Then she stood beside him, dark eyes staring up into his. “Yes, I’m ready.”

  * * *

  “No, absolutely not! I will not let you put that much money into my checking account. I’ll never be able to pay you back, Mercury,” Sloan said, not caring if the man staring at her, the man who owned the bank and who was one of Mercury’s closest friends, Jaye Colfax, was doing so with keen interest.

  “Mr. Colfax? I’d like a private word with Mercury.”

  The man stood and smiled. “The two of you can certainly use my office to hash out the details of your bank account.”

  As far as she was concerned, there was nothing to hash out. There was no way she’d let Mercury deposit twenty thousand dollars into a bank account for her.

  “So, what’s the problem now, Sloan?” Mercury asked as soon as the door closed behind Jaye Colfax.

  She glared at him. “There is no way I can let you open a bank account for me by putting that much money into my account. It would take forever to pay you back.”

  “You don’t think you’ll eventually get a job?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “And were you not the one who a few minutes ago made it clear to me, Sloan, that you don’t like depending on anyone?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then what’s the problem?” he asked, getting to his feet and then crossing the office floor to where she sat. She wished he hadn’t done that. Every time she saw his body in motion it did things to her. Things that didn’t make sense. She’d seen Harold move and it had never made her body hot in certain places. It never tempted her to glide her hands up his shoulders and abdomen to see just how tight his muscles were.

  “Sloan, I asked what’s the problem.”

  Mercury was now standing in front of her, and when she looked into his gorgeous green eyes, her pulse actually flickered.

  “Did we not discuss this out in the parking lot? Did you not agree to accept my loan and that you would pay me back in installments?”

  “But that was before I knew how much you would put into my account. Lisa was only going to loan me a thousand dollars.”

  He tilted his head to further stare down at her. “And just how far do you think you’d get with a thousand dollars? Or do you intend to live with my parents forever?”

  “Of course not!”

  “Then what’s the problem? I’m loaning you enough money to get started. You’d need to put money down on a car, put a deposit on an apartment, buy food and clothes. So, I’m asking for the fifth time, what’s the problem?”

  Sloan broke eye contact with him, knowing there was no way she could express herself logically while staring into his eyes, even if those eyes were upset with her at the moment. Licking her lips, she stared down at her lap instead, trying to gather her thoughts and not dwell on the heat curling in her midsection.

  Drawing in a deep breath, she lifted her head to drag her gaze back to Mercury’s face and felt her body warm again under his regard. “The problem is that I don’t want to be in your debt, Mercury. I don’t want to feel dependent on you.”

  She heard his frustrated sigh before he said in a calmer voice, “At some point, Sloan, you’re going to have to accept that, to get out of this mess your parents have placed you in, you’re going to have to depend on someone.” He paused a moment and then asked, “Do you prefer that my parents loan you the money?”

  “No! I could never accept that from them.”

  “Yet you were going to accept money from your friend Lisa. I’m offering you twenty times what Lisa was able to loan you. I don’t understand why you’re putting up such a fight. I’ve never before known any woman who didn’t like spending my money.”

  His words set her off and she was out of her chair so fast it didn’t give him a chance to back up, so he didn’t. They were standing so close their bodies were touching, the way they had last night before they kissed. Trying to ignore how his closeness made her feel a little light-headed, she said, “I don’t want to become beholden to the one man in town who claims he knows every single woman who lives here.”

  There, she’d said it. She’d expressed her feelings. Now all she had to do was get a grip on her heartbeat and slow it down. She wasn’t sure what reaction she had expected from him, but it wasn’t that he’d have no reaction at all. He was still staring down at her, those green eyes holding her captive.

  “It shouldn’t bother you what woman I know or don’t know. I’m being generous. Are you going to let me help you or not?”

  A part of Sloan knew she was being too prideful for her own good. She should accept his generous offer with the understanding that she would pay him back. Every cent. No matter how long it took. “Will you put me on a payment plan?”

  “I told you that I would. Let me repeat myself. The money is a loan and not a gift.”

  He hadn’t stepped back. Was she imagining sexual vibes that seemed to be pouring off him? And why did it seem as if the air shimmering around them was growing taut? “When?”

  He lifted a brow. “When what?”

  Was she mistaken or was she seeing desire in his eyes? Would she even recognize it if she saw it? “When can I have it?”

  “When do you want it?”

  She swallowed. They were still talking about a payment plan, weren’t they? “As soon as you can give it to me.”

  “How about now?”

  She nervously licked her lips as naked heat seemed to fill her. And did her hips just move against him? And did he have an erection?

  “Now?” she asked, trying to keep up with what he was saying.

  “Yes, now.”

  Then he lowered his head and crushed his mouth to hers.

  Ten

  The kiss was every bit as raw as it was seductive. That was the way Mercury had wanted it to be. He knew what they’d been discussing and in no way was this what she’d asked for, but at that moment he was unapologetically getting what he knew they both wanted.

