Ten
Jenny awoke cocooned in Mitch’s arms. Sunlight was streaming through the big bedroom window, the split beam catching on the rumple of her dress discarded on an armchair beside them. A cool breeze wafted lazily down from the ceiling fan.
Mitch’s body was warm where he curled around her back, one arm draped across her stomach. She shifted experimentally, stretching sore muscles.
He nuzzled her neck with a whisker-roughened face, kissing his way to the tip of her shoulder. “You okay?” he asked gently, voice morning-husky.
She shifted onto her back, taking in his sleep-crinkled eyes and beard-shadowed chin. “I’m fine.” She gently touched his bare chest, concern growing as she recalled the terrible news he’d received yesterday. “You?”
“Fine,” he responded, dipping to kiss her gently on the lips.
“You know what I mean,” she pressed.
He slipped an arm beneath the small of her back, drawing her naked body against his own, kissing her again. “I think I’m in denial. Or maybe you’re just too distracting for me to dwell on anything else.” He pressed himself meaningfully against her.
“Again?” She quirked a brow, shifting one more time to test the extent of her soreness.
“Always,” he muttered, his hand closing over her breast.
Her nipple instantly peaked, and desire flooded her system. Okay, so maybe she wasn’t that sore.
Surprisingly, he drew back. “But you’re not ready.”
“I could-”
He put a finger across her lips, trailing it downward. “You’ve been out of practice since college.”
“I was never in practice
His grin looked decidedly possessive. “Hungry?”
She nodded, touched by his tender consideration. “Famished. And I’d kill for some coffee.”
“Regular? Latte?”
“Whatever you’ve got.”
He reached for the bedside phone. “What I’ve got is room service. Name your pleasure.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to say him.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he scolded. “I’m trying to be a gentleman.”
“Croissants, strawberries and regular coffee.”
“You never used to play with fire,” he mumbled.
“You never used to look so sexy.”
He punched a button on the phone. “Tell me what’s different, and I’ll do it all the time.”
“You’re going to stay sleep-rumpled, unshaven and naked?”
“Yes,” he said, staring straight at her, even though he spoke into the phone. “We’d like some croissants, some fresh strawberries and a pot of coffee.”
She scooted close and whispered in his ear. “That’s impractical.”
His arm closed around her, and he shifted the mouthpiece to beneath his chin. “It’s okay. I think they’re in season.” Then he spoke into the phone again. “Thank you.” And he hung it up, turning back to her, grinning. “Or did you mean the naked part?”
“I meant the naked part.”
“You like me naked?” he confirmed.
Jenny made a show of pulling up the sheet to peep underneath, gazing unabashedly at his sleekly muscled, magnificent body. Oh, yes. She liked him naked.
“That’s it.” He shifted abruptly to the edge of the bed. “I’m outta here.”
She felt a jolt of unease, and pushed up on an elbow. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No.” He slid his legs into last night’s pants. “You’re doing everything absolutely right. And if I don’t leave now, I’ll be all over you again.”
She felt a satisfied smile grow on her face, and she let her head fall back on the pillow.
He hesitated for a split second. “You’re a dangerous woman, Jenny Watson.”
“Nobody’s ever called me dangerous before.”
“That’s because they didn’t see you in that dress.”
She gave an exaggerated sigh. “And I guess they never will, since you tore it.”
“I’ll buy you a new one.”
“That’s silly.”
“I loved you in that dress.”
“You loved me out of it more,” she singsonged.
He pointed through the doorway to the living room. “I’m getting the room service now, and then I’ll meet you on the deck for breakfast.”
Breakfast. With Mitch. After a long night of…
An unsettling thought raced into her mind, and she sat upright. She hadn’t meant to ditch Jeffrey, but that had been the upshot of her behavior. “Do you think Jeffrey’s mad at me?” she called out.
Mitch paused in the doorway. “I think Jeffrey’s laughing at
“I don’t understand.”
He turned. “He all but dared me…in fact, he did dare me to dance with you.”
She still didn’t understand.
“He’s not mad,” said Mitch. “Trust me on that.”
There was a knock on the suite’s outer door.
“Meet me on the balcony?” Mitch repeated.
Jenny nodded, swallowing her worry. Mitch and Jeffrey were very good friends. She had to trust that Mitch knew what he was talking about.
She stayed in bed until the voices disappeared and the suite door whooshed shut. A few seconds later, she heard the balcony door slide open.
She made a quick trip to the bathroom to freshen up, then she glanced around the bedroom for something to wear. Her crumpled, stale dress seemed to be the only option. But then Mitch’s tux jacket caught her eye.
She padded into the living room, slipping it on. It smelled like him, and she inhaled deeply. Then, on impulse, she looped his bow tie around her neck.
She folded the wide garment closed around her body and headed out to join him on the balcony.
When she stepped outside, he scanned her body and grinned. “You do know there are robes in the closet.”
“I’m happy with this.” She helped herself to a steaming cup of coffee, crossing to a padded wicker chair opposite.
A quick glance around the balcony overlooking Lady Bird Lake told her it was completely private. She sat down, leaning back, letting the jacket fall open around her.
Mitch’s gaze zeroed in on her nudity, and he stared at her in silence for a long moment. “Nice tie.”
She took a casual sip of the coffee. “I stole it from a guy I slept with.”
“You know you’re not going home today.”
She spoke over the rim. “I’m not?”
He slowly shook his head. “I don’t think you’ll even be leaving this suite.”
“I’ll be late for work on Monday.”
“Ever been late before?”
“Not even once.”
“The boss’ll forgive you.”
She felt her heartbeat deepen and her stomach flutter. She swallowed. “You sure?”
His eyes turned to blue smoke. “I am positive.”
