have as much cleavage as some, she filled the V with a silver
necklace and further accessorized with silver earrings and
some bracelets. Her tight miniskirt exposed bare legs, all
the way down to three-inch pumps. The skirt managed to
cover her laciest white panties-there was no point in
pretending he wouldn't see them.
O.E. opened the door and scanned her outfit with a
huge smile. He growled quietly and ushered her into the
living room. A dark blue/purple cotton shirt hung on his
flawless frame, loose but inspiring. A fine pair of tight jeans
squeezed his backside nicely. His familiar citrus scent
managed to emerge amidst the heavenly aroma of dinner.
He really did cook. She couldn't believe he'd prepared
dinner for her, especially when they both knew what was
really on the menu. He gave her a wide-eyed stare and
wiped imaginary drool from his chin. She teetered on her
heels, arms swinging idly at her side. Her cheeks flushed
from his heat-lamp gaze.
"Damn! You look like a million. . . No make that a
billion dollars!" He wrapped an arm around her and pulled
her close, giving her cheek an introductory kiss, a little
something to start off the evening. She threw her neck back
and took him in. Her breath was already heavy, their lips
too close to ignore. O.E. reached up and lightly ran his
finger over her lips. "God! Your mouth alone is worth a
million dollars."
"Really? You'd pay a million dollars for my mouth?" She
smiled as richly as she could.
"Actually, I would." He pursed his lips, then looked
away. "But I don't want to ruin the evening with talk about
money. Perhaps I shouldn't have tried to put a price on your
beauty. That was my fault-you're priceless."
He let go of her and stepped away into the living room.
"Also, I hope you don't mind if I keep calling you Bec. I
really like it, and I think it suits you-quick and sharp, if
you know what I mean. But if you want me to stop, I'll
understand. . . Rebecca."
Rebecca? Now it sounded strange when he didn't
shorten her name. She stood there and let the debate go
back and forth in her mind. Everyone called her Rebecca-
there were no exceptions. Then again, she had already
granted an exception to O.E. Yes, but that was temporary,
because of his jaw. But wait, she actually liked it when he
called her Bec. Well, too bad-it was a rule! But who said
she had to live by that, or any other rule?
Rebecca knew what to do, and she felt freer merely by