  She might not understand the heated yearning passing between them, but he most certainly did. It was there, a deep desire that pulsed and throbbed. A desire he definitely didn’t want.

  This was how he handled such matters, meeting them head-on. Last night he’d kissed her to drill some sense into her. At least that was what he’d told his mother. What was his excuse this time? What was the reason he’d allowed her to get under his skin enough that he’d been tempted to kiss her again? How did Sloan Donahue have the ability to arouse him even without putting forth much effort?

  When she wrapped her arms around his neck, he could actually feel anticipation thicken the air. He also felt something else thickening. If he were to ease her a little to the left and then lean forward, he could easily take her on that desk. He was then quickly reminded it was Jaye’s desk. His best friend wouldn’t like Mercury using his office as a make-out room. That thought reminded him of where they were and what they were doing. It also reminded him that he had to regain control of his willpower and he needed to do it now.

  He broke off the kiss and took a step back. The dark heat in Sloan’s eyes tempted him to come back, return to her arms and reclaim her mouth. But he didn’t. He couldn’t. He’d crossed another line today and that wasn’t good.

  “So,” he said, after giving in to temptation and licking his tongue across his lips, as if to make sure her taste still lingered there. “I’m glad I’ve talked some sense into you, and that you’ve agreed to the money I’m putting into your account.”

  He watched her expression. His words had been a reminder of the disagreement they’d been dealing with before the kiss.

  “I don’t like taking your money, Mercury. I wish there was another way,” she said softly, not looking at him.

  “There’s no other way.”

  “And I wish you wouldn’t kiss me every time we disagree about something and claim to be talking some kind of sense into me.”

  Was that what she assumed was the only thing driving their kisses? Maybe he needed to enlighten her that there was more to it than that. On the other hand, it might be wiser that he just let her assume whatever she wanted. “Maybe we need to try to be of one accord, then.”

  “Or maybe you need to keep your mouth to yourself.”

  He could very well tell her it took two to tangle, and that her mouth had been involved just as much as his. “I’ll try.” That was the best he could do since he could no longer ignore the attraction he felt for Sloan.

  Unfortunately, he was a man used to acting on attractions. Women in Phoenix knew him. They knew he was a die-hard bachelor with no intentions of ever changing. The only thing they got from him were nights of lovemaking with more orgasms than they could count.

  “Maybe it’s something we need to talk about, Mercury.”

  He didn’t agree. Glancing at his watch, he said, “Let’s discuss it later. Right now, we need to take care of opening that bank account and then look for a car and an apartment for you.”

  Mercury could tell by the mutinous look on her face that she wanted to discuss things now, but there was no way that he could. Namely because he’d done something today that he’d never done, which was to give a woman his hard-earned money. In no way was he a cheapskate when it came to women. Just the opposite. He had no problems lavishing his money on someone if it meant the outcome going the way he wanted.

  Expensive dinners, weekends at exclusive and luxurious resorts, beautiful flowers, high-priced purses. You name it and he’d bought it. But never had Mercury Morris Steele dropped twenty grand into a woman’s bank account knowing in the end he wouldn’t be getting a single thing...except for maybe a few stolen kisses when his patience with her had run its course.

  Why kissing her was becoming a habit, he wasn’t sure. All he knew was that if her mouth got too close to his, he was driven to taste it. Devour it. Make a damn meal out of it. One he was enjoying way too much. Hell, he was even anticipating it happening again. He honestly liked his way of trying to talk sense into her.

  The knock at the door signaled Jaye’s return and a part of him was glad. Being in a secluded space with Sloan was putting ideas in his head and that wasn’t good. “Come in.”

  Jaye had the damn nerve to walk into the office smiling. Mercury wished he could knock that silly-looking grin off his best friend’s face and could only imagine what Jaye was thinking. “Well, have the two of you reached an agreement?”

  Mercury decided to speak up before Sloan did. “Yes, we have. We are opening the account.”

  Less than an hour later, they’d left the bank and were headed to a car dealership owned by one of his brother Eli’s friends, Ronald Taylor. Mercury had called Ronald, who’d promised that one of his car salesmen would be ready to work him up a beauty of a deal.

  He glanced over at Sloan. She hadn’t said much since leaving the bank. He knew she was still bothered that she would be using his money, but like he’d explained to her, she had to start somewhere and this was it. He’d also had to assure her that his money hadn’t come with any strings. He’d almost had to kick Jaye to remove the shocked look on his face when Mercury had made that announcement.

  “Do you know what kind of car you want?” he asked now, to break into the quiet of the car’s interior.

  “It doesn’t matter,” she said, in a voice that sounded defeated. For the life of him he couldn’t understand why she would feel that way. With the money he’d given her she could start the independent life she wanted.

  “What kind of car did you have before?” he asked her out of curiosity. She glanced over at him and it seemed a whimsical smile touched her lips. He was so taken by it that the driver behind him had to honk his horn to let him know the traffic light had changed.

