Hooked

was worth a try.”
    And just like that, they were at her home, parking in the driveway and walking up the front steps, hand in hand. She unlocked the door, and as she dropped her keys into the bowl on the sideboard in the hall, the sound of her dog shaking in his kennel came from the kitchen.
    “Mickey,” she said, looking up at Finn, appreciating the glow of his eyes in the dim light. “He always gets a final walk down to the green at this time of night.”
    “It’s a nice night.” Finn smiled. “Get the leash and we can take him together.”

Chapter Six
    The big golden retriever was a bit more subdued in welcoming Finn this time. He pulled eagerly on the leash as they took him down the street to the common green area for a little exercise. There was plenty of light, despite it being only a quarter moon. Everything was washed in blue and silver tones. Finn slipped his hand around Stephanie’s as they watched Mickey nose out messages left by the neighbor dogs, and leave a few of his own.
    She told him about picking out Mickey—rather, how the puppy seemed to have picked out her . She shared stories of obedience class and Mickey’s remedial studies. When Finn and she laughed and stood close together in the dark, it was as if the rest of the world faded away. For a few moments a rich silence descended. She looked up and found him watching her with warmth in his eyes—just as Mickey pounced on her and knocked her into him.
    His arms flew up to steady her.
    “Ugh—no, Mickey,” she gasped, bracing her hands on Finn’s arms, feeling the sudden pounding of her heart and sensing the acceleration of his. He was so warm and so vital and so…here. It was the most natural thing in the world to slide fully into his arms and to drink in the feel of him against her. This was what she had craved, the feel of his arms around her, holding her, warming her. She laid her cheek against his chest and sagged with pleasure that was part relief. It was happening and it felt wonderful and wonderfully familiar…all the things she’d wanted but was afraid to hope for.
    It was only as they entered the house later, holding hands, feeling a stir of sensual anticipation, that she realized she was in trouble. When she glanced up, he took her by the shoulders and pulled her against him. His kiss was all she remembered and more. She surrendered to it, loving the texture of his lips and the slightly salty taste of him. Need uncoiled deep inside her as she leaned into him, seeking the press of him against her…her…
    She opened her eyes and, reeling, ended the kiss. Her lips were throbbing and her body was warming in preparation for— What in heaven’s name was she doing? Breaking away, she pleaded the need for “freshening up” and headed up the stairs, leaving him alone in the hallway looking confused.
    When he called up from the bottom of the stairs, asking if she would like some coffee, she clasped her cold hands to her burning cheeks and called down, “Sure.” A moment later she was standing in front of her bathroom mirror, horrified by the flush of excitement in her face and the sensual swelling of her lips. She honestly hadn’t expected the evening to go this well or this far .
    Her plan to keep things cool and friendly was a total failure, but she was not going to let things go any further. She didn’t want to even imagine getting more intimate…taking off her blouse and bra and seeing his face when he realized what had happened to her. But she did imagine it: the horror, the disappointment, the inevitable questions…the awkward exit afterward. She couldn’t put him—or herself—through that.
    Finn gave himself a mental kick in the butt. What the hell was he doing, grabbing her and kissing her as if he meant to head straight for bed? He knew she was trying to keep some distance between them—hell, it was written all over her. There would be plenty of time for the physical stuff later, if there was a “later.” He spotted the dim glow of the kitchen lights. Maybe some coffee would slow things down and continue the getting-to-know-what’s-up-with-you thing.
    He headed for the kitchen with Mickey dogging his heels. Flipping on all the lights, he located the coffeemaker and riffled through a few impeccably organized cabinets to find mugs, coffee, sugar and creamer. Damn, she would have to use one of those one-cup-at-a-time things. He laid the coffee out on the granite topped island and checked the fridge for