The moment the limo door closed, the sound ricocheted through her. Belle folded her hands in her lap. She swallowed as he scooted closer to her. Silence clung in the air until the driver pressed on the gas. She tilted her head and saw how Peter stared at her. Her stomach melted like butter.

She held her hands firmer and asked, "Is what Jennifer said about you true?"

His gaze narrowed. "What did she say about me?"

No holding back. She rubbed the back of her neck. "She told me you have trust issues that keep you from committing."

His eyes widened. "I don't think any woman should want to be with me long term. I'm pretty damaged."

This fit with what she thought, but she held her hands firm on her lap. "How can you think that?"

He nodded. "Most people want the money I can provide for them. If it's not money, it's something else. Everyone has a price."

"I don't believe that." Her price might be that she wanted a night she'd never forget. She licked her lips. "Even if it's true, how does that make you feel?"

He lowered his gaze. "I don't want to talk about me."

Seduction had never been her thing, and they were in a limo. The driver had seemed nice, but he could hear her. She kept her voice soft.

"I do. I'm interested in you, Peter."

"Why?"

He brushed his hand against hers. "'Cause I act different with you. You make me feel something and I like it."

She swallowed and tried to glance away.

Then he asked, "Did you intend to marry Colt because you felt something too?"

Direct hit on his part. Her lips parted. "I almost married Colt because I trusted him. Like you, I don't trust many people, but once people prove themselves as honorable, I open up."

"How can you say that? He left you for another woman?"

"But I knew he loved Victoria before we ever dated."

His hand went on top of hers. Her heartbeat raced as he asked, "And you were okay with that?"

"We thought she was dead."

These questions weren't going to lead her where she wanted to go. She swallowed. It wasn't wrong to want fun tonight and not have expectations.

She massaged her neck and said, "I thought he was grieving for someone he could never have again and that I could help heal him."

His gaze narrowed. "So you tried to fix him?"

She leaned forward and then rubbed his arm that held her. "I guess. I'm clearly not in love with him, if I am here with you."

His Adam's apple bobbed as he asked, "Are you sure?"

Her hands continued to stroke his arms. "During the ceremony, my eyes were glued on you. I don't know how much surer you want me to be. Now I've answered your questions. Can you answer mine?"

His skin grew goose bumps too. She kept that to herself. His gaze lowered, and he stared at her lips.

"What was that?"

Take me, right here, right now begged to be said. She opened her mouth, but then she asked, "How does people using you for money make you feel? Does that make you trust less?"

His face darkened. She swallowed. Serious was not going to get him to go to bed with her tonight.

He then massaged her knee. "We all use each other to get what we want out of life. I happen to be good at getting others to agree with whatever I want, and I get a good price. It was what my father taught me."

A simple brush of his skin on hers sent her into overdrive. "Are you like Scrooge in the old story and willing to let Tiny Tim die?"

"No, I don't want to be heartless and cold." He leaned closer and was only inches from her face. "All my employees are offered full health insurance, even the part timers."

Insurance had never set her on fire before. She sat back and lowered her gaze. "And your last relationship, Jennifer? What did you get from you?"

"It wasn't a relationship. She knew where we stood."

He rubbed his chin as the limo stopped. He got out and held his hand for her to join him. She scooted out the same door and took his offer. He moved her hand to his arm as he led her inside.

"Plus she was Vicki's friend. She was the only one left that knew my sister and checked on me. She was someone I understood and could be safe with."

Everyone had believed Victoria dead. She inhaled, and the sweet scent made her lips water.

She sighed. "Where was John?"

No one stopped them in the lobby. They walked arm-in-arm.

Peter said, "In the FBI. He hated me too."

She tugged on her ear. This was too deep. She'd have to figure out how to ask him to kiss her again. At least she hadn't told him not to, so this time, he might kiss her on his own.

"We don't have to talk about family anymore. I can see it clearly hurts you."

"Nothing hurts me."

Her eyebrows lifted, and a smile widened on her face. "Is that a dare?"

His dimples grew as he pressed the elevator button. "No. You have better aim than most."

She squeezed his arm. "I never stopped training, even after I left the Marines. You should give yourself credit. You clearly stay in shape, Morgan."

As the elevator opened, she went inside to the sweet sound of a guitar playing a romantic medley. He followed her in, and he took her hand.

"Morgan? Are we using last names now, Jordan?"

"It's what everyone else calls me at work." His arms leaned on both side of the elevator around her. A hunger grew inside her.

She panted and said, "Just you and Em and, well, everyone at the wedding, seems to remember my name is Belle."

His lips almost brushed against hers. The elevator dinged, and they stopped on her floor. He lowered his arms and then massaged the back of his neck.

"Why did your parents name you that?"

She followed him into the small hallway outside her door. This night didn't need to end. She licked her lips.

"I think my mom was into Disney, or she basically knew it was French for beauty. She must have had wishes for me."

He stared at her. Her skin tingled with anticipation. Tonight she ignored the doubts that plagued her mind and focused on him.

"You're wistful. You must have had a mother you loved. And I broke my promise to you."

Her eyes widened. "What promise?"

He shrugged. "We weren't going to discuss family anymore, were we?"

As she opened the door with her electric key, she stared into his eyes. This couldn't be the end. She swallowed. "It's okay, as long as you intended to kiss me before we depart."

"You can invite me into your room, Belle."

Finally. This night was going her way. This was the night of no regrets. She pushed the door wider and pointed toward the living room.

"Yes, you're right. I can. Come in for a moment."

His hand brushed against hers as he did as she wanted. "You are nothing like anyone I've met."

She closed and locked the door behind her. "Is that a bad thing?"

His arms circled her waist, and his body brushed against hers. "Absolutely not. Can I kiss you now?"

She closed her eyes and puckered her lips. "I'm counting on it."

A fraction of a second later, his hard lips suckled on hers. Her hands ran through his thick, coarse hair. He was perfect. Her toes curled.

As he ended the kiss, he smiled and held her tight. "You even taste like apples."

That was new. No one ever said she smelled sweet like anything. "You have a strange thing about that fruit and me."

His quick head nod made him adorable. "I guess I do."

He then took a step, and she thought he intended to leave. She jumped forward to grab his arm. "Don't go."

"Are you sure, Belle?"

Yes. No. Maybe. Tonight with him didn't need to end. She needed more.

She nuzzled his neck. "Please stay."

He swallowed then wrapped his arms around her. "Belle, I never want to disappoint you."

She whispered, "Then we'll not think about anything else other than tonight. We make no promises."

He closed his eyes and then planted soft kisses on her nose, cheeks and lips. "You're the type that expects far more than I can give."

She'd be his. Tonight was their’s. "Tonight is just that and nothing more."

He froze. "One question."

Whatever he wanted. Yes.

Then he asked, "Will you be my New Year's date this year?"

Perhaps he was under some sort of spell too. He didn't understand the one night only offer, but perhaps she might extend it for a vacation.

She licked her lips. "Okay. I'll stay."

His hands ran down her spine, and every cell inside her was stimulated awake. He asked, "Is this okay?"

"Yum. More. I want everything."

"You're fascinating."

"Remember what I said about that word."

"Got it."

He turned off the lights. Every part of her was alive as his hands brushed against her breasts to take her hand. She focused on their heartbeats, which were in sync. He was everything she had ever wanted.