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Arguing this with him was fruitless. He refused to violate his gentlemanly code of ethics.
“We could share the bed. It’s big enough for both of us.” My face grew hot at the idea of sleeping next to his inescapable heat. Maybe he would only wear boxers.
Maybe he would be naked.
A shudder ran through my body.
“As much as I’d like to sleep with you. It’s probably not a good idea.”
The sound of his strained voice and the inevitable flicker of his eyes down my body made my toes curl in pleasure. I wanted this man more than anything in my life. My heart raced as his hand lifted to my face and pulled a stray strand of blonde hair behind my ears.
“Goodnight, Jessica.”
I tossed and turned on the too large bed as though constant movement might dislodge the burning feeling of Luke’s hands and lips from my mind. I was alone with no one real to talk to.
Am I just another one of his paid employees?
My eyes stung from being awake too long, I flipped open my phone and texted a message to Natalie: I got here OK. Have a great holiday. xoxo Jessica
6
My eyelids cracked open to an unfamiliar ceiling, and it took a few minutes for me to remember where the hell I was.
Oh, yeah. I’m in London.
I leapt to my feet and gazed at the surrounding glass walls to my right. London sprawled underneath. I never felt so young and alive. Soon I would descend to its depths and explore the city until my legs stopped working. I couldn’t recall a time when I experienced such bliss I couldn’t stop grinning. Well, that wasn’t true. Some of the happiest times of my life were when Natalie and I hung out during summer vacation. I biked down State Street to her house every day so we could play in her big backyard and walk in the woods behind it. There was an inexplicable joy that came with freedom from parents or school, with exploring the world on our bikes until the sun dipped below the horizon. My eyes misted as I remembered how wonderful it had been—I forgotabout it until now.
It was five in the morning and a slow stream of cars and taxis were making their way down the streets. I squinted and tried to locate Big Ben or the Tower of London, but I couldn’t recognize anything.
After a moment of hesitation, I found Luke. It was early, but maybe he was awake. There was a robe with his name in the armoire and walked around the cool tiles barefoot. I wandered into the silent kitchen, looking outside to gaze at the panorama of the city. Was every inch of this hotel room bordered by glass? I continued walking forward, not paying attention to where I was going.
BAM! My head smacked right into something solid and damp. A pair of hands took my arms, and I saw Luke lookingcontrite, dressed only in a towel wrapped around his waist.
“Jessica!” He released me. “Are you all right?”
My nose was stinging. Holy crap, I thought as I studied his perfectly carved chest and biceps. My chest felt feverish, and I was aware of how hot my face and neck were.
“Uh—wow. You’re in really good shape.”
Ugh. Once again, I was at the mercy of my exhausted brain.
He smiled and looked down at himself. “Well, I try.”
Please tell me there will be some public event that willrequire him to take his clothes off.
My hand flew to my hair, and I twirled a strand around my finger. “I’m sorry for bumping into you. I was distracted.”
The smell of his body wash hung like a musky cloud; it was intoxicating. He looked down at me with a seductive, shit-eating grin as he crossed his arms over his chest and studied me. The bastard knew how hot he was and he wasn’t ashamed of flaunting it. A guy like him—how did he keep his ego in check?
Stop twirling your hair, idiot!
Isnapped my arm to my side. It washard to keep my gaze fixed on his eyes; they wanted to wander down his chest to the towel wrapped around his waist, revealing trim abs and a sprinkling of dark hair that led straight to his—
Luke cleared his throat. Mortified, I glanced back to his widening grin. He definitely noticed me checking him out.
“I was thinking that we could explore London today. There are a couple meetings in the afternoon I can't get away from, but I could meet you afterwards.”
I can’t hear you when your clothes are off.
