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He held her tighter. “Don’t worry, I’d never let anyone hurt you.” He moved back but didn’t release her. “The manager said not to return to your room. As soon as the weather clears, they’re going to send a team to assess the damage. You should be able to retrieve your belongings in the morning. As a courtesy, he’s going to send over a selection of clothing from the boutique.”
That’s why he’d told the manager her size. Of course, he should know – he’d seen her naked, just as she’d seen him.
It was definitely her turn.
Naughty Dara. Do not think about a naked Jason. Although naked Jason really was delicious. And after all she’d been through, didn’t she deserve a naked Jason?
“Did he say when?” she shot out. “It was bad enough walking through the hotel in a towel. I don’t want to walk to my new room in just your shirt.” He looked at her steadily, but didn’t respond. She narrowed her eyes. “He does have a new room for me, doesn’t he?”
“I’m afraid not.” He feigned no disappointment. “The hotel is completely booked. He asked if you could stay here for the night.”
Only if a naked Jason was involved. Wait – no – that’s exactly why she couldn’t do this. How could she stay with him all night when desire streaked through her like the naked Jasons running through her mind? “There has to be another room.”
“There’s not.” His voice held no subterfuge. “The tornado hit other floors, and it was pure luck no one was hurt. Guests without companions doubled up to take the few available rooms. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me, but don’t worry.” He gave a wide, and slightly wicked, smile. “I won’t bother you.”
She was already bothered. And hot. Really both. “I’m not worried about you.” She tried for nonchalant, failed spectacularly. “Like I said on the plane, we share a purely professional relationship.”
He seemed to be formulating a response, but she couldn’t listen, not after nearly getting caught in a tornado. She’d likely confess every wicked feeling, falling neatly into the web that was Jason Sterling. Once she fell, she’d fall hard, and when he left, it would be a personal and professional nightmare.
What to do now? She could claim exhaustion and go to sleep, but in her worked-up state she’d be up for hours. Television would only make her hyper aware of the man next to her. There had to be something that would distract them without involving naked (Bad Dara!) thoughts. “Want to play cards?” she blurted out.
He blinked at the sudden change of subject. “Cards?”
“That’s right.” She pointed toward the nightstand. “In my room, there was a deck in the drawer. I know it’s late, but I could use something to settle me down. If you don’t want to, I could play on my phone–”
“No, it’s fine.” He smiled. “I’d love to play cards with you. Do you mind if I get dressed first?”
Now that was just plain rude.
But she said nothing as he took a shirt out of his luggage and donned it. She wasn’t totally, utterly and completely disappointed, of course. Then he travelled to the nightstand and retrieved a crisp deck of cards. Removing the plastic wrap, he shuffled the cards expertly in his broad catcher’s hands.
And her wicked mind wondered exactly what else he could do with those hands.
She forced her gaze up. What was it about him that had her mind constantly in the gutter? She needed to get her head in the card game. He finished shuffling and formed a neat stack. “What do you want to play?”
She meant to say poker. And she did say poker, only somewhere along the way, her wicked mind interjected. “Strip poker.”
He stilled, and so did she. He managed to speak first, “What did you say?”
“Poker!” she yelped out. “I said poker.”
“I know you said poker, but didn’t you say…”
“Absolutely not.”
His eyes sparkled. “Are you sure? Because I’m pretty sure I heard–”
“You say it, and I’ll demote you to water boy.”
He laughed. “I’m pretty sure the Image Manager can’t demote the star catcher to water boy.”
“Sure, I can,” she huffed. “You’ll be the highest paid water boy in baseball.”
He grinned. “Whatever you say, boss. Just let me know if you change your mind and want to play–”
“Don’t you dare!”
“That other game you mentioned.”
