Marriage by Mistake

other side of his desk, she came to a stop.
    "Excuse me?" Dean tried to look innocent.
    She wagged a finger. "You ran away."
    Despite his best efforts to the contrary, Dean could feel his face flush. "I—had to get to our plant in Atlanta. It was an emergency."
    "Oh, I'm sure it was." She rolled her eyes. "Since you finally broke down and kissed me."
    Dean crushed his teeth together. He could still feel that kiss, its velvety excitement. "Is there a reason you're here, Kelly?" As if he didn't know. She was here to...sink her claws into him. Well, he wasn't going to let her. He was going to make his meeting with Myers. They would concoct a plan to extract her claws.
    She twisted to perch a hip on the corner of his desk. "I'm here so you can make it up to me." She threw him a very naughty smile.
    Dean tried to meet her gaze dispassionately, but his inner temperature spiked. It was impossible not to fantasize exactly how she'd like him to 'make it up.' As calmly as he could, he lifted his watch. "Ahem, maybe some other time. You see, I have an appointment."
    She laughed. "Oh, no. I'm sorry Dean, but you can't use that excuse again."
    Her face had come alive with her laugh, become radiant. Dean forced himself to breathe. "It's not an excuse." Indeed, if he didn't manage to get Kelly out of his office soon, he'd miss his chance to make sure she never ambushed him there again.
    "It is an excuse, but I'll tell you what." Kelly's head tilted. "I'll consider us quits if you answer one question."
    Dean stared. That was it? One question? He didn't believe she would make it this easy, but asked, "What?"
    To his surprise, her teasing gaze dropped. When she spoke, she sounded almost timid. "Tell me, Dean, what was the hypnotic suggestion?"
    He froze.
    Kelly looked up. "I always assumed it was—well, for you to go out and do something embarrassing. But I asked Troy and he said it wasn't that, but he wouldn't tell me. He said it would have to come from you." She gazed at Dean steadily.
    Dean gazed right back, even though it seemed like all the air was leaving the room. The hypnotic suggestion. He couldn't answer her. Not truthfully. She'd make all kinds of assumptions—false assumptions. Like they really were meant to stay together or that he actually wanted to fall in love with her. He made himself breathe and his eyes narrowed. "I'm afraid that information is...not forthcoming."
    "Not forthcoming ?"
    "I'm not going to tell you."
    This provoked a lengthy perusal from those witchy green eyes. "You mean," she said at last, "it's too personal."
    Dean gave a curt nod.
    Kelly held her fortune-teller eyes on him a minute more, then lowered her gaze. "Okay," she said. "I guess I can understand that."
    Dean blinked. She could? She was going to back off? Not that he planned to stick around and look a gift horse in the mouth. "Thank you," he said stiffly, and began to come around from behind his desk. "Then if you'll excuse me, I really do have an appointment to make."
    He thought he was going to get away, he really did. He was halfway to the door when she stepped in front of him. She put a hand on his chest. "Not so fast."
    "Pardon?" Dean tried his best to look unworried, though his heart was beating very fast beneath her hand.
    "You didn't answer my question." The corners of Kelly's mouth curved. "So, now you owe me."
    "I—what?"
    "You owe me. Still. For running away the other day. So—" She got a wicked sparkle in her eye. "So no going to your appointment unless...you kiss me."
    " What ?"
    "You heard. Kiss me. Right here." She tapped her lips.
    Dean's own lips parted. No way, no how. He wasn't going to kiss her. It was exactly the kind of activity—the dangerous kind—he was going to meet Myers to prevent.
    "You don't think you can do it." Kelly was arch.
    "Of course I can do it."
    "Hmm, yes. You kiss very well." Kelly patted his tie. "But you couldn't just kiss me and stop there. Not any more."
    "What are you talking about?"
    Her eyes flicked up at him. "Your famous self-control. You don't have it with me."
    The look in her eyes sent a thrill through Dean. "Nonsense." His own gaze averted. "You are no different than any other woman."
    "Oh, really?" Her hand moved up his tie, lightly circling it. "Prove it."
    Dean swallowed. That thing she was doing with his tie made his knees feel weak, but he could do it. He could kiss her, knowing it was a means to get out the door to meet Myers, and that Myers was a means to get her out of his