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Only the hum of the car’s engine and the sound of Michael shifting gears filled the electric air between them as he drove to his home. It was as if neither of them wanted to talk—to break the magnetic attraction building between them.

The silence didn’t stop Michael from casting his hooded gaze her way a few times. At the heated look she saw reflected in his eyes from an approaching car’s lights, Susan gave him a sly smile.

They both knew what they wanted, and they’d damn well waited long enough to get there, she thought when he returned his gaze to the road. Why had he waited so long? The man had made his attraction to her very clear from day one.

In so many ways, from the very beginning, she knew Michael was a wonderful man. He’d sympathized with her over Melanie’s “errand”, had championed her in front of the whole rehearsal dinner crew and had basically been an all-around gentleman since she’d met him—like the fact he’d been the one to slow things down between them.

Susan furrowed her brow and cast her gaze out the window. Michael had said he wanted to get to know her. And in many ways he had, but did he know the real Susan? He’d seen a little of her tonight when she picked Charlie’s lock, but as much as Susan abhorred being called “Sensible Susan”, she knew she subconsciously worked hard to maintain that image…to keep an emotional distance.

The strong front she put on had given her a sense of authority over her kid brother throughout their years alone together. Her outward demeanor also demanded respect from her superiors and co-workers, not to mention it put a barrier around her heart six inches thick.

The reality was…as excited as she was by their upcoming evening, Michael scared her on many levels.

He was so confident and self-assured. She would have never propositioned him if the situation had been reversed. But he didn’t hesitate…not once. He saw what he wanted and he became a part of her life…almost as if he’d always been a part of it. She wished she could be so carefree with her feelings.

What would he think when he finally met the real Susan? If they continued to spend time together, he would eventually see every facet of her personality, right down to the insecure and doubtful angles. She took a deep breath and relaxed her shoulders, forcing herself not to worry about the future and what-ifs. Tonight was about an enjoyable evening with a sexy man, not a lifetime commitment.

Right. If that was true, then why did Michael’s spicy, seductive aftershave make her think how nice it would be to wake up to that scent every morning? She banished the indulgent thought from her mind, refusing to get attached to him.

She was so deep in her thoughts she lost track of time and place until Michael pressed a button on his steering wheel and the iron gates in front of them began to open. Susan sat up a little straighter as he drove through the gates and proceeded up the long drive. She smiled as she realized where he’d taken her. She should’ve known he lived in the Village.

When he parked his car in the circular driveway in front of his Manor-style home, Susan took in the huge white columns on either side of his front porch, the nice-sized balcony above the porch’s roof and the plethora of windows on either side of the porch. Trees sprouted all around the cobblestone circular drive and a brick-lined fountain graced the center.

Once he cut the engine, the lone spotlight on the side of the house gave off very little light from the angle he’d parked, and darkness surrounded them. She unbuckled her seatbelt, and while electric silence stretched between them, the sound of the ocean’s surf filtered through the closed windows, making Susan’s skin prickle and her smile falter. Her dream came back to her full force.

I was about to go to a wedding, I love the beach…and Michael really wound me up that night before I went to bed. That’s all it was, she told herself. “You have a beaut—”

Michael unbuckled his seatbelt and laid his hand on her neck, causing her to pause. She trembled as his thumb moved up the side of her throat to rub behind her ear. His heated touch soaked through her skin, igniting a fire within her. Susan let out a steadying breath before she finished, “—iful home.”

“Welcome, Susanna,” he said in a desire-filled voice before he pulled her close and covered her lips with his.

The sensuous slant of his lips devouring hers melted Susan’s insides. She opened her lips and cupped her hands around his jaw, enjoying the sensation of his rough, evening stubble against her palms.

Michael’s tongue slid deep into her mouth, aggressive, but not forceful. He set a seductive, assertive pace that made her want to linger in the car and allow him to explore every crevice, every dip and hollow inside her mouth and beyond.

His hands darted in her hair and found the clip she’d secured it with. She felt it give way and heard a clatter as her clip hit the console before it fell to the floor.

“Impatient, are you?” She smiled against his lips as his fingers tunneled in her hair, unwinding the twist.

“I believe that’ll be the understatement of the evening,” he mumbled right before he gripped her shoulders and pulled her closer.

Susan let out a surprised yelp, but continued their kiss. Instead she nipped at his bottom lip and said in a husky voice, “Well, if you wanted me to come over, all you had to do was ask.” She broke their kiss and climbed over the console. Michael tilted his steering wheel upward to give her room as she squeezed in front of it to settle on his lap.

The console dug into her left calf and she had to lower her head to keep from hitting the roof, but Susan didn’t care. She chuckled as she moved her head beside his and whispered in his ear, “Hmm, this is a bit cozier than I expected.”