Temperature's Rising (34 page)

Karen Kelley

“No.”

They both turned and stared at Conor.

“It’s too dangerous. No wife of mine is going to put her life in jeopardy. I’m not going to sit at home and worry about where the hell you are.” She slipped her arm from her father’s and walked the few feet to stand in front of Conor. “That’s about the most unromantic proposal I’ve ever heard.” He looked everywhere but at her. “Well, will you?”

“Will I what?”

He’d jumped into it with both feet this time. Taking a deep breath, he met her gaze head-on. “Marry me.”

“Of course I’ll marry you. I love you.” She’d said yes. His heart pounded. She loved him.

They’d be a family. He wanted to laugh and shout at the same time. Grinning, he tried to pay attention to what she was saying.

“We could be partners, you know, undercover. Like Marty and Angie. After all, I have redeemed myself by helping catch the Meredith gang. Unless another goat comes along.” She began to pace in front of him as she thought out loud. “We need more than just burglars, though. Something with a little more substance.”

“No wife of mine is going undercover.” What the hell was she thinking? Going undercover . . . no way.

She snapped her fingers. “I know. I could pretend I’m a hooker.” She struck a seductive pose and tossed her hair over her shoulders. “You know, a woman of the night . . .” There was only one way to get her mind off this ridiculous notion. He pulled her into his arms and brought his mouth down on hers. A couple of seconds passed before she softly moaned and began to kiss back. If he had to kiss her the rest of their married life, he would. Anything to keep her from harm.

He pulled away and gazed into her eyes. “No more foolish talk?”

TEMPERATURE’S RISING

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“Kiss me again.”

“You won’t ever mention this crazy scheme about wanting to be an undercover cop?” She shook her head. “No, Conor. Now kiss me.” He happily obliged.

She sighed, tangling her fingers into his hair. She really was going to hell for lying.

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Copyright © 2005 by Karen Kelley All rights reserved. No part of this book may be repro -

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ISBN: 0-7582-3327-2

• Cover Page
  
• Also by Karen Kelley
  
• Title Page
  
• Dedication Page
  
• Chapter One
  
• Chapter Two
  
• Chapter Three
  
• Chapter Four
  
• Chapter Five
  
• Chapter Six
  
• Chapter Seven
  
• Chapter Eight
  
• Chapter Nine
  
• Chapter Ten
  
• Chapter Eleven
  
• Chapter Twelve
  
• Chapter Thirteen
  
• Chapter Fourteen
  
• Chapter Fifteen
  
• Chapter Sixteen
  
• Chapter Seventeen
  
• Chapter Eighteen
  
• Chapter Nineteen
  
• Chapter Twenty
  
• Chapter Twenty-One
  
• Copyright Page