  “The same kind you’re driving now.”

  He lifted a brow. “A Tesla sports car?”

  “Yes. Same year and model, but mine was blue. My favorite color.”

  He shouldn’t be surprised. After all, her parents were loaded and had doted on her to keep her under their thumb. And he shouldn’t be surprised that blue was her favorite color. It was his as well, and as far as he was concerned, nothing was prettier than blue. He’d even read once that the color blue had a positive effect on a person’s mind and body. He could believe that. That was why he preferred making love to a woman on blue linen.

  “No wonder you thought my Camaro wasn’t worth much.”

  He wasn’t sure what he expected her response to be, but it hadn’t been her throwing her head back and laughing. It was the first time he’d heard her laugh, and the sound did something to him. Emotions within him seemed to come to life. Her laughter was so infectious that he heard himself laughing, as well. How could he laugh about her thinking that one of his antique cars, his prized possessions, was a POS? It didn’t make sense. Nor did it make sense that he’d opened a bank account in her name and deposited his money or that he’d kissed her twice now or that he’d taken time away from his job to take care of her needs.

  “I’m truly sorry about that, Mercury.”

  “About what?”

  “About my reaction to finding out the car I’d purchased was stolen. That just goes to show how much I don’t know about cars. About anything. I’m embarrassed to even say that opening that bank account was new for me. When I turned sixteen, I was given one for my birthday and Dad automatically deposited money into it monthly.”

  She paused and then added, “I never questioned how much he was putting into it or why. I never realized my parents were binding me to them in a way they figured meant I’d never want to break free. It was all about the money.”

  Mercury didn’t say anything because he knew that was true for some people. Money meant everything. The more they had the more they wanted. Although his mother had been born to wealth, his father had not. Drew Steele was a self-made man and made sure his sons followed in his footsteps, and they all had. Nobody had given them anything, which was why Drew wouldn’t agree to let their maternal grandfather set up trust funds for his boys unless he specified the age of thirty-two. By that age Drew figured they would have learned to sink or swim on their own. Luckily, all six of them had been successful, and the five-billion-dollar trust fund had been icing on the cake.

  “Well, at least you had the sense to break free when you realized what they were doing. Some people wouldn’t have minded being dependent on others and not thinking for themselves.”

  His thoughts shifted to the one-and-only woman he had thought he’d loved. Cherae Blackshear. They had met in college. He’d been in his freshman year and attending college on a football scholarship. Galen, Eli, Tyson and Jonas had warned him about those girls who hooked up with football players they thought were going places. He’d gotten injured in his sophomore year and some thought that would be the end of his football career. Cherae’s family, who’d been all gung ho on their relationship, then decided she needed to switch ships since his future no longer looked bright.

  Mercury would never forget the day she’d visited him during one of his physical-therapy sessions to break up with him because her parents said she had to. They wanted her to hook up with someone who would be able to take care of her and give her the things they felt she deserved. Namely money.

  Cherae cutting him loose like that had messed with his mind and left him not giving a damn about his future or anything else. It had taken his brothers arriving on his college campus ready to beat some sense into him. They’d told him that his biggest mistake had been to fall in love in the first place. Bad News Steeles didn’t give their hearts to women. Second, they bashed into his brain that to get even he needed to get his ass back in gear and play football again.

  Taking his brothers’ advice, he had worked hard, endured all kinds of physical pain during his therapy sessions. But he had gotten back in shape. By his junior year, he was in the college team’s starting lineup. In his senior year, sports agents had come out of the woodwork to sign him on with the NFL.

  That was when Cherae had tried making a comeback. He’d told her in a not-so-nice way that she would be the last woman he’d ever get serious about again. In fact, thanks to her, he’d happily reinstated his player card and the only thing she could get from him now was laid. He’d run into her a few years ago at one of their college homecomings, and she was still trying to find a rich husband.

  “They don’t look too busy today,” he said, pulling into the lot of the auto dealership.

  Sloan glanced around and he smiled at the sparkle he saw in her eyes. “There are so many beautiful cars.”

  “Yes,” he said, bringing his own car to a stop. “And there’s one out there with your name on it.”

  * * *

  “I’m positive this is the car I want,” Sloan said excitedly, smiling brightly at both Mercury and the car salesman. Her smile then faded somewhat when she thought of something. “But can I afford it without any credit history?”

  To Sloan’s way of thinking, the smile the salesman returned was even brighter than hers. “Don’t worry about that, Ms. Donahue. Everything has been taken care of.”

  She lifted a brow, not liking the sound of that. It reminded her of what salespeople would say when they knew her parents would take care of any debts she incurred. “What do you mean by that?”

  Before the man could respond, Mercury said, “What he meant is that he’s in the business to make sure the customer gets any vehicle they want, even if it means adjusting the payments to accommodate the buyer. Right, Mr. Lowery?”

  The man looked over at Mercury, nodded and then glanced back at her. “Yes, that’s right.”