Release Week Spotlight: A Fare to Remember by April Carew

“Have you ever thought of doing something else? My company—”

“Stop right there,” she said, leaning forward, her eyes intense. “I like driving a cab. It’s what I want to do. So don’t judge me or try to help me out of my sad, impoverished life. I’m doing what I love. That’s probably more than you can say.”

He laughed. “Touché. As it turns out, though, I do love what I do. It has become a bit lackluster recently though. I could use something new to liven things up.”

“Is that what this is all about?” she asked, her gaze cautious. “Asking me in for coffee? Talking to me like I’m a date? You want to screw the lady cabbie to add a little excitement to your life?”

“If I was pursuing you, it wouldn’t be so I could screw you.” He leaned in closer. “I would slowly and purposefully seduce you, then take you to heights of ecstasy far surpassing anything you have ever experienced before.”

Rather than looking shocked, her eyebrow quirked up. “That would be more difficult than you think. Hank might have been a jerk, but he was the best lay I’ve ever had.”

He grinned. “I’m sure I could meet the challenge.”

* * *

Stevie couldn’t believe her own words. What the hell was she doing? But this guy, he was so … so … damn, he was so gut-wrenchingly sexy her hormones were boiling over in a wild fit of primal desire.

She reached for her coffee, purposefully brushing her hand against his. Electrifying desire sparked between them. She picked up her cup, making a decision she knew she would probably regret later, but right now, she didn’t care.

“All right.” Then she stood up and turned toward the door.

He followed her to the cab and got in, then she pulled away from the curb in silence.

She passed his hotel and drove another couple of blocks, then pulled down a side street. It was a quiet, out-of-the-way place she would sometimes use to grab a nap if needed during a long shift. She had friends in the neighborhood that looked out for her. She opened the door and got out of the cab. Her handsome passenger followed.

“Aren’t you going to come up to my hotel room?” he asked.

She walked toward him and rested her hand on his warm chest. A surge of adrenaline rushed through her.

“I think here will do fine.”

“You don’t like a comfortable bed?”

She smiled, loving the fact that she was keeping a man off balance for a change. She stroked up his chest, then along his jaw, the light dusting of whiskers sending tingles through her.

“I don’t need a bed.”

Then she cupped his cheeks and kissed him, feeling every bit in control.

Until his arms came around her and she felt herself crushed against his chest. He pulled off her hat and tossed it onto the roof of the cab. Her long blonde hair fell around her shoulders in waves. He drew back and smiled, running his fingers through the soft strands.

“That’s much better.”

Then she felt herself backed against the wall. He leaned against her, his cobalt-blue gaze locked on hers.

“If this is what you want, then that’s fine with me,” he murmured.

His hands glided up and down her body, sending tingles through her. He hadn’t touched any intimate place on her body yet, other than their joining of lips, but she felt he’d taken ownership of her whole being.

Then his hand glided over her chest and he cupped her breast. The feel of his warm hand surrounding her, even through the layers of clothing, started a blaze within her. She could feel her nipples harden with need.

He kneaded her soft mound while his mouth took ownership of hers again. His tongue pushed between her lips and drove inside.

Oh, God, she was feeling out of her depth. She didn’t know what she’d expected, but him being so comfortable and in control in this dark alley wasn’t it.

His hand found its way under her jacket, then inside her shirt. He cupped her breast, just the lace of her bra a barrier between them now.

“You feel good,” he murmured against her ear. Then he rocked his hips forward and she felt a thick bulge against her stomach.

A shock of awareness rippled through her. It hadn’t really hit home what she was about to do until she felt his erection pushing against her. She was about to have sex—in a dark alleyway—with a total stranger.

She felt his fingers unfastening the button of her jeans. She sucked in a breath and grabbed his hands, then pushed them away.