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A smile lifted one corner of his mouth. “I mean, what are you writing in it?”
She ran a tongue around her suddenly dry lips. “Ways in which you’re wrong about your theories of life.”
He held a hand to his heart in a gesture of mock pain. “She lies!”
“It’s going to kill you not to know, isn’t it?”
He lifted a hand to her face, his tone suddenly earnest. “It’s going to kill me to keep arguing with you.” He flicked his thumb across her cheek, his ice-blue eyes locked with hers. “Did I offend you in some way?”
She could no longer meet the searching interest in his gaze. She looked down at the wire binder of her notebook, and ran a finger over it absentmindedly. “I’m comfortable with working as an escort. I had reasons – personal reasons I don’t wish to discuss – that led me to pursue a job that fit around my other commitments. But it’s not my dream job, by a long stretch.”
“What is?” He demanded instantly, his fascination intensifying with each half-answer she gave him.
Her laugh was a short sound. When had she had the chance to think about such things? Making ends meet had been the beginning and end of her existence for too long to remember. “The million dollar question.”
He could have asked her questions all night, but he restrained himself. He could almost see the brick wall being erected around her, bit by bit, as she tried to lock him out. The attempt would fail, but he heeded her silent signals at that point.
“Okay, burger Queen. Show me what this dinner’s all about.”
Her first night at Carter’s penthouse finished without further incident. Except for the beautiful satisfaction of being made love to most of the night, that is. As the dawn lights broke through the bottom of the blinds, Jane crept from his King size bed. She took a moment to observe him in sleep. One arm thrown casually above his head, his lips slightly parted, his chest rising and falling with each breath. Such a muscular, tanned chest. She gulped.
She had to leave then, or she never would.
CHAPTER FIVE
“You scared me half to death!” Jenna squealed, slopping a little coffee on the kitchen bench as she spun around.
“Sorry.” Jane dropped her keys into the bowl on the side table. “I tried to be quiet.”
“I was awake. What the heck are you doing here? I thought you’d still be with the fantastic billionaire lover boy?”
Jane flushed without responding.
“Jane? How was your night?” Jenna’s smile was mischievous. “You’re blushing!”
“I am, I know I am.” She lifted her hands to her cheeks and felt the warmth in them. “It was… pretty amazing actually.”
“Coffee. Details. Now.” She poured a steaming cup from the French Press.
“He’s really …” She frowned. “I don’t even know where to begin,” she laughed a little shakily. “He’s completely overpowering. He’s so, so sexy it hurts.” Her stomach clenched in memory, her pulse raced. She drank her coffee, exclaiming as it burned her tongue. “But he’s also really interesting. I mean, and he seems actually interested in me, in some ways.”
Jenna hid her frown behind her coffee cup. “What do you mean?”
“Just asking lots of questions.” She shrugged. “Talking.”
“I’m almost disappointed to think you didn’t just have a night of wild sex.”
Her blush deepened. “Oh, there was plenty of that, too.”
“Glad to hear it.” Jenna put a hand out, over her best friend’s. “Just look after yourself, Janey.”
Her dark eyes looked up, and they were so vulnerable that Jenna wanted to hug her. “What do you mean?”
“He’s obviously incredibly charming. He’s a lothario, though. A philandering cad. I have no doubt he can make you feel like a princess. Just don’t forget that he’ll move on sooner or later. Don’t get attached. Don’t fall for it.”
Jane’s breaths burned in her lungs, as though she were breathing in flame. Although she’d already formed that exact resolution, it hurt to have someone else reinforce her belief. “I’m not,” she sounded more confident than she was. “That’s why I came home this morning. Even though Anita’s not back until after school today, I wanted to keep my own space. My own time.” She had needed time to digest what had happened. The physical act of sex had always been just that for her. Something she enjoyed – occasionally – with a man she found attractive. It had never left her with this impression of a deeper connection. It had never made her body quiver with flashbacks, as it was doing now.
“Good. Stick to that. Don’t give him too much of yourself, honey. He’ll take what he wants and spit you out. I’ve known men like him before. He might seem great, but beneath the surface, he’s about himself, and that’s it.”
