Tender Kisses Read online

  “If I have to dance with one more scheming stuffed shirt, I swear I’m going to give him a swift kick in the shin with the pointed toe of this shoe. I bet he’ll think twice...” he heard her say as he reached the open door.

  Justin went still. He took two steps back, pivoted and headed for the bar. Damn! He had to rethink his strategy. He ordered a Coke, not wanting anything to cloud his thinking. He took the drink out to the opposite balcony and leaned against the rail.

  “Now what?” he muttered. Truth be told, he shouldn’t be worried about a woman. He had more pressing things on his plate, like making sure his alert system was perfected and talking with Mr. Gray tonight. He sipped his drink and stared at the grounds below. A slow smile curved his mouth as an idea came to him. He was great at multitasking and wanted only a dance. There would be plenty of time to get that pitch in. Justin downed the remainder of his drink and went back inside.

  He greeted and made small talk with several people, all while maneuvering closer to the woman. “Good evening, ladies.” She stood talking with two other women, and seeing her from a distance had not come close to capturing her beauty, especially her eyes. They were a lighter shade of brown and perfectly complemented her golden-brown skin. Soft laughter from one of the women made him realize he was staring like an awestruck teen. Justin quickly gathered himself and stuck out his hand to the first woman, who was still smiling. “I’m Justin Cartwright.”

  “Kendra Martin. Nice to meet you, Justin.”

  “I’m Cynthia Johnson,” the second woman said, extending her hand.

  “Nice to meet you both.” He turned slightly to face the woman he had been studying all night. “And you are?”

  “Siobhan. Siobhan Hunter,” she said, shaking his outstretched hand.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Siobhan,” Justin said, his eyes never leaving hers. The warmth flowing from her touch gave him pause. The slight widening of her eyes and the way she pulled back let him know he wasn’t the only one who felt it. “Are you ladies enjoying yourselves?”

  “Yes,” Siobhan and Cynthia chorused.

  Kendra angled her head. “Let’s say the night just got more interesting.”

  Justin lifted a brow. “Is that right?”

  “Definitely.” She hooked her arm with the other woman and led her away. “Come on, Cynthia. We should probably go find our husbands. You know how they get. Nice to meet you, Justin,” she called over her shoulder. “Chat with you later, Siobhan.”

  He chuckled. “She’s real subtle, isn’t she?”

  “You’ll have to excuse Kendra.”

  “No harm done. Since she left us all alone, I say we take advantage of it. I wouldn’t want her efforts to go to waste.”

  Siobhan smiled and said softly, “I guess not.”

  “Would you like to dance?”

  She hesitated briefly then placed her soft hand in his.

  Justin led her out to the dance floor, slid his arm around her waist and pulled her close to his body, but was careful enough to leave a respectable space between them. He didn’t want to scare her off, or potentially feel the pointed toe of her shoe in his shin before he had a chance to finish the dance. “So, are you with one of the safety companies?” She turned her face to meet his eyes. In her heels, she stood only a couple of inches shorter than his six-one height.

  She stiffened in his embrace. “Yes. Why?”

  “I assume since this is a safety awards gala that everyone here is either affiliated with a company or looking to do so. And I was wondering if you enjoyed your job.”

  “Let me guess. You have the next greatest safety invention you want to pitch,” she said almost accusingly.

  Remembering the look on her face when the last man handed her his card, he said, “Actually, I just want to dance with you. Have we met before? You seem familiar—”

  Siobhan viewed him skeptically. “Really?” She stepped out of his arms, held out her hand and said curtly, “How about we skip to the part where you hand me your business card and stop wasting my time?”

  A no-nonsense sister. Justin reclaimed the distance and pulled her back into his embrace. “I don’t have a business card to give you.” Well, that wasn’t exactly true. He had several in his breast pocket, but, since he had finagled an invite to this shindig only to meet someone from Gray Home Safety, which she wasn’t part of, he didn’t want to pull one out and ruin his chances.

  She stared at him for several seconds then relaxed in his arms. “So, Justin, are you in the home-safety business?”

  “I have a couple of products on the market,” he answered carefully. He felt her body stiffen again and added quickly, “And I like working for myself.” They continued swaying to the slow jazz tune without conversing. Someone bumped Siobhan, pushing her closer to him, and he groaned inwardly. Her voluptuous body molded to his, and it took every inch of his control not to take advantage. His hands wanted nothing more than to tour each curve and conduct his own private touch test.

  Easing back a fraction, Justin hit the brakes on his runaway thoughts. He needed to remember the plan—a dance, then find Mr. Gray. And that plan didn’t include fantasies of exploring a more personal relationship with Siobhan Hunter.

  Now, if he could just get his body to go along...

  Chapter 2

  Siobhan didn’t want to be affected by the handsome man she danced with. But every time she tried to put some space between them, someone on the crowded dance floor bumped her, forcing their bodies closer together. Unlike her previous dance partner’s offensive cologne, Justin’s scent was more like an aphrodisiac. She had a hard time not staring at his clean-shaven mahogany-brown face with eyes to match, and he had a deep baritone voice that made her body tingle in places long forgotten. Places she had purposely closed off. Justin Cartwright. He said she seemed familiar, and she searched her memory banks, but couldn’t recall ever hearing his name. Then again, there was no way she would forget a man like him.

