-framed glasses and a pair of faded jeans that did great things for everything else. Her very attractive neighbor who had, since the minute she first saw him, the weirdest effect on her pulse. Who rendered her either tongue-tied or turned her into a blathering dolt. And who, except for the holes P.B. and J. kept digging in his yard, didn’t even know she existed. And even if he did, what difference did it make? He had a girlfriend. She’d seen them sharing a kiss on his front porch the day she moved in. Plus, he was moving.

Figures. First time in three years she had a straight guy for a neighbor, one who was actually cute, not to mention intelligent, and patient-as proven by his run-ins with P.B. and J.-and who wasn’t a whacko. And he was taken. Although from what she could see, all the good ones were taken. It seemed that lately the only sort of men she attracted were jerks who thought that “massage therapist” was another name for Woman Who Wants to be Groped and Leered At.

Daniel Montgomery had certainly never leered at her. Or so much as looked at her with anything other than exasperation and mild annoyance. Not that she could blame him, what with the mess the puppies made in his yard. And not that she was complaining about the lack of a leer. Heck, no. She hated to be leered at.

But still, the guy could have at least looked. You know, in an admiring, complimentary sort of way.

Sort of like he was…doing right now?

Her heart performed a jiggly little dance and she blinked. Surely the sunlight streaming through the window had obscured her vision. She blinked again and ridiculous disappointment flooded her. Yup, the sun had indeed played tricks on her because that wasn’t an admiring look at all. No, it was more like confusion. Like he’d never seen her before. The sun must have messed with his vision, too.

His befuddled expression prompted her to say, “Hi, Daniel. It’s, uh, me. Carlie.” Uh, oh. Tongue-tied time.

He seemed to snap out of whatever dazed state he’d fallen into-probably a result of the chocolate sensory overload-and nodded. “I know. Hi, Carlie.”

Just the way he said her name, in that soft, raspy way, hiked up her temperature a few degrees. His nod had sent his black-rimmed glasses slipping down his nose and he pushed them back up with a practiced gesture while Carlie pressed her lips together to suppress the feminine sigh that rose to her lips. Darn it, there was absolutely no logical explanation why she should be so turned on by those nerdy glasses of his, but for some mystifying reason she found them incredibly erotic. One look at him, and all she could think about was planting a kiss on him that would steam up his lenses but good.

Which was really inexplicable as Daniel Montgomery was soooo totally not her type. She liked jocks, and while it appeared that Daniel was in good shape, he had “computer geek” written all over him. From what she could tell, he spent most of his time in his house, no doubt sitting in front of his PC since he’d once mentioned some sort of home-based computer business. Probably got his jollies counting gigabytes or pixels or whatever the heck they were. Oddly, none of that hadn’t stopped her crazy attraction to him. Maybe she was suffering from some freakish hormone imbalance, ’cause, really, give her an athletic, outdoorsy kind of guy any day.

Not that she’d had much luck lately with athletic, outdoorsy sorts, but hey, she’d find Mr. Right eventually. Someday. Probably. Maybe she’d even meet him by winning Sinfully Sweet’s Valentine’s Day contest. Which she should really go check out instead of staring at Daniel. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done. And really, he could always stop staring at her in that very distracting way and get the conversational ball rolling here.

He cleared his throat. “So…how’re P.B. and J.?”

“You mean my dogs?” She swallowed a groan and barely refrained from smacking herself on the forehead. Oh, brilliant reply. But damn it, he shouldn’t be asking her these complicated questions right after he’d knocked her silly with his unexpected appearance.

His lips quirked. “Well, why don’t we start with them and then move on to all the other P.B. and J.’s we know?”

That hint of a smile drew her attention to his mouth. His incredibly tempting, beautiful mouth. She didn’t know if there was such a thing as a male mouth model, but if there was, Daniel would reach superstar status. His well-formed lips somehow managed to look soft and firm at the same time. Like something that both angels and the devil himself had fashioned purely to see if a heavenly/wicked ideal could be achieved-and they’d met with spectacular success. Like the chocolate, his mouth seemed to beckon her with the same seductive chant: Taste me, taste me.

She jerked her gaze back up to his, then licked her own lips in an effort to get them working since they’d apparently forgotten how to form words. “The puppies…they’re, um, fine. Great. Safely secured inside my house.”

He wiped his brow with an exaggerated gesture. “Whew. My backyard just breathed a sigh of relief.”

Then he smiled, a sort of lopsided grin that in spite of not being perfectly symmetrical was somehow utterly…perfect. A smile that creased a pair of sexy dimples in his cheeks that her fingers-and lips-positively itched to explore.

Everything female in her stood up at attention and quivered.

“What brings you to Sinfully Sweet?” he asked.

She leaned a bit closer-certainly not to get a whiff of him-but to confide in a conspiratorial whisper, “I’m afraid I have a weakness for chocolate.” She leaned back and suppressed an oooooh of pleasure. He smelled great. Clean. Fresh. Masculine. Delicious.

“A weakness for chocolate, huh? Doesn’t everyone?”

She laughed, proud that she managed to sound so cool when she felt like she stood over a barbeque spit. “You, too?”

“Fraid so.” Something that looked decidedly heated and hungry and, well, admiring, flickered in his gaze. “Among other things.”

Whoa. If she didn’t know better, she’d say her sexy, nerdy neighbor whose smile had damn near stopped her heart was flirting with her. She instantly discarded the annoyingly pulse-quickening thought. The last thing she needed was any more useless Daniel-induced fantasies running naked through her mind.

Er, make that just running through her mind.

Right. Because naked was not a word she should even be thinking while Daniel was around. Of course not. Why, with the guy sitting in front of a computer screen all day, he probably looked all soft and squishy naked.

Although…

Her eyeballs stole a surreptitious glance down his form. His rolled back shirt sleeves revealed some very nice forearms. And his chest looked strong, his shoulders wide and sturdy. And the way he filled out those jeans, well, there didn’t appear to be anything soft or squishy about that.

Before she could ponder further on the fascinating fade patterns on his Levi’s, she looked up and met his gaze-a gaze filled with an expression that made it clear he knew he’d just been majorly ogled.

Embarrassment erupted hot tingles under her skin, and she pressed her lips together to keep from blurting out something that would cause the medical examiner to list “Died of Acute Mortification” on her death certificate. Something like I wasn’t really ogling you. I was just trying to picture you naked.

Silence swelled between them for several long seconds, with Carlie cursing the ridiculous effect this man had on her. No one had ever thrown her into this tongue-tied/babbling state before, and damn it, she didn’t like it. When a soft feminine voice behind her said, “Good morning,” she gratefully jerked her gaze away from Daniel and turned, feeling as if she’d been thrown a lifeline to keep from drowning in the Pool of Humiliation.

A petite, attractive woman who appeared to be in her early fifties, wearing a white apron with Sinfully Sweet embroidered across the top, smiled at them.

“Welcome to Sinfully Sweet,” the woman said, her brown-eyed gaze filled with warmth and what appeared to be lively speculation as it bounced between her and Daniel. “I’m Ellie Fairbanks, the owner, and I’m delighted you’ve come for the grand opening. May I help you?”

Carlie smiled in return, thankful that her mental acuity had returned now that she was no longer looking at Daniel. “I’ll have two of everything,” she said.

Ellie’s melodic laugh combined with the deep rumble of Daniel’s chuckle. “Are you shopping for Valentine’s Day?” Ellie asked after quick introductions had been exchanged. “A special something for that special someone?” Again her gaze bounced between her and Daniel. “Perhaps a special something for each other?”

Heat suffused Carlie’s cheeks. Ack! Clearly her ogling of Daniel had been so obvious that even the store owner had picked up on it. “Not for each other,” she said in a rush, throwing out the denial before Daniel could, in an effort to salvage what little bit of her pride still remained. “We’re just neighbors.”

“Right,” Daniel said, moving to stand next to her. From the corner of her eye she saw him push up his glasses. “Just neighbors.”

“And we won’t even be that for much longer, since Daniel’s house is for sale and he’s moving in a couple of weeks,” Carlie blabbed, her mouth running amok as she suddenly abandoned tongue-tied and morphed into blathering dolt. She again pressed her lips together to stem the lava-like flow of words as she could easily envision herself saying something to Daniel that would force her to move-to another continent. Like You’ve had me since the minute I laid eyes on you, and that sexy, dimpled smile just clinched the deal. Wanna come over for a warm massage and hot sex?

“Well, I’m glad you decided to visit Sinfully Sweet before you moved, Daniel,” Ellie said with a smile. “If you enjoy our chocolates-and I’m sure you will-we can ship your favorites to your new home.”

“Sounds great,” Daniel said. “And the shipping services are just what I need today since I’m looking for a birthday present for my mom. Something out of the ordinary.”

“You’ve definitely come to the right place. I’m certain we can find something you’ll like.”

“Daniel probably needs something for his girlfriend, too,” Carlie said, the words sneaking out before she could clamp her runaway lips. Double ack! She took a quick look around, praying she’d discover some other lip-flapping fool in the store she could blame for those words, but sadly her prayer went unanswered. That being the case, she didn’t even bother to hope for the floor to open up and swallow her.

“I don’t have a girlfriend.”

Daniel’s softly spoken words had Carlie turning toward him so fast she risked whiplash.

“You don’t?” she and Ellie asked in unison. Ellie sounded surprised and curious. Carlie noted she also sounded surprised. And positively breathless.

He shook his head. “No.”

“But you did,” Carlie said.

“Yes.”

“So you broke up.”

“Yup.”

A bolt of heat, along with an odd sensation that felt like her hormones applauding, rippled through her. Still, why were men so frustratingly monosyllabic? Getting information out of them was like trying to drag a sausage through a needle hole. Good grief, didn’t men know that women thrived on details?

The urge to fire out a barrage of questions along the lines of “Who had broken up with whom and why?” trembled on her lips, but she managed to contain them. What difference did it make?

Yeah, her inner voice agreed. It doesn’t matter. The important thing is that he’s no longer taken!

“What about you, Carlie?” Ellie’s voice broke into her reverie. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

Carlie looked at the shop owner but was very much aware of the weight of Daniel’s stare as she hesitated. Six months ago she could have said yes. But then Paul had issued an ultimatum, and she’d chosen the “or we’re finished” option. She’d never regretted her decision, but she couldn’t deny that she missed having a man in her life to share things with. Like movies. And meals. Conversation. Laughter. Sex.

She shook her head. “No. No boyfriend.”

Ellie’s beaming smile encompassed both her and Daniel. “Well, as you’re both unattached, you’ll qualify for our special Valentine’s Day dinner prize with your first purchase.” After explaining the rules, Ellie said, “Who knows? Maybe you’ll find your perfect match and win.”

“I’d like that,” Carlie said. Certainly a date would be nice after the dry spell she’d experienced the past few months. But she had the sinking feeling that with the way her luck had been going lately, if she won, her “perfect match” would be some unemployed loser who hated dogs and had an aversion to bathing.

“Why don’t you look around, Carlie,” Ellie suggested, “while I show Daniel a few things for his mother?”

“All right.”

“Just holler if you see something you like,” Ellie said with a wink as she led Daniel toward the counter.

“Will do,” Carlie said, sorely tempted to holler as her gaze took in the very fine view of Daniel’s jean-clad butt.

Oh, yeah, she’d seen something she liked all right. And it had nothing to do with chocolate.

3

DANIEL USED THE sharp end of his shovel to break open another bag of topsoil. In spite of the cool, early evening breeze, his T-shirt stuck to him like a second skin. Nothing like lugging heavy bags of dirt, then filling in holes and laying sod to work up a sweat. Kevin had stuck with him for the rest of his errands, but once they’d arrived back at the house, his brother had taken one look at the backyard and made a hasty exit.

“Gotta study, man,” Kevin had claimed as he’d headed swiftly for the door. “Big test on Monday. Good luck with those holes. And your neighbor,” he’d added with a broad wink.

Now, three hours later, with the sun’s waning light streaking the sky with fiery reds and smudges of mauve, and casting long shadows across his yard, only two rolls of sod remained. After finishing, he’d shower, grab some dinner, and then…nothing.

With a sigh, Daniel thunked his shovel point into the ground and stacked his hands on the handle. And then another evening alone stretched out before him like a dark, yawning cavern, forcing him to admit what he’d tried so hard to deny.

He was lonely.

So lonely he ached with it. Sure, there were friends he could call, e-mail, or chat with online, but as he well knew, neither the phone nor the computer would relieve the growing emptiness inside him. He supposed he could walk around the block and find a neighbor to talk to, but a brief “hi, how are you?” wouldn’t satisfy him either. That would be like settling for a fast-food burger when you craved filet mignon.

The mere thought of the word “neighbor” brought a vivid, mental image of Carlie into his mind. Carlie, with her shiny, cinnamon curls, sunny smile, and jaw-dropping curves. Carlie, whose golden brown gaze had skimmed over him in Sinfully Sweet in a way that had made him feel as if he’d been dropped into a steaming cauldron.

Carlie, who didn’t have boyfriend.

Well, he’d wanted to know and he’d found out. And had very much liked the answer.

Now he just needed to decide what to do about it, a mental debate that had raged in his head all afternoon.

I should ask her out.

It’s crazy to ask her out-I’m moving.

Yeah, but I’m not moving to Mars, for cryin’ out loud.

A two-thousand-mile distance between two people might as well be a galaxy.

So just have fun with her for the next two weeks. She’d know the time limit right up front. We could enjoy each other, then say sayonara, adios, buh-bye.

