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Category: Erotica/Erotic Romance/Romance
Description: Ryan Lerner is constantly being approached by gorgeous women because of his job. However, none of them have drawn his attention like the spunky and petite mocha-skinned Ajana Bennett that is begging him to help her clear her name. He always thought he didn't want a woman's company for more than a quick night of sex, but that all goes out the window when Ajana ends up sneaking her way into his well-protected heart. Yet, will her secret make him change his mind or will he do everything in his power to prove her innocence and make her his woman. First in a series.
eBook Publisher: Phaze, 2008
eBookwise Release Date: May 2008

29 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [85 KB]
Words: 18325
Reading time: 52-73 min.

She was beyond happy. Ryan was going to help her show everyone that she wasn't responsible for all of those burglaries and her name would be cleared. Ajana dropped her hands into her lap so she wouldn't touch him again. She hadn't been able to think about much of anything since snatching Ryan from the police station. However, one thing did keep penetrating her senses, and that was how double fine he was.

It's not fair for a man to have eyelashes that long and thick, she thought as Ryan glanced back down at the file. Television didn't do Ryan enough justice. It diminished how his clothes molded themselves to the taut muscles that covered his body. Or how the short haircut made his earlobes a tempting treat to a woman who hadn't been with a man in over eight months.

Trying to be sneaky, she let her gaze wander over the well-washed jeans cupping Ryan in all the right places a woman wanted to notice and tried not to. How did a man this hunky stay single?

"Why do you want to know?" Ryan peered at her from the corner of his eye.

Ajana was captivated by the way Ryan's sex appeal made her breath stop in the middle of her chest. His masculinity was so potent that her mouth went dry. Clearing her throat, she finally found her voice to respond. "I can't be caught here with you. You might not still be thinking about turning me in, but someone else won't have a problem doing it."

"I'll answer your question when you answer the one I have for you."

"Why do you have a question for me?"

"Because this in my house and I can ask you anything I please. Now, are you going to be quiet and find out what my question is?"

"Ask away," Ajana murmured, "but it doesn't mean I'll answer it.

The unwelcome silence stretched between them, making her sorry that she even agreed to answer Ryan's dumb question in the first place. She gave an anxious little cough to clear her throat while she waited for Ryan to say something.

"How did you get your bag into my house?" Ryan asked in that smooth voice she was beginning to enjoy. "What you told me earlier, was that really the truth?"

Ajana considered lying, then thought against it. There would be plenty of time of that later. "I followed you from the police station yesterday to see where you lived. I almost lost you a couple of times. It was almost like you were trying to make sure no one knew where you lived, but I kept up. Then today I hid at the park and waited until you went to work and broke inside by picking the lock. I was really surprised by how easy it was. So, yes what I told you earlier was the truth. I have no reason to make this stuff up. I hid my bag in the closet and made a mad dash back out. It didn't take more than five minutes tops to do it." Ajana smirked.

Seizing the file, she got up from the table only to have Ryan push her back down. "Don't get cute with me or I might not help you after all."

"Why aren't you threatened by me? I held you hostage. I could be lying and planning your murder along with my getaway."

The sexy chuckle from the man next to her made a certain part of her lower body wet in a matter of seconds. "I'm positive that a woman who highjacked me with a prop gun isn't a huge threat to my well being."

"Hey, you thought so," she corrected.

"Yeah, don't remind me," Ryan groaned. "Biggest mistake of my life and it never leaves this room."

The look Ryan gave her meant he was serious enough to make sure she kept her word. Ajana wasn't about to get on the bad side of the man who was going to help her.

"I promise I'll never tell anyone you were frightened of a fake gun." Crossing her chest, she held up two fingers. "Your embarrassing secret is safe with me, Officer Lerner."

"Make sure that you don't," Ryan encouraged, getting up from the table, "and stop calling me Officer Lerner. You've called me Ryan a couple of times, so stick with it."

"Ryan it is." Ajana agreed, liking the way saying his birth name made her feel. She got comfortable in the chair while she ogled how the back of Ryan looked as good as the front in those sinful jeans. "I'm still a little taken back that you agreed so easily to help me out. How do you know I'm not lying about not being the one who robbed all of those stores? As a cop, aren't you supposed to think I'm guilty until proven innocent?"

Pausing with his hand about to touch the refrigerator door, Ryan faced her. He frowned, his eyes level under drawn brows as like he was still processing her comment.

"If you want me to help you, then stop saying dumb shit like that."

"Why, isn't that the way most cops minds think?" she threw back. "None of you ever think a person is innocent until after the poison needle is in their arm pumping them full of drugs."

Ajana barely had time to blink before Ryan was across the room, trapping her in the chair with his large body. She wasn't a bit frightened; in fact, she was turned on so much she wished Ryan would kiss her.

Hold on one minute! What in the hell was she doing lusting for the man who might end up putting her in prison?