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of critical importance?” he persisted. “Or could you get out of it?”
    She considered. She hated to play right into Barbara’s hands, but maybe her friend was right. She ought to enjoy some male company for a change. Since he lived so far away, it would be all on her own terms. Dinner only, with no danger of involvement, and no strings attached.
    She looked him straight in the eye. “I was going to fly to Washington for a late supper with the President, but I suppose I could call and cancel.”
    “ Dinner at the White House? Is that all? And here I was afraid it was something really special.”
    She shrugged, smiling. “That kind of invitation is rather run-of-the-mill. And let’s keep our priorities straight. How often do I have the opportunity to dine with a soda-pop king?”

    ***

    Kyle waited for her in the lobby until her shift ended at six o’clock. Fortunately, she found Barbara had gone for the day. Questions would certainly come tomorrow, but for now she was spared the embarrassment of a confrontation.
    Since Desiree needed to change her clothes before dinner, Kyle followed in his car while she drove to the small house she rented in Garden Grove.
    As he stood behind her on the front steps, Desiree unlocked the door and pushed it open a crack. She peered through the small opening into her living room, unsure in what condition she’d left the place. Cheeks flaming, she whirled around, yanking the door shut behind her. Her body collided with his in a sudden sharp impact, completely knocking the breath from her.
    “ Oh! Sorry!” Kyle grabbed her by the shoulders, not retreating an inch.
    “ You can’t go in there,” she gasped, pinned between him and the door.
    “ Why not?” His hands gripped her shoulders firmly as he looked down at her.
    “ It’s a battlefield.”
    “ I’m sure I’ve seen worse. Don’t worry about it.”
    He stood so close she felt the warmth emanating from his body, and felt his breath, warm and sweet, on her cheek. She pressed her back against the door, tilted her head back slightly, and looked up at him. “Trust me, you don’t want to see it. Several people died there this morning, and the bodies haven’t been cleared away yet.”
    He laughed. “It doesn’t matter.” His eyes roved slowly over her face, lingering for a long moment at her lips as if they were a mouth-watering dessert just out of his reach. His voice was somewhat rough when he spoke again. “I don’t care, really. I didn’t exactly give you much warning.”
    Her shoulders, under the pressure of his fingers, began to tingle, sending magnificent shooting sparks throughout her body. She was aware for the first time of the faint scent of a very pleasant masculine cologne. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his hands, the sense of his nearness. If only her living room wasn’t such a mess, then he could come inside. She’d like to have him in her house. In her living room. In her—
    No, Desiree! she cautioned. He’s gorgeous and witty and incredibly sexy, but for God’s sake, don’t get carried away. Tomorrow he’ll fly back to his work and his life in Seattle, and you’ll be back to your comfortable, uncomplicated…boring…lonely…routine.
    She took a deep breath. “The thing is, there’s…the dog.”
    He relaxed his grip on her shoulders and stepped back. “The dog?”
    “ A vicious Doberman. Trained to attack strange men on sight.”
    He studied her for a moment with narrowed eyes, clearly aware that she was vamping. “Would it really embarrass you that much if I saw the way you keep house?”
    “ It really would.”
    “ Why?”
    “ Because...” She hesitated, her shoulders still tingling from the remembered pressure of his fingers. “I don’t want you to think—”
    “ Think what?”
    She sighed in resignation. “That I’m a slob.”
    “ I won’t think that. I won’t pass judgment, I promise.”
    “ Okay. But remember: I warned you.”
    Gritting her teeth, her