He couldn’t deny that last option sounded pretty damn appealing. Worst-case scenario? After one evening together they’d realize they couldn’t stand each other and, so what, since he’d be gone in two weeks? Best-case scenario is they’d have some no-strings-attached fun, then he’d drive away from her and her zany dogs with a happy wave and head toward his exciting new job and life. Yeah, that sounded like a great idea.

But there was one possible hitch in his great idea. What if Carlie told him to get lost?

Except for that unmistakable ogle this morning, she’d never given him any indication she found him attractive. But there’d definitely been interest in her eyes today.

Hadn’t there?

He blew out a frustrated breath and dragged a hand through his hair. Maybe not. Maybe he’d read her all wrong. Maybe she’d just had something in her eye. Who the hell knew? Figuring out women was like navigating a mine field wearing a blindfold. According to Nina, Daniel couldn’t have traveled through the mine field with a map, a guide, and a GPS system to show him the way-an assessment he totally didn’t agree with, by the way. Like most men, he might suffer from bouts of confusion where women were concerned, but he wasn’t as completely clueless as his ex-girlfriend claimed. Still, why couldn’t women just look like women, but be easy to figure out-like men? Which only brought him back to the question of whether Carlie had really ogled him, or if it had just been a case of wishful thinking. Maybe-

A soft, low moaning sound cut off his thoughts.

“Ooooooh.”

His brows furrowed into a frown. What the hell was that?

“Aaaaahhhh.”

His frown deepened. Whatever it was, it sounded-

“Oooooooh. Yeah. Mmmmmm.

Human.

“Hmmmmmm…ohhhhhh…myyyyyy…”

And female.

“Yeah, ohhhh…that’s incredible…”

And sexually aroused.

“Soooooo good…so, so good…”

But where-? His head whipped around and his gaze zeroed in like a laser beam on the fence separating his and-

“Ohhhh, God…”

Carlie’s backyard.

“That is sooooooo…aaaaaah…good…”

Everything inside him stilled. For about two seconds. Then, whoosh, heat sizzled through him like he’d been struck by lightning, pulsing fire to every nerve. A series of low, guttural, velvety-rough gasps drifted toward him, luring him like a siren’s call. Unable to resist the enticement, he released his shovel and moved toward the sound. That sexy, aroused female sound that had everything male in him on red alert.

His conscience spoke to him, as though in the form of a mini, halo-wearing angel. “Daniel Montgomery, don’t you even think about looking over that fence.”

Another voice, which obviously belonged to a pitch-fork toting horned devil, said, “Are you kidding me? Whatever’s going on over there is definitely a must-see.”

“It’s none of our business,” the angel voice said primly.

Daniel paused and dragged his hands down his face.

“Hey, if we can hear it in our yard, then we have every right to see it, too,” the devil’s voice shot back.

“Ohhhh, God. Ohhh, God…”

Unable to stop himself, Daniel moved toward the fence, feeling like one of those rats being led by the Pied Piper’s seductive music.

“The girl is entitled to her privacy,” the angel whispered.

“Oh, button it, Miss Goody Two-Shoes,” the devil sneered.

Daniel frowned and mentally shrugged off the two combatants and continued walking. One quick peek. Just to make sure she was okay.

“Whoaaaaaaaaa, baby…”

Damn. She sure sounded okay. And since her moans were the only ones he heard, it seemed clear she was alone. ’Cause show him a guy who could elicit those incredible sounds from a woman and still remain silent himself, and he’d show you a guy with no vocal chords. Just listening to her had Daniel aroused and pressing his lips together to contain a groan.

The fence loomed before him, cast in the deepening shadows from the oncoming twilight. Drawing a deep breath, he took the final two steps. Then looked over the top.

And saw her.

She lay on a blue-and-white striped lounge chair, her hair fanned out around her shoulders, her arms raised above her head. Dressed in the same clothes she’d worn earlier today, she stretched sinuously on the cushion as another raspy groan passed her lips-full, pouty lips she then slowly licked in a way that seemed to open a valve in Daniel’s neck, draining all the blood from his brain and redirecting it to his groin.

She rolled onto her side, a position that highlighted her fabulous curves, and examined the contents of a small silver foil box set on the round resin table beside her. After taking a bite from whatever she selected from the box, she eased onto her back, closed her eyes and the throaty, erotic sounds of pleasure started again.

“Ohhhhhh…so good…sooooo good…”

His gaze flicked back to the silver box and recognition hit him, as he had a similar one himself. The box was from Sinfully Sweet.

A deep sigh of utter delight drifted toward him and he found himself gripping the top of the fence, unable to tear his gaze from her. With her body sinuously shifting and those erotic sounds coming from her glistening lips, she inspired more fantasies than his blood-deprived brain could even process. And all this because of chocolate. She was practically orgasmic over chocolate. What the hell would a woman who responded like that to candy be like in bed?

Wild. Uninhibited. Passionate. Insatiable.

Delicious.

No doubt about it, she was certainly a woman a guy would want to give chocolate to every damn day.

God help him, just watching her, just listening to her, hardened him to the point of pain. But damn it, he wasn’t some perverted Peeping Tom. Usually. Time to make his presence known. And he’d do that. As soon as he unswallowed his tongue. An accomplishment that was only achieved with the greatest of efforts.

“I’ll have what you’re having,” he said, his voice sounding as if he’d swallowed a handful of gravel along with his tongue.

She froze mid-wriggle and her eyes popped open. Their gazes met and held and he wondered if she could see the hunger he knew had to be blazing in his eyes. No way he could hide it. And that hunger had nothing to do with chocolate.

She slowly swung her feet to the ground then rose, moving toward him with a hypnotic sway of her hips that did absolutely nothing to relieve the discomfort occurring in the front of his jeans.

“You want what I’m having?” she asked in a smoky voice as she approached.

“Absolutely.”

She paused about three feet from the fence, but in his fantasy-addled mind he still saw her undulating. With the last fading strands of golden sunlight highlighting her hair, her eyes gleaming with mischief, and holding a half-eaten piece of chocolate between her fingers, she looked like the personification of Temptation. “Well, there’re a couple of problems.”

“How fortunate that I’m an expert problem solver. Lay yourself, uh, them on me.”

“Well, first, as you can see, I’ve already taken a bite.”

“I don’t mind.”

“You’re not worried I might have a head cold?”

“Not a bit.”

“Then there’s the issue that I only bought four of these Belgian truffles from Sinfully Sweet, and this is my last piece. And it is exceptionally outstanding.”

“Really? I couldn’t tell,” he teased.

“Oh, it’s fabulous. Any sort of chocolate will give me tingles. But it takes a very special type of chocolate to inspire a chocogasm.”

Daniel’s imagination immediately conjured up a series of steamy images involving him and her and chocolate and orgasms and, holy hell, sweat broke out between his shoulder blades.

“Chocogasm,” he repeated slowly, savoring the word as one would a decadent treat. “That’s very…descriptive. And intriguing. I want to experience one.”

“You’d be crazy not to.”

He nodded his chin toward her half-eaten piece of chocolate. “So how about it? All the problems solved?”

“Not quite. Unfortunately, when it comes to chocolate, I’m sharing impaired.”

“I’ll give you a million dollars.”

“Do you have a million dollars?”

“No. But if I did, I’d give it to you.”

Her gaze shifted between him and her chocolate, then she shook her head. “Sorry.”

“If you share yours with me, I’ll share mine with you.”

Interest flared in her eyes. “Share your what?”

Anything you want. “My chocolate.”

“Oh? What kind do you have? Stuff left over from last Halloween, I bet.”

“Nope.” He rested his forearms along the top of the fence and leaned forward. “Belgian truffles. Assorted flavors. A pound box of them from Sinfully Sweet.”

Her eyes widened. “You do not.”

“Do, too.”

“I didn’t see you buy them.”

“You left the store before I did.”

“But they cost fifty dollars a pound!”

“I know. But I told you I have a weakness for chocolate. Ellie Fairbanks assured me they’re worth every penny. Based on your reaction, she’s right.”

“Oh, she’s definitely right. So let me get this straight. You have in your possession a full pound of Belgian truffles.”

“Yup. Haven’t even opened the box.”

“A virgin box? Stop toying with me.”

He laid his hand over his heart. “Swear.”

Something that looked like awe entered her gaze. “You’ve had them all day and haven’t eaten even one?”

“I’ve been too busy.” He jerked his head toward his backyard. “Filling in holes, laying down sod. You know, the usual.”

Even in the fading light he could see the color that bloomed on her cheeks, an enticing blush that made his fingers tingle with the need to touch her there.

“Oh,” she said in small voice. “So, that being the case, it seems I owe you one.”

“You do. And as it is, I’ll only be getting half a one.”

“What about your offer to share your chocolate? That still stand?”

“Depends.”

“On what?”

“Whether you share yours with me.”

“You have a lot more than I do.”

He smiled. “How advantageous for me. And how lucky for you I’m not as sharing impaired as you are.”

She stepped forward, until less than a foot separated them-well, a foot and the damn fence. He decided then and there that if he could possess one superpower, it would be the ability to make fences disappear.

Now that she was closer, he caught a whiff of her scent. Something flowery and musky that made his head spin. Or maybe his head was spinning from the way she was looking at him with those big brown eyes. Jeez, this woman was actually making him feel dizzy, just by looking at him. He wasn’t sure if that was good, or if it should scare him spitless.

“Well,” she said in a voice he could only describe as a purr, “then I guess you can have what I’m having. Allow me to offer you a taste of heaven.”

She held out her hand, offering him the half truffle held delicately between her thumb and index finger. Whew. Talk about an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Carlie stood in front of him, her heart beating ridiculously fast at the thought of feeding Daniel her remaining bite of chocolate, at the thought of her chocolate slowly melting in his warm mouth. Heated awareness jolted through her, making it impossible to deny she’d like to share a heck of a lot more than her chocolate with him. And based on the way he was looking at her-with enough heat to actually melt her chocolate-he wouldn’t be adverse to the idea. Something that was further proven when instead of simply taking the proffered half truffle from her, he reached out, snagged her wrist, then slowly drew her hand toward his mouth.

He leaned forward and his lips brushed over her fingers, stalling her breath. And, oh wow, was that his tongue? Before she could decide, he straightened. Still holding her wrist, and with his gaze behind his glasses steady on hers, his jaw moved slowly back and forth in a way that let her know he knew exactly how to eat a truffle. No chewing, just a long, slow melt into pleasure. She practically experienced another chocogasm just watching him, imagining his tongue slowly sweeping over her skin rather than her chocolate.

After he swallowed, he said, “Wow. That was incredible.”

Yeah, for me, too. She found herself involuntarily licking her lips.

Before she could recover her aplomb-which she normally had buckets of-he looked at her index finger and said, “I missed a tiny bit.” And with that he slowly drew her fingertip into his mouth.

Holy cow. His mouth was satiny and warm and, oh boy, there was no missing the wet, velvety sweep of his tongue this time. His teeth lightly grazed her skin, turning her insides to the consistency of chocolate fondue

After another slow swirl of his tongue, he slid her finger from between his lips then released her hand. “Delicious.”

She nodded. Probably she nodded. It was her intention to do so, but with all her faculties still engaged in recalling the incredible feel of his mouth on her skin, she couldn’t be sure.

“Now that you’ve shared, I guess it’s my turn,” he said.

She had to swallow twice to locate her AWOL voice. “Right.”

“Are you free this evening? Could I interest you in coming over for a truffle?”

The look in his eyes suggested that he had more than truffle tasting on his mind.

Thank God. Because she sure did.

Obviously a fling was all they could have given his imminent move, but since she wasn’t looking for a serious relationship, that worked out fine. Even if their fling only lasted one night-hell, one hour-the way this guy had her hormones turning cartwheels, she’d take what she could get.

But his invitation brought reality back with a thump and she regretfully shook her head. “I’d love to, but I have a class and study session tonight. I have to head out in about an hour.”

Amusement kindled in his eyes. “Listen, I know you like to savor your truffles, but it won’t take you an hour to eat one.” He jerked his head toward his house. “C’mon over. I’ll even make a pot of coffee.”

Wow. He sure knew how to tempt a girl. All the warnings in the stacks of books she’d read about how women shouldn’t make themselves too available, how they should never accept an invitation for the same evening, flashed into her mind. And right back out again.

But that didn’t mean she couldn’t play hardball.

Tapping her finger against her chin, she said, “Hmmm. That sounds good-except for one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“This nonsense about a truffle, as in one. That’s pretty stingy for a guy who has an entire box.”

He smiled, flashing those killer dimples, and she made sure her knees were braced. “Okay, more than one truffle. But that’ll present a problem for you, sharing-wise, as it seems you’re fresh out.”

“Of truffles, yes. But…” She hesitated, her courage suddenly failing her. C’mon, Carlie. You want him? Go get him. Be bold. Be daring. The worst he can do is say no and if he does, you’ll only have to avoid him for the next two weeks until he moves. If he says yes…

Drawing a deep, bracing breath, she shot him her best suggestive look then murmured in her best seductive purr, “But that doesn’t mean I have nothing to share.”

Her heart rate quickened at the unmistakable flare of heat in his eyes. “Oh? What did you have in mind?”

You. Me. Chocolate. Naked. And not necessarily in that order. “Well, of course it would have to be in the form of an IOU since there’s no time tonight, but I was thinking that you might perhaps enjoy…”

“Enjoy what?”

“A massage.”

Which, she hoped, would lead to her. Him. Chocolate. Naked. And not necessarily in that order.

