Read Online Dodging Temptation (The Retreat) by Avery Flynn - Free Book Online
Authors: Avery Flynn
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other targets.”
She twisted her napkin until it tore in two. “Even if I wanted to, which I don’t, I can’t. My boss was crystal clear. Any media attention and I lose my job.”
“I have connections,” he said. “I can help you find another job.”
She should say no. Her head was screaming for that outcome, but her heart was whispering something else entirely. “I ’ ll think about it.”
“Really?” He looked as if he never thought his plan would work.
“Yes, I’ll do that.” Really, what would it hurt to consider it?
“Thank you.”
She giggled at his slack-jawed surprise. “Don ’ t make such a fuss about it. I better get back to my room. I have a date tomorrow with a cowboy diary.” And if she stayed in here with him any longer, God knew what she ’ d agree to next. Remaining in the kitchen with him meant only one thing: temptation. Hot, sweaty temptation and she ’ d had about all she could take of dodging temptation for one night.
He stood up and gathered their empty bowls as if he didn ’ t have an entire staff of people paid to clean up after him. “Let me walk you back to your room.”
Following him across the kitchen, she paused outside the door. The urge to stay a few minutes longer made each step away feel like moving through fast-drying concrete. “I ’ m okay.”
“You ’ re in the east wing, right?” He put the dishes in the dishwasher. “We ’ re going the same direction. We might as well go together.”
When he put it that way… “Let ’ s go.”
The Retreat ’ s main lodge had started out as a rich rancher ’ s five-bedroom homestead and only gotten bigger after that. As they made their way from the kitchen to the lobby and up the stairs to the east wing, Dodge pointed out the bits of the original structure that remained. He explained the painstaking process his dad had undertaken to make the transition to the additions that tripled the size of the already large main lodge, throwing in plenty of local history to help her connect the dots about why May Loving would have so many first edition cowboy diaries. Most of the men and women who ’ d scrawled down their thoughts must have crossed through this part of Wyoming at one time or another. The walk to her room took less time than she wanted and probably more time than it should have. She wasn ’ t sure whether to be thankful or curse the lack of people in the hallways at one in the morning.
“So this is my room.” She pulled the key card out of the zippered pocket on the back of her workout tank top but couldn ’ t make herself swipe it through the lock—not just yet.
Dodge stopped beside her, looked at the room number placard next to her closed door, and shook his head. “You ’ re in the honeymoon suite?”
“That would explain the size of the bed.” And the special lotion and oil sampler basket she ’ d found on the bedside table.
“My mom is always so subtle. Whatever she says, ignore her.”
“What about the universe wanting us to get married?” she asked, the need to prolong their talk and needle him a little overwhelming her better judgment.
He looked up at the ceiling and sucked in a deep breath. “Oh God, she told you.”
“Like you said…” Harper giggled at May ’ s antics. “She ’ s very subtle. Don ’ t worry. I told her I wasn ’ t interested.”
“Not even a little bit?” He turned and edged closer, putting his hands on the doorframe on either side of her shoulders. He didn ’t touch her , didn ’ t block her in.
Her skin tingled, making her feel every inch of flesh he wasn ’ t touching. If she wanted to, all she had to do was slide her key card across the lock, and she could escape into the safety of her room. She could get away from the constant tug of attraction pulling her closer to him, the unsettled need that made her clench her thighs, and the way he managed to piss her off and turn her on in alternate breaths. The thing was, she didn ’ t want to,
She twisted her napkin until it tore in two. “Even if I wanted to, which I don’t, I can’t. My boss was crystal clear. Any media attention and I lose my job.”
“I have connections,” he said. “I can help you find another job.”
She should say no. Her head was screaming for that outcome, but her heart was whispering something else entirely. “I ’ ll think about it.”
“Really?” He looked as if he never thought his plan would work.
“Yes, I’ll do that.” Really, what would it hurt to consider it?
“Thank you.”
She giggled at his slack-jawed surprise. “Don ’ t make such a fuss about it. I better get back to my room. I have a date tomorrow with a cowboy diary.” And if she stayed in here with him any longer, God knew what she ’ d agree to next. Remaining in the kitchen with him meant only one thing: temptation. Hot, sweaty temptation and she ’ d had about all she could take of dodging temptation for one night.
He stood up and gathered their empty bowls as if he didn ’ t have an entire staff of people paid to clean up after him. “Let me walk you back to your room.”
Following him across the kitchen, she paused outside the door. The urge to stay a few minutes longer made each step away feel like moving through fast-drying concrete. “I ’ m okay.”
“You ’ re in the east wing, right?” He put the dishes in the dishwasher. “We ’ re going the same direction. We might as well go together.”
When he put it that way… “Let ’ s go.”
The Retreat ’ s main lodge had started out as a rich rancher ’ s five-bedroom homestead and only gotten bigger after that. As they made their way from the kitchen to the lobby and up the stairs to the east wing, Dodge pointed out the bits of the original structure that remained. He explained the painstaking process his dad had undertaken to make the transition to the additions that tripled the size of the already large main lodge, throwing in plenty of local history to help her connect the dots about why May Loving would have so many first edition cowboy diaries. Most of the men and women who ’ d scrawled down their thoughts must have crossed through this part of Wyoming at one time or another. The walk to her room took less time than she wanted and probably more time than it should have. She wasn ’ t sure whether to be thankful or curse the lack of people in the hallways at one in the morning.
“So this is my room.” She pulled the key card out of the zippered pocket on the back of her workout tank top but couldn ’ t make herself swipe it through the lock—not just yet.
Dodge stopped beside her, looked at the room number placard next to her closed door, and shook his head. “You ’ re in the honeymoon suite?”
“That would explain the size of the bed.” And the special lotion and oil sampler basket she ’ d found on the bedside table.
“My mom is always so subtle. Whatever she says, ignore her.”
“What about the universe wanting us to get married?” she asked, the need to prolong their talk and needle him a little overwhelming her better judgment.
He looked up at the ceiling and sucked in a deep breath. “Oh God, she told you.”
“Like you said…” Harper giggled at May ’ s antics. “She ’ s very subtle. Don ’ t worry. I told her I wasn ’ t interested.”
“Not even a little bit?” He turned and edged closer, putting his hands on the doorframe on either side of her shoulders. He didn ’t touch her , didn ’ t block her in.
Her skin tingled, making her feel every inch of flesh he wasn ’ t touching. If she wanted to, all she had to do was slide her key card across the lock, and she could escape into the safety of her room. She could get away from the constant tug of attraction pulling her closer to him, the unsettled need that made her clench her thighs, and the way he managed to piss her off and turn her on in alternate breaths. The thing was, she didn ’ t want to,
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