one, but his heart was doing hip-hop. Her nearness intoxicated him more than the rum he had drunk and his zipper was now uncomfortably tight.
He hesitated for a beat then brushed his lips on her neck. Her soft moan sent an electric jolt up his spine while they swayed to the music.
Man. If Maddie weren’t a friend, a coworker, or George’s niece, they’d be in his suite burning up the sheets.
And what the hell was wrong with having sex with her? Tonight. They could get it out of their systems and get on with their assignment. Maybe they wouldn’t be compatible in bed. They’d laugh it off and continue with their friendship.
Who the hell was he trying to kid?
If the touch of her fingers against his neck scorched his skin, then their naked bodies twined together would cause a five-alarm fire.
Damn it.
He couldn’t follow through, and he knew it. Not only would he feel like a jerk tomorrow in the cold light of day, but he would also run the risk of losing the only platonic relationship he had ever been able to have with a woman.
His ear tickled when she whispered, “You’re a good dancer for an uptight reporter.”
He leaned his forehead against hers. “Does my salsa rate higher than a chocolate sundae?” He chuckled. “Say…with a cherry on top?”
She tugged at the hair on his neckline. Her eyes sparkled when she met his gaze. “Revenge is sweet, and I don’t mind going into sugar shock.”
“I figured it was my turn to get a rise out of you.”
The music ended and she flashed him a saucy grin. “Don’t look now, but I think I’m the one who got a rise out of you .”
Christ , she’s right.
He was stiffer than his nine iron.
While she laughed, he managed a quick recovery, twirled her around and dipped her. He brought her up, held her tight and kissed her hard and fast on the lips. He heard her soft moan as their gazes once again locked. The blatant invitation in her smile shot right through to his chest, infiltrating all his defenses. Make that weakened defenses.
Without a word, he cupped her elbow and led her off the dance floor.
Mother of God, I need a dip in the Pacific tonight.
As they returned to their seats, he noticed a man at the bar staring intently at Maddie. He looked familiar. Alex had seen him in the lobby when they had checked in, and he was sure he was the same guy who had lingered near Maddie’s door last night.
Alex caught and held the man’s stare. The stranger stood, almost knocking over the stool, and hurried out of the bar. Alex’s horny mood evaporated. “Thank you for the dances,” he said, and caught her disappointed expression. “Let’s leave. You look tired.”
She paused, shrugged and said, “Yeah, okay, let’s go.”
They walked back to the hotel in silence. Had she noticed the man also? He’d interviewed enough private investigators to recognize them, and the man at the bar was without doubt a PI. Why the hell would a PI follow them? It didn’t make any sense. He still needed to exercise caution. He looked around to make sure they were alone.
Maddie cast him a sideways questioning glance. “You should seek professional help for that paranoia.”
He smiled. Her teasing meant she had perked up.
“I’ll add paranoia to the long list of issues you say I have.” He lightened his tone to alleviate any fears he might have instilled in her.
They were at the hotel now, and he walked her to her suite’s door. She slipped her key card into the slot, turned and looked up at him. “Want to come in?”
He hesitated for a moment, torn between keeping her at arm’s length and giving in to what they had started on the dance floor.
The latter was definitely the wrong decision. However, he didn’t want to dump her at the door. He would go in, watch some TV, banter and then go back to his own room.
Simple. Right?
Oh, yeah. Easy as breathing.
He tapped her nose. “Only if you behave yourself.”
She walked in and held the door open. “Do you think
He hesitated for a beat then brushed his lips on her neck. Her soft moan sent an electric jolt up his spine while they swayed to the music.
Man. If Maddie weren’t a friend, a coworker, or George’s niece, they’d be in his suite burning up the sheets.
And what the hell was wrong with having sex with her? Tonight. They could get it out of their systems and get on with their assignment. Maybe they wouldn’t be compatible in bed. They’d laugh it off and continue with their friendship.
Who the hell was he trying to kid?
If the touch of her fingers against his neck scorched his skin, then their naked bodies twined together would cause a five-alarm fire.
Damn it.
He couldn’t follow through, and he knew it. Not only would he feel like a jerk tomorrow in the cold light of day, but he would also run the risk of losing the only platonic relationship he had ever been able to have with a woman.
His ear tickled when she whispered, “You’re a good dancer for an uptight reporter.”
He leaned his forehead against hers. “Does my salsa rate higher than a chocolate sundae?” He chuckled. “Say…with a cherry on top?”
She tugged at the hair on his neckline. Her eyes sparkled when she met his gaze. “Revenge is sweet, and I don’t mind going into sugar shock.”
“I figured it was my turn to get a rise out of you.”
The music ended and she flashed him a saucy grin. “Don’t look now, but I think I’m the one who got a rise out of you .”
Christ , she’s right.
He was stiffer than his nine iron.
While she laughed, he managed a quick recovery, twirled her around and dipped her. He brought her up, held her tight and kissed her hard and fast on the lips. He heard her soft moan as their gazes once again locked. The blatant invitation in her smile shot right through to his chest, infiltrating all his defenses. Make that weakened defenses.
Without a word, he cupped her elbow and led her off the dance floor.
Mother of God, I need a dip in the Pacific tonight.
As they returned to their seats, he noticed a man at the bar staring intently at Maddie. He looked familiar. Alex had seen him in the lobby when they had checked in, and he was sure he was the same guy who had lingered near Maddie’s door last night.
Alex caught and held the man’s stare. The stranger stood, almost knocking over the stool, and hurried out of the bar. Alex’s horny mood evaporated. “Thank you for the dances,” he said, and caught her disappointed expression. “Let’s leave. You look tired.”
She paused, shrugged and said, “Yeah, okay, let’s go.”
They walked back to the hotel in silence. Had she noticed the man also? He’d interviewed enough private investigators to recognize them, and the man at the bar was without doubt a PI. Why the hell would a PI follow them? It didn’t make any sense. He still needed to exercise caution. He looked around to make sure they were alone.
Maddie cast him a sideways questioning glance. “You should seek professional help for that paranoia.”
He smiled. Her teasing meant she had perked up.
“I’ll add paranoia to the long list of issues you say I have.” He lightened his tone to alleviate any fears he might have instilled in her.
They were at the hotel now, and he walked her to her suite’s door. She slipped her key card into the slot, turned and looked up at him. “Want to come in?”
He hesitated for a moment, torn between keeping her at arm’s length and giving in to what they had started on the dance floor.
The latter was definitely the wrong decision. However, he didn’t want to dump her at the door. He would go in, watch some TV, banter and then go back to his own room.
Simple. Right?
Oh, yeah. Easy as breathing.
He tapped her nose. “Only if you behave yourself.”
She walked in and held the door open. “Do you think
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