4

“MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME,” Daniel said, pulling out one of the oak stools around the green granite snack bar that separated his kitchen from the small eating area. “I’ll be right back. Gotta change my shirt.”

“No problem,” she said with a smile.

He headed quickly down the hall and into his bedroom. After closing the door behind him, he leaned back against the wood panel and pulled in several slow, calming breaths.

What the hell was wrong with him? His heart was racing, his hands weren’t quite steady, and his stomach was jittery. But even as he asked himself the question, he realized the answer.

He was nervous. In a way he hadn’t experienced since he’d been a teenager asking out his first major crush. Which was totally crazy. But there it was.

Pushing off from the door, he pulled his dirt-streaked T-shirt over his head then entered the adjoining bathroom. After tossing his shirt into the hamper, he washed his hands, frowning at himself in the mirror. Why the hell did he feel so unglued? She was just here for coffee and chocolate. A little conversation.

Well, that could certainly explain part of his nervousness. He found the whole “make small talk with women” thing very intimidating. It was like being lost in the jungle-scary, unfamiliar and you never knew when something might jump out and bite you. All those long, awkward pauses. Trying to think of something clever, or at least not boring, to say to fill the silence.

He knew zilch about the stuff women liked to talk about-shoes, make-up, clothes. Those topics invariably led to some variation of that trick “does this make my ass look fat?” question that has led to more conflicts than nations at war. Truth be told, the only interest he had in women’s clothes was what was underneath them.

Bottom line, he sucked at small talk, and when he walked back into his kitchen, he’d be required to make some since he couldn’t very well say to Carlie, “You just eat chocolate and do that sexy moaning thing, I’ll listen and we’ll leave it at that, okay?”

He dried his hands as he walked back into the bedroom, then selected a black polo shirt from his drawer. After pulling the soft cotton over his head, he tunneled his fingers through his hair and forced himself to acknowledge that the thought of making idle chitchat wasn’t the only thing that had him unsettled. No, it was her offer of a massage. The thought of her hands on him…he blew out a long, careful breath. Better not think about it now. No, now he had coffee and small talk to manage. If he started thinking about her touching him, he’d swallow his damn tongue again-not conducive to making small talk.

After taking one final deep breath, he opened his bedroom door. As he walked down the hallway, he saw Carlie, in profile, sitting on the oak stool, legs crossed, elbows resting on the snack bar, her chin propped in one hand, and his heart performed another acrobatic stunt. She looked really nice, just sitting there at his snack bar. Kinda like she belonged there. Which was ridiculous-just like the hundred other ridiculous thoughts he’d had about her today. Sheesh. He must be sleep-deprived or something.

When he entered the kitchen, she smiled. “Your kitchen is impressively tidy. I thought bachelors were slobs.”

“Can’t say I’m a neat freak,” he said, snagging the glass coffee pot then heading to the sink, “but I have to keep the place picked up or I risk being flogged by my Realtor. Apparently dirty dishes piled in the sink are bad for resale value.”

“How long have you lived here?”

“Eight years. I grew up a few hours away, in Cartersville. It’s just outside-

“Sacramento,” she said, her voice tinged with surprise. “I’m from Farmington.”

He pondered that as he added water to the pot, then snagged a filter. “So we grew up not fifteen miles away from each other.”

“So it seems.” She grinned. “We probably saw each other at the mall a dozen times.”

“Doubtful. I rarely hung out at the mall, and besides, I would have remembered seeing you.”

“A very kind-and appreciated-attempt at flattery, but if you’d seen me in high school you would have run the other way.”

“Again, I’ve gotta say doubtful. But why’s that?”

She grimaced. “I can describe my look in one word-frightening. Bride of Frankenstein hair, braces, zits-not the sort of girl who attracted much male attention.” She batted her eyes in an exaggerated fashion. “I’ve improved with age.”

He smiled. “You can say that again.”

Carlie’s breath caught at that smile and she offered up a silent prayer of thanks that she was sitting down because those darn dimples of his turned her knees to jelly. Since the urge to reach out and trace those sexy creases in his cheek was all but slapping her in the face, she forced her gaze down to his hands and watched him scoop coffee grounds into the filter.

Hmmm…he had really nice hands. Big, broad, long-fingered. Strong and capable. An image of them running up her bare thighs popped into her mind-

Okay, looking at his hands was not helping.

Better to get the conversational ball rolling again. “So why are you moving?” she asked, focusing her attention on his coffee maker.

“New job.”

“I thought you owned your own business. Something with computers, right?”

He nodded. “I build and maintain websites.”

Her uncooperative gaze had abandoned the coffee maker and slid back up to his face and she was captivated by his glasses sliding down his nose when he nodded. Since his hands were still busy scooping, and she couldn’t seem to stop herself, she reached out and gently slid the frames back into place.

He went perfectly still. Behind the black-edged frames, his gaze held hers. For several long seconds neither spoke. It seemed to her as if some sort of sexually charged steam engulfed them and her heart beat so loud she wondered if he could hear it.

Finally, he cleared his throat and said, “Thanks.”

“No problem.” Which was a total lie. There was a big problem and it had all to do with her battle to keep her hands off him.

“They slide down all the time. I probably should just wear contacts-”

“No!” she said quickly and a tad too loudly. His brows shot up and she coughed to cover her outburst, then added more gently, “I mean, your glasses…they suit you.”

“Right. It completes the computer geek look.”

“Well, not exactly. For the complete look, you’d need high-water pants, a white socks/black shoes combo and a pocket protector.”

His lips twitched. “I have that outfit. You want me to go change?”

Her gaze wandered over his broad shoulders and chest, which filled out his black polo shirt very nicely. The width of his chest suggested he must bench press computers as well as build websites with them.

“No need to change on my account,” she said, relieved she sounded so breezy. “You look…” Delicious. Incredible. Sexy as hell. So good I want to jump across this snack bar and freakin’ attack you. “Fine.”

“Thanks,” he said, then poured all the grinds in the filter back into the coffee can.

“Why’d you do that?” she asked.

“I, uh, lost count when you pushed up my glasses.”

“Oh. Sorry.”

“I wasn’t complaining.” His smile flashed, then he returned his attention back to coffee scooping.

She waited until he finished, absolutely not admiring his hands the whole time, then asked, “What’s the new job?”

“A manager for Allied Computers’ I.T. department. In Boston.”

“Huge change. What about your website business?”

“I’m not taking on any new clients, but I’ll continue to maintain the sites I’ve already designed. Updates aren’t that time consuming-not like designing and constructing a site-and it’ll provide a nice side income.”

“New job, new city-you must be pretty excited about all that.”

A frown furrowed his brow. “Uh, yeah.” He flicked the coffee maker’s “on” switch.

She studied him for several seconds while he busied himself putting the lid on the coffee can. “Must be difficult to leave this town behind.”

His head jerked up from his task and their eyes met, his filled with surprise. “What are you, some sort of mind reader?”

If only. She’d give a lot to know what was on his mind, to know if she was on his mind. “No. Just…empathetic. I’ve only lived in Austell three months and I already love it.”

“It’s a great place to live,” he agreed in a voice Carlie thought sounded decidedly wistful.

“I think so. I’m glad I decided to move in after all.”

“You weren’t going to?”

She shook her head. “My roommate eloped after I’d signed the lease and I would have lost three months’ rent if I’d backed out. Financially, the rent payment’s a stretch, especially with the cost of books and tuition, but I love the house and yard so much, I decided to just dip into my savings and suck it up for the next year until I earn my bachelor’s degree.”

“What are you studying?”

“Occupational therapy.”

“I’ve heard of that, but I can’t say I really know what an occupational therapist does.”

“We help people whose living skills have been compromised, through accidents or illness or birth defects.”

He came around the snack bar and sat on the chair next to her. “How did you come to be interested in that?”

Maybe it was because he sounded genuinely interested, or perhaps an attack of the babbles, but she started talking, and before she knew it, she’d told him all about her grandfather’s debilitating stroke and about Marlene, the incredible occupational therapist who had made such a difference in Pop’s quality of life.

“Pop and Gran had always been so active together-swimming, golf, tennis,” she said softly, an image of her beloved grandparents flashing in her mind. “His stroke devastated both of them. Our entire family. I was just finishing high school at the time, and after I saw the difference Marlene made in Pop’s recovery, I knew the career path I wanted to follow.” She drew a deep breath, enjoying the redolence of brewing coffee. “Unfortunately the school I dreamed of attending was expensive and money was extremely tight. So instead of starting college right away, I decided to get my license as a massage therapist. That way I could earn money for school and still work once I started classes. Now I go to school part-time, work part-time at The Delaford’s spa, and take private clients on the side.”

“The Delaford doesn’t mind you doing that?”

“No, since the spa is only open to resort guests. Which is one reason why Austell is so perfect for me. It’s central to both The Delaford and school. I just need to find a way to attract more private clients. Right now it’s all word of mouth. I don’t like advertising in the newspaper because no matter how the ad is worded, it still comes across like I’m running a massage parlor.”

He nodded slowly, his gaze resting on hers, and she forced herself to pause for breath. After several seconds of silence during which he continued to study her, an embarrassed warmth crept up her neck. Yikes, he probably thought she was a total blabbermouth. With a nervous laugh, she said, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to go on and on. I told you more than you ever wanted to know, I’m sure.”

He shook his head. “I liked listening to you. You’re…easy to talk to. And it’s refreshing to hear that someone loves what they’re doing, that their goals involve helping other people. You’re obviously passionate about what you’re doing with your life and I find that very commendable. Very admirable.” He reached out and brushed a single fingertip across the back of her hand. “Very attractive.”

That gentle stroke ignited a firestorm under her skin, and her gaze riveted on the sight of his hand touching hers.

“In fact,” he said, slowly stroking her again, “you didn’t tell me nearly enough.”

“I…I didn’t?”

“No.” Another slow caress. Another explosion under her skin.

She licked her suddenly dry lips. “Happy to tell you anything you want to know. Especially if you, um, keep doing that.”

He took her hand in his and continued to lightly stroke her with the pad of his thumb. “My pleasure. Your skin is amazingly soft.”

“I…thanks. I use a lot of lotion in my line of work.” She fought the need to fan herself with her free hand. “Was there something else about me you wanted to know? You’d better ask quick, before I melt into a puddle on your floor. I’m a sucker for a hand massage.”

“Good to know. And yeah, I’d like to know how it is that someone like you doesn’t have a boyfriend.”

“Someone like me?”

“Someone with such soft skin.” He lifted her hand, touched his lips to her sensitive inner wrist, then breathed deeply. “Someone who smells so good. Someone who’s smart and committed to her work.” He lowered her hand, still caressing her, and it was all she could do not to purr.

Forcing herself to concentrate on the conversation, she said, “My last boyfriend and I split about six months ago after two years together. After that, I decided I was better off with puppies than another boyfriend.”

“My yard might disagree with you,” he said in a dry voice.

Heat flooded her face even though the wink he then gave her made it clear he was kidding. “Have I mentioned what a good sport you’ve been? How incredibly patient?”

His lips curved upward in a slow smile that curled her toes inside her Keds. “I’m a very nice guy.”

“Says who-your mom?” she teased.

“As a matter of fact, she does. So what happened with what’s his name, or would you rather not talk about it?”

Carlie shrugged. “He was pressuring me to get married because he was ready to start a family-now. I told him that even if we were to marry, I’d want to wait to start a family. Finish my degree then get a couple years of job experience under my belt before taking on motherhood.”

“Sounds reasonable.”

“I thought so. But he didn’t. After going around and around about it, he issued me an ultimatum-marriage and kids now or never. I picked never.”

“That must have hurt.”

“It did. It also pissed me off that after all our time together he still had no clue how important my work is to me. That he wanted so badly to change me. That he couldn’t accept me as I am.”

“No regrets?”

“None. Well, except for the next guy I went out with. He lasted two hours. I was done with him after he told me I’d be really cute if I lost ten pounds. That’s when I decided I was done with my unfortunate tendency to find men who wanted to change me or make me into something I’m not, and that puppies were the way to go. They’re always happy to see me, they don’t care that I’m not built like a pencil, they love to snuggle, and they don’t speak English. Perfect qualities in a male-no offense.”

He laughed. “None taken. And that guy who said you needed to lose ten pounds? He’s an ass.”

“Thank you. I thought so, too. Especially since he wasn’t exactly a Calvin Klein model himself.”

“How’d you hook up with P.B. and J?”

“I adopted them from a shelter. I’d only intended to get one dog, but they were the last two from the litter and I just couldn’t choose. I figured they could keep each other company, and besides, two watchdogs are better than one.”

“I’m sure. Between the two of them, they’d lick the robbers to death.”

She laughed. Then, deciding she’d better quit yakking while she was ahead and hadn’t yet stuck her foot in her mouth, she said, “And now that I’ve bored you with all my chatter, it’s your turn. When I moved in, you had a girlfriend…” She left the sentence hanging and shot him a questioning look.

He nodded, looking down at where his hand still held hers, his thumb drawing hypnotic circles on her skin. “Nina. She wanted more than I could give her.”

“Emotionally?”

“Financially. She wasn’t impressed with my job as a website designer, my less than grand house, this small town, my unspectacular car. She always wanted…more. When she finally realized I didn’t aspire to be the next Bill Gates, she gave me the heave-ho.”

“Heartbroken?” she asked, hoping he’d say-

“No.”

Right answer. Still, she couldn’t help but ask, “Does she know about your swanky new job?”

He shook his head. “No. We haven’t stayed in touch.” He gently released her hand then slid off the stool and rounded the snack bar into the kitchen. “Coffee’s done. Are you ready for your truffle?”

