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  They danced until the band took a break, then collapsed into their seats, panting. Taped music took over, but it wasn't nearly as loud or boisterous, so the dance floor emptied. She gave up on keeping her hair tidy and took the pins out so it fell to her shoulders.

  Sam wiped his forehead with a napkin. "I'm getting too old for this."

  That brought her up short. He thought he was getting too old for dancing at the Cactus Club, and she'd just found her dancing feet. She had to be realistic. No matter how wonderfully he kissed, he was too old for her, or she was too young for him, whichever way she looked at it.

  But she wanted him to believe she was a contemporary, so she nodded. "I know what you mean."

  He smiled at her. "I doubt it. You look fresh as a daisy. Like you can hardly wait for the band to start up again."

  "I like how they play." She might as well admit that. After the way she'd reacted to their tunes, she couldn't pretend indifference now.

  "And I'm glad you do!" Hair flying around his shoulders, Colin arrived. He grabbed a vacant chair, turned it backward and sat down between them. Then he stuck out his hand. "Hi, I'm Colin, the wayward little brother."

  Kasey shook his hand. "Kasey Braddock. Your music's great." She figured he was in his early twenties, much closer to her age than Sam was. In theory, he'd make a more compatible date for her. When he wasn't onstage he'd be happy to dance the night away in a place like this. So why did she look at Colin and think he was way too young for her?

  "Nice job, bro," Sam said. "Everyone seems to be eating this up with a spoon."

  Colin beamed. "Yeah, I think they like us. Of course, all the guys made their friends come, but we counted familiar faces and only about half are people we know. The word must be getting out."

  "It should," Kasey said. "I saw you when I happened to be down at ASU last year, and you gathered quite a crowd then."

  "Yeah." Colin frowned. "I wish we coulda built on that, but we had some equipment problems."

  Sam's jaw tightened. "Somebody swiped their amplifiers."

  "And no insurance, 'cause we couldn't afford it." Colin clapped his hand on his brother's shoulder. "The big guy here saved the day and bought us new speakers, even though…" Colin paused and leaned closer to Kasey. "Don't tell anybody, but he really doesn't like our music."

  "I do so like your music!" Sam looked offended. "When did I ever say I didn't?"

  Colin grinned. "You don't have to say anything. It's the three beers you usually drink while we're playing that tipped me off. You aren't that much of a drinker." He picked up the glass of mineral water in front of Sam. "What's this, straight vodka?"

  Sam folded his arms over his chest. "Water. So there. I don't need three beers when I'm listening to you, obviously."

  Colin took a drink. "I'll be damned. It is water. Maybe you need either beer or a good-looking woman to dance with." He winked at Kasey.

  "Quit flirting with my date, squirt." Sam sounded like he was kidding, but his eyes said he wasn't.

  "Have I ever done that?"

  "Yes, you have."

  "Yeah, but not seriously." He turned to Kasey. "Still, I realize it must be embarrassing to hit the dance floor with an old guy like my brother. So if you ever—"

  "Hey!" Sam grabbed Colin's shoulder. He was smiling, but his grip was firm and his gaze steady. "Cut it out."

  Colin laughed. "Aw, I wouldn't really try to steal her, bro. Just fooling around, teasing the big guy. Listen, I really appreciate you coming out tonight, man. And I want you to order something besides water. Seriously."

  "The water was my idea," Kasey said. "Don't blame Sam. We had wine earlier, and I'm not a big drinker, either. But thanks for treating us."

  "You're welcome." Colin pushed himself upright. "Wish I could do more." He glanced at Sam, his cockiness replaced by vulnerability. "So how do we sound when you're sober?"

  "Amazing." Sam looked into his brother's eyes. "I'll make another contribution to the cause real soon. I have an idea for attracting more landscaping clients, and I'm considering hiring Kasey to help me grab a different part of the market. Kasey's in PR."

