Read Online Safe in His Arms by Vicki Lewis Thompson - Free Book Online

you.”
    “Let’s hope you’re right.”
    In the lobby of her building, an empty elevator stood open. “Come on!” She hurried toward it. “We can make it.”
    He laughed and lengthened his stride. They dashed through the doors, barely making it before they closed.
    Catching her other hand in his, he faced her as the elevator started up. “You okay?”
    “Yes. Yes!” She launched herself into his arms and whisked off his hat. “I feel great. Kiss me, Adam.”
    With a groan he pulled her tight, and this time his mouth was more demanding. Gratifyingly so. The thrust of his tongue told her exactly what he was thinking, and he boldly cupped her bottom so that she could have no doubt about his immediate intentions.
    Her plan for tonight was a
very
good idea. They’d get down to the nitty-gritty and then she’d know whether to dive into this relationship headfirst or pull back. As the heat of their kiss intensified, he backed her against the elevator wall and pressed his thigh between her legs. The elevator pinged to a stop, and he released her with a soft curse.
    Straightening her clothes and taking a deep breath, she looked into his passion-glazed eyes. “Don’t make reservations for tonight. We’ll eat in. I’ll text you my address.”
    His sharp intake of breath and the searing glance he gave her provided all the encouragement she needed to follow through with that plan. When she walked out of the elevator, she knew he’d watch her leave. She deliberately twitched her hips and smiled at his moan of frustration before the doors closed and the elevator started back down.
    She was playing with fire, and she knew it. She’d pretty much promised him sex tonight, which raised the stakes for her and might be simply a fun romp for him. But having sex was the only way she’d find that out. She’d know by his behavior afterward where she stood.
    As for her elevator phobia, thanks to Adam and his sexy kisses, she had it on the run, perhaps forever.
    * * *
    “I figured you might like a report on how your matchmaking efforts are progressing.” Adam studied his friend sitting across the small table.
    “I wouldn’t call it matchmaking, exactly.” Will took a sip of his draft. “Sending her out to the Triple Bar was a logical move. I knew she was a good candidate for working with your horses.”
    “And a good candidate to draw me out of my shell?”
    “Maybe. Do you like her?”
    “No.”
    “I’m sorry. I thought you two would—”
    “My feelings go way beyond
like
. She’s the sexiest, most interesting woman I’ve met in a long time.”
    “See there?” Will sat back in his chair and smiled. “I had a feeling she’d appeal to you. And for what it’s worth, I’m very encouraged by her progress. How did the elevator ride go?”
    “You knew about that?”
    “She told me today was the day, and then this morning she called to say you were riding with her. She wondered if she was wimping out, but I urged her to go with whatever worked. She needed to get on that elevator.”
    “Well, she rode it. Twice.” He didn’t dare think too much about that second time while he was sitting here with Will.
    “That’s great.”
    “After the first elevator ride, we went to lunch and sat at a table in the middle, fairly far away from the door. I didn’t even think about it until she mentioned passing another milestone.”
    “Excellent.” Will took another swig of beer. “You two could be very good for each other.”
    Adam nursed his beer. He was only allowing himself one, because he wanted to be completely sober when he arrived at Valerie’s apartment. “There might be an issue, though.”
    “What’s that?”
    “She seems to think I’m some kind of hero.”
    Will laughed.
    “Yeah, I know. Funny, isn’t it?”
    “No, it’s not at all. I’m laughing at the way you said it, as if you couldn’t possibly be any woman’s hero.”
    “Hell, you of all people know I’m not hero material.”
    “Don’t sell