“That’s one of those rhetorical questions, right?”

He smiled into her eyes and Carlie heated up from the inside out, deciding she needed a hot cup of coffee like she needed a hole in her head. While he poured, she asked, “Did you find a birthday present for your mom at Sinfully Sweet?”

“I did. A mini chocolate fountain. It uses special melting chocolate that flows, sort of like those champagne fountains at weddings, only smaller. It comes with great ideas for stuff to dip-marshmallows, strawberries, cubes of angel food cake. She’s going to love it.”

“How could she not? It sounds like a fantasy come true. The Valentine’s Day promotion is a pretty wild idea, isn’t it? Find the chocolate heart half that matches yours and you win dinner for two. Did you get your blue-wrapped chocolate heart half?”

“Yup. Haven’t opened it yet, though. Did you get your pink-wrapped half?”

“I did. I hid it way in the corner behind the soup cans on the top shelf in my pantry in an effort to make it last at least through the night.”

“Good luck with that.”

“Thanks. I’m going to need it.”

After adding milk to both ceramic mugs, he set the silver foil-wrapped box on the counter with a flourish. “You may have the honors,” he said.

Daniel pressed his lips together to hide his amusement as he watched Carlie open the box with a reverence he’d have thought was only bestowed on royalty. The woman definitely loved her chocolate. After removing the lid, she leaned over the box and breathed deeply. Her eyes slid closed and a smoky “oooooh, my” whispered from between her parted lips. His amusement faded, replaced by a punch of lust that practically knocked him on his ass. Her eyes opened and she looked at the truffles as if she were gazing upon a cache of jewels.

“They all look so delicious,” she said in that same smoky voice, elevating his temperature another notch. With her gaze still riveted on his chocolates, she asked, “Which one do you want?”

The sexy, curly-haired one. He pressed his lips together before he actually said the words out loud. After clearing his throat, he glanced down at the truffles and after a brief perusal, pointed to one. “What flavor is that?” he asked.

She consulted the inside of the box top, which provided a pictorial guide. “Milk chocolate hazelnut. Yum.”

He pointed to another. “How about that one?”

“Ooooh. White chocolate raspberry.”

“And this one?” he asked, pointing to another.

“Hmmm…let’s see…cappuccino. Double yum.”

With his gaze riveted on her rapt expression, he just chose one at random. “I’ll take this one.”

After consulting the chart, she nodded her approval. “Double chocolate praline. Good choice. I think I’m going to go with the French vanilla.” After she picked up the glossy pale treat, she held it out and said, “To your generosity in sharing. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he said lightly tapping his truffle to hers. She slowly lifted the chocolate to her lips, then took a small bite. He watched, fascinated, as her eyes drifted closed, and erotic, sensual sounds of pleasure started coming from her. Her head fell limply back, exposing the tempting length of her neck, and suddenly chocolate was no longer what he wanted to feast on.

“That. Is. Soooo. Unbelievably. Good.”

You’re. Making. Me. Soooo. Unbelievably. Hard. He would have shifted to relieve the strangulation in the front of his Levi’s, but he simply couldn’t move. He actually felt his eyes glaze over, probably from his retinas melting from the heat she generated. He stood perfectly still, transfixed, watching her turn the simple act of eating chocolate into a sexual fantasy. When her moans tapered off and she finally opened her eyes, he managed one husky word. “Wow.”

“Mmm. I’ll say.”

“Was that as good for you as it was for me?” he asked.

Her gaze fell to the forgotten truffle he still held between his fingers and her eyes widened. “But you haven’t even tasted it yet.”

“I was too busy watching you.” Setting his truffle back in the box, he rounded the snack bar, stopping in front of her. He felt as if steam pumped from his pores. “I’d rather taste yours.”

She blinked, then held up the remaining piece of her truffle. “Oh. Sure. I’m happy to-”

He cut off her words by covering her mouth with his.

The instant his lips touched hers, every thought drained from his head. He drew her off the stool, then into his arms, and she went willingly, twining her arms around his neck. She made that incredible moaning sound and parted her lips, inviting him to delve deeper, an offer he immediately accepted, his tongue exploring the delectable heat of her mouth while his hands roamed slowly down the curve of her back.

So good…God, she tasted so good. Sweet, warm and delicious. The erotic friction of her tongue tangling with his arrowed needles of fire through him. He shifted, leaning against the snack bar, then spread his legs and drew her into the V of his thighs. She pressed herself against him, incinerating him where he stood.

More…more…more. The word pounded through him, demanding, stripping another layer off his control, a situation that wasn’t helped at all by Carlie’s ardent response. He’d meant to kiss her slowly, lightly, but nothing about this kiss was slow or light. Instead it was a deep, intimate flash fire of heat and hunger and want. His hands tunneled through her silky hair, holding her head immobile while his mouth devoured hers.

He lost all sense of time, and when he finally raised his head, had no idea how long he’d kissed her, other than to know that it wasn’t long enough. He looked down at her and saw…

Fog.

Talk about having your eyes glaze over.

He blinked and realized his glasses had steamed over. Yeah, just like the rest of him. Before he could reach for the glasses, he felt her removing them. As she lifted them from his face, she came into view. With her eyes half closed, her cheeks flushed red, and her full lips moist and parted, she looked utterly gorgeous and completely aroused. After she set his glasses on the snack bar, she leaned back in the circle of his arms and whispered, “Wow.”

He was impressed she managed to utter a word. He sure as hell wasn’t able to. How was it that what was supposed to have been nothing more than a simple kiss felt so damn…complicated? He had to swallow twice and clear his throat just to locate his voice. “Yeah. Wow.” He still sounded as if he’d scraped his vocal chords with sandpaper.

“I fogged up your glasses.”

“I forgive you.”

She studied him for several seconds. “You look different without them.”

“So do you. You’re sort of…blurry.”

She leaned closer, until they were nearly nose to nose. “How’s that?”

“Oh, it’s you,” he teased. He bent his head and touched his lips to the side of her neck. “You taste delicious.”

“That was the chocolate.”

He lifted his head and looked into her eyes, and experienced that same rush of sensation he felt when he jumped off the high diving board. “No. It was you.”

“I’ve gotta tell you, that kiss made me forget all about my truffle, and that’s a sentence that has never before passed my lips.” Again she studied him for several seconds. “Probably I shouldn’t admit this, but I’ve wanted to do that for a while.”

“Relieve me of my truffles?”

She smiled. “Well, that, too. But I meant fog up your glasses.”

“Why shouldn’t you admit that?”

“According to all those rule books, I should act coy and mysterious. Unfortunately, that’s just not my style.”

“Doesn’t sound unfortunate to me. I prefer the brutal truth.” He tucked a stray cinnamon curl behind her ear. “And the brutal truth is I’d like to continue our conversation-”

“Conversation?” Mischief glimmered in her eyes and she nudged her pelvis against the hard ridge of his erection.

“Our evening together,” he corrected with a smile, “when you have more time. Are you free tomorrow night?”

“That depends. Are you offering more truffles?”

“That depends. Will you give me that massage?”

“I will if you will.”

“Seven o’clock?”

“Better make it eight. I have a load of studying to do.”

“Great. Looking forward to it.”

And that, he decided, was a sentence that belonged in the Guinness Book of World Records under the heading of “Hugest Understatement Ever Spoken.”

5

DANIEL THOUGHT ABOUT her the whole damn day.

He hadn’t felt this kind of anticipation about seeing a woman in a very long time. And never to this degree. The taste of her kiss, the feel of her pressed up against him…wanting to experience those sensations again made the day drag along at a snail’s pace. He found himself looking out his office window every few minutes hoping to catch a glimpse of her, a fact that annoyed him and made concentrating on his work nearly impossible.

But the day finally passed and she was due to arrive in forty-five minutes.

Thank God.

Stepping from the shower, he wrapped a towel around his hips then snagged another to towel-dry his hair. After shaving, he dressed in a blue polo shirt and his most comfortable jeans, then glanced around his bedroom. Bed neatly made, condoms stashed in the nightstand drawer. Perfect. Satisfied, he made his way to the den.

His box of truffles, or as he’d renamed them, “The Best Fifty Bucks He’d Ever Spent,” rested on the coffee table. He slipped a blues CD into the stereo, lowered the lights and found a pair of candles, which he set on the coffee table. The only thing missing was Carlie.

His gaze once again strayed to the clock. She was due in seven minutes.

He hoped like hell she wouldn’t be late.

Sure, the promise of a massage, and what would hopefully follow, was enough to fill any guy with anticipation, but somehow this felt like…more. Which was crazy since they barely knew each other. And especially since he’d be gone in two weeks. Clearly he was imagining things. No doubt because he hadn’t been with anyone since Nina had left. Yeah, that’s all this was: a case of extreme horniness. A bout-or two, or maybe three or four-of hot, sweaty sex with his hot, sexy neighbor would set his head back on straight.

The thought of hot, sweaty sex made him feel decidedly warm, so he headed to the fridge for a bottle of water. When he opened the door, his gaze fell on the blue foil-wrapped half of a chocolate heart he’d received with his purchase from Sinfully Sweet. He’d put it the refrigerator because every once in a while he enjoyed a eating piece of chilled chocolate while drinking a cup of hot coffee. Instead of grabbing a water, he slid out the heart half, suddenly curious to know what message was hidden beneath the foil. He undid the shiny blue wrapping and pulled out a slender strip of paper.

Pushing his glasses up his nose, he read, “Passion is best described as unpredictable because it’s often found in surprising places. With unexpected people. Leading to unanticipated encounters. All of which can result in unforeseen outcomes.”

His brows shot upward. Talk about apt. Well, everything except the last part. There was nothing unforeseen about the outcome of any passion he and Carlie might share. It had a two-week expiration date stamped right on it. And they both knew that going in.

He hadn’t wanted to accept the half a heart, telling Ellie there was no point in him doing so because with him moving, he had neither the time nor the inclination to try to discover which single woman might have the matching pink half. But Ellie had insisted, saying that if nothing else, he’d enjoy the delicious chocolate. He’d tried one more time, saying that he felt bad knowing some woman might get his matching half and be a definite loser in the contest because of it, but still she’d insisted. So he’d taken it and offered up a silent apology to whoever might receive the matching half.

Before loosely rewrapping the chocolate, he broke off a small piece and popped it in his mouth. Oh, yeah. That was some damn good chocolate. He grabbed a bottle of water, then leaned his hips against the counter. Another quick look at the clock told him Carlie was due right about now.

Which was perfect because he couldn’t wait to feel her hands on him. The mere thought shot a bolt of heat through his body.

He really hoped she wouldn’t be late.

DAMN IT, she was running late.

Carlie jumped from the shower and hastily wrapped a towel around her, sarong style. Why was it that whenever she was in a rush everything went wrong? Her favorite shirt, the one that made her look like she had more cleavage than she actually did, was in the dirty laundry, and while she’d been busy studying, the puppies had gotten into the bathroom and littered three rooms with toilet paper streamers.

In the middle of gathering up the mess-a process hindered by an enthusiastic P.B. and J. who thought “clean-up” was secret puppy talk for “play-time”-her mother had called twice. The first time just to chat, and the second time to bombard her with questions after she’d deduced-in that unerringly accurate way moms had-that “Can’t talk now, Mom, I’m busy” was secret daughter talk for “Gotta go, have a hot date with a hot man.” Then she couldn’t find her razor and no way was she going to Daniel’s house without freshly shaved legs.

So now, here she was, soaking wet, with about six minutes to make herself spectacular. She toweled a spot off the fogged-up bathroom mirror and grimaced at what she saw. No way her mirror would declare her Fairest of Them All. Six minutes? Good grief, she needed more like six hours. She looked like something the puppies dragged in from the backyard.

And speaking of the puppies…Hmmm. Usually they waited for her right outside the shower and pounced on her the minute she emerged, licking the water droplets from her toes. She walked into her bedroom, then whistled and called their names. “Here, P.B. and J. C’mon, boys.”

The fact that they didn’t appear and she didn’t hear any noise could only mean one thing.

Doggie mischief was afoot.

“Great,” she muttered heading swiftly toward the kitchen. “Listen, guys. I do not have time for this. You better not be turning my new slippers into a chew toy.”

She entered the kitchen and skidded to a halt at the sight of the unlatched doggie door. Uh oh. She must have forgotten to secure it before she showered. Probably because, thanks to Daniel, her brain cells were all kerflooey. She yanked open the back door then hit the light switch.

Light flooded her backyard, illuminating her small patio. Her hole-pocked lawn. Her flower beds. The fence separating her yard from Daniel’s.

Her puppies digging their way under the fence.

“Stop!” she yelled. Clutching her towel, she dashed outside. They must have heard her coming because it seemed they redoubled their digging efforts.

“Bad puppies! Stop that!”

The patio flagstones were cold beneath her feet, and she stepped as quickly as she could onto the grass, which was not only cold, but damp as well. Goosebumps rose on her wet flesh and she winced as a rock bit into her instep. Jeez, could this situation get any worse?

She instantly cursed herself for asking because the situation immediately got worse as both dogs disappeared under the fence. Since there wasn’t a gate between the two yards, she couldn’t just snatch the little bandits. No, now she’d have to go back inside and call Daniel and ask him to grab the culprits-quick-before they could dig any more holes in his newly repaired yard. If she waited until she was dressed, Lord knows what havoc they might wreak. And Lord knows what havoc that might wreak with her plans with Daniel. Probably he wouldn’t be feeling very amorous if he discovered a fresh batch of holes in his yard.

