Who Is It…This time?

By Kat Fenn

Chapter 1

Michael Coldsmith-Briggs III looked at himself in the mirror. It had been some time since he dressed in anything other than white. His cornflower blue muscle tee shirt, under a black biker-style jacket and black cargo pants gave him a rakish air, a complete difference from the crisp white three piece suits he normally wore.

Running his fingers through his hair, he grabbed his Rolex wristwatch with his free hand and snapped it on his left wrist. He walked out of the bathroom into his bedroom and picked out a pair of black shoes from his closet. He chuckled to himself when he saw that he had a single token pair each of black and brown shoes amongst a sea of white shoes he normally wore for work.

Michael slid into his Jeep. A quick glance at his wristwatch showed that he had exactly ten minutes to pick Caitlin up for their date. Their fifth, in fact, since the day of Dom's birthday party, where he had revealed his feelings for the freckled redhead. He found her sense of fun endearing, but underneath she proved to have a ready wit and an affectionate nature. "Good God, I sound absolutely lovesick!" he thought to himself. "Get a grip, for heaven's sake! Don't overthink it…" He forced his mind to concentrate on the road ahead of him.

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Caitlin tucked her arm through Michael's as they walked the short distance from the carpark to the restaurant. Although it was a warm night, a stiff breeze blew icy fingers down her neck. Feeling her shiver, Michael tried to quicken his stride. "Don't worry, Michael, we don't have to rush. I'm not that cold," said Caitlin, smiling at him. "Not all shivers are due to cold, you know."

Michael looked quizzically at her. The double entendre behind her words was almost visible. Although they had discussed taking it slow, he wondered if tonight might be the night he 'got lucky'. "Don't do that to me, Cait, otherwise I'm turning you around right now and marching you home to bed," he whispered huskily.

"Well, Mr Coldsmith-Briggs III, what are you waiting for?" said Caitlin with a wink.

Resisting the urge to sling her over his shoulder, Michael promptly did an about-turn and steered her back in the direction of his Jeep. Cait giggled and allowed herself to be led off. Delicious shivers ran down her spine in anticipation.

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Michael rolled back onto his pillow. Trying to catch his breath, he puffed heavily for a few seconds before he managed to slow his breathing down. Propping herself up on one elbow, Cait smiled mischeviously at him. "So this is what I've been missing all this while?"

"Plenty more where that came from," growled Michael, in a voice so deep and seductive he barely recognised it as his own. "Now, that's an invitation I can't possibly refuse…"purred Cait, fingers already running sensuously down his torso.

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"How about going away for a whole weekend, Cait?"

Pulling a sheet around her, Caitlin sat up. "A whole weekend? This is the first time we've been on a whole date without being interrupted, you think you can manage a whole weekend?"

"Well, I'll certainly try to arrange it. Leave my satellite phone briefcase behind 'accidentally-on-purpose' might help…and if I tell Marella that it's a romantic weekend with you she might well decide to cut us a break and cover for me?"

"Well…under those circumstances, I'd say yes to that. Where shall we go?"

"Hmmmm…I've always wanted to go to Hawaii…what do you think?"

"Oooh, sounds good. Let me square it with Dom before we make definite plans?"

Michael's only answer was to yank the sheet off her.