Sex, Lies and Midnight

She lost him a little more with each word she spoke. His arms stiffened and he slowly leaned away from her body. Clearly that translated to horror and damnation in guy-talk. It was like watching the fog roll over the Golden Gate.

This, she realized, was yet more proof as to why she’d sucked as a con artist. She could have just led him on. Let him think they were off for some kinky sex fun and then used that lure to keep him at arms’ length during the trip. But no, she had to be all honest and crap. She felt like smacking herself in the forehead.

“Look. Maya. Um…” He looked around desperately, as if hoping someone would come and rescue him. Then he grimaced and told her. “I like you. I’d like to go to bed with you. But that’s it. Nothing personal, but I’m not a meet-the-family kind of guy.”

“But—”

“Look, I’ve got to get back inside.” Clearly torn between running away in a commitment-phobic hurry and being a polite date, his gaze bounced between the door with its freedom, and her face. “Can you… Um… I need to go.”

She debated trying to save the situation, but realized it was pointless. She couldn’t lie. She didn’t feel strongly enough about him to take things to the next level. Not even to save her father.

“I’ll see myself home,” Maya said, her words as heavy as her shoulders. “Don’t worry about it.”

“It’s not you,” he claimed.

Before he could pitch the worn-out spiel, she waved him away. If she hadn’t been so upset already, the speed at which he gratefully scurried off would have done serious damage to her ego.

This sucked. Swearing she could feel the wind from Dave’s speedy retreat, she paced the cement walkway of the atrium. With its impeccable timing, her phone chose that second to chime. Like a reluctant witness to a train wreck, she forced herself to look at this round of horrible text news.

I told everyone you’re coming. We’re all so excited to see you. I’ve even got a date for you on your first night home. We’ll double.

“Just shoot me, it’d be less painful,” she muttered.

“But such a waste.”

Shocked, Maya jumped and gave a tiny scream. She spun around, one hand trying to keep her heart from pounding out of her chest, and glared.

Simon Harris. The Southern-fried sex muffin.

“Where’d you come from?” she asked, desperately hoping he hadn’t overhead Dave’s rejection.

“I saw your friend inside,” he told her, tilting his head toward the bar where Dave was back, chatting with his friends. “You seemed upset earlier, so I figured I’d check on you. Make sure you’re okay.”

He was so sweet. Maya sniffed, trying to contain the emotional overload of the night.

“So how about I cheer you up?” he said in that jovial tone guys used to try and get past emotional scenes. “What are your holiday plans? A big family get-together, I’ll bet?”

That was the wrong thing to say, though. His words were the last straw. Tears gushed, frustration tangling with a sudden burst of homesickness.

Looked like the night actually could get worse.

3

OH, HELL. SIMON CRINGED.

He’d thought this was turning into a killer opening, but he wasn’t sure he could handle waterworks like Maya’s. Not even for a major bust.

“Going home sucks,” she told him, sniffling back her tears. “My family and I, we had a big falling out a few years ago. I know there’s probably no point being upset about not going. But a part of me was hoping this visit would mend fences and bring us all back together.”

“Prodigal daughter?” Simon mused. He hadn’t realized the estrangement between her and her father was that deep. Knowing how rotten his own parent issues made him feel, he took her hands and gave them a sympathetic squeeze. “That can’t be a comfortable reunion.”

“Not even close. And now I’m getting daily texts with all kinds of drama over me being single. Lots of manipulation and game playing,” she told him, anger sliding through the hurt in her tone. “The only way to avoid it is to bring a boyfriend home with me. Otherwise I’m going to spend the week dodging ugly matchmaking attempts, uncomfortable family drama and a nasty old school friend determined to make this a miserable visit.”

“Look, it sounds to me like you don’t have a choice,” he said. He was a federal officer. He shouldn’t be swayed by a sob story, right? He wanted an in to Tobias Black and this was his chance, served up on a golden platter by the sexiest woman he’d ever met.

Do the job, he reminded himself.

“You need to face this stuff. Take it from me, avoiding family drama only makes it all worse.” At least, he assumed it did. Given that he and his family had said their ugly goodbyes years ago, he didn’t know that time or avoidance could make his problems any worse.