Grasping her towel, her teeth chattering, she hurried toward her back door. And realized that things could go from worse to worser.

The damn door was locked.

WHEN THE KNOCK sounded on Daniel’s front door, his heart performed one of those contortionist-type maneuvers it had recently started executing, and he frowned. Ridiculous. She was just a woman. The world was littered with them. Two weeks from now they’d be nothing more than former neighbors with, he hoped, a few hot memories between them. Tiny blips on each other’s radar screens.

Yeah. But in the meantime…

He had to force himself not to sprint to the door. “Be cool, be calm, be suave,” he muttered as he entered his small foyer. “Yeah, that’s the ticket. Just do your best James Bond.”

Pausing to draw a deep, soothing breath, he opened the door. And stared.

At Carlie, her skin damp, her hair a riotous tangle of glistening, wet curls. At Carlie, wearing a pale pink towel that-yowza-barely covered the essentials.

Holy crap, he’d swallowed his tongue again. Damn it, James Bond wouldn’t do that. Hell, no. But then, James had never faced a nearly naked Carlie.

The dam behind the pent-up hunger he’d fought against all day burst, and with a groan, he stepped forward and pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

That same incredible rush of heated pleasure he’d experienced last night roared through him, erasing any doubt that he’d simply imagined it.

She moaned-or was that him?-and parted her lips, and he deepened the kiss, his tongue dancing with hers. Her hands slid into his hair, and his arms tightened around her, his head swimming from a combination of the feel of her curves and moist skin pressed against him and the incredible, fresh scent of her.

When the need to yank off her towel right there on the porch threatened to overwhelm his better judgment, he lifted his head. His glasses were only partially fogged this time. He was gratified to note that she appeared as dazed and bamboozled as he felt.

Clearing his throat, he said, “I don’t know much about fashion, but I’m really liking this Bed, Bath and Beyond look you’ve got going here.”

She blinked several times, then her eyes widened. Splaying her hands on his chest, she leaned back and said, “Daniel, we have a problem-”

“Not from where I’m standing.”

“I’m so embarrassed-”

“Believe me, you have absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about.” And if he didn’t get her in the house pronto, the neighbors were going to get one hell of a show. Stepping away from her, he opened the door. “C’mon in.”

“Thanks.” She stepped across the threshold and he breathed in the sexy, feminine fragrance she left in her wake. He closed and locked the door, then turned. And was treated to a back view of her in that short, short towel.

Before he could recover, she grabbed his hand and tugged. “Hurry,” she said, pulling him toward the back of the house.

“Anything you say.” He’d planned a slow, leisurely seduction, but hey, he was flexible. The lady wanted quick? Fine by him. He was more than willing and, after spending an entire night and day fantasizing about her, definitely more than ready.

“Hurry,” she repeated, in a breathless, urgent voice, leading him into the kitchen.

Whoa, baby. A little on-the-counter action? This just got better and better. Damn it, he should have stashed a condom in here-

“They’re outside. I hope we’re not too late.” She released his hand then jerked open his back door.

Huh? “They? Who’s they?”

But she’d already disappeared outside. His question was answered when he heard her calling, “Peanut Butter, Jelly, where are you?” followed immediately by, “Hey, Daniel, can you hit the lights, please?”

Uh oh. This didn’t sound good. Neither for that kitchen-counter quickie he’d envisioned nor for his backyard. He quickly flicked on the light switch, then headed outside.

“There you are, you devils,” Carlie said, dashing toward the far left corner of his yard where two balls of fur, one pure black, the other brown and white, were digging furiously.

“Stop that this instant!” Carlie yelled, still running.

Jogging after her, Daniel watched P.B. and J. pause and raise their heads. The instant they saw Carlie, they abandoned their digging. After a series of joyful yips, they raced toward her, tongues lolling, tails wagging. He glanced at the hole they’d made and ruefully shook his head. Good thing he had some sod left over.

Probably he should be annoyed or aggravated, at least something other than amused. But one look at Carlie trying to hold her towel in place and not get knocked on her ass by her exuberant, jumping pups-well, he couldn’t help but smile. When he joined them seconds later, Carlie was kneeling on the grass, the recipient of a frenzied overabundance of canine happiness as the dogs yipped and licked and wagged.

“I’m so sorry,” she said, looking up at him, stretching her neck to avoid P.B. and J.’s attempt to bestow frantic kisses on her lips.

Hmmm. Smart dogs.

“They escaped into my backyard through the doggie door while I was in the shower. Before I could catch them, they’d dug under the fence.”

He crouched beside her and was immediately besieged by a frenzy of pure puppy joy. “Not that I’m complaining about your outfit, but you could have called me,” he said, trying to evade receiving his own puppy kisses on the lips. “I would have held down the fort until you were dressed.”

She picked up Peanut Butter and cuddled the squirming bundle of black fur while he did the same with Jelly. “That was my intention-until I discovered I’d locked myself out.”

Their gazes met over doggie heads and he couldn’t help but chuckle at her exasperated expression. Her eyes instantly narrowed. “Are you laughing?”

He immediately sobered. “Who-me?”

“Yeah, you.”

“Heck no.”

“Good. Because this is not funny.”

“Right.” Still clasping Jelly to his chest, he reached out and brushed his fingers over her bare shoulder. “Clump of dirt,” he said, fighting the urge to laugh.

She looked skyward, then shook her head. “Clump of dirt. Perfect.”

“Do you have a spare house key hidden somewhere?”

“If I did, do you think I would have shown up at your house wearing a towel?”

“I don’t know, but hope springs eternal.”

“Ha, ha. No hidden key. But you better believe I’m going to remedy that situation tomorrow. Of course, that doesn’t do me much good now. And naturally all my windows are locked.” She stretched out her arms and held Peanut Butter in front of her. “What on earth am I going to do with you?”

Peanut Butter wiggled and yipped, trying to lick anything his tongue could come in contact with. “You are so lucky you’re cute,” she muttered to the squirming dog. Heaving a sigh, she pulled the puppy against her then looked at Daniel with big brown eyes filled with dismay. “This is not exactly how I envisioned this evening going.”

“Oh? What had you envisioned?”

“Brutal truth?”

“Absolutely.”

“You. Me. Chocolate. Naked.”

Okay, who lit the blow torch in his jeans? “That sounds good to me.” Good? When the hell had he become such a master of the understatement?

“Definitely no puppies,” she continued. “And definitely me wearing something other than a towel. At least to start with.”

His gaze roamed over her. “I like your outfit just fine.”

A huff of laughter puffed past her lips. “Thanks.”

He stood, then held out his hand. “C’mon. Let’s go inside before you catch a chill. We’ll get the dogs settled, then call the locksmith. While we wait for him, we can enjoy some truffles.”

She looked up at him and he felt the impact of those huge, questioning eyes right down to the soles of his feet. “So we’re still on? In spite of the dogs and the new hole in your yard and my towel?”

“Yes, in spite of the dogs and the new hole in my yard, but actually because of your towel.”

With a laugh and still holding Peanut Butter, who, like Jelly, had quieted down, she took his hand and he gently pulled her to her feet. When she was upright, less than a foot separated them. Well, a foot and two suddenly drowsy puppies. He looked into her eyes, and his heart started thumping as if he’d run a race. Maybe he was allergic to dogs.

Or maybe he was just painfully attracted to this woman. Like he’d never been attracted to anyone before.

“Calling the locksmith, helping me with the dogs…seems as if you’ve solved the immediate crisis.”

“I did tell you I’m an expert problem solver.”

“In addition to being an expert problem solver, you’re also an expert kisser.”

“You’re not so bad yourself.” Another whopper of an understatement.

“Believe it or not, I’m usually not such a Calamity Jane.”

“Maybe you call showing up at my house in a towel a calamity, but I sure don’t.” He smiled, then, with a gentle tug on her hand, started walking toward the house. Her bare shoulder brushed against him as they made their way across the grass, shooting arrows of heat through him. Her palm felt warm and soft and smooth nestled against his, and heated tingles sizzled up his arm from the contact.

Since when did a simple gesture like holding hands feel so…sexually charged? So…intimate? His fingers flexed and she gently squeezed in return, firing pure lust to every nerve ending. How did she get him so worked up just by holding his hand? Cripes, if he got any hotter, he’d start glowing in the dark.

After crossing his small brick patio, he released her hand and held open the door for her. “Follow me,” he said, leading the way toward the den. He snagged a quilt from the coat closet on the way. Once in the den, he spread the quilt in the corner, then gently set down his drowsy furry bundle. Jelly let out a huge yawn, then promptly entered doggy dreamland. Carlie laid down P.B., who plopped his head on Jelly’s rump and also slept.

He straightened and found himself staring at her, unable to look away. He knew he was supposed to do something involving a locksmith, but looking at her, flushed and disheveled and practically naked, he was damned if he could recall so much as his own name.

Touch her. He simply had to touch her. Reaching out, he brushed his fingertips across her flushed cheek. A small spray of golden freckles decorated her soft skin, filling him with the urge to study each tiny mark, then play connect the dots. With his lips.

Her eyes drooped half closed. The small, breathy sound that came from between her parted lips tensed every muscle in his body.

“You know that you, me, chocolate, naked thing you mentioned?” he asked softly, dragging his fingers slowly down the curve of her neck to run along the skin just above the top of her towel.

Her eyes seemed to darken. “Absolutely.”

“You overly fussy about what order that all happens in?”

For an answer, she flicked her fingers at the top of her towel and the terry cloth slithered to the floor.

“Absolutely not.”

6

STANDING IN FRONT of Daniel wearing nothing except her best seductive smile, Carlie watched his eyes darken with a smoldering heat and hunger that infused her with a powerful surge of feminine satisfaction. There was no doubt that he liked what he saw.

Now she couldn’t wait to see what he intended to do about it. And since it had been six months since she’d had sex, the sooner the better as far as she was concerned.

But instead of simply grabbing her and putting out this damn inferno he’d lit inside her, he made no move to touch her. Instead his gaze tracked slowly down to her feet, then back up, igniting tiny fires on her skin and tightening her nipples. She felt that leisurely perusal as if he’d caressed her, and her skin grew increasingly warm and prickly with want.

When their gazes met again, he said in a husky voice, “You’re like an unwrapped present.” He reached out and traced his fingertips along her collarbone, halting her breath. “And it’s not even my birthday.”

Any reply she might have made evaporated into nothingness when his hands wandered lower to palm her breasts. His thumbs brushed over her aroused nipples, a light feathery caress that dragged a moan from her throat and pulsed pure want straight to her womb.

“You’re beautiful,” he said, his voice a raspy whisper.

She opened her mouth to say something that resembled thank you, but he again stole the words when he lowered his head and drew her nipple into the satiny heat of his mouth. With a gasp, her head fell limply back and she grabbed his shoulders for support.

While his lips and tongue laved her sensitive flesh, his hands skimmed lower, one roaming over her abdomen while the other curved around to cup her bottom. His fingers glided between her thighs, and she spread her legs wider.

Her long ooooohhhh of pleasure filled the air as he teased her with a light, circular motion that weakened her knees. Her fingers slid into his thick, silky hair, then slipped beneath the collar of his shirt to stroke his back. His skin was hot and smooth beneath her palms and she desperately wanted, needed, to feel more of him. All of him.

But instead of speeding things up, he continued to torment her with his unhurried pace. His lips moved upward to explore her neck and the sensitive skin behind her ear. He tortured her with slow, deep, drugging kisses, his tongue caressing hers as his fingers glided over her slick feminine folds until she felt ready to implode. Skimming his hand down her thigh, he lifted her leg, and with a groan she hooked her calf around his hip. His talented fingers continued their maddening arousal, slipping deeply inside, slowly stroking. She tried to sustain the pleasure, to not fall over the edge, but his gentle assault on her body was relentless. Her orgasm throbbed through her, dragging a cry from her throat that tapered off into a deep sigh of sated satisfaction.

No sooner had her shudders subsided than he scooped her up in his strong arms. He walked swiftly down the hall, and she buried her face in the warm spot where his neck and shoulder met and grazed his skin with her teeth. He smelled fresh and clean and warm and delicious and he’d made her feel so damn good.

His low groan vibrated against her lips. “If you keep that up, we won’t make it to the bedroom.”

“I already didn’t, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

“Believe me, I noticed. If I’d thought to have a condom in my pocket, you wouldn’t have made it out of the den.”

“If you weren’t carrying me, I wouldn’t have made it out anyway. My knees feel like limp, deflated balloons-a condition for which I heartily thank you, by the way.”

“The pleasure was all mine.”

“Actually it wasn’t, but I’m looking forward to returning the favor.”

“That makes me all kinds of lucky.”

“Oh, honey, trust me, you are definitely going to get all kinds of lucky.”

Seconds later he deposited her on his bed with a gentle bounce. Standing next to the edge, looking at her with an expression that all but breathed fire, he was about to pull his shirt over his head when she rose to her knees and stilled his hands. “Not so fast,” she said, skating her hands under the soft material. “You undressed me; now it’s my turn.”

Daniel released the ends of his shirt and settled his hands on her hips and pulled her closer. The soft curve of her belly bumped against his erection and he sucked in a breath. His palms drifted slowly up and down, exploring her exquisite curves.

“Not to put too fine a point on it, but I think you actually removed your towel, for which I’d like to heartily thank you, by the way,” he said, echoing her earlier words.

“You’re welcome.” Reaching out, she touched his glasses. “Can you see okay without these? I wouldn’t want you to miss anything.”

He slid them off then tossed them onto the nightstand. “I’m really nearsighted. I’ll have to stay pretty close.”

