An involuntary shiver of awareness went through her. Disconcerted, she asked. "How are your parents?"

The dimples in his cheeks spread a mile wide and reminded her of the Richard she used to know. "They're doing great. Still wishing I'd move back home." A teasing light zipped through his eyes. "I see you put that nitpicking nature of yours to good practice."

She straightened her spine. "I am not a nitpicker," she said shortly.

"Right," he said, nodding. "I seem to remember a family get together where after someone set the table, another certain someone went back and refolded all the napkins and placed all the silverware just so."

Waving her hand in the air, she said, "You just threw them on the table any kind of way." Britain hated to admit and would never tell anyone that she was really nothing more than a glorified party planner. A well paid one. But she liked her job damn it, and she was good at it.

However, despite her lofty and rewarding career, Richard's teasing brought out the bitchiness in her. "Does it surprise you that my organization skills turned out to be so lucrative?" she countered.

Mischief sparked in his eyes, and he gave her a thorough once-over, causing a spark of desire to zing through her body. What did he see when he looked at her? Slender curves or skin and bones? Long brown hair that hung long and straight down her back or rich auburn tresses that cascaded in waves over her shoulders?

She wasn't a bombshell, but she always thought her green eyes were her best feature.

His gaze came back to hers. "No, it doesn't surprise me one bit," he murmured. "And I'm not disappointed either."

She felt a flash of heat. Was he flirting with her?

Damn she looked good.

Richard watched Britain's magnificent sea green eyes widen and he realized that he'd unnerved her. After all, she was the reason he was here tonight.

He could have bent down and kissed the ground when Rebecca called and asked him to do the fireworks for an upcoming event she and Britain were organizing. So many reasons to see her or not see her had been going through his mind for the past few days since he'd arrived in town.

When he stopped to think about it, it amused him to think that his childhood joy ended up being a career. He'd started a lucrative business and his net worth was a testament to his financial success. It allowed him a freedom he never thought he'd have.

From behind him, Richard heard the first sparkle of the fireworks display begin. Glancing around, he watched as the first pop in the air had the crowd had gathering at the edge of the yard to watch. He glanced down at Britain who was looking around distractedly.

"It's really good to see you again."

She stared at him in confusion. "What?"

Those beautiful eyes always drew him in. Every single damn time. His arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her close.

She glanced down in surprise and back up again. "What are you doing?"

He gave an exaggerated sigh of resignation. "Kissing you."

Dimly, he was aware of the crowd, but as the flash from the fireworks lit up the sky, there was no worry that they were drawing any ones attention. Her gaze lowered to his lips, and her tongue swept out and left a wet trail on her bottom lip.

Oh yeah.

Kissing me? Richard wore an amused expression on his face, like he was daring her to push him away. He really did have a nice mouth. It was curved and inviting and looked just soft enough to give her an enormous amount of pleasure. She pushed down the flutters that began to wreck havoc on her stomach.

That mouth was also attached to an equally delectable body. He leaned toward her, and her focus moved up from his mouth to his eyes where he caught her with an intense look.

"You scared?" he taunted gently.