  "Hiring me?" Kasey panicked. That wouldn't work out at all. "I'm not sure that—"

  "Hey, great!" Colin returned the chair to its rightful place and leveled his gaze on his brother. "But don't go thinking you have to do this so you can give the band more money. We're okay."

  "Don't worry. I'll figure out a way to make it tax deductible. You'll be doing me a favor."

  Kasey scrambled for a reasonable explanation as to why she shouldn't be part of Sam's publicity scheme. "You know, I'm not very informed about landscaping."

  "I could bring you up to speed," Sam said.

  "Just don't do anything radical, man," Colin said. "I'm the radical one, not you. Well, I gotta head back. Nice meeting you, Kasey."

  "Same here." Still trying to gather her thoughts, Kasey watched him walk away in his low-slung pants and black T-shirt. No wonder Sam wanted to help him. He was a nice kid. Then she laughed at herself for thinking that. The nice kid was probably older than she was. And Sam wanted to hire her? She had to talk him out of that.

  "Just so you know, he still chews bubble gum."

  She swiveled back to discover Sam looking slightly worried, as if he thought there was a chance she'd be more interested in his little brother than in him. Hardly. She'd choose Sam any day ahead of a young guy like Colin, even factoring in Sam's reluctance to spend hours on the dance floor.

  But talking about Colin could buy her some time to figure out a detour around this PR idea of his. "Don't tell me you're jealous."

  "Jealous? Nah. I just don't want you to act on incomplete information. He's charming and I love him, but he's a flake."

  "It's obvious that you love him. He's lucky to have you." She could recommend someone else in the firm for Sam's PR needs, but then she'd still have to see him. She'd have to suggest a totally different firm.

  "I can't help worrying about Colin, though." Sam took a drink of his water. "I hope to hell he makes it as a musician, because he's hopeless at a regular day job. I tried to work him into my business, but I had to let him go before he maimed himself. He was using a chain saw to play air guitar and accidentally turned the damn thing on."

  "Yikes. Surely the band doesn't bring in enough to support him?"

  "No. He's had a bunch of different minimum-wage jobs. He's such a fun guy that he manages to get hired, but then he starts daydreaming and screws up something or other, so he gets fired. He moved down here because he needs family around, and he couldn't stay in Oregon because Mom and Dad were always on him about the job situation. I'm kind of a nag, but not as bad as the 'rents."

  "He lives with you, then?"

  "Nope. He lives with a couple of band members, who don't mind if he's something of a slob." He smiled at her. "So how'm I doing? Have I managed to discourage you from going out with him?"

  "I never intended to go out with him."

  "The thought didn't cross your mind at all?"

  She shook her head.

  "He's smarter than I am."

  "So what?"

  "And he's absolutely right that you'd have more fun dancing with him."

  "I have fun dancing with you." She gazed across the table and forgot all about the PR deal, forgot everything but Sam, the guy she'd dreamed about for twelve years. And now he wanted her enough to fight for her.

  The heat generated between them was enough to melt the ice in their glasses. Kasey wondered how on earth she would get out of this evening without kissing him again. And if she gave herself that pleasure, how would she be able to deny herself the pleasures that he'd offer after that?

  * * *

  Sam was ashamed of himself for making Colin look bad. Although everything he'd said was true, the only reason he'd told Kasey all that was to keep her from getting interested in his little brother. And that was extremely petty. If Kasey was attracted to Colin, then that should be the end of that.<
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  But she'd said she wasn't attracted, and from the way she was looking at him right now, he believed her. So now his conscience bothered him for saying all those things about Colin, who couldn't help being artistic and a dreamer unfit for regular work.

  Sam cleared his throat. "Actually, Colin's a great person to have around," he said. "He's funny and a lot more optimistic than I am. People really enjoy being with Colin."

  "That's probably a good thing if he's going to be an entertainer. You need charisma."

  "Colin has that in spades."

  "You're not so bad in the charisma department, either."

  "Me?" Admittedly, he felt more studly when she looked at him like that.