“You’re right,” she murmured. She shoved one hand through her hair, the luxurious curls waterfalling over her shoulders. She gave him a considering look. There was a calculation in her eyes that made him wonder if he’d underestimated her. Her head tilted to one side, she pursed her lips and seemed to be thinking something through. Since he figured whatever it was could only benefit him, he offered her his nicest, encouraging-but-unthreatening look.

“But I can’t go alone. Not if I have to face Lilah,” she murmured.

Simon wracked his brain, but couldn’t recall seeing anyone named Lilah in the list of Black family members. So who was she and why did she put that tight look on Maya’s face.

Maybe the nasty texter?

Before he could ask, Maya shifted. She pulled back her shoulders, lifted her chin and gave him a look that made him just a little nervous.

“You said you’re looking for investors, right? It’s a big deal that you’re putting together?”

Where was she going with this? Nothing to do but play along, Simon realized.

“Yeah, I’ve been trying for weeks now and if I don’t get this deal nailed down before Christmas, it’ll fall apart.” He played it up, shoving his hand through his hair and acting frustrated. “There is so much riding on this, and I’ve had a lot of interest. But so far nobody’s willing to commit.”

She gave a little hum through lips pressed tight together, then as if she were forcing out the words before she could change her mind, she said, “What if I had money to offer? Not a lot, maybe ten thousand?”

“You’re interested in investing in the app platform startup?”

“I’m interested in making a deal,” she clarified.

This should be interesting.

“Um, in exchange for investing, and for using my contacts at Braverment to find other investors, I’d want something in return.” She nibbled temptingly on her bottom lip.

“Like what?” And where the hell was he going to find an app startup to invest in?

“In exchange, you go home with me and pretend to be my boyfriend.”

Holy shit. Maybe Santa Claus really did exist.

“Let me get this straight,” he said. “You’re willing to invest ten thousand in the startup I’m funding? And to put in word among the investors you work with that it’s a great deal. And in exchange, all I have to do is spend a week with the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen?”

And make the bust of his career, cementing his upward climb to success?

“That sounds crazy, doesn’t it?”

“Not at all,” he returned, trying not to sound too enthusiastic. “It sounds smart to me.”

“Right.” She laughed, pacing the length of the patio again.

“No, it does. You need to be able to focus on dealing with the family drama without worrying about entertaining, or fending off, a date. But you need a boyfriend to avoid the matchmaking drama and give you a sort of touchstone to your current life. You know, so you don’t get pulled too deep into the emotional stuff.”

Her eyes wide and glistening with tears, Maya stopped mid-pace to nod slowly. “You’re right. But that’s all for my good. But you don’t seem like you’re doing so bad at finding investors that you’d have to resort to this kind of thing.”

“Times are tough,” he told her. “The economy sucks, computer startups are all over the place. If I didn’t personally know the guy heading this up and know he’s brilliant, I’d probably walk away myself. But I promised him, and his mother, that I’d make sure he had the resources to give his dream a shot. So you’re saving my ass.”

Simon wondered if he’d gone too far over the top. But that seemed to be just the right tone, since the skepticism faded from Maya’s eyes. Instead she looked like she was seriously considering the deal.

Triumph was so close, Simon could taste it.

But…

His gaze traveled down over her body, noting that she once again wore a dress that covered her from neck to mid-thigh, yet screamed hot and sexy. The way the midnight blue fabric draped and hugged her curves made his fingers itch to see if the fabric was soft enough to touch that glorious flesh.

No. Even though his hardening body screamed in protest, he put on the mental brakes. That wasn’t a road he was going down. She was a case. A tool at the most. Sexy, gorgeous and apparently fun, but still a means to an end.

She was so damned hard to resist. Telling himself it was all in the name of the job, he took her hands again, lifting them both to his mouth. He brushed soft kisses over her silky knuckles, then placed her hands, palms flat, against his shoulders.

“I need to get this out of the way,” he said quietly. “It’s got nothing to do with the deal, and everything to do with how I’m feeling.”

She shook her head, looking like she wanted to protest. But instead her fingers dug into his shoulders.

Thighs brushing a tempting invitation against hers, his hands smoothed down the tiny curve of her waist to the sweet roundness of her hips. Her breath shuddered, just a little. Simon almost groaned aloud. She was so delicious. Was the reality of her as tasty as the promise?

Totally forgetting his plan—hell, his own name—Simon pulled her closer, so their bodies were close. So close, but not quite touching. Her warm scent wrapped around him like its own caress, making his mouth water, his dick harden.

