Irresistible Harmony

Unedited excerpt

With her back to Chris, Teresa stopped and took a deep breath, putting her emotions in check.

"I'm glad it was Allan who followed me through the door,," Chris said as she regained her composure. "If it'd been Jeremy..."

Teresa turned to face him and waited with measured patience as he struggled to complete his thought.

"I'd have had to show him who the real man is," he finished. His tone of voice and facial expression were both so smug. So...male.

She stared at him, uncertain of how to react to his announcement. She couldn't tell if he'd been joking or serious.

Chris, who had been leaning against the counter, pounded his fist on the drawer behind him as he straightened. "Teresa..."

She pulled out a chair and sat at her kitchen table. Leaning forward on her elbow, she rested her chin in her hand. She watched Chris without blinking. What was he going to say? What could he say?

He opened his mouth then closed it again without uttering a word. Instead, he moved across the room, his long catlike strides crossing the small kitchen quickly.

Teresa eyed him warily, trying to anticipate his next move. When he reached her, she bounded from her chair, knocking it over on its back. With her hand out in front of her as though warding off evil spirits, she shuffled backward around the table and across the room, stopping only when she reached the spot Chris had vacated.

"Chris," she said, her voice shaking, "I think it's better if you just keep your distance for now."

He stood motionless, his eyes never leaving her face. With one hand at his nape, he pulled his hair off his shoulders then flashed her a sheepish grin. "You're probably right. You stay over there, I'll stay here." He righted her chair and slid into it, his long legs splayed out in front of him.

Teresa breathed easier as she pulled herself up to sit on the kitchen counter. As long as Chris held up his part of the bargain she would be all right.

The two of them sat in uncomfortable silence, neither one looking at the other. Teresa spoke first. "Jeremy said something earlier today about making this a regular thing when y'all are in the area, and—"

"And you want to make sure I don't come with them."

"No, that's not it at all. I want you to know you're welcome to come."

Chris started, surprised. "Are you sure you want me around?" The surprise on his face switched to blatant disbelief. "I mean, the way you reacted before—"

"I know what you mean, and the answer is yes. I realize that having you so close could be akin to playing with fire, but I think we can both be adults and avoid any more incidents. Besides, I—I've had the opportunity to really get to know the rest of the guys. I'd like to get to know you better, too. Without the games."

"Yeah. That sounds good. Shake on it?"

"Not unless we can shake without touching." She grinned impishly. "How about we just salute each other across the room?"

"How about we do this." He crossed the distance between them and took her into his arms for a quick, gentle hug. Releasing her, he shot her a wicked smile. "See? We both behaved. Now what do you say we go back outside?"

On the way out the door, she stopped him with a hand on his arm. "Before we get back out there, I was wondering," she said.

"What about?" Chris said.

"Both last night and today you mentioned unfinished business. What on earth were you talking about?"

The grin he shot her, full of lust and arrogance, said it all.

Irresistible Harmony

Unedited excerpt

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