just a couple of weeks ago.
She got out of the tub and used her favorite scented lotion, then pulled on bikini panties and an oversize Dallas Cowboys T-shirt to sleep in. She’d just walked into the bedroom when the door to the hall opened.
Her first thought was that Nick had finally come calling. Anticipation flooded her body, making her thighs a little shaky.
“Don’t you knock?” she asked, smiling as she spoke. Then she turned and caught sight of the man standing just inside her room.
It wasn’t Nick. The shape was all wrong, as was the way he moved. She figured it had to be one of the guys from the retreat, but didn’t know which one.
Irritation replaced eagerness.
“You have the wrong room,” she snapped. “Turn around and go back where you belong.”
“Hey, baby.” The man’s voice slurred slightly. “I thought I’d come say good-night personally. You’re with the staff, right? This is a full-service kind of place.” He moved toward her. “And in the morning, you won’t even know it was me.”
“Jackass,” she muttered, moving away from him. “I’ll break your nose. That will make you easy to identify.”
She wasn’t afraid. Not really. She was more annoyed than anything else. He was drunk. Guys did stupid things when they were drunk.
He reached for her. She sidestepped him, but bumped into the dresser. For a second she was off balance and he grabbed her arm.
She yelped as she kicked out at him. Her bare foot caught the chair instead of the man. It hurt a lot, but she kicked again and this time landed a direct hit on his thigh.
He swore and grabbed her hair. “Bitch.”
“Tell me about it,” she said, letting him pull her against him.
When she was close enough to do serious damage, she jabbed him with her elbow, using as much force as she could. He grunted and released her. She jabbed again and spun to face him. Then she was grabbed from behind and lifted out of the way. Someone else joined the fight.
Izzy stood on the far side of her bed, trying to catch her breath, watching Nick pummel her attacker. She couldn’t tell exactly what was happening. There were a few thuds, several groans, then silence as a body hit the floor.
She rubbed her arm where the guy had bruised her.
“I’m really hoping you won,” she said.
Nick moved to her side. “I did. You okay?”
She stared into his face and wished she could see his eyes.
“Fine.”
He brushed her shoulders, then down her arms. He paused on her left one. She thought he might be examining the growing bruise. He swore.
“Anything else?”
“No.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. He didn’t have time.”
Nick turned away. There was another thud followed by a crunching sound.
“What did you do?” she asked anxiously.
“Broke his nose.”
“I threatened to do that.”
“Good. I hope he thinks you did.”
She stared at the shape on the floor. The fear for herself was gone. “Are you going to get in trouble for that? You can’t go around beating up people.”
“I can when they walk into your room and attack you. Besides, they all sign a release. Short of hanging them, I can do whatever I want.”
He cupped her face in his hands. His fingers were warm and strong as he stroked her skin.
“I’m sorry,” he told her. “I’ll make sure all the doors are locked. No one else will get in.”
“I know. It’s okay.”
“It’s not. You’re in my house. You’re my responsibility.”
She cared a whole lot less about that than the feel of his skin against hers.
“What are you going to do to him?” she asked, trying to distract herself.
“Dump him in the barn and let him sleep it off. I’ll take all his clothes. He’ll wake up feeling like shit and naked. That should teach him.”
“I don’t think you should be too hard on him. I mean, hey, it was me. I’m fairly irresistible.”
He chuckled. “The Izzy defense?”
“It works in a court of law.”
“Because you’re a wild temptress?”
“Think you can resist me?”
“I’m doing my best.”
“Maybe you should stop working at it. Sometimes giving in is a good thing.”
The fingers stroking her skin stilled. “Izzy…”
“You talk too much,” she whispered, then raised herself up on tiptoe and pressed her mouth to his.
He kissed her lightly, then stepped back.
“You should have the surgery.”
The unexpected statement stunned her. “What?”
“You heard me. Have the surgery. You’re ready. What’s stopping you?”
She was offering him sex and he wanted to tell her to go ahead with an operation that could leave her totally blind?
She didn’t know which made her more mad-his dismissal of her invitation or his butting into her personal business.
“Get out,” she said. “Get out and take the jerk with you.”
“Why are you mad? It’s time. You know it’s time.”
“Get out!”
He grabbed the body and dragged it out into the hall. She slammed the door behind him and threw herself on the bed.
“Jerk,” she muttered, not sure which of the two men she meant.
THE NEXT MORNING Izzy debated not helping with the retreat. She was supposed to demonstrate the rope bridge, but wasn’t sure Nick deserved that. Let him deal with the corporate clients on