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“No, but there are some shops downstairs.”
“None in my price range,” she said with an eye roll, having seen those shops when they’d walked through the lobby yesterday. “I’m a Dollar General girl until I get a new job.”
“Would you just shut up and agree that you staying here is the best option?”
Huh. So much for the charming, dimpled smile. Now he was practically glowering, reverting to the businessman who was used to getting his way.
Frankly, Viv liked that version of Damien, too.
“Stay, Viv. Just promise me you’ll stay, at least until I get back later and we figure out what you’re going to do next.”
She gave it one more moment’s thought, and then slowly spun around to face him. “All right. But just...just for a little while. Maybe just until you return.”
“Or maybe for a week.”
“Don’t push your luck.”
That boyish, sexy grin flashed again as he disappeared behind the glass-block wall and stepped into the steaming shower. But even through the mist and water, she heard him say, “I always push my luck. After all, if I don’t, how am I ever going to get what I really want?”
What he really wanted. Meaning her?
She didn’t want to read too much in to the flirtatious remark, but couldn’t help but shiver in sheer pleasure that he still really wanted her. It was a powerful thing, being desired by a man who was so attractive, not to mention sensually addictive. He was an amazing lover, and she doubted anyone she was ever with for the rest of her life would measure up. Figuratively, or literally. It already broke her heart a little that she couldn’t keep him for long...but maybe she’d keep him for just a little while.
Hearing a knock on the door to the suite, Viv rinsed her mouth, replaced the towel with a plush bathrobe and left the bathroom. Not one but two room service guys stood there. They pushed a table covered with a pristine linen tablecloth into the room. Domed dishes couldn’t completely disguise a heavenly smell, and she realized she was famished. They’d never really gotten around to having a proper dinner last night.
“Do you need me to sign for this?” she asked the younger of the two servers—who kept sneaking peeks at her and blushing, ducking his head to hide his embarrassment. He looked about eighteen, and was apparently in training. He reminded her so much of her youngest brother—the only Callahan child younger than Viv—that she wanted to noogie his head. But she suspected that wouldn’t go over well, especially under the stern gaze of his supervisor, who was as starched and stuffy as a British butler.
“That won’t be necessary,” the older man said, clasping his hands behind his back in quiet dignity. “Is there anything else we can do for you and for Mr. Black? Anything at all?”
“No, that’s everything,” she said.
“Yes, there is,” a voice called, talking over her.
Damien emerged into the room, wearing nothing but a towel slung low around his hips. Viv stared at him. He’d dried off hurriedly and rivulets of water dripped from his dark hair onto those incredibly broad shoulders, riding ridges of muscle down into the light swirl of dark hair on his chest.
She parted her lips, breathing over them, unable to tear her eyes away. She’d touched, kissed, stroked and savored every inch of the man during the night, but now, seeing him standing there, steamy, wet, so unbelievably sexy, made her knees weak. She had to reach out and grab the back of the nearest chair to steady herself. There was such utter, nonchalant power in the man, from his body to his voice, and as he spoke, the starchy butler rammed his spine even straighter, and the young kid tried to disappear behind his boss.
“So you’ll have her come up in an hour?”
Viv hadn’t even been listening, she’d been focused only on Damien, and her unbelievable physical reaction to him.
“Certainly, Mr. Black.”
“Great,” he said, already moving away. “Thank you. That will be all.”
The two men didn’t turn around, they merely began to edge out of the room, bowing slightly. Like they were exiting an interview with a king.
“Wow. Impressive,” she said.
“What?”
“Those guys were scared to death of you.”
“Not too scared, I hope.”
“No,” she admitted, realizing she’d worded that poorly. “They were...in awe of you.”
“Eat your breakfast,” he said with a droll shrug. “I’ll dress and be right out.”
He headed toward the bathroom, which made her wonder what had drawn him out in the first place. “Who’s she?” she called.
