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Maybe that was why he was so anxious for his new business to succeed. The resentment his own mother had exhibited toward him—even though he’d kept the family hotel dynasty in the black, and her in diamonds as icy cold as her personality—was hard to take. Though he’d loved them both, he’d felt trapped by his father and by his grandfather. Trapped into fulfilling their dreams, and not his own.
Was it so wrong to want to steal a few days out of his own life to do something he really wanted to do?
“Where did you go?” she asked softly, sensing his distraction.
“Just...memories.”
“Not very happy ones?”
He shrugged. “It is what it is.”
“That’s such a cop-out phrase.”
He rose onto an elbow and stared down at her, unable to prevent a grin at her eye roll and huffy breath. “Is that so?”
“That’s so. Nothing is what it is, not if you’re willing to work hard to change it.”
“You believe there’s nothing that can’t be changed...fixed?”
“Nothing.”
“I’ll try to keep that in mind,” he said, making a mental note. Then he shook off the family memories; there was no place for them now. His business in Arlington was only supposed to take a day or two. He’d have to return to Miami to deal with the company, and the Black family, sooner or later. But he’d make it as late as possible if it meant he could indulge himself with this beautiful woman for a while longer.
“To the point,” he said. “I’m not in a huge hurry to fly home to Florida. You could stay with me while I’m here.”
“Hmm. A wealthy businessman wants me to stay with him in his opulent hotel suite while he’s in town.” A wry grin tugged at that lush mouth. “That sounds awfully familiar. I think I saw it in a movie starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.”
He immediately caught the reference and barked a laugh. “Well, you are a very pretty woman.”
“Plus my name is Viv, just like hers, and I’m unemployed and broke. Unfortunately, though, I’m not a hooker.”
“I’m glad. I’d never be able to afford you.”
She smiled, hearing the compliment. “Lucky for you I’m an amateur, then.”
“Doubly lucky. I’d die if I weren’t allowed to kiss you on the mouth.”
It took her a moment, then she realized what he meant. “You really know your chick flicks. I’d forgotten about that part of the movie.”
“I have sisters, remember? And speaking of kisses...”
He leaned toward her and pressed his mouth to hers, kissing her good-morning, trying to distract her from where he suspected she was taking the conversation—toward their one-night-stand agreement and her determination to leave. Goodbye was the last thing he wanted her to say. Good morning, good afternoon, good night...hell, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. It might take months to get her out of his system.
That didn’t mean he was contemplating forever. Months was about the longest commitment he could possibly envision, even with a woman as intoxicating as this one.
She tasted warm, soft and sweet, and reminded him that he really—really—enjoyed kissing. When it finally ended and they drew apart, she let out a tiny sigh and returned to the unpleasant topic at hand.
“We had a deal. One night. Remember?”
“You know what they say about deals...”
“Never welsh on one?”
“Anything can be renegotiated.”
“You sound like a businessman.”
“I am a businessman.”
He kissed her again, holding her close, tracing his palm down her spine, caressing each soft curve and vulnerable hollow.
“You’re trying to distract me,” she eventually whispered.
“Is it working?”
“Depends on what you hope to accomplish.”
“I’m hoping to get you to stay,” he admitted.
“I do still have a home. I’m not desperate.”
“Never thought you were. But maybe I am.” He kissed her again, demanding, trying to get her to take a chance. “Don’t go,” he insisted. “Just stay and we’ll see what happens.”
She didn’t immediately relent. Viv, as he’d already realized, was no pushover. “I can’t think when you kiss me like that,” she said, sounding disgruntled. “Go do something and let me pull my brain cells back into place.”
He barked a laugh. “What should I do?”
“How about you call room service and get us some breakfast while I take a shower.”
“That shower is enormous. Plenty big enough for two. Remember?”
She should. They’d taken a long, steamy shower last night.
