From Brilliant Disguise, available now from

Resplendence Publishing

Shit, Nick thought. The job. He was supposed to be doing his job. He was supposed to be getting that stupid computer. He wasn’t supposed to be worrying about how soon he can peel off Shannon’s clothes. I’m not supposed to be looking for some side road where I can pull over and kiss her until we both feel blinded. My job, Nick repeated doggedly. I’m supposed to do my job. The job. Think about the job.

They drove the thirty miles to Cedar Rapids where Shannon gave him directions to one of her favorite restaurants. When they finally pulled into the parking lot, Nick was more in control than he’d been for the last hour. Then he turned off the engine and looked at her. Once again, he was swamped by lust and the absolute need to touch her. “Quit looking at me like that.” His hands went to her waist.

“Like what?”

“Like you want me to kiss you.”

“I do,” she admitted.

Her lips parted under his and with a small moan, he drew her to him, his hands moving over her back and then delving into the waistband of her jeans. He got one hand under her blouse and Nick groaned again when he felt her silky, warm skin. His mind turned to mush. All he could think about was the feel of her tongue, her skin and the sensation of falling, the feeling of touching, tasting and wanting.

Nick nuzzled at her neck, his tongue flicking over her collarbone then moving into the hollow at the base of her neck. She shivered as he breathed on her skin. “I don’t think I’ll ever view parking lots in quite the same way,” he said as she slowly pushed away from him and ran her hands through her hair. The long, shaggy style gave her a tousled, just awakened, look. “You’re so beautiful.” He caressed her face with the back of his hand.

To his surprise, Shannon looked flustered. “I don’t think so. But thanks for saying it.” She kissed him again, a lingering, sweet kiss before she pulled away. “Come on, let’s eat.”

“You’re a woman with priorities. I like that.” Nick got out of the truck, grabbing the wrapped book from the back of the cab. By the time he got to her side of the truck, Shannon had the door open and was contemplating the ground below. Nick handed her the package and she took it with a delighted grin that turned to surprise as he reached up to grasp her around the waist and pull her down out of the cab, managing to slide her body full length against his as he did so. He sighed, not sure if he was happy or frustrated. Probably some odd combination of both, he decided.

“So what’s in this package?” she asked once they’d been seated in the restaurant. She shook the package and started feeling around the edges. “It’s a book,” she announced.

He grinned and sipped his beer. “Go ahead. Open it. I’m trying to ply you with gifts.”

Shannon tore off the paper and grinned when she saw the dust jacket. “Ooh, one of my favorite authors. It’s her newest.” She gave him a guileless smile as she opened the book and examined the inside cover. “She’s always got these sexy FBI agents running around undercover and falling in love with the heroine.” She sipped her beer. “So unlike real life, unfortunately. I suppose most FBI agents are paunchy, overweight and happily married.” She looked at him. “Wouldn’t you say?”

He looked into her amused green eyes and knew he had to tell her the truth.