  "Uh-huh. I—"

  The band chose that moment to start up again, blasting its way into their cozy conversation, so she shrugged and smiled, obviously giving up on trying to be heard. Instead she stood and angled her head toward the dance floor, her eyebrows raised questioningly at him.

  "Why not?" He pushed back his chair. A guy with charisma should be able to dance another set. He'd show Colin he wasn't over the hill, not by a long shot.

  One loud, fast tune followed another, and the only thing keeping Sam upright and in motion was the sight of Kasey, who seemed perpetually ready to boogie. She had the energy of a teenager. With her skin flushed and her lipstick gone, she even looked like a teenager. She might not appreciate looking young for her age now, but someday she'd be grateful.

  Sam, however, was getting tired. Just when he wondered if he would collapse in disgrace, leaving Kasey to dance without him, Colin took the microphone to announce the last number of the night. Even more surprising, he said it would be a slow tune. As Sam sighed with relief, Colin added, "So my big brother can rest up."

  If Sam had the energy, he'd climb up onstage and throttle the kid. Instead he turned to Kasey and drew her into his arms. Immediately he felt his vitality returning.

  Ah, she was so warm and alive, still breathing fast from all the frenzied dancing. He nestled her head against his shoulder and it fit there perfectly. Then he laid his cheek against her silky hair and breathed in her scent—shampoo and perfume blended into a sweet mixture that made him forget how tired his legs were.

  The song lyrics didn't make any sense to him, but then none of the lyrics written by the Tin Tarantulas did. He didn't care, as long as he could sway on the dance floor while holding Kasey tight. He savored the pillowy softness of her breasts pressed against him and the rapid beat of her heart.

  She sighed and shifted her position slightly, so that she was even more securely tucked against him. That shift was all it took to put him in arousal mode. He worked to control an impending erection and succeeded … sort of. But if she should move again…

  She moved again. Her pelvis rubbed across the fly of his pants. He groaned and fought for control, wondering if she was sending him a signal or if her movements were accidental.

  Might as well know. The dance floor was wall-to-wall people, with other couples locked in similar embraces, oblivious to the world. Many of the guys had already taken the kind of liberties Sam was contemplating.

  Deciding to go for the gusto, he slipped both hands down Kasey's back and cupped her bottom. And did she ever have a nice one, too. She felt even better than she looked, and that was saying something.

  She reacted by snuggling closer. He reacted by getting hard. She couldn't help knowing, either, so the turn of events must be A-OK with her.

  The thought came to him that making love to a high-IQ woman probably wasn't much different from making love to a woman with a normal IQ. Hormones made everyone semistupid, anyway. Still, he liked the idea that she was super smart and wanted him anyway. He liked that a lot.

  He thought about his house and whether he'd cleaned it up enough before he left. He thought about whether or not he'd made his bed. Then he remembered that she hadn't come across as Ms. Domesticity and that helped him relax a little.

  The main thing was whether or not he'd restocked the condoms in the bedside table drawer. He probably had. Although he hadn't had sex in several months, he always lived in hope and always kept a supply of raincoats just in case.

  From the feel of things, his hopes were about to be realized.

  * * *

  Kasey had never danced this way with a man, never pressed herself against him to make absolutely certain that he was rock hard and desperate for her. But she wanted to know that about Sam, because she was quickly reaching a decision that required his complete surrender.

  Maybe she wasn't thinking clearly right now. Chances were she wasn't thinking at all. How could a woman think when she was getting hot and ready for the man who currently had his hands splayed over a very tender and erotic part of her anatomy? She could feel the imprint of every finger, and whenever he gave her a squeeze, she nearly climaxed on the spot.

  Yet somehow, aroused though she might be, she had to make sure her next move was the right one. Sam had thrown a monkey wrench into her plans when he'd suggested he might hire her. Yes, she could direct him to another firm… Oh, baby, was he ever firm…

  No, she had to concentrate on this problem, on the erection … er, the direction they should take now. She sensed he might be pigheaded. And hot-blooded. Oh, yes. Concentrate, Kasey! He might not take direction, might not go to another company, might insist on hiring her.

