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said, trying to rein her thoughts before they got out of control.
    “How is everyone else in your Team doing?”

    Osten smiled. He knew she had been checking him out and was
    trying to play it off. “They are all doing wonderfully. Ernst is engaged
    to be married and is blissfully happy. So it is now half and half on the
    Team.”
    CJ laughed. “You sound worried about that.”
    “Well, Lex, who’s Scott’s wife, seems desperate to get all of us
    married. Especially Maverick.”

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    31
    “Maverick,” she responded. “He was the tall, silent one, right? I
    believe his name is James?”
    Dark-brown eyes narrowed at that; Mav didn’t share his first
    name with many people. “That’s right.”
    CJ was quiet for a moment. “I see. Well, good for him. He
    should get married.”
    “He has no intentions of doing so,” he assured her.
    With a shrug, she replied easily, “Maybe he just hasn’t met the
    right woman yet. I’m sure there’s someone out there for him.”
    It sure as hell ain’t you, sweetheart. “That could be, or it could be
    he is perfectly happy being a bachelor.” Osten glanced at her and shook
    his head over the grin he saw on her face. She was teasing him. “You
    are a spunky one, Ms. Jackson.”
    A flash of white teeth gleamed in the glow of the car. “I like to
    joke around. Besides, you got all surly sounding so I couldn’t resist
    having some fun.”
    He nodded. “Okay, but I’ll remember this.” Reaching the loca-
    tion, Osten steered the car into a parking spot and shut it off. They got
    out and walked up to the door of the establishment.
    “I’ve heard this place was wonderful, but I hadn’t eaten here
    yet. Thanks for bringing me.” CJ touched his arm tenderly.

    Standing in front of her apartment door, Osten took her keys
    from CJ and unlocked it. “Thank you for a lovely evening,” he mur-
    mured.
    “Would you like to come in for a cup of coffee or something?”
    CJ offered as she stepped into her apartment.
    “I would love to, but I can’t.” Osten halted her with a hand on
    her arm. “Rain check?”
    CJ nodded. “Sure.” I guess he didn’t have as good of time as I did.
    Apparently, his observant gaze didn’t miss the look of dejection
    that crossed her face, for Osten stepped closer to her and slid his hand
    behind her neck. Gently his lips touched hers. The jolt spread through
    them both at first contact.
    With his tongue he gained entrance to her mouth. His other
    hand dropped her arm and landed on her back, singeing her through
    the jacket and shirt she wore. Osten’s tongue swept from side to side in
    her warm mouth. He learned her taste and taught her his.

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    Aliyah Burke
    As her body sank into his, he slowly withdrew from the kiss. “I
    really have to go,” he murmured in a gravelly and hushed voice. “I will
    see you tomorrow at school.”
    Eyes heavy with longing, CJ licked her lips and enjoyed the flare
    of desire in his rich stare as he watched her. “Tomorrow,” she mum-
    bled.
    “Goodnight, insegnante dolce .” His thumb traced her bottom lip
    before he stepped away and walked off down the hall.
    Closing the door behind her, CJ slumped to the floor. Her body
    was on fire for that man’s touch. She could feel the dampness on her
    thighs, and whatever he had called her only added to the flood her
    body seemed to produce.
    That night her dreams were chock full of a strong man with
    olive skin and dark-chocolate eyes whose kiss could send her into
    convulsions. Osten Scoleri.

    The rest of the week passed with Osten finding time to send her
    heated looks and winks. His tone was always professional when he
    spoke, but his gaze never failed to set her blood to boil as he visually
    stripped off her clothes.
    Friday afternoon found CJ sitting at her desk after the final bell
    had rung. She was grading her last paper of the day and didn’t want to
    take it home to work on it. So into her task, she failed to notice her door
    opened