"Well, as enticing as I'm sure I am to pretty young women," he was already laughing through the words, "I'm afraid it couldn't be anything else. Contrary to what I'm sure are all appearances, I'm an involved man." Talking, Rush was realizing, was making this far easier. And he felt better for admitting that, before things became too heated.

"Well, you may be changing your tune when we've gotten down to business."

As he spoke, his hands were moving from her hips up to the sides of her waist, no longer content to rest as they were.