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Jade surveyed the spread on the coffee table, then glanced up to the food cart, where even more silver-domed lids sat untouched.
“I can’t eat anymore,” Cash stated as he leaned back against the couch.
They’d both sat on the floor and used the table as one giant tray. The fruit, the pasta, the steak, the brownies, and so much wine . . . she may have gone just a tad overboard.
In her defense, her mind hadn’t been in the right place when she’d placed the order. She’d spent all day with Cash, she’d seen him in those marvelous boxer briefs, which showcased every ounce of muscle tone and perfection. So her call to the room-service operator may be a bit hazy—and that was before he’d put his hands on her.
If she’d had to communicate after that, she probably wouldn’t have been able to make a complete sentence. Had she ever had a foot massage from a man before? Cash’s hands had been damn near magical and so, so strong. She’d put in that below-the-knee stipulation mainly for herself because the way he kept working his fingers all over her skin, she was afraid if he traveled up too high, she’d offer up the rest of her body.
Since the food arrived and they’d started a movie, he’d reverted back to the regular Cash she knew. No touching, but a wealth of sarcasm and ego. At least that side of Cash she could handle and had actually grown accustomed to. The touchy-feely side . . . she wasn’t sure she’d ever be ready for that.
The man was too potent for words, and if she ever mentioned as much, she’d never hear the end of it. Cash would use her jumbled feelings as fodder to stoke that inflated ego.
At least they’d finally agreed on something
to watch. That may be the only thing they had in common. They’d stumbled upon a documentary about some drug lord and the federal agents who went undercover to take him down. True crime and biographies were her go-tos when she wanted something to watch. She’d been quite pleased when that nugget of information surprised him. Jade hated being predictable.
“It’s getting late,” she told him as she came to her feet. “I should put this food in the fridge and get to bed. I’ll need my energy for tomorrow.”
“Actually today,” he corrected, pointing to the screen of his phone. “It’s one in the morning.”
Jade raked her hands through her hair and realized she’d forgotten to brush the knotted mess before it dried. That would be a bitch to get through tomorrow.
“Let me get this food out of your way so you can get some sleep, too.”
She started to grab the bowl of Alfredo when his hand clamped around her. That strong hand circled her wrist with ease and made her feel petite and feminine. She’d never had a man make her feel like that before, so why Cash? Why did those large, rough hands make her wonder just how they’d feel on other places of her body?
“Go to bed,” he told her. “I’ve got this.”
“Don’t be silly.”
Her heart kicked up and she really hoped he couldn’t feel her pulse. Why did she have to have such a strong reaction to his touch? Just because he continued to hold her in that firm, arousing grip and those forearms flexed so gloriously . . .
“Red, listen to me for once.” He released her as he came to his feet and closed the narrow distance between them. “Go to bed. Your mother won’t like it if you don’t look rested.”
Jade laughed. “It’s like you already know her.”
He didn’t even attempt to crack a smile, he just continued to stare in that intense, maddening manner. He’d never acted like he found her attractive before; perhaps this was all still leftover adrenaline, or the fact that they were alone in this hotel room in the middle of the night.
Regardless, Jade couldn’t do this. Not the touches, the glances, the flirting, and sure as hell not him parading around in that, that . . . ball-hugging underwear.
“You’re not heading to your room,” he murmured.
Did his voice just get lower? Why was he standing so close?
Jade backed up and nearly tripped over the edge of the sofa. “I’m going, I’m going.”
She made quick work crossing the suite to the entrance of her room. She stopped and glanced over her shoulder, her heart stuck in her throat when she caught Cash staring at her. His eyes locked right onto hers and she had that warm sensation flooding through her again.
“Thanks.” Jade pulled in a deep breath and attempted to regain control over these absurd emotions. She offered him a smile. “For the safe landing, the plus-one, the foot rub.”
“My pleasure.”
Oh, mercy. Those two words coming from that sexy, shirtless man . . .
Jade quickly went into her room and closed the double doors. There would be no sleep for her tonight, not when she was so revved up and justifiably confused. She needed some distance from Cash before she crossed some invisible line neither of them could come back from.
Tomorrow, she vowed, she’d have her thoughts in order and she wouldn’t let Cash affect her in such ways again.