Crazy, he thought, as he leaned down to take her mouth with his.

Their lips brushed, soft and sweet. Just this side of innocent. Safe, he told himself. A Happy Holidays kind of kiss. Totally acceptable.

Then she made this tiny sound. Somewhere between a purr and a growl, deep in her throat.

And he lost it.

His mouth took hers. His tongue slipped between her full lips, taking hers in a dance as old as time. He coaxed, he battled, he challenged. And damned if she didn’t do exactly the same.

Simon’s body screamed in pleasure. Passion, way out of line for such a simple kiss, demanded release. His muscles tensed as he forced himself to not grab her and find a dark corner to explore just how good this could get.

Having to grab control before he went over the edge, he pulled his mouth from hers. Her eyes were closed, thick dark lashes curving over the tops of her cheeks. She took a deep breath and slowly lifted those lashes.

Absolutely crazy. Breathless, Simon stared into her deep, golden eyes and wondered if she was the answer to his prayers. Or the curse that would finally take him down.

Her hands were trembling and there was a sheen of shocked worry in her pretty gold eyes. Like she’d been just as overcome by that as he had. Before, he’d have taken her as a woman used to using her body to get what she wanted. He’d have been wrong.

“This wasn’t what I offered to pay you for,” she protested breathlessly. “I was offering to pay you cash. To help you with your investments. I don’t barter with anything else.”

Simon had no idea why it thrilled him that she’d never pulled a con using the oldest lure in the book. That made their kiss, well, special. And that, he winced, made him a sap. A horny, deceiving sap.

But still, he couldn’t lie to her.

“Look,” he said, risking the case by reaching out to take her hand, “I’m not going to deny I think you’re a gorgeous woman. You’re fun and I’m very attracted to you.”

Her fingers stiffened and she tried to pull away. But Simon didn’t let go.

“But I’m not the kind of guy who takes advantage of women.” At least, not in the way she was worried about. “This deal is for me going home with you for New Years. I provide distraction and run interference with your family and that woman who keeps bugging you. That’s all you’re paying me for.”

Her fingers relaxed and she gave a shaky sigh.

Then, because he couldn’t help it, Simon added, “Anything else that happens? That’s between us. Just you and just me. No deal, no investment, no family stuff. Just attraction.”

He saw her throat move as she swallowed nervously.

“I know it was my idea, but I have to think it through. This is my family we’re facing. I have to be sure it’s not a mistake,” she said. “If you give me your number, I’ll call you in the morning.”

Then, as if she were scared of what else might come out of her mouth, she gave him a quick smile, turned on those sexy heels and hurried back into the ballroom.

Simon watched, mesmerized by the sweet sway of Maya’s hips as she waltzed away. All curves and sweeping dark curls, she was pure female. Pure delight. Pure temptation.

And she was going to be difficult to resist. But if Simon prided himself on anything, it was on his control. Which, he realized with a sigh and shake of his head as she shot him a look over her shoulder before leaving, was going to be sorely tested.

At least, it would be if she took him up on his offer. And he was pretty sure she would. She needed to go home, and was desperate to do so on her terms. The loss of pretty boy put her at a disadvantage.

Simon grinned. Things were working out even better than he’d hoped.

Before he could really dig into the joy of gloating, his cell phone rang. He glanced at the display and frowned.

“Don’t you need probable cause to spy on me?” he answered.

“No clue what you’re talking about,” Hunter shot back, sounding amused. “I’m just checking in, seeing if you’re ready to report to work tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow is Sunday.”

“Technically, today is Sunday. Which makes tomorrow the day you are due to report to the Savannah office for your next assignment.”

Hunter must be on the east coast since it was only ten here. Still, Simon glanced around the atrium, narrowing his eyes at the windows and dark corners.

“About that…”

“Yes?”

There was no inflection in Hunter’s voice, but still, Simon had the feeling that the man knew exactly what he was about to say. And wasn’t happy about it.

“I’ve caught an opening on a cold case. I’m going to touch base with Roberts about pursuing it for the next week instead of taking a new assignment,” he said, referring to his director.

“No.”

“No?” Frowning, Simon strode to the back of the atrium, squinting at plants and barrels as he went. Did Hunter have that authority?

“As of now, you’re temporarily assigned to my division. Your permanent move to the task force will depend on your work over the next month.”

