Regan laughed. “Ah, motivation,” she said as Hilary returned with their beers and cornbread.

“Here’s to our continued success.” Zach raised his glass toward Regan.

“To continued success with contracts signed and overnighted like they should be.” She lifted her glass to his.

Regan sipped hers immediately and let the cold taste of wheat and barley sooth her. She was relaxing around Zach again, and it felt good, but she remained cautious. It felt like their first date on the picnic blanket with hot dogs. No… She stopped herself. That wasn’t a date. That was deception.

No… It was wonderful, and there was no reason to remember it any other way, even if her mystery man had ended up being her boss. He’d apologized for the “misunderstanding.”

“You know, if you spoke, we could have a conversation instead of you having one in your head.”

Regan looked up from her beer and noticed he was watching her. “I’m sorry. I guess I have a lot on my mind.”

But she made an effort, and their conversation was casual as Hilary brought out two enormous slabs of ribs, corn, coleslaw, and biscuits. The scent of barbeque sauce filled her nose, and her mouth began to water.

“I can’t eat all this.” Regan laughed when she saw the platter.

“Good, I’ll take it back with me. It’ll keep me company all night.”

“What are you working on?” She took her first bite into the ribs and moaned. “Oh, wow. I’ve lived in Tennessee all my life. I thought I was an expert on barbeque, but this is…”

“The best damn barbeque you’ve ever eaten?”

“Yes.” She wiped her mouth. “Sorry. Again, what are you working on?” She washed down the bite of succulent meat with her beer and focused back on Zach.

“Just some redesigning of the condos downtown. John had some inspections that were calling for change. But I can’t afford delays, so I’m pulling an all-nighter to get them done.”

Her mind instantly went back to when she’d picked up after him on his last night in his office. She wondered what kind of form he’d be in the next day. There was a tingle of excitement brewing in her belly when she thought of it.

“Why don’t you send the changes to the architecture department?” She took another bite.

“Because I designed this building. I should make the changes.”

“You’re amazing. Simply amazing.”

“Thank you. My parents would appreciate the compliment. They like to tell me often how much they spent on my education, so it should be worth it.”

“I hear that same argument from my father about my education and that of my brothers.”

“Yeah, they decide to put me in private school all my life and then send me to Ivy League universities, and I’m indebted.” He shook his head. “Parents. What can you say?”

“Your mother is quite a character.” Regan bit into her corn, trying not to shoot juice at him.

“Character,” he said with a rise of his brows. “Yeah, I suppose you could call her that.”

“Sorry. That sounded disrespectful.”

“Not at all. Trust me. You pegged her.”

“It was a slow day. I only heard from her two times today.”

“One dessert, one lunch, next you’ll be having a girls’ weekend in Atlantic City.”

“We talked about it, but our schedules are full.” She laughed and sipped her beer. “I may need a few extended lunch hours though. She did mention a day at the spa.”

“She would. She must be taking to you very well.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” But she had to wonder if it was safe to spend so much time with his mother. Where did she draw the line? She wouldn’t date him, but she would spend time with his mother. It wasn’t logical. It too was going to have to end.

As they stepped off the elevator into Zach’s office, Regan held in her sigh. She’d thoroughly enjoyed their evening together, though she hadn’t planned to. Zachary Benson was charming, and that was too bad. He just might have been a wonderful lover, but she’d never let herself find out.

“Well, back to work,” he huffed.

“Why don’t I make you some coffee before I go?” she offered and headed to the coffee maker.

Zach turned on the stereo and skimmed through the radio channels and stopped on Patsy Cline. “I guess this is our song.”

“What?” She turned from the bar and looked at him.

“It was playing at the restaurant when we got there.” He turned it up a bit and walked across the office, taking her hand in his and pulling her to him. He slid his arm around her waist, and after a moment of hesitation, she rested her hand in his and the other on his shoulder. He spun her in circles around the office. “Light on your feet.”

“Ballet.”

“Ballroom,” he offered with a wince. “Forced to do it. I swear I hated it.” He laughed.

The dance died down, and their movements were slower as their bodies crept closer. His hand slid from hers and down her

arm until it captured her waist. Zach looked into her eyes, and she looked back at him without breaking free from his arms.

Regan would never be sure when his lips touched hers or when their mouths crushed against one another’s. Desire blossomed, he consumed her, and she let him. His lips were strong. The sense that told her to hold him tighter won over the one that tried to force him from her arms. Her hands left his shoulders and her fingers laced in his hair. His scent washed over her, and all she wanted to feel was his body pressed against hers.

The music had changed, but she couldn’t hear anything except the blood rushing in her head. God, she’d done it. She’d fallen into his arms, right where she’d longed to be. His mouth was covering hers. Their hearts were pounding against each other’s, and his hands were wandering over her back. Regan’s head spun with delight—and danger.

Her common sense broke through, and she pushed back from him. Breathlessly she raced for the door.

Chapter five

Regan could hear her niece and nephews playing out back when she arrived home and walked up the front steps. But even their laughter didn’t make her feel any better about what she’d done. She slammed the front door behind her, ran up the stairs to her bedroom, and slammed that door as well. She fell onto the bed and sobbed. How could she have been so stupid to have kissed her boss, again?