Page 13 of Hawk and the Cougar

“I… That’s ridiculous.” Her mind reeled at the feel of his hand on her back. She flushed. “I’m too old to consider a second career.”

“Nonsense. You could have your degree in four years.”

In four years, she would be pushing fifty.

“I would be glad to help set up your classes,” he said.

Liz stumbled. His arm shot around her waist, and he yanked her against him. Her shoulder pressed against the solid wall of his chest. A mental picture rose of her breasts crushed beneath that dark expanse, her arms and legs locked around him as his cock slid in and out of her channel in full, long strokes. She jerked her gaze up to his. He stared back, dark eyes intense as if reading her thoughts. From the corner of her eye, she registered the young woman who had straightened from her kneeling position beside the middle section of the dig was staring at them.

Liz pulled free. “I, uh, I’m sorry. You’re right, these shoes aren’t meant for an archaeological dig.”

A corner of his mouth twitched, and she narrowed her eyes in warning. He sobered and began walking again.

When they’d passed the dig and started up the incline toward the cars, he said, “I have to ask. I didn’t give Emma the wrong impression, did I?”

“Wrong impression, no. It was a complete misunderstanding on my part. All me. She had no designs on you and didn’t think you had designs on her,” Liz added he last in a rush.

“That’s a pretty big misunderstanding,” he said.

Despite his casual tone, Liz had the distinct feeling the wheels inside his head were turning full steam in an effort to piece together what had happened. He couldn’t possibly guess the truth. Could he?

“Chalk it up to age.” She laughed.

“Age?” He slid his gaze down her body.

Her nipples tightened, and she prayed they didn’t poke past her bra and against the cotton fabric of her dress.

He lifted his eyes back to her face. “If your mind is in as good a shape as your body, you can’t use that excuse.” She gasped in surprise, but he didn’t give her a chance to say anything, and asked, “How did you come to this…misunderstanding?”

Her heart jumped into an erratic beat. “Like I said, age.”

He studied her for a few seconds. “Maybe it’s best I ask Emma.”

“No!” Liz burst out, then quickly added, “I mean, you’ll only embarrass her.”

“Embarrass her? I doubt that.” He lifted his brow in question.

She narrowed her eyes. Coming here had been a mistake. “I overheard a phone conversation and got it all wrong. Let’s leave it at that.”

“You’re not playing fair, Liz.”

A flush of warmth dug bone deep. He said her name with an intimacy she couldn’t remember ever having heard in a man’s voice. She shook her head, unable to get a word past her lips.

“What did she say?” he asked.

“I couldn’t repeat it even if I wanted to.”

A predatory glint lit his eyes. “Had to be pretty scandalous to get you down to the campus ready to kill me.”

“You might want to be careful,” she muttered. “The desire to kill you is still simmering.”

His gaze bored into her. “Simmering is exactly how I want you, sweetheart. Until I get you hot.”