Samhain Publishing

The heat is on…

Take Me, Lover, Book 4

Just a few more weeks and accounting student Cherry Harris will officially get her master’s degree and kiss her pink waitress uniform goodbye. There’s something else she’d like to make official, too—no more bad boys.

Tired of getting burned, she’s determined that from now on, it’s nice guys or nothing. What could be nicer than a firefighter rescuing a kitten from a tree? Joe Deluca looks like the perfect way to break her romantic destructive pattern.

Perfect melts like ice cream on a hot day when Cherry finds out that when Joe’s not in uniform, he rides a motorcycle and wears a leather jacket over his tattoos. Is he a nice guy, a bad boy, or the man who’s just right for her?

The five-alarm passion Joe inspires proves an irresistible temptation, but Cherry’s determined to guard her heart if not her body. Until a firebug leads them both into danger and Cherry is forced to admit her heart’s been in jeopardy from the beginning…

Copyright © 2010 Charlene Teglia 
All rights reserved — a Samhain Publishing, Ltd. publication

“So, tell me about your tattoo,” Cherry said, latching onto the topic to keep from saying take me now, finish what your kiss and your bike started.

“What about it?” He gave her a half-smile, lazy heat lingering in his eyes.

“What is it? When’d you get it? Why’d you get it?”

“It’s a fireman’s cross. I got it after I started the job.”

Like a military tattoo, something that identified the person with their particular branch. “I didn’t know firefighters did that.”

“Do you know much about firefighters?”

“I know they’re good at putting out fires,” Cherry said, her mind on the one he’d kindled in her.

“What about you?”

“I don’t have a tattoo.”

Joe laughed, a low sound that she found far too easy on the ears. “Guess you can’t show me yours, then.”

“No,” Cherry said, trying desperately not to imagine doing a strip tease to show him anything he wanted to see.

“I meant what about your job,” Joe went on.

“Oh. Well, I’m finishing up my master’s degree in accounting so I can become a CPA. And, while I’m doing that, I’m waiting tables at a diner and ice cream parlor.”

“Sweet Delights,” he said. “I remember.”

Oh. Right. The T-shirt. Her uniform.

“I’ve never dated an accountant before.”

“I’ve never dated a fireman before,” Cherry said.

“Well, then, here’s to firsts.” He stopped and tugged her close as his lips skimmed her temple. The light caress sent a pulse of anticipation through her.

And seconds, and thirds, Cherry silently agreed.

The movie made a welcome distraction, enough noise and special effects to keep her attention, while the dim setting, close seating, and shared popcorn kept her all too aware of Joe.

Whether or not it was smart to date him, she wanted him. The attraction was mutual. And, for all she knew, he wasn’t even interested in a relationship. Maybe he was looking for a fling with a busty waitress who had an ice cream fetish.

That thought was enough to trigger a flashback to her new favorite fantasy. Cold vanilla melting on her skin, puckering her nipples before they met the heat of his tongue. Oh, God, the things she wanted him to do her with that mouth.

A fling would be good. With Joe, a fling just might be divine. A hot night with a hot firefighter and the kind of sweet satisfaction that wouldn’t go to her hips.

Besides, maybe her attraction for bad boys was less about them, more about her. She remembered catching a pop psychology segment on TV that claimed people dated those who had qualities they didn’t want to admit to in themselves. In that case, what she really needed to do was embrace her inner bad girl and live out her own fantasy fulfillment. She had the perfect opportunity to do just that with Joe.

“Want to get a drink?” Joe asked as the credits rolled.

“Not really.” Cherry turned towards him, feeling the point of no return pass by her. “I’d be too distracted.”

“Oh?”

“Mmm-hmm.” She let her eyes drift down to rest on that delicious mouth of his. “That was some kiss. I keep wondering what the next one will be like.”

His fingers teased the back of her neck. “Same here. But if we don’t go someplace public, it’ll be harder to stop at kissing.”

“If we go someplace private, you can kiss me anywhere you want to,” Cherry pointed out.

His hand slid up and cupped the back of her head. “I’d hate to get arrested for public indecency just when things were getting good.”

“That’s the kind of first I’d like to avoid,” she said in heartfelt agreement.

“Your place?” He used his hold to keep her in place while his lips brushed across hers.

“Yes.”

“Are you planning to use me for sex and throw me away?” His voice took on a teasing tone that made her smile.

“I prefer to think of it as recycling.” Cherry leaned forward and nipped at his lower lip. Channeling her inner bad girl was easier than she’d expected. “Also, it depends on the sex.”

“A challenge.” His mouth curved in a bad boy grin that said he was more than up to it.

Well, so was she. And the ride home straddling his bike would guarantee that she stayed that way.