Stopping midstride, Simon struggled to decide how he felt about that. He’d worked damned hard for that transfer to Savannah. It was the next step up the ladder and he’d worked his ass off for it. But working with Hunter? That’d make his career.

All he’d have to do was give up his shot at Tobias Black. The shot he’d just cemented.

Maybe he should fill Hunter in. He instantly decided against it, though. He wanted to make this bust himself. He wanted to prove he deserved the promotion he’d just been offered.

Why had he just been offered that promotion?

“I didn’t put in for a transfer. What’s the deal?” he asked.

“I have need of your talents.”

Simon was good. Damned good. But he had no illusions. Other than the fact that he had a photographic memory for numbers, there was nothing he could do that dozens of other agents couldn’t. Not as well, but that was beside the point.

“Why do I doubt you?”

“Because you’re an untrusting soul, Barton.”

True. Simon sighed, his mind racing as he stepped out the back door to the hotel’s deck. He glanced around, noted the stairs leading to the exit and headed that way. “I have personal time coming. I need to take it. I’ll report to you in the DC office a week from tomorrow.”

“Are you going to tell me what you’re up to?”

Making his way down the series of stairs to the parking garage, Simon thought of Hunter’s warning to step off the Black case. “Nope.”

Hunter’s sigh was silent. But Simon knew it was there. He grinned, pulling his keys from his pocket.

“I’ll be in touch.”

Simon’s grin dimmed a little. In touch could mean so many things. In Hunter’s case, it’d probably mean Simon would wake up tomorrow morning to the guy staring at him from the foot of his bed. But before he could protest, his new boss hung up.

Well, shit.

Sure, he had the perfect inside track to Tobias Black. A chance to guarantee his permanent position on Hunter’s team and send his career skyrocketing. And now, it seemed like Hunter didn’t trust him.

Crazy.

Except, Simon sighed as he slid into his car, he hadn’t proved very trustworthy tonight. Gaining entrée to a criminal circle was one thing. But locking lips with that entrée was bad form.

Still, he couldn’t regret that kiss.

Maya Black was delicious. Sweet. Freaking out-of-this-world amazing.

No matter how the rest of the case turned out, tonight was going down as a winner in his book.

THIS WAS A CRAZY PLAN. She should cancel. Maya’s fist clenched around the phone she’d taken to carrying around the house in preparation for calling Simon. She should cancel. That was the only smart thing to do.

Cancel their deal. Call Caleb with the excuse that she was sick and couldn’t make it. That’d give her time to figure out what to do next.

But if she waited, Lilah would have time to get a tighter hold on Dad. She’d sucker him into a wedding before Valentine’s. As hurt and disappointed as Maya was in her father, she didn’t think she could live with herself if she didn’t do whatever she could to save him from that.

So she had to go through with it.

She’d bring Simon home. She’d pretend he was her boyfriend.

And she’d keep her fingers, lips and tongue off him.

The memory of her body pressed against his sent a wave of desire pounding through her. Her heart raced, heat surging, damp and needy, between her thighs. Yeah, that last one would be the hardest.

She looked around her lovely little haven of a house and sighed, her heart heavy. Yes, she’d be coming back. But things wouldn’t be the same. No matter what happened in the next few days, she’d return a changed person.

A knock at the door prevented her from sinking too far into a pout strong enough to require chocolate fudge ice cream.

Maya hurried to the front, then, her hand on the doorknob, she stopped and took a deep breath. She wiped her suddenly damp palms down her jeans, tugged at the waist of her white angora sweater and fluffed her hair.

Pathetic, she chided herself with an eye roll. She was primping like a giddy virgin on her first date.

Squaring her shoulders, she grabbed the knob again and opened the door.

“Simon,” she greeted, infusing as much airy confidence as she could scrape together in her voice. “I’m not sure if I’m impressed or worried that you prepared so quickly for this little trip.”

“Hey, you made an investment,” he said, leaning against her door looking so hot and sexy she actually felt the need to fan herself. “All I had to do was throw some clothes in a bag when you did.”

“No job worries?”

“It’s easy to get time off during the holidays.” He gave a dismissive shrug. “Not too many people looking to invest money this time of year. As the last week proved. But hey, this works out to both our advantage. Ya gotta love win-win deals, right?”

