Retreating to her bedroom in a high state of arousal, she nearly wore out her batteries even as she cringed with embarrassment at what she’d spied on. Resisting every temptation to steal glances from the window again, she finally put two pillows over her head in an attempt to shut out the loud laughter and music that went on far into the night.

The next day, after all the cars had left and she was sure Cody was alone, she marched herself over to his house, wrapping righteous indignation around herself like a suit of armour. She hadn’t wanted to admit to herself that it was more a case of rampant jealousy than annoyance at him for his open style of sexual activity. Nor did she want to figure out why she felt the need to confront him, except that a sleepless night and uncontrollable arousal had her ready to explode.

He looked slightly sleepy but otherwise none the worse for wear when he opened his door, dressed only in jeans that rode low on his hips. She had to swallow twice to remind herself what she was there for.

“We have to talk,” she told him, drawing herself up to her full five foot two.

Her anger might have faded a little if he hadn’t taken a look at her and burst out laughing.

“What’s so damn funny,” she demanded.

“Sorry, sugar. You just look so cute standing there breathing fire at me.” He swung the door wider. “Come on in.”

She shook her head. “I have no intention of coming into this den of sin. What I have to say can be said right out here on the porch.”

He grinned. “Den of sin, huh? Sounds like fun to me.”

Why, oh why, did he have to look so temptingly sexy?

Lanie cleared her throat and drew herself up to her full five-foot-two height. “I saw naked people by your pool last night.” She wished she didn’t sound so much like a fishwife. “Indulging in sex acts I didn’t even think were possible.”

“And you’re upset you weren’t invited,” he teased.

“No, damn it. I want to tell you this is a decent neighbourhood, and we don’t tolerate things like that.”

All traces of humour left his face. “Let me remind you, Miss Burrell, I own most of this neighbourhood, and you have your house only because I’m a nice guy. What I choose to do is my business. There’s no law that says you have to look, you know.”

“But there is a law against disturbing the peace.” God, all she needed to do to look more ridiculous was shake her finger at him.

He looked at her for a long time, his sexy as sin mouth twitching with a repressed grin, his sapphire-blue eyes lit with a fire that threatened to burst forth any minute.

“All right,” he said at last. “You’re my only neighbour and I believe in peaceful coexistence, believe it or not. I have a lifestyle that obviously offends you so I’ll do my best to keep it off your radar.”

“Exactly how do you plan to do that?” she demanded.

“How about if I give you warning whenever I’m having…company, and you can lock yourself up in your house or go out for the night. That sound fair?”

Lanie was torn between arguing with him and wishing he’d invite her to join him. For Cody Hawkins she could lose a lot of her inhibitions. She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Fine. That’ll work.”

As she turned to leave he said, “But you have an open invitation, sugar. I’d sure love to do wicked things to that sweet body of yours.”

She was shaking as she marched back across the street to her house, sure that he was silently laughing at her the entire time.

“Lanie?” Cody snapped his fingers. “You in there, sugar?”

She realised she’d dropped into some kind of trance, remembering that first confrontation, and mentally shook herself.

“Sorry. I must have spaced out for a minute.”

“Probably from that hot book your reading,” Cody chuckled.

In which you always play the hero.

She dug her fingernails into her palm to keep herself from blurting out her thoughts. “Thanks for letting me know about tonight. I think I’ll take in a movie.”

“If that’s what you want.” His eyes burned like blue flames. “Or, you could come to the party. If I’d known you were interested in things like this,” he indicated her book, “I would have invited you long ago. I thought this kind of stuff turned you off.”

“I don’t…I can’t…” She clamped her lips together, feeling like an idiot.

Cody cupped her chin with his lean, strong fingers. “Not chicken, are you?”

She shook her head. “It’s not that. It’s just…I mean, I’ve never…”

“You read about it. Don’t tell me you’ve never thought of trying it. Any of it.” He ran his knuckles lightly along the line of her jaw. “’Fess up, Lanie. Haven’t even thought a little bit about it? Hmm, sugar?”

Her skin burned where he touched her and a feverish sensation skittered along her spine. His masculine scent surrounded her, stealing her ability to think.

“N…no. I mean…” she swallowed. “I saw some of the things you do. That night. I don’t know if I could…you know…in a crowd like that.”

My god, I sound like an addled teenager.

“You won’t know until you try it. Group sex can put a spark in your life.”

“I’m not much into the wild life, Cody. You know that.”

“Listen. We monitor alcohol intake and don’t allow drugs.” His wicked fingers trailed across her shoulder, pausing at the hollow of her throat where her pulse threatened to burst from her skin. “You may not believe it, but you conjure up sinful thoughts in my mind. We’ve got chemistry, Lanie. Admit it.”

“I don’t know…” She wet her lips. “That is, I…”

“Tell you what, sugar. You think about it. If you decide to give it a chance, come on by about eight o’clock.” He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. “If you do, you’ll be my personal date for the night, okay? I’ll be your guide. Whatever you like is fine. Whatever you don’t…” He shrugged. “Maybe you’ll try it, maybe not. But I’ll be with you the whole time.”

She shivered at the thoughts running around in her head. “I don’t know, Cody. I’ll see.”

He tapped a finger on her nose. “Eight o’clock. Don’t be late.” That warm chuckle rumbled up from his chest. “You don’t want to miss anything. And Lanie?”

“Yes?”

“You don’t know how much I’d love to have something going with you.”

Cody wasn’t sure if he’d just done the smartest thing or the dumbest, inviting Lanie to the party. Sudden immersion in freewheeling group sex could be enough to shock her back into the closet, never to emerge again. But Jesus, in that teeny weenie bikini, she made his dick so hard he could have pounded nails with it.

The first time he met her at the realty office, he’d thought, Hmm, another good looking but uptight broad. Hope she doesn’t freak out at the neighbourhood activity.

But after that first-not unexpected-confrontation, he’d made it his business to drop in as often as he could. Never for more than a few minutes, and always with a logical excuse, like telling her it was party night.

But he’d discovered she was bright, funny, maybe a little shy or maybe it was just that she wasn’t out there like every other woman he knew. The problem was, she tripped some kind of switch inside him that made him think of things besides who he was going to fuck that night and how many people would be sharing with him. He’d never been with a woman who made him think of picnics and sailing and walks on a breezy day, but Lanie Burrell was conjuring up these images and more.

At thirty-eight, he knew he’d have to think about settling down before long. After all, his lifestyle was going to take its toll on him if he didn’t slow down, no matter how careful he was. But the women he met bored him, except when they had fun and games, and they certainly never made him think of the future.