“Consider it done. Now-off with the footwear.”

After he toed off his sneakers and kicked aside his discarded socks, she said, “Hands in the air.”

He raised his arms. “Am I under arrest?”

“Yes. You have the right to remain…” She lifted his shirt over his head then tossed it aside. He lowered his arms and her gaze and fingers strolled down his chest, igniting bonfires and tensing his abs. “Really, really hot.”

“I thought I had the right to remain silent.”

“You do, but it’s not necessary. Make all the noise you like.” She slowly rubbed her breasts against his chest and a wicked grin curved her lips. “You already know I’m a moaner and groaner.”

“Yeah. That’s a shame. Really.”

She smoothed her hands slowly down his torso, then trailed her fingertips around the sensitive skin just above the waist of his jeans, while she leaned forward and gently bit his earlobe. When a growl rumbled in his throat, she whispered in his ear, “That’s a promising sound. For starters.”

Moving off the bed, she stood in front of him. When he reached for her, she shook her head, her eyes dancing with mischief. “Oh, no. It’s my turn. No touching from you.”

His gaze roved over her full breasts, their erect nipples a whisper away from his chest. “Okay. But that’s asking a lot.”

For an answer, she leaned down and slowly brushed her tongue over his nipple. Another growl of pleasure rumbled in his throat and his eyes slid closed. She kissed her way across his chest while her hands lightly kneaded his back. He could only guess that she was an excellent masseuse because her hands were nothing short of magical.

Given her unhurried pace, she obviously planned to have revenge on him. Not that he was complaining-hell, no-but he didn’t know how long he’d be able to withstand the exquisite torture.

When he felt her hands at his waistband, he opened his eyes and watched her flick open the button on his jeans then slowly drag down the zipper.

“Is that a few dozen truffles in your pants, or are you just happy to see me?” she asked in a sultry, teasing voice, easing her hands beneath the waistband of his boxer briefs.

“I am extremely-” he sucked in a swift breath as she freed his erection then skimmed his jeans and underwear down his legs in one, smooth motion “-happy.” He pushed the discarded clothes aside with his foot.

“So I see.” Touching her index to the center of his chest, she walked slowly around him, dragging that single fingertip along his skin. When she stood directly behind him, she said, “View is exceptional from the back as well.”

He would have thanked her, but she stole whatever command he still retained over the English language when she stepped closer and slowly rubbed herself against his back. A shudder ran through him at the sensation of her skin brushing against his. Her fingertips drifted over his hips, down his thighs, while she pressed openmouthed kisses across his shoulders.

Her hands continued their gently teasing marauding, roaming up and down his torso and legs, touching him everywhere-except his erection. “You’re killing me,” he said, his voice gravelly with need.

She walked around until she faced him again. Then ran a single fingertip down his hard length. “Better?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know. Better do it again.”

Wrapping her fingers around him, she gently squeezed, dulling his vision. “Good?”

Incredible. He tried to say the word, but all that came out was a guttural groan. Tipping his head back, he endured the sweet torture of her stroking him, cupping, teasing and caressing him until the need to come approached overwhelming. Lifting his head, he looked down at the erotic sight of her hands pleasuring him and knew he couldn’t take anymore.

He grasped her wrists, tumbled her onto the bed, then followed her down, making quick work of grabbing a condom. After rolling on the protection-a delay that nearly unhinged him-he covered her body with his. The slow, slick glide into her tight, wet heat dragged another growl from his throat. She wrapped her legs around him, urging him deeper, meeting his every thrust. Sweat beaded on his forehead and his every muscle strained with the effort to hold off his release until she came. The instant the first ripple of her orgasm gripped him, he let himself go, and with a feral groan, followed her over the edge.

He wasn’t sure how long he lay there, still deep inside her, his face buried in the soft, fragrant curve of her neck, before he found the strength to lift his head. A minute? An hour? Damned if he knew. He propped his weight on his forearms and gazed down into her eyes. She looked drowsy and satisfied and sexy as hell, and for reasons he couldn’t explain, he felt as if he’d been sucker punched. Right in the heart. Cripes, he’d thought their simple kiss had felt complicated? The tangle of unexpected, unsettling feelings roiling through him after what should have been nothing more than a breezy bout of no-strings sex had him positively reeling. Several seconds ticked by as they simply stared at each other. Then she licked her lips and whispered, “Holy cow.”

If he’d been able to string two words together, those were the two he’d have uttered. Since one was about all he could manage, he said, “Yeah.”

“That was…”

“Yeah.”

“That couldn’t possibly have been as incredible as I think, could it?”

More so. “Maybe,” he said as if his entire world hadn’t just tilted on its axis, “but I’m not positive, so I vote for a re-do, just to make sure.”

“Count me in. I, uh, didn’t know computer nerds had so much…”

“Stamina?” he provided helpfully. “Willpower?”

One corner of her mouth quirked upward. “I was thinking along the lines of skill and finesse, but hey, if the shoe fits…”

“It’s the glasses,” he said in a perfectly serious voice. “Men who wear glasses are frequently underestimated.”

She ran her fingers down his back and lightly pinched his butt. “Hmmm…I suppose that’s true with some guys, but I never doubted you’d be as clever in the bedroom as you are with a computer. Trust me, you could be the poster boy for skill and finesse.”

“Thanks.” He smiled and tucked a wayward curl behind her ear. She turned and pressed a warm kiss against his palm, and his sucker-punched heart rolled over.

“Guess what I want?” she asked, nudging him with her hip.

He nudged her back. “Same thing I want?”

“I was thinking ‘chocolate.’”

“I wasn’t. But I’m willing to concede.” He dropped a quick kiss on her lips, unsettled by how much he wanted to turn it into something more than a quick kiss. “For now anyway.”

Five minutes later, Carlie entered the kitchen, wearing one of Daniel’s dress shirts, with Daniel following her. He nuzzled her neck from behind as she opened his refrigerator. “Got milk?” she asked.

“Got anything you want.” Probably he should let her go, but damn, he just couldn’t keep his hands off her. Still nibbling on her neck, he reached around her with one hand and snagged the carton of milk.

“Is it sour and lumpy?” she asked eyeing the container with clear suspicion. “I know how you bachelors operate.”

“No lumps in the milk.”

Just as he was about to hip check the door closed, she pointed to the top shelf and said, “Oh-there’s your heart half from Sinfully Sweet. Have you read the secret message?”

“I have.” With an effort, and just to prove to himself that he could, he released her, then reached for two glasses. “Feel free to take a look.”

While he poured the milk, she unwrapped the blue foil and pulled out the slender strip of paper. “Passion is best described as unpredictable because it’s often found in surprising places. With unexpected people. Leading to unanticipated encounters. All of which can result in unforeseen outcomes.”

“Pretty prophetic, huh?”

When she didn’t answer right away, he looked up and their gazes met. Something he couldn’t define flashed in her eyes, then she nodded. “Very. And very familiar. It matches mine.”

He raised his brows. “You’re kidding.”

“I’m not. I have the other half of your heart.”

“Which means I have the other half of yours.”

“Right. Which means-”

“You’re my perfect match,” they said in unison.

Their eyes met and those four words filled Daniel with a warm sensation he couldn’t name. That warmth was immediately followed by something that felt suspiciously like relief that he’d be her Valentine’s date and not some other guy. “I guess that means you’re stuck sharing the Valentine’s Day dinner prize with me,” he said.

“I guess so,” she agreed, sauntering toward him with a sinful sway of her hips. “I’ll try not to complain too much.”

“I’ll try to not to give you anything to complain about.”

“You can start right now.” She twined her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him. “By giving me one of those expert kisses.”

His hands glided under her shirt to touch her warm, soft skin. “Happy to. But I thought you wanted chocolate.”

“You’re better than chocolate.”

And that, Daniel decided as his mouth settled over hers, was one hell of a compliment coming from the Queen of the Chocogasm.

7

THE NEXT TWO weeks passed so quickly, Carlie felt as she’d merely blinked and they were over. Valentine’s Day dawned bright and clear and she spent the morning working her shift at the Delaford spa, then visiting a client on the way home. At two o’clock she stowed her portable massage table in the trunk of her car, then slid into the front seat. Her regular weekly session with Mrs. Fanning had gone very well, especially considering that during the entire hour, Carlie’s mind had stubbornly wandered from the task at hand to the one thing she’d spent the last two weeks thinking about.

Daniel Montgomery.

She closed her eyes and a veritable slide show of Daniel-induced memories flickered through her mind. Daniel, smiling, his dimples flashing at her. Pushing his fantasy-inspiring glasses up his nose. Falling asleep on her sofa with her puppies sprawled across his stomach. Lying in all his naked glory on her bed as she gave him a massage. The two of them feeding each other his chocolate truffles. Playing with P.B. and J. Walking hand in hand through downtown Austell. Playing Frisbee in the park with the dogs then enjoying a picnic lunch. Renting a James Bond flick and snuggling in with a bowl of popcorn. Talking, laughing, sharing childhood memories over pizza and late-night cappuccinos. Daniel gazing at her, his eyes dark with want. Whispering her name. Touching her. Over her. Under her. Buried deep inside her. His hands and mouth…everywhere.

And it was all about to end. Moving day was tomorrow.

Skulking beneath her happiness of the past two weeks was a sensation that had grown each day, until it now sat like a rock in her stomach. She’d tried to put various euphemistic names on the feeling, but the way it squeezed her right now, there was only one word for it: desolation.

Throughout the past two weeks she’d felt as if an egg timer were counting down the minutes of their time together, an incessant internal ticking clock that she’d forced herself to shove to the back of her mind. But there was now no more room to shove because as of tomorrow morning he’d be gone. Another wave of desolation washed over her, this one nearly drowning her.

An image flashed through her mind of how she’d last seen him before departing his house this morning: in the shower-a heart-stopping sight she was now very familiar with-water sluicing down his lean, muscular, aroused body. Just the memory shot tingles down to her toes.

The man occupied every corner of her mind. Occupied? Ha. More like he’d pitched a tent, settled himself in a comfy chair, and taken up permanent residence in her brain cells. Which was bad enough. But she greatly feared the situation was far worse than that-that he’d managed to take up permanent residence in her heart as well. Which, given his imminent departure from Austell, was really bad. She needed help. A pep talk. Pronto. Since there wasn’t a twelve-step “Fight Your Daniel Addiction” program listed in the phone book-and she’d looked-she settled for the next best thing. Digging her cell phone out of her purse, she quickly dialed.

“Hello?” said a familiar voice.

“Hi, Mom.”

“What’s wrong, sweetie?”

Carlie couldn’t help but laugh. “I literally said two words. What makes you think something’s wrong?”

“I’m a mother. I know these things. And based on your voice, I’m guessing that whatever’s wrong involves a man, most likely your neighbor Daniel you briefly mentioned when we spoke last week.”

Briefly? She’d said his name. And only because Daniel had been there when her mom had called and she’d heard his voice in the background while he’d played with P.B. and J. “Okay, you’ve always been good at guessing, but this time you’re scaring me. What do you have-a crystal ball?”

“No, just the ‘I know when my baby needs me’ chromosome that never goes away, no matter how grown-up that baby might be. So tell me what’s wrong.”

“Maybe I’m just calling to wish you a happy Valentine’s Day.”

“Thank you. Same to you. Now what’s wrong?”

Since there was no point in trying to deny she was troubled, Carlie blew out a long breath, then tried to put into words the unsettling thoughts spinning around in her mind, grateful she and her mother could discuss anything.

“Over the past two weeks, Daniel and I have been, um, seeing quite a lot of each other.” Literally. Another image of him naked flashed through her mind. “And things have been…terrific,” she continued, although “terrific” didn’t even begin to do justice to what they’d shared. “He’s very…nice,” she grimaced at the lukewarm word, “and I don’t mean just between the sheets. Which is really the problem. And I guess that’s why I’m feeling so…out of sorts. He’s moving tomorrow, and well, I’m just…sorry he’s leaving. I…I’m going to miss him.” To Carlie’s dismay, her bottom lip trembled and moisture pushed behind her eyes. “Which is something I hadn’t anticipated. I knew going in that our time together had an end date tattooed on it. We both did. And that was fine with me. Believe me, the last thing I was looking for was a man to clutter up my life. You know that I’d sworn off serious relationships, at least until school is finished.”

“I recall you telling me that, yes.”

She raked her free hand through her hair. “But Daniel turned out to be so…different. So unexpected. He makes me laugh. He’s talented and smart. Kind and generous. Easy-going and patient to a fault with P.B. and J. He’s nice to his family. On top of all that, he’s spent hours designing and building me this fabulous, professional website, that I’d never be able to afford, to advertise my massage therapy services. Our time together was supposed to be no-strings but instead I find myself tied up in big, huge knots.”

“And why do you think that is?”

“I guess because I…like him.” She pinched the bridge of her nose and forced herself to admit the frightening truth that she could no longer deny. “Problem is, I think that maybe I like him a little too much. Certainly more than I wanted to.”

“Hmmm. And what are you planning to do about that?”

“Planning?” Carlie, frowned then shook her head. “Uh, well, nothing. There’s nothing I can do. He’s leaving for Boston tomorrow. This was nothing more than a fling. For both of us. My life is here. His life is there. I don’t have the time or energy to devote to a long-distance relationship. And even if I did, he hasn’t given me any indication he’d be interested in doing so.”

“Have you talked about it?”