“Right.” Maya shivered. There it was again. Something edgy under the amiable demeanor that had her both nervous and excited.

Forcing herself to stick with the plan, she stepped back and welcomed him in. Not that she was stupid enough to hope this wasn’t a mistake. She knew it was. Her father had taught her at a young age to take the big risks but mitigate the damages.

“I’m all packed and ready to go,” she said, waving a hand toward the modest stack of five suitcases, topped by a bright purple cat carrier. “You don’t mind that I drive, right? I know the way and am more comfortable in my car. Besides, it’s cold in the mountains and we’ll likely hit bad weather and I’m betting my Ridgeline will handle it better than whatever sporty trick you drive.”

“You keep a car in the city?” he asked, giving her a speculative look. But he didn’t deny that he drove a sporty trick, she noticed.

“Public transportation is all well and good, but I prefer being in control.”

He quirked a brow, but didn’t comment. Instead he pulled his phone out of his pocket.

“Problem?” she asked.

“I’m less about control and more about convenience, so I rented a car for the trip. I’m calling the rental company to pick it up.”

Lips pursed, Maya watched him make his call. That was the first lie she was sure he’d told her. This was not a man who ever chose convenience over control unless he already had all the cards stacked in his favor.

She shrugged into a light denim jacket while he finished his call. Then Simon approached her baggage.

“You’re bringing a cat?” Simon asked, frowning at the carrier like it might hold some kind of explosive device.

“Of course. You don’t think I’d leave her here, do you?”

“I can’t say I thought about it at all, as I didn’t know you had a cat. But is it a good idea to lock an animal in a cage for a couple hours? Won’t it protest?”

“It’s name is Dottie, and she’s a good traveler,” Maya said, walking over to lay her hand on the carrier. She rubbed the furry little face staring at her. Unconditional love purred back, soothing Maya’s worries for just a second. “She won’t be any problem.”

He looked around her living room in a way that made Maya feel like he was trying to memorize the space. “You have a roommate, don’t you?”

Maya gave him a sweet smile, tucked one long curl behind her ear and tilted her head to the side. Brow arched, she patted the carrier and said, “Dottie goes.”

Then she waited. Would he pull out a fake allergy, a bossy attitude or cave like a wimp?

“I guess it’d be quite ungentlemanly to separate a lady and her kitty cat,” he said with a shrug before pending over to peer into the carrier, then ribbing Dottie’s nose through the bars.

Her smile dimmed.

How was she going to deal with him when he didn’t follow any prescribed moves?

Simon straightened and gave her a wicked sort of grin. Before Maya could decipher it, he stepped forward and trapped her against the wall.

He smelled so good. Manly, with just a hint of soap. A smile played around his mouth but his eyes were intent and dark with desire.

“What are you doing?” she asked, horrified that her words sounded so breathless. But it was hard to help that, since she had no air in her poor, passion-shocked lungs.

“I figure we need a little practice,” he said, his hands curving tighter over her hips and pulling her close. Not quite close enough to feel the sexy planes of his hard body against her softer one. But enough to warm her with sparks of desire, heating their way through her system like a burgeoning wildfire.

“Practice?”

“You don’t want to look like we’ve never done this before, do you? If we’re going to pull off the boyfriend-girlfriend thing, we should look comfortable together.”

“Right,” she said, not caring what he’d just said. Her eyes were locked on his lips, craving to taste again the full curve of that lower lip, to delve into the delicious heat of his mouth. He could make up all the bullshit excuses he wanted. She just wanted him to hurry up and kiss her.

Like he’d read her mind, he lowered his mouth to hers. Lips, soft and gentle, sipped and danced. He tasted so good. Rich. Strong. Decadently tempting. Desire moved like wildfire, zinging through Maya’s body at a pace way too fast for the tempo of this kiss.

Maya wanted more. She wanted intensity, passion, the wild dance of a screaming orgasm. The dance she knew Simon could take her on.

Before she could dig her fingers into his hair and take them on the first step of that dance, Simon brushed her lips one more time, then slowly pulled back.

His eyes, almost black with desire, stared for a second. Then he blinked and shook his head.

“Grab the cat and let’s hit the road,” he said.

Maya allowed herself a second to lean against the wall until her knees didn’t feel like jelly, then sucked in a deep breath and grabbed her purse and two bags.

This was going to be a very interesting trip.