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‘Yes, I think I’ve seen one of those before,’ she said, turning her attention to the stainless-steel manual press that shone like a mirror. ‘Don’t tell me you have these poor guys juicing oranges half by half on just one of these?’
There was a collective snigger from the boys behind them.
Jared simply smirked and picked up an orange from the basket on the bench. He halved it swiftly with the sharp knife lying on the wooden board and put one of the halves on the juicer. Then he reached for one of the glasses stacked on the other side of the machine.
She tried really hard not to notice the flexing muscles in his forearms as he pushed the lever down and the glass filled with the bright liquid.
‘Everyone should start the day with a little vitamin C.’
He took out the spent half and put the other piece of orange in. ‘Your turn.’
It was a little harder than she expected but at least she didn’t splatter juice on her shirt.
He picked up the full glass and held it out to her. Truth be told pure orange was too acidic for her liking. But, with him watching her like that, no way was she declining the challenge.
She took the smallest of sips, aware of his overly intense scrutiny. She licked her lips, the taste making her shiver.
He took the glass off her, shaking his head. ‘You don’t deserve it.’ He drained it and placed it on the bench. ‘Come on.’
They walked—but out of the factory rather than through it.
‘Why am I here?’
‘You’re getting to know the client better.’
By walking through his car park? It was a complete sham. She knew it. He knew it.
‘Maybe I’ll get to better the client?’ she said coolly, showing her claws. She couldn’t stop the slight flirt—the need to make him strike.
‘Is that what you think you can do?’ An instant response. With a lower tone, he stepped closer.
Oh, it was too, too easy to go over the mark with him.
She tried to step back. ‘Well, aren’t you trying to put me off balance?’
He followed—even closer. ‘You think?’ And what of it? His tone was all insolence.
‘Why?’
He turned and pulled her around the corner of the building and right into his arms, his hands around her waist, holding her to him. There was the instant flare but she pushed her hands on his chest, a small barrier blocking her breasts from contact with him—too much, that would be too much.
His gaze had dropped to her mouth; she was trying so hard not to move it, to part or worse still lick her lips—dry and desperate though they felt. He wanted to kiss her, she wanted it too—her attention dropping to his mouth as it curved once more into that wolfish smile that was so tempting.
‘Does anything dirty ever come out of your mouth, Amanda?’
‘Pardon?’
‘Anything dirty. Hot, frisky, carnal, naughty.’ The look in his eyes was downright dangerous. ‘Do you ask for it how you want it? I’m thinking it must be there. That wilful teenager didn’t disappear into thin air at some posh boarding school. She’s still there. Still wanton. Still wild as anything.’
She gaped, then tried to hide how his words were affecting her. ‘You are so out of line.’
He ignored her words, cocked his head as he studied her expression instead. ‘Do you have some great secret life?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘A lover hidden away somewhere? A series of lovers?’
‘What?’
‘’Cos the thing is, you look and act like an ice princess.’
‘You mean you think I’m frigid.’ It wouldn’t be the first time someone had said that—when her kissing quests ended with her rejecting the sample.
He tilted his head side to side, as if he was weighing it up. ‘Yeah. OK. Frigid.’ His chest moved beneath her fingers as if he was laughing inside. ‘That’s exactly what you look like. But I know different, don’t I? I know exactly how hot for it you really are.’
‘Go to hell.’
‘You forget, sweetheart, hell was my home.’ Through his cotton shirt she could feel his warmth—burning. ‘Be careful or I might take you back there with me.’
‘Let go of me.’ But she was forced to move her arms as he crushed her closer, sliding her hands to push against his biceps—but his muscles were hard and now her breasts were flattened against the equally solid wall of his chest. She daren’t breathe.
He just tightened his grip and moved one hand to her waist, then higher, his thumb burrowing between them. ‘Ask me nicely.’
That thumb teased her taut nipple.
She shuddered. ‘You’re an arrogant bully.’ But she was breathless.