“We agreed we’d ‘keep in touch,’” she made air quotes her mom couldn’t see, “but you know what that means. We’ll exchange a few e-mails or phone calls that will turn painfully awkward once he starts dating someone else. Which I bet won’t take long once the women of Boston discover him.” An unpleasant sensation that could only be called jealousy slithered through her, making her want to slap the entire female population of Massachusetts.

“And also awkward when you start dating someone as well,” Mom said.

“Right,” Carlie agreed, trying to picture herself in another man’s arms and failing completely.

“Does he know how you feel?”

“I don’t know how I feel. Except that I’m…confused. And irritated at myself for letting my heart get even the smallest bit involved.”

“Do you think it’s possible that maybe his heart’s involved, too?”

Carlie’s pulse jumped at the softly spoken question but then she shoved aside the ridiculous flare of hope it ignited. “I hope not because the bottom line is it wouldn’t matter. He’s leaving, I’m staying and there’ll be an entire country between us.”

Her mom’s sigh came across the phone. “I’m sorry, honey. I wish there was something I could say to make you feel better. A bandage I could put on your boo-boo.”

A sad smile tugged at Carlie’s lips. “Me, too. But I appreciate you listening. I’m just being silly. Sentimental ’cause it’s Valentine’s Day and all. Once he’s gone and I’m not seeing him every day, everything will be back to normal. I’ll be fine. Perfectly fine.”

“I’m sure you will be. But.

“But what?”

“Is fine good enough?”

Carlie frowned and gripped the phone. She hesitated for a moment, thinking, then said, “Being ‘fine’ sounds like I’m settling for something, as opposed to, say, being ‘deliriously happy.’” Her frown deepened. “And maybe being deliriously happy is something I shouldn’t give up so easily.”

“Maybe it’s not. You’re a smart girl, Carlie. You’ll know the right thing to do.”

Her throat tightened at her mom’s assessment. She didn’t feel smart. In fact, she felt as if she’d foolishly ventured beyond a thin ice warning and was about to crash through and sink below the surface.

“But I can’t give up something that was never mine in the first place, Mom. The only thing definite about my time with Daniel was that it was temporary.” She heaved a sigh, then glanced at her watch. “I need to go. Daniel and I are having the dinner we won together tonight and I have to get ready.”

“At least you won the Valentine’s Day contest,” Mom said in an overly cheerful voice.

“Sure did.” Which was exactly what she’d wanted.

Unfortunately, she feared she’d gotten much more than she’d bargained for.

WITH A BOUQUET of tissue-wrapped flowers clutched in one hand, Daniel stood on Carlie’s porch and drew a deep breath. For reasons he refused to examine too closely, he felt unnerved. Tense.

It’s just all this moving stuff, he told himself, flexing his shoulders to work out the stiffness. Yeah, all the last-minute tasks. Packing his car for the cross country drive. Settling everything with the Realtor. Getting the phone shut off and the mail forwarded.

Saying goodbye to Carlie.

And that, unfortunately, had somehow turned into an insurmountable task.

Which was ridiculous. He’d known from minute one that their time together would be brief. Hell, part of the beauty of the whole situation was that he’d be able to walk away with no regrets. Fun and games with no strings, no commitments, no problems.

Except he hadn’t counted on enjoying her company so thoroughly. He hadn’t doubted they’d be good in bed-and he’d definitely been right on that score-but he hadn’t expected to enjoy her so much out of bed. Hadn’t known she was so compassionate, so deeply committed and loyal to the things that were important to her, so witty. Hadn’t anticipated her thoughtful intelligence, her goofy sense of humor, her ability to laugh at herself. Hadn’t foreseen liking her so damn much. Hell, he even liked her dogs. And the thought of leaving tomorrow…it made him tense with an unpleasant sensation that felt like an all-over body cramp.

He dragged his free hand through his hair. What the hell was wrong with him? He should be on top of the world. The Realtor reported that someone was very interested in his house. A great job in a great city awaited him.

He was just…nervous. Yeah, that’s all it was. Once he was settled in Boston, he’d be fine. Just fine. Perfectly fine.

Feeling better, like the coach had just pumped him up with a pre-game pep talk, he rang Carlie’s doorbell. P.B. and J. set up a frantic chorus and he smiled at the commotion. Seconds later the door opened, and Carlie appeared, flustered and laughing, trying unsuccessfully to hold back the puppies. His heart executed the now familiar roll it performed every time he saw her.

She wore a fire-engine red dress that hugged her curves in a five-alarm way. With its high neck and long sleeves, the dress showed no skin at all, yet the way it showcased her form earned it the title of Sexiest Damn Outfit He’d Ever Seen. Strappy silver heels made her toned legs appear endless. A memory of those legs wrapped around his hips, urging him deeper into her body flashed through his mind, leaving a trail of steamy heat in its wake.

Her glossy curls looked soft and had “mess with me” written all over them. A shimmer of gloss that matched her dress made her lips look like a delicious candy apple, filling him with an almost painful anticipation of tasting that luscious mouth.

“P.B. and J. are happy to see you,” she said loudly, to be heard above the noise.

“Every guy likes an enthusiastic greeting.”

“Oh? Then you’re gonna love this.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed herself against him and kissed him.

Those candy-apple lips tasted as good as they looked, and with a groan, his arms went around her, pulling her closer, pressing the flowers into her back, deepening the delicious kiss she’d initiated. Her delicate, musky, floral scent filled his head and it flashed through his mind that he’d never again be able to smell flowers and not think of her. When he finally lifted his head, his glasses were-no surprise-fogged over. After pulling them off, he looked into her gorgeous eyes, which she’d outlined with some sort of smoky color that made them appear larger and more luminous than usual.

“You were right,” he said, slowly rubbing himself against her. “That was very much enthusiastic. And I loved it.”

She waggled her brows. “Wait till you see what I have planned for later.”

Later…when they would say goodbye. He dropped a quick kiss on her forehead then forced a smile. “Can’t wait.” After releasing her, he stepped back and presented the bouquet with a flourish. “For you. Happy Valentine’s Day.”

She accepted the flowers, then buried her face in the blooms. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. And speaking of beautiful…” He ran his fingers down her sleeve. “You look incredible.”

Her gaze tracked over his charcoal-gray suit, white dress shirt, and red paisley silk tie. “I was about to say the same thing to you. C’mon in. I’ll put my flowers in water and then we can leave.” She turned and headed across the threshold.

“That sounds…” His voice trailed off. Her dress, which completely covered up the front of her, left her entire back-from her neck to her hips-completely bare.

“Sounds what?” she asked over her shoulder as she headed toward the kitchen.

“Er, great.” With his gaze fastened on her gorgeous bare skin, he entered the house, closed the door, then followed her into the kitchen. P.B. and J. scampered ahead of him, racing toward their food bowls, sliding across the hardwood floor. He came up behind her as she reached up to pull a glass vase from an upper cabinet, wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her fragrant hair.

“That’s some dress. But I think it’s on backwards,” he said, gently nibbling on her earlobe.

She laughed, reaching back to encircle his neck, then tilting her head to afford him better access. “Now that would cause quite a stir at the restaurant.”

“Sweetheart, you’re causing such a stir right here, we might not make it to the restaurant.” To prove his words, he pressed his erection more firmly against her buttocks, then groaned when she wriggled against him. “Are you wearing anything under this?” he asked, skimming his hands over the silky material.

“Mmmm…you mean besides skin?”

“Yeah.”

She turned around and, with her eyes dancing with mischief, slipped her hands beneath his suit jacket to skim her palms up his back. “If I told you, it would ruin your Valentine’s Day surprise.”

“The only thing that’ll surprise me is if you make it out of this kitchen without my finding out.”

“I see.” She reached behind her, then drew forth a package wrapped in shiny red paper. “Then I guess this won’t come as any big shocker.”

His brows shot up. “What’s that?”

“A present. For you. Happy Valentine’s Day.”

Surprised pleasure washed through him as he accepted the rectangular-shaped gift. “Are you a magician? Where’d it come from?”

“It was right there on the counter the whole time.”

“Ah. That explains it. I was mightily distracted.” He moved to stand next to her, leaning his hips against the counter. “Should I open it?”

She looked toward the ceiling and blew out an exaggerated breath. “Clearly you don’t know what the heck a ‘present’ is.”

A sheepish grin tugged his lips. “Okay, silly question. I’m officially a dork.”

“True. But you’re adorable.”

“I guess that makes me…adorkable?”

She laughed. “Exactly. Now open your present so we’re not late for our dinner reservation.”

His gaze tracked down her luscious form. “If you didn’t want to be late, you seriously wore the wrong dress.”

Her lips twitched. “Would it help if I took it off?”

“That depends on what you’re hoping to help. If it’s our punctuality, definitely not. But leave it on. I want to be the one who takes it off you. In the meantime, I’ll try to focus.” Turning his attention to his gift, he removed the wrapping paper and found himself holding a hardcover book with a dark brown glossy cover that looked so much like a chocolate bar, he was tempted to take a bite.

He ran his fingers over the gold embossed letters on the cover and read “Nothing is Better Than Chocolate.”

“I bought it at Sinfully Sweet,” she said. “It has tons of great pictures and Ellie Fairbanks said it provides an interesting history of candy-making. It’s sort of a dual Valentine’s Day-going away gift. A little something to remember me by.”

Her words brought an odd lump to his throat. As if he stood any chance of forgetting her. “Thanks. It’s great.”

“Like with anything chocolate, I couldn’t resist. Besides,” she added, bumping his hip with hers, “I think we actually proved the title wrong. At least a few times.”

“At least.” He turned to look at her. He wanted to smile, to keep the moment light, but the instant his gaze found hers, all remnants of amusement faded. “Actually, as far as I’m concerned, we proved that title wrong every time.” He set the book on the counter, then snagged her into his arms and lightly kissed her soft mouth. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” When he moved in to kiss her again, she leaned back and pressed her fingers against his lips. “Oh, no. You have that look in your eye. I know that look.”

“I bet you do. And you should. You put it there. You and. his hands skimmed over her hips, “this dress.”

“Good. I’m glad, seeing as how that was the point.” She splayed her hands against his chest and shot him a stern look. “But this dress stays on until after dinner.”

“How long after?” he asked, mentally calculating the number of seconds he’d require to peel the soft, stretchy fabric off her.

She considered for several seconds, then with a wicked grin said, “Until we get home.”

He groaned.

“And inside the house.”

He groaned again. Damn. There went any plans to get her naked the instant he parked in the driveway. “You’re killing me. Seriously. I may be dead by then.”

She shot him a saucy wink that revved his pulse into the danger zone. “Don’t worry, Mr. Adorkable. I’ll revive you.”

8

THROUGHOUT THE ELEGANT meal at The Delaford’s five-star restaurant, Carlie felt as if she’d been divided in two. Part of her enjoyed the fabulous seven-course meal; the romantic atmosphere, courtesy of the luxurious surroundings, soft music, muted lighting and candle glow; the delicious, chilled champagne; the stimulating conversation with Daniel whose undivided attention and heated, admiring gaze made her feel feminine and desirable, interesting and witty.

Hot and bothered.

But during the entire evening, another part of her was consumed by the ticking of that incessant internal countdown clock, while her brain silently repeated the words, He’s leaving tomorrow. This is your last night together.

Over and over, the words reverberated through her mind, a haunting mantra that taunted her with the knowledge that each moment of this magical evening was one that wouldn’t be repeated. There would be no more romantic dinners, no more flirting over a champagne toast, no more holding hands between courses, no more intimate glances, no more smiles and laughter over a shared joke.

No more Daniel.

By the time they left the restaurant, she felt as if a weight sat on her chest, and a heavy silence swelled between them during the ride home. She remained quiet thanks to the lump that had settled in her throat, but what was his excuse? She peeked at him from the corner of her eye. He was frowning and a muscle ticked in his jaw. Tiny tendrils of something that felt suspiciously like desperation licked at her insides. By the time he pulled into her driveway, the ticking clock and the mantra echoing through her mind had reached epic proportions.

The instant he put the car in Park, she unfastened her seatbelt, then reached over to unclick his and turn off the ignition. The headlights flicked off, leaving them ensconced in intimate darkness. Before he could move, she grabbed his lapels and dragged him toward her.

“You kiss me now,” he said, his voice a deep, warning growl, “and I swear we won’t get out of his car until-”

“Perfect,” she said, shifting her butt over the console and settling herself across his lap. “Can’t wait.”

“Perfect.” His mouth came down on hers in a wild, demanding kiss that stole her breath. In a heartbeat, his hands were everywhere: cupping her breasts, teasing her nipples through the stretch jersey material, gliding up her legs, over her thighs, then beneath her hem. When his palms glided over her bottom and discovered she wore nothing under her dress, his feral-sounding groan vibrated in the air.

He yanked the stretchy material upward, and she rose onto her knees and straddled him. With her two remaining brain cells that still functioned, she grabbed her small satin purse and pulled out the condom she’d stashed there-no easy task with his magical fingers skimming over her bare bottom then slipping between her thighs to caress her slick, swollen folds.

Heart pounding, breathing choppy, she slapped the condom against his chest. “Want you,” she whispered. “Inside me. Now.”

The few seconds it took him to free his erection and roll on the protection nearly sent her over the edge. The instant he finished, she took him into her body with a heart-stopping, breath-stealing downward glide that perfectly matched his upward thrust.

The ride was wild and fast and hard. Her orgasm crashed over her, pulling her under, dragging a ragged cry from her lips that echoed Daniel’s harsh groan.

