"There really isn't much more to tell," she admitted. "I had no choice about the meal or the drinks. His conversation was peppered with putdowns and long before we got to the after dinner cocktail his goose was cooked as far as I was concerned."

"Then he's not a candidate?"

"No way." She yawned again, tears popping into her eyes. "I have got to go to bed."

"You could just slip under the covers here," he invited.

She cast him a crushing look.

"Forget I mentioned it," he countered somehow managing to sound innocent. "With the weekend ahead of us we don't want to start scrapping."

She slipped off the bed. "See you in the morning."

"Don't I get a kiss goodnight?"

"Oh, for heavens sake." She bent down to kiss him on the forehead. He tipped his face up and caught her kiss with his mouth, cupping the back of her neck with his hand. His lips were warm and seeking. Sanity demanded she pull away in a show of outrage, but the supple maneuvering of his mouth vanquished her sanity. Her lips parted when his tongue brushed across them and he thrust into her mouth. She sank back on the edge of the bed. Her arms found their way around his neck and the kiss took on a life of its own.

Web's hand slid down her leg to the hem of her dress and then moved upwards, skimming provocatively over her nylons. He stroked her as if she were a cat in need of petting. Her heart leaped in her chest and something akin to a purr bubbled up her throat. She threaded her fingers through his hair caressing the silky strands. He pulled her over onto his lap. His involuntary grimace of pain put an abrupt end to her insanity. She yanked free of his embrace.

"You're attempting to seduce me," she accused.

"Not for nefarious purposes," he assured her.

"Ha!" She stood. He caught her hand and pulled her back, kissing her again, his tongue aggressively caressing her mouth. She gave a moan that was equal measures passion and protest before breaking free and bolting from the room.