Texan Undercover (Romantic Suspense) by Anne Marie Novark

arranged everything for next Tuesday
night?" She looked at Dillon standing in the middle of the room,
then eyed Claire's position behind the desk.
    "Tuesday night?" Claire asked. Natalie was up
to something. Dread crowded out the lingering heat of desire.
    Natalie rolled her eyes. "You know. The
Chamber of Commerce Banquet?"
    Claire straightened a stack of papers on her
desk. Something, anything to still the trembling in her hands. "I
don't think this is the time or place to talk about--"
    "Sure it is. Have you found a date yet?"
    "No, I haven't. Natalie --"
    "A date?" Dillon looked at Claire.
    Natalie turned wide innocent eyes on him.
"Hey, big guy. What are you doing next Tuesday night?" She smiled
the smile Claire knew only too well.
    Dillon snared Claire with another intense
look. "Working, but I can probably get out of it."
    "I'm sure you can," Natalie said with a
wink.
    Claire hurried to the front of her desk and
grabbed her friend's arm. "Nat, can I speak with you outside? Now ?"
    "Just a minute, Claire. I'm trying to help
out here."
    "I don't need this kind of help," she hissed.
Ever since she'd moved to Austin, Natalie had been trying to fix
her up with someone.
    "What time does this banquet take place?"
Dillon asked.
    Claire frowned at him. "It doesn't matter.
You don't have to--"
    "Oh, but I think I do." The intensity of his
gaze deepened, making his hazel eyes flash fire. Claire felt her
knees weaken. She clutched the edge of the desk for support.
    Natalie beamed. "Great. Everything's settled
then. It's semi-formal, big guy. Try to find something besides
jeans and a t-shirt to wear, will you? And you can pick her up at
seven."
    "You can't want to go," Claire said to
Dillon. "You'll be bored to death."
    "With you? Not a chance." He turned to
Natalie and chucked her under the chin. "Thanks, doll."
    "No problem," Natalie said with a smile.
    Claire wanted to wipe the satisfied smirk off
her friend's face. Natalie was a dear, but sometimes she could be a
tad bit pushy.
    Dillon nodded to Claire. "We'll continue this
later."
    His eyes held promises she wasn't sure she
wanted him to keep. Oh, her body didn't have a problem with it. But
her mind told her she was heading for grief.
    Claire straightened her spine. "Maybe we
will. Maybe we won't."
    Dillon smiled a slow sexy smile that melted
away all of her determination. "No maybe about it." He was gone on
the words.
    Natalie snatched a manila folder off Claire's
desk and fanned herself. "That man actually sizzles when he looks
at you. You are one lucky duck."
    Claire grabbed the folder. "Just what did you
think you were doing? I'm mad at you, Nat."
    "You'll get over it. Especially if you relax
and let Mr. Macho focus all that heat on you. Damn, he's a
cutie."
    "Get out, Nat."
    "Aw, Claire. I was just trying to help."
    "I'd appreciate it if you'd leave my personal
life alone."
    Natalie placed one hand over her heart and
raised the other. "I promise never to do it again." She grinned and
crossed her fingers.
    "Nat, please?"
    "Oh, all right," she said with a pout.
    "Good. Now, get out. I have work to do and so
do you."
    "Yes ma'am." With a mock salute, Natalie
left.
    Claire shook her head and smiled. It was
impossible to stay angry with her friend. Walking around her desk,
she sank down in her chair and fanned herself with the folder.
    Natalie was right. Dillon was hot. And he was
slowly burning away her defenses one by one. Claire hoped and
prayed she had the strength to survive the meltdown.
    ****
    On Thursday, Claire left the cafe early. A
few errands to run, then she was going home to crash for the
evening. It had been a stressful week so far, to say the least.
    Across the parking lot, Dillon leaned against
her car, his arms folded. She couldn't stop the flip-flop in her
tummy at the sight of him. Faded jeans hugged his hips. He had his
shirt sleeves scrunched up above his elbows, revealing the dark
hair on his arms. She swallowed hard. Was his chest smooth and
slick or