With pleasurable aftershocks still rippling through her, she dragged open her heavy eyelids. At some point one of them must have tossed Daniel’s glasses aside. A thrill of feminine satisfaction trilled through her at his glazed expression and flushed skin. His dark hair was rumpled from her frantic hands and a lock fell across his forehead. Reaching out, she gently brushed back the silky strands with fingers that weren’t quite steady. When her gaze again found his, she discovered him watching her through very serious eyes.

For several long, intense seconds they simply stared at each other, and to Carlie’s horror she felt moisture pushing behind her eyeballs. The urge to say something overwhelmed her, but anything breezy or lighthearted was beyond her. And she had to forcibly press her lips together to contain the completely unacceptable words that trembled there, aching to be said.

Please don’t leave.

Something of her distress must have shown on her face because he frowned. “You okay?” he asked, his fingers drifting over her cheek.

No, damn it, she wasn’t. She felt…ambushed. Hijacked. And it was all his fault. Him and his gorgeous dimples and sexy smile and the way he made her feel…and all the wonderful stuff that made him Daniel.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

One corner of his mouth pulled up. “I’d like it noted in the record that even though it nearly killed me, I had every intention of honoring your request and waiting until we were in the house before pouncing on you. As it was, I did manage not to take off your dress.” He ran his hands over her bare butt. “Yet.”

She gave a solemn nod. “It shall be duly noted.”

He leaned back against the head rest and studied her for several heartbeats, then said softly, “You’re beautiful.”

Her heart tripped over itself. “Says the nearsighted guy who isn’t wearing his glasses.”

“That’s not what I meant, although you are undeniably gorgeous. Anybody can be beautiful on the outside. You’re beautiful on the inside.”

Damn it, that moisture was pushing at her eyeballs again. “Thank you. So are you.”

“These past two weeks have been…great.”

“Really great,” she agreed in a rush, relieved to say it out loud. “I’m…I’m going to miss you.”

He didn’t say anything right away, just looked at her with an indecipherable expression that rushed embarrassed heat right up to her hairline. Why, oh, why had she blurted that out?

“I’m going to miss you, too, Carlie. Very much.” He hesitated, then said, “I wish I didn’t have to leave so soon.”

His words tossed another brick on the heavy weight already pressing against her heart. “Me, too. But you do. Have to. Leave.” She’d tried to sound light and breezy, but failed miserably.

“Yes, I do.”

She cleared her throat and tried again for light and breezy. “And we both knew that.” Another failure.

“Right. It just seems like the two weeks have gone by so fast.”

“In a heartbeat,” she agreed softly.

He looked troubled, confused, and for a brief instant an insane flicker of something hopeful flared in her. But then his expression cleared. “Why don’t we go inside and see what we can come up with for our last night together?” he suggested.

His words extinguished the ridiculous, fragile flame of hope and she forced herself to nod. “What do you have in mind?”

His lips quirked upward and his dimples flashed, but the smile didn’t seem to reach his eyes. “I’m thinking you. Me. Chocolate. Naked. And not necessarily in that order. For starters.”

“Sounds…great.” Except for the fact that when the him, her, chocolate, naked thing was finished, she knew there’d be no more Daniel.

9

AT NOON ON the day after Valentine’s Day-five hours after she’d awakened to find herself alone-Carlie sat on her sofa and listlessly clicked the remote, watching talk shows and game shows flash by. Dressed in her rattiest, faded sweatpants, thickest wool socks and a faded green sweatshirt that warned Give Me the Damn Chocolate and No One Gets Hurt, she felt as frumpy and dumpy as she looked. Her normally bright den seemed dismal and dark from the lack of sunlight, the gray, overcast sky outside perfectly matching her mood.

Good grief, had only five hours passed since she’d awakened alone? It felt more like five years. She’d been crushed to find him already gone, but her common sense told it was for the best. He’d saved her the embarrassment of what undoubtedly would have turned into a messy, tearful goodbye on her part.

She’d spent the first two hours clutching the pillow that still bore traces of Daniel’s clean scent, re-reading the one-line note he’d left on the pillowcase. Thanks for a beautiful night. And it had, indeed, been beautiful. She’d tortured herself reliving the magic while tears had tracked silently down her cheeks. Their frantic mating in the car. Their leisurely lovemaking in the shower with warm water cascading over them. Then Daniel carrying her to bed and making tender, exquisite love to her that said “goodbye” more clearly than any words. Falling asleep nestled in his strong arms.

Then she’d spent the last three hours here on the couch, sipping coffee that had long turned cold, and further tortured herself by replaying in her head the highlights of the entire past two weeks. More tears had soaked her cheeks, and all she had to show for the time was a stuffy nose, a wad of used-up tissues and a nagging headache. Even P.B. and J. had eventually tired of listening to her sniffles and were now sleeping on their favorite blanket in the corner.

With a sigh she turned off the TV and forced herself finally to admit the reason for her abject misery, because there could only be one explanation for why her heart felt as if it had been surgically removed.

She’d fallen in love.

“Argh!” Closing her eyes, she thumped her head against the back of the sofa. Fabulous, Carlie. If falling in love at the wrong time with the wrong guy were an Olympic event, she’d win the freakin’ gold medal. Her only hope was that this bout of love would fade quickly. Maybe it hadn’t had time to really grab hold of her and, like a bad cold, she could shake it loose with some TLC. Like a hot bath and a piece of chocolate.

Oh, yeah-that would help her get over him. Not. An image of them together in the bathtub materialized in her mind’s eye, and she groaned. And probably for the next fifty years or so she’d think of Daniel whenever she ate chocolate. Okay, so maybe her TLC would have to be something more along the lines of a glass of orange juice and a vitamin pill.

Heaving a sigh, she rose and shuffled toward the bathroom, determined to splash some cold water on her face and get her butt in gear. She had a chapter to read before her class tonight. And having class tonight was good. Nothing like a couple of intense hours of organic chemistry to take her mind off Daniel and her battered heart. She’d concentrate on school and forget all about him. Yes, that was an excellent plan.

Walking into the bathroom, she slapped on the light and grimaced when the bright glare hit her in the eye. Then she looked in the mirror. And recoiled in horror.

Gack! She looked like something that the puppies wouldn’t even want to bury in the back yard. Her hair was a rat’s nest of frizz that stuck up from her head at all angles. Her eyes were swollen and sported half moons of mascara beneath them. Blotchy skin, pale, tear-stained cheeks, red nose-yikes. She was eyeballing her lipstick on the counter, tempted to write out of order across the mirror, when the doorbell rang. The puppies began furiously barking, and she heard the skidding sounds of them hitting the wood floor as they raced toward the front door.

“Easy, guys,” she said, entering the small foyer. As was her habit, she looked out one of the slender windows flanking the door. And froze. For about three seconds. Then she yanked open the door and stared at Daniel in stunned amazement.

While the puppies offered their ecstatic tail-wagging, tongue-lolling, yip-yapping greeting, she managed to say, “Hi.”

“Hi.” He pushed up his glasses then blinked. “Were you watching a scary movie?”

“Scary movie?”

“You sort of have that ‘hair standing up on end’ look.” His gaze flicked over her ratty sweats and he smiled. “You look-”

“Don’t say it-”

“-Amazing.”

Before she could tell him she was very well aware that she looked like Godzilla’s ugly sister, he stepped over the threshold, adroitly maneuvered around the prancing puppies, pulled her into his arms and laid a kiss on her that left her reeling as if she’d been clocked upside the head with a brick.

“Amazing,” he repeated, nipping kisses along her jawline.

“Your glasses must be fogged over,” she felt compelled to point out, clinging to his shoulders so she didn’t slither to the floor.

“No. They must have been before, but not now. Everything’s perfectly clear now.”

She leaned back in the circle of his arms. “What are you doing here?” She’d been a whole three minutes into her plan to forget all about him. How was she supposed to forget him if he kept coming back?

For an answer, he closed the door, clasped her hand, then led her into the den. The puppies clamored after them, then gamboled off to the kitchen, no doubt to raid their kibble bowl.

He sat on the sofa, tugging her down next to him. Once she was seated, he said, “We have to talk.”

Oh, God. We have to talk. The four scariest words in the English language. “What about?”

“Us.”

That single word echoed through her head and warning tingles prickled along her spine. She searched his eyes and noted with alarm their serious expression. The only way there could be an “us” would be if she gave up everything here: her job, her schooling. Was that why he was here? To ask her to do that? A scary thought. But not nearly as terrifying as the knowledge that she might actually want him to ask.

“Us?” she repeated. “There is no more ‘us.’”

“What if I told you I wanted there to be?”

Her heart performed a crazy dance. “How could that happen? Are you thinking in terms of a long-distance relationship?”

He shook his head. “No. That’s not what I want.”

Not sure if his answer left her more relieved or terrified, she asked, “What do you want?”

Reaching out, he clasped her hands. “Lately I’ve felt…unsettled. I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what was wrong, so I put it down to moving-related stress. But over the past two weeks, since we’ve been together, this unsettled feeling has gotten a lot worse.”

That didn’t exactly sound promising. Not sure how to respond, she murmured, “Oh.”

“I was bombarded with all these feelings I hadn’t anticipated and it took me a while to get it all straightened out. But I finally figured it out, finally realized what was wrong. It hit me this morning. Which is why I left. But now I’m back.”

“And I’m confused. What was wrong?”

“I wasn’t happy. And the reason I wasn’t happy was because I was leaving here. Turns out, deep down, I wasn’t overjoyed about moving even before you entered the picture. Once you came on the scene, I grew even more miserable.”

“Uh, thanks.”

He shook his head and blew out a breath. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. You didn’t make me miserable, but the thought of moving away from you, of losing what we’ve started here, made me realize that I didn’t want to go. I never wanted to go. Not really. I guess I saw my thirtieth birthday as a good time to reassess my life, my choices, and that, combined with pressure from my ex-girlfriend, had me momentarily convinced that I needed to change things, shake things up. So I did that, by finding a corporate job and making plans to get out of this small town.”

He looked down at their joined hands, then lifted his head. When their gazes met, he continued, “Problem was, I love having my own business, making my own schedule. And I love this little town. And then came you. And as it turns out, I love you, too.”

Everything inside Carlie stilled. “You do?”

“I do. As is. With no desire for you to change a thing or be anything other than the extraordinary woman you already are.” A bemused smile flashed across his features and he shook his head. “Falling in love-one of those unforeseen circumstances predicted by our matching messages about passion. Unforeseen…but really great.”

“In love with me,” she repeated in a stunned whisper. “Since when?”

“Sweetheart, you had me at the chocogasm.”

Emotions swamped her, but before she could open her mouth to speak, he rushed on, “You don’t have to say anything, Especially if what you’d say isn’t something good. I just…wanted you to know. And to tell you that I’ve spent the entire morning on the phone and at the Realtor’s office. My house is off the market, Allied Computers is out a manager, and I’m not going anywhere.”

Oh, God. She needed to breathe, but it seemed she’d forgotten how. In with the good air, out with the bad air. “Not going anywhere?” she managed to say.

“Nope. Well, except out to the porch. I left something there. I’ll be right back.”

Utterly dazed, Carlie watched him go. As soon as he was out of sight, she pinched her arm. Ouch! Okay, yes this was real. He returned seconds later, carrying a huge box bearing the Sinfully Sweet logo, which he set on the coffee table in front of her.

Carlie stared at the box, which covered more than half the table, then turned to him. “I can only guess that the contents of that box represent a dietary disaster. A caloric catastrophe. And based on its size, a financial fiasco. What did you buy?”

“What you said you wanted.”

“What’s that?”

“The day of Sinfully Sweet’s grand opening, you told Ellie Fairbanks you wanted two of everything.” He nodded toward the box. “That’s two of everything.”

Her jaw dropped. “Two of everything in the store?”

“Yup. It’s all for you, but I’m hoping you’ll share.”

“With you.”

“That’s the plan.”

“It would take us a very long time to eat all that chocolate.”

“That’s also the plan.” With his gaze steady on hers, he said, “The night you showed up at my house wearing that towel, I’d been anxiously waiting for you to arrive. I remember thinking that everything was ready-the only thing missing was Carlie. Turned out those were very prophetic words.”

She stared at the huge box and a sense of pure wonder and amazed happiness washed through her. Turning back to him, she asked, “And what if my feelings aren’t the same as yours?”

“Then I’d just have to pull out all the stops to convince you that what we have together is really good. And that it will only get better. That we belong together. That you’re everything I’ve ever wanted. And that I could make you very happy.”

“I…see. So I guess that means if I were to tell you right now that I’m in love with you, I’d forfeit those ‘pulling out all the stops’ perks.”

“Hell, no. God, no. Are you saying…? Do you mean…?” He looked so worried and so serious and so hopeful, she felt ashamed for teasing him for even a second. Framing his face between her hands, she said, “I love you, Daniel. Very much. And you don’t have to convince me that what we have together is really good. Or that it will only get better. Or that we belong together. I already know. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted. And I’m going to make you very happy.”

With a groan, he dragged her onto his lap and kissed her until her head spun. Then he abruptly leaned back. “You’re not just saying that because I bought you two of everything from Sinfully Sweet, are you?

“No.” She waggled her brows. “But that definitely helped seal the deal.”

He smiled. “I should have known I didn’t need to look any further than my own backyard for happiness. Quite literally in my case.”

“You sound like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.”

“Huh. Not a very masculine comparison.”

She leaned forward and ran her tongue over his bottom lip. “Oh, honey. I’d be delighted to tell you-and show you-all the fabulous ways you’re masculine.”

“Oh? What did you have in mind?”

“I was thinking you. Me. Chocolate. Naked.” She shot him a wicked grin. “And not necessarily in that order.”