Pete grinned at her and secured her in his lap. "You're falling for me."

"Because you tripped me."

"As long as it works."

"Don't try to change the subject," Anne said. "You looked dangerous for a minute there. He missed it. I didn't."

"I can be a very dangerous man." Pete palmed her breast and squeezed gently. "I may prove a serious danger to your bras."

"You won't be serious about this, will you?"

"About sex? Hell, no. If there's ever a time you need to keep your sense of humor, it's in bed." His fingers moved, and her desire to finish the conversation warred with more carnal desires.

"Pete."

He put both of his hands up in a gesture of mock surrender. "Okay. I don't like him coming around. But I'm not afraid of the competition."

"Some competition."

"He might just have the holiday blues." Pete wrapped his arms around her again and rocked his hips under her in a suggestive move. "Or he might be feeling sentimental."

"You mean, maybe he's bored, in town over the holiday break, and hoping I'd miss sex enough to do him one last time?"

"Seems likely. How was he to know you had me?" He nuzzled the curve of her neck.

"I don't see how he could have, since I didn't know I had you."

"I'm subtle."

Anne burst into laughter and gave in to the urge to slide her hands up Pete's chest and around his neck. "You're subtle like a sledgehammer."

He gave her a look of deep suspicion. "You're not going to sing Peter Gabriel when we get naked, are you?"

"If the tool analogy fits…" Anne grinned, feeling lighter now that the Brad problem had been put into perspective.

"I'll be yo...