Something Wild (26 page)

Patti pivoted toward the door that led to the street, "I'll go take a walk."

Penny smiled her apology, then shifted her attention back to Ryan, biting her lip as he neared the bar. "Well?"

"He's glad," Ryan said, smiling. "He gives us his blessing. Although it wouldn't have mattered. Either way, I'd be down here right now telling you I love you."

He loved her? A happiness like none she'd ever known stormed through Penny's veins. She couldn't breathe, her emotions becoming some bizarre mixture of confusion and an elation beyond measure. "But I thought—I thought this was just a fling. I thought you couldn't fall in love that fast. Remember, you told me that once."

He took her hands and gazed into her eyes. "I was wrong. And I was a fool to think anything was more important than the way I want you." Her whole body went warm as he pulled her into his embrace. "So, tell me, do you have any other fantasies we haven't explored yet?"

Penny raised her eyebrows. "I do, in fact."

"Don't keep me in suspense."

"Well … I've always kind of wanted to do it here, on the bar."

Ryan peered at the mahogany, then glanced over her shoulder toward the street. "Kind of risky with all these plate-glass windows. Are you ready to go that far?"

Penny didn't answer, but her body flared with a familiar desire as she slid her arms around his neck and plundered his warm mouth with her tongue. Their bodies pressed together, thighs intertwining, and she'd just begun to lose herself in the sweet friction when Ryan whispered breathlessly in her ear.

"I, uh, hate to break it to you, but even
I'm
not that wild." He gazed past her again, first toward the street, then to the pub's office. "We should look into getting some big shades for these windows, but for now, honey, we'll have to make do in there."

At the moment, Penny hardly cared where they did it, as long as she had her way with him, now. A slow smile spread across her face as she realized she finally had what she'd always dreamed of—the kind of passion that was too urgent to wait. Grabbing Ryan's tie, she led him into the office and shut the door.

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