  While dancing, she attempted to figure out his angle. Sure, he said he wanted only to dance, but so did the other half-dozen men who approached her tonight, then changed their tune as soon as, or not long after, the song ended, which was why she had given him her mother’s maiden name instead of her family name.

  “You never answered my question.”

  Siobhan’s brows knit in confusion. “I’m sorry—what did you ask?”

  Justin chuckled. “I asked how you liked your job, but we got a little sidetracked when you nearly ripped my head off.”

  “Sorry about that,” she said contritely. “I love a challenge and my job provides that.”

  “Sounds intriguing, but don’t the challenges become a hassle day in and day out?”

  “Every day isn’t like that. Most times my day is stacked with meetings, working on press releases and fielding phone calls. And, as the oldest of five, putting out fires is second nature,” she added wryly.

  “I can imagine.”

  “Do you have any siblings?”

  “Two younger sisters. Something we have in common—being the oldest...and putting out fires.”

  Siobhan laughed.

  “Maybe we can swap stories over coffee or dinner.”

  Her laughter faded. “Um, I don’t have time to date.”

  “Why not? You’re a beautiful woman. I’m sure there are men lined up waiting to take you out.”

  She laughed him off. But in reality, over the past two years, the only men who seemed remotely interested in her had ulterior motives. “I think the song is over.” Actually, they had danced through at least three. “Thank you for the dance, Justin.” She turned to walk away, and he caught her hand.

  “May I buy you a drink?”

  “No, thank you. Have a good evening.” She wove her way through the crowd of people w
ho flooded the dance floor in response to the sounds of a popular tune now playing. Siobhan exited the ballroom and ducked into the nearest bathroom. Her heart raced, and her hands shook.

  She stared at her reflection in the mirror. Obviously, the loose-fitting dress she had deliberately chosen to keep men at bay hadn’t deterred Justin. All while they danced, his gaze never left hers. At one point, he stared at her as if she were his favorite dessert, and for a moment, she allowed the thought to play around in her mind. Heat rose in her cheeks, and she fanned herself in an effort to cool off. Where in the world had that thought come from? Siobhan smoothed down the front of her gown, took a deep breath and left the bathroom. Rounding the corner, she hit a solid mass. Strong arms steadied her.

  “Are you okay, Siobhan?” Justin asked, still holding her.

  “Yes. Fine. Sorry—I wasn’t watching where I was going. Thanks for the save. I need to speak to my friends before they leave.”

  “You’re welcome. I’ll walk you over.”

  “Huh? Oh, you don’t need to do that. I’m sure there are some other people who you probably want to talk to about your products.”

  A lazy grin curved his mouth. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”

  Yes! “No, nothing like that. I—”

  “Glad to hear it.” He extended his arm.

  Sighing inwardly, Siobhan hooked her arm in his and let him escort her back to the ballroom and over to her two friends and their husbands. She made introductions, and the men struck up a conversation.

  Kendra pulled Siobhan to the side. “Girl, you’d better snap up all that fine dark chocolate before some other woman does.”

  Cynthia giggled and nodded her head enthusiastically. “I agree. You two looked so good dancing together.”

  “I see some gorgeous godchildren in my future,” Kendra added.

  Siobhan snapped her head around. “Wait—what? Hold up a minute. Nobody’s having anybody’s babies,” she whispered tersely.

  “Siobhan?” Justin touched her arm.

  Glaring at Kendra once more, she turned. “Yes, Justin,” she said pleasantly.

  “I need to talk to someone real quick. Will you save me one more dance?”

  As much as she wanted to tell him no, with everyone staring at her, she couldn’t. “Sure.”

  He clasped her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Thank you.”

  His heated gaze caused Siobhan’s breath to stall in her lungs. He smiled then sauntered off with the sexiest walk she had ever seen on a man. She didn’t realize she had been holding her breath until Cynthia’s voice broke through her thoughts.

  “Girl,” she said slowly, “do not let that man get away. I don’t care if he’s pitching an idea or not.”

  “Amen, sister. Amen,” Kendra said, shaking her head. “He looks like a man who could curl your toes in the bedroom.”

  Siobhan’s gaze followed Justin until he disappeared in the crowd. She could still feel the tingling in her palm and rubbed her other hand over the spot, hoping to erase the feeling. “The only thing he’s getting is that one dance. Nothing more.”

  True to his word, Justin returned a while later for the dance. Siobhan steeled herself against the unwanted sensations that coursed through her when he wrapped his arm around her waist and moved his body close to hers. She silently prayed for the song to end, although this time for a different reason. Everything about this man turned her on, and she didn’t want to be turned on. Before the last note faded away, she backed out of his arms. “I think I’m going to call it a night. It was very nice to meet you, Justin.”

  “I’ll walk you out.” Without waiting for her response, Justin entwined their fingers and led her out and toward the front of the hotel. “Did you valet park?”

