A Sure Thing?

know I was dealing with a ringer.'

'If you'd asked, I would have told you. I'm good at a lot of things.'

I bet you are. And just thinking about some of the things he'd bet she was good at rushed blood to his groin.

She pulled his key ring from her pocket and, twirling the shiny silver circle around her finger, led the way back to his Lexus.

After retrieving her shopping bag from the front seat, she tossed him the keys. 'I'm heading up to the room to change into dry clothes. I'm meeting Jack at three for a tour of the winery.'

Something snaked through him that felt suspiciously like jealousy-and it had nothing to do with the fact that she was making inroads with the potential client. 'I see. I'll be sure to stay out of your way.'

'Thank you.'

'I'm meeting Jack at five in the bar.'

'All right. I'll be sure to stay out of your way-assuming you've done the same for me.'

'You really are very suspicious, Jilly, especially given how I conceded that you won the snowball fight even though you had more snow on you.'

She cocked a brow. 'Do you want a rematch?'

'Hell, no. One slice of humble pie is quite enough, thank you.'

A wicked gleam flickered in her eyes. 'Speaking of things to eat, I think I'll have one of my delicious chocolate- covered marshmallows while I'm changing my clothes.'

Damn, but she was cute. And alluring. And tempting. And sexy as hell. And he didn't want her to be. Arranging his features into a frown, he said, 'Hey, I have a car. I could just drive to that candy store and buy my own box of chocolate-covered marshmallows. A bigger box.'

'Ah, but they wouldn't taste as good as the ones in this box. Because these are the spoils of war. The sweets of victory. The ambrosia of triumph. The-'

'Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get the picture.' He set his hands on her shoulders and gave her a gentle urging toward the resort. 'Go on, scram with your chocolates, before I use my superior masculine strength and just grab them from you.'

'I'd like to see you try.' She smiled. 'I'm a black belt.'

'Figures.'

'You're not coming back to the room?'

'I'll be along in a few minutes. I need to make a call on my cell. That'll give you enough time to change in privacy.'

Their gazes met, and he swore something electric passed between them. Something intimate and knowing. Something that indicated they both knew that him being in the room while she changed her clothes was a temptation they shouldn't risk.

'See you,' she said. With a breezy wave, she walked across the parking lot, then disappeared from his view through the revolving door.

When she was gone from his sight, he drew what seemed like his first easy breath in an hour. Thank God she was gone.

Too bad she wasn't forgotten.

* * *

Shortly after five o'clock that evening, Jilly stood near the window in her room, looking out over the snow- covered landscape. Jabbing Kate's phone number into her cell phone pad, Jilly tapped her foot and prayed Kate was home.

'I need help,' Jilly said into the phone the instant Kate answered. 'This weekend is turning into a complete disaster.'

'Uh-oh. I'm listening. Spill it.'

She told her the entire debacle-of her boss's trickery, and of being forced to share room 312 with Matt. She concluded by saying, 'I just spent the last two hours touring the winery and going to a tasting with Jack Witherspoon, but this situation with Matt has me so frazzled, I couldn't tell you if I'd tasted a merlot or a chardonnay.'

'Didn't I tell you?' Kate asked. 'When you least anticipate it, something unexpected will happen and- poof!-your world will be turned upside down.'

'Great. That doesn't help.'

'Sorry. What does Matt look like with his shirt off?'

Jilly closed her eyes. 'Incredible.'

'Have you done more than look at him?'

'He kissed me.'

'And?'

'I kissed him back.'

'And?'

Jilly blew out a long breath. 'It was the sort of kiss you'd like to have last for three weeks instead of three minutes. We're talking melting the polar ice caps.'

'Oh, my. What was his reaction?'

'Let's just say he wasn't anatomically aloof.' A frustrated moan rumbled in Jilly's throat. 'The problem is, he's got my hormones all out of whack and I want to do a hell of a lot more than just kiss him.'

'And that's a problem because…?'

'You even need to ask? Because we work together. Because he's the only thing standing between me and the ARC account. Because once I win this account, I'll be his boss. How awkward would that be if we'd slept together? And even if I could ignore all that, he's just not my type. He's one of those guys who always has to be in charge. You know how I feel about that.'

'I do,' Kate said softly. 'But, Jilly, you're not your mom. I think you're losing sight of the fact that we're talking about sleeping with Matt, not walking down the aisle with him.'

'True. But having an affair with him-God, that would make working together impossible-especially after it ended.'

'Yes, but let's face it, with the sexual spark that's clearly crackling between you, it's going to be awkward anyway.'

'But more awkward if I know what he looks like, and feels like, naked.' A shiver ran through her at the wealth of images that sentence conjured up.

'Not necessarily. Maybe if you indulge in an affair with him this weekend, your curiosity will be satisfied, and then you'll be able to forget him. No more wondering, it'll be over and done with. As long as you both go into it understanding the ground rules.'

'You mean like we'll satisfy our lust this weekend only, then never speak of this 'at the winery' incident again?'

'Exactly. Listen, Jilly. You really need a man to take care of you in the sack. Now. Before you dry up and blow away. And as far as I know, no one's kindled the least bit of interest in you in a long time. If Matt lights your fire, then maybe you should give him the matches-at least for this weekend.'

'Okay, you're not really helping here. I called you to talk me out of this craziness.'

'Oh. Sorry. How's this? You don't want to do something that could in any way mess with your career or make an already awkward situation worse. Matt is definitely Mr. Hands Off.'

'Exactly.' There. She knew talking with Kate would get her head back on straight.

'But there's no denying that you need a man.'

'Much as I hate to agree with you, you're right. I won't be back at work until Tuesday. But as soon as I hit Manhattan, I'm looking for a man to put out this damn fire that Matt started.'

'Atta girl. Between the two of us, we'll find you someone. I'll enlist Ben's help as well.'