“But let me show you I’m not like him, Anna. Give me the chance.”

Adam’s words reached into her, turning her inside out, and Susannah swallowed uneasily. She was sweaty, disheveled, but he was looking at her as though he was starving man and she a five-course meal. Worse still, her body was responding to that look and his words.

“I’m sweaty,” she blurted out, and he gave her a crooked smile.

“I’m used to sweat. You smell better than a lot of my teammates do. You look better. And I bet anything you feel better.” He reached out, snagged a drop of perspiration on his finger, and she shivered at the feel of his finger on her flesh. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so turned on by sweat before,” he whispered.

He stepped forward, pulled her into his arms, and pressed his lips against hers. She felt his hands tangle in her hair, keeping her head steady as his mouth moved with tortured sensuality on hers, branding her with a torrid desire. Any thought of breaking away from him was gone, not with his body pressed against hers, his need for her evident against her belly. His kisses were like an addictive drug; the more he gave, the more she craved.

“This is insane,” she whispered against his lips as the kiss broke.

“So commit me.” His voice was harsh, urgent, and, taking a deep breath, he brought his lips to hers again, his tongue making its way into her mouth. Helpless against the onslaught of desire raging through her body, Susannah wound her arms around his neck, pulling herself closer to him.

“Susannah.” His breath was hot against her ear as he broke free from the kiss and she trembled at the need, the longing in his voice. “God help me, I’ve wanted you for awhile. I never thought it would be returned.”

“Are you kidding?” Susannah leaned back in his arms, studied his flushed face. “I’ve had a crush on you. For years. It was one reason I almost turned Brian down when he ordered me to take you on.”

“Do you think this is what he had in mind?” Adam leaned forward and began pressing feather-light kisses on her eyelids and cheeks.

“No.” Her heart was thumping in her throat, her legs trembling. She caught her breath as he moved against her. “I’m so hot for you, Adam. Damn you.”

“Why damn me?” He whispered the words in her hair and she closed her eyes.

“I could get my license revoked—”

“Not if we don’t tell anyone.”

Susannah took a deep breath and forced herself out of his arms. She turned her back on him and looked out the front door at the almost empty parking lot, rubbing her hands on her arms. Adam moved behind her, close to her, but not touching. Still, she was conscious of the warmth of his body. It was that warmth she was responding to, the need to have him touch her, to kiss her, to bury himself deeply in her.

“I’m not trying to give you the rush or anything.” His voice was husky, languid. “We’d be damn good together, and you know it, Anna.”

She clenched her fists and lowered her head, practicality warring with her need to be in his arms and in his bed. Or wherever else he could take her.

“There’s too much going against this,” she whispered.

Adam turned her gently and, putting a finger under her chin, tilted her face to his. His eyes were filled with affection, sympathy and desire.

“There’s everything going for this,” he responded. “All it needs is a chance.”

A chance.

Your father never had a chance once that damned driver hit him.

Susannah wearily pushed the thought from her mind. None of that had been Adam’s fault.

“You’re persuasive,” she told him, her voice unsteady.

Susannah saw relief and triumph flash across his face.

“You learn those skills as a hockey goalie,” he said softly. “They come in handy from time to time.”