  “Yes.” She tried to disengage their hands, but he tightened his grip and kept walking. “Justin, you really don’t have to walk me out.”

  A sexy grin tipped the corners of Justin’s mouth. “If I don’t walk you out, I can’t persuade you to meet me for coffee tomorrow.”

  “I told you already that I’m busy and don’t have time to date.”

  “True, but I’m not asking you out on a date. Think of it as two people with a similar past hanging out and sharing stories. Do you have your ticket?” he asked as they pushed through the front door.

  He released her hand. Siobhan reached in her purse for the ticket and handed it to the valet.

  “Do you live in the area?”

  “Not too far away. Why?”

  Justin pulled a card and pen from his pocket, wrote something on the back and handed it to her. “This is the address of a nearby coffee shop. Since you’re local, it shouldn’t be too far for you. I’d love it if you met me there tomorrow morning. Is eleven a good time?”

  She stared at the card for several seconds then took it. “No promises.”

  “Ma’am, your car,” the valet said.

  “Thank you.” Facing Justin, she said, “Good night.”

  “Good night, Siobhan. I’ve enjoyed your company tonight.”

  He squeezed her hand again, this time rubbing his thumb in small circles on her palm. She almost melted in a heap on the concrete. She hurried around to the driver’s side of her car and slid in behind the wheel. She could still see him standing there as she pulled off. There was no way she planned to be at that coffee shop in the morning. Justin Cartwright was a temptation she couldn’t afford.

  * * *

  Justin waited until the taillights of Siobhan’s Lexus SUV disappeared before going back inside. He searched the ballroom for Mr. Gray or his partner Mr. Whitcomb but didn’t see either man. Making some discreet inquiries, he located both men standing in a group. As soon as there was a break in the conversation and the small gathering dispersed, Justin headed over.

  “Good evening, Mr. Gray.” Justin extended his hand.

  Mr. Gray shook Justin’s hand. “Good evening, young man. Have we met?”

  “No, sir. My name is Justin Cartwright, and I was hoping to talk to you about an in-home alert system I’m working on.”

  “Well, I’m always looking for something new and exciting, but aren’t there a couple on the market already?”

  “Yes, but neither of those systems are able to sense body temperature, and mine can.” Well, it would when he could figure out how to make it work properly. He was still having some trouble with it distinguishing from the room temperature.

  Mr. Gray’s eyebrow lifted a fraction. “Is that right?” He reached into his breast pocket, pulled out a card and handed it to Justin. “Why don’t you call my secretary next week and she’ll put you on my calendar. I’m looking forward to hearing about this system.”

  Justin accepted the card. “Thank you, sir. I’m looking forward to it, as well. I won’t take up any more of your time. Have a good evening.” He waited until Mr. Gray walked away before going in the other direction. On the outside, Justin maintained a cool facade, but inside he was cheering.

  Since there was no one else he wanted to talk to, Justin kept going until he reached the exit. He thought about Siobhan. With any luck, she would be at the coffee shop in the morning.

  * * *

  Lying in bed later, Justin’s mind drifted back to Siobhan—her eyes, incredible lips and generous curves. He was especially captivated by her directness. It probably warned most men off, but had the exact opposite effect on him. A woman hadn’t caught his attention in a while, but the no-nonsense businesswoman had made a deep impression upon him.

  The last long-term relationship he had been in ended a year ago. He had been content with the date nights, good sex and casual conversation, but his ex wanted more than he was prepared to give—marriage and a family—so they parted ways. His focus had been solely on making his product the best on the market, especially after his
grandfather died in a home accident that could have been prevented had someone found him sooner.

  Justin felt partially responsible because he hadn’t been as focused on his work and put the alert system he was designing on the back burner. He had dated multiple women since then, but none lasted beyond a few dates. He was careful not to give any woman the notion he wanted anything permanent. Maybe he would be ready to settle down in a few years. For now, he had one goal: partnering with Gray Home Safety and making sure no one else suffered the same loss.

  By morning, he lay awake in bed still thinking about Siobhan and wondering whether she would show up at the coffee shop later. Justin tossed the covers back, dressed and went out for his morning run. He tried to get in at least three miles four times a week. The run helped clear his thoughts and gave him the opportunity to sort out, in his mind, any kinks in whatever program he was working on. This morning, however, Siobhan Gray crowded the space in his brain. He started with a slow jog until he reached the nearby park trail then increased his pace.

  One of the things he liked about living in LA was the weather. The cloudless, early-spring morning was warm enough that he didn’t need to wear a jacket. His feet pounded the paved trail in a steady rhythm as he mentally went over the changes he wanted to make in his program to track movement in the home. He was having trouble with one of the sensors and couldn’t figure out why it stopped working after a certain amount of time. Since he renewed his focus on the project nine months ago, Justin had seen similar products hit the market, but he’d worked to make sure his had an added feature not available on the current models.

  Clearing the shaded area, he slowed to a jog and cut across the park back toward his house. Once there, he grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator, downed the contents and went upstairs to shower. He wanted to get to the shop a few minutes before eleven.

  His cell rang as he was leaving.

  “What’s up, Justin?” Bobby said when Justin answered.

  “Hey.”