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As she got ready to leave, she cheerfully reminded him of food delivery places she’d taken note of, leaving all sorts of numbers behind, and, as she headed for the door, he reached for her, halting her steps and spinning her around to face him as he brought them closer.
Before he knew it, his lips had found hers.
She melted into his embrace and let him kiss her for all of two seconds before she pulled away violently.
Shame flooded him.
“Christ, I’m so sorry, Mari—I don’t know what got into me. It just felt so natural…”
She took a step back, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
He knew she was as affected as he was, but her face was riddled with indecision.
She looked struck—confused and aroused all at once.
“I’ll see you in a few hours,” she said before disappearing through the front door.
Chapter 6
Maribel
What the hell was that?
Mari almost walked into someone as she exited her apartment, concentrating on trying to slow her heart rate back down, but it was no use.
She knew how Jim felt all right—the kiss felt so natural it took her a few seconds to realize it wasn’t supposed to be happening; he was betrothed, after all.
What had gotten into her?
It was already one thing to let a strange man into her home—quite another for things to go any further with him while he was still technically attached to someone else.
She was not that kind of woman; no one was going to call her a home-wrecker.
Did it matter that Jim was so obviously unhappy and unlikely to go through with the marriage? That he wasn’t exactly in love?
She sighed.
Of course it mattered; a commitment was a commitment.
Sure, it looked like he was about to back all the way out of that deal, but she had to keep her head on straight for more reasons than one.
No matter what Jim said, the circumstances still stood—for now, he belonged to someone else.
So why did it feel so right to have him in her home?
Clearly, he felt it too—his brain and body got confused by the circumstances, and naturally, after spending the night in a woman’s place, he had done what he probably always does when he wakes up—kiss her goodbye.
Jealousy burned through her at the thought.
They hadn’t even done anything!
And it was likely they never would.
Her heart clenched a little at the thought of him saying goodbye later that day or the next, and the very real possibility she’d never see him again—especially after what she had planned.
She wanted more—more of what his lips left on her.
And despite her words, all she’d wanted was to watch him strip last night.
She was trying to be bold, helping him out of his jacket, but that step toward him and the nearness to his tall, broad frame and his intoxicating cologne was too much.
She had never had a one-night stand before; in fact, her last time was eons ago—her second year in college.
Jim made her want to do far more than what she considered decent, and they had no sort of relationship at all!
She didn’t get involved with anyone she wasn’t in a committed relationship with!
But she couldn’t tell her body that.
Heat pooled at her core whenever she was with him, and she had to fight herself not to help him take his shirt off and more last night.
She was tempted to strip her own clothes off right there and then!
Where had the impulse come from?
Um…obviously he’s hot. You saw those forest eyes, that chiseled face…
Jim was right—she was crazy to bring a strange man into her home—a man oozing sensuality and sexual prowess. A powerfully built man with a broad chest, muscular arms, sea-green eyes, and a panty-melting smile.
How long did he plan to stay in her place again?
And how the hell was she supposed to keep resisting him when she could barely keep her mind out of the gutter around him?
Simple—just say ‘hey,’ then sort out the food situation, tell him you have to study or whatever, and then disappear into your room as fast as possible. Well, maybe not right away, since you need more info from him, but as soon as the atmosphere shifts—like maybe around nine…
She shook her head again.
If he was still there when she got back.
What was she thinking, leaving him there in her home?
She hid everything that could give away her intended career before leaving, but what if he was extra snoopy? What if he used his millions to do some research on her and found out what she was up to?
She knew it was unlikely, but to her surprise, the thought of returning home and finding him gone scared her more than anything.
She was nowhere near ready to let him go, and not just because she hadn’t gotten more out of him for her story just yet.
Jim Craig was certainly a dangerous man—his kiss had not only made her feel inappropriate, it made her feel like dropping the scoop immediately.
She started growing angry at herself.
You haven’t even gotten the D, and you’re thinking about sparing him?
Why was she still having any sort of moral conflict about him? He wasn’t worthy of her consideration.
She let out a breath, feeling the weight of that lie.
She had been with him long enough to sense he wasn’t just some selfish prick.
The mere fact that he had fled from an arranged marriage spoke volumes.
But shouldn’t that turn you off?
Any day before yesterday she would have judged a man hard for taking off like that, but the look in his eyes, the way he couldn’t just fall into line with his father’s expectations, that he wanted his marriage to mean something beyond a merger, that he longed to find the proper woman…
Her heart fluttered.
She reminded herself not to get caught up.
Despite the kiss he’d given her, he wasn’t exactly in a position to think clearly himself.
He had way too much going on right now to know what he really wanted.
All he seemed to be sure of at this point was what he didn’t want: Lucy—the poor girl he left behind.
* * *
Mari didn’t believe the receptionist—the person she’d dropped by to see most likely did not actually just leave for lunch.
It was a flimsy excuse—one she wasn’t surprised to hear considering she had popped by unexpectedly, but she was still proud of herself for trying.
She knew her chances of forcing a meeting between her and an HR person were extremely slim, but she was hoping to catch the eye of someone in charge on at least one of her many visits.
Maybe someone important would glimpse her and want to know more; her mom had always told her that presenting a case in person is usually most powerful.
“It’s harder for someone to say no while looking at you,” her mom used to say, “And you, in particular, have a distinct advantage. People always respond to pretty.”
“I’m not that pretty, mom.”
“Pretty enough, baby.”
Sure, she’d continue to keep mailing resumes, but she would keep trying to arrange a meeting in person, unannounced.
At least, now she was just going through the motions pleading her case, knowing she had a hell of a trump card to play.
Once she got her info together for her article on Jim Craig, she imagined several places clamoring for her exclusive.
As she left the building, she dialed up Annie, hoping to catch her at a good time.
Her best friend usually took her lunch breaks around this time, and if she wasn’t too busy, Mari could finally spill some of the beans from the past twelve hours or so—she felt like she was about to burst.
So much had happened in so little time.
Just as she’d hoped, Annie answered.