  But he'd take direction in bed. Mm-hmm, would he ever take direction. And she would be so glad to provide that direction. She had never in her life been so drenched in lust, and if she didn't do something about that, she might end up in the loony bin.

  She could see only one way out, both to save her sanity and take care of Sam's misguided plan to hire her as a PR consultant. That way out was through Sam's bedroom. They would have sex tonight—wild, wonderful, satisfying sex. A red haze settled over her brain as she contemplated Sam, naked and willing.

  She hadn't meant for tonight to end this way, but he'd given her no choice. The way she saw it—when she could think at all—having sex with him was the only answer. Once they'd spent the night writhing on his sheets, he couldn't possibly consider hiring her for PR work. And once she'd satisfied this burning desire for him tonight, she'd thank him and move on.

  Technically she was turning Sam into a one-night stand. She hadn't meant to do that, but, as she'd reasoned out, it was totally his fault.

  * * *

  Chapter 6

  «^»

  Once she'd reached her decision, Kasey focused on making sure Sam was on board. Lifting her head from his shoulder, she wound both arms around his neck and gazed up at him, her eyes half-closed. Leaning back a little allowed her hips to move forward, accentuating the link between them. With the added height of her heels she was positioned exactly right. They could have sex against the nearest wall if everyone else would only disappear.

  With his eyes glazed and his jaw rigid, he looked like a man ready to throw everyone else out, but she had to be sure. Earlier he'd spent time talking about how he needed to get to know her before sex could happen between them. She didn't want any last-minute hurdles ruining her plan.

  She moistened her lips the way she'd seen models do on television. "Do you think you know me well enough?"

  He blinked, as if he hadn't understood the question. "What?" His voice sounded gravelly.

  "You said you wanted to get acquainted before we…" She caressed the nape of his neck. "You know."

  "Oh. Yeah. I do."

  "You mean you remember you said that? Or you think you know me well enough by now?"

  "Both." He groaned softly. "You need to quit moving your hips like that."

  "I'm just dancing." Yes, he was definitely on board.

  "Then please stop dancing. I can't … I don't know how I'll make it back to the table."

  "Or down the block to where you parked the car?" She took pity on him and just stood there.

  "That, too." He sighed. "Thanks. That's a little better. Oh, hell, the musi
c's ended, and I'm … don't go anywhere, okay?"

  "I won't."

  "The problem is, feeling you right there keeps me hard, but I can't let you go or everyone on the dance floor will know I'm in this condition. And my little brother's up on that stage."

  "You might want to move your hands to a different location. That might help."

  "Oh. Good point." He slid both hands up to rest at the small of her back. "But I'm still like a rock."

  "Give yourself a minute."

  "We don't have a whole lot of time before it seems kind of strange that we're still standing here."

  "How have you handled this before?"

  His smile was tight. "By sheer force of will. So far with you, I have zero willpower."

  She realized that he was right about the time situation. They couldn't stay on the dance floor much longer. The cheers and clapping had subsided and people were returning to their tables. Soon she and Sam would look very weird standing there alone like a sculpture in the park. "Think of something else besides sex."

  "I've tried. Doesn't work."

  "Then I'll help. What was your worst subject in school?"

  "Biology. I got sick to my stomach when we were supposed to dissect those frogs sophomore year."

  "Me, too." She'd walked into the lab and walked right out again. "So how did you do in biology?"

  "Almost failed the course."

  She'd been able to get out of the lab work because she'd been only twelve, and the teacher had accepted a detailed report on the life of a frog instead. "So think about being in that lab, smelling the formaldehyde, picking up the scalpel, starting—"

  "Yuck! Okay, you've grossed me out, and I'm much improved." Circling her waist with one arm, he turned and led her off the floor. He paused next to their table. "Hang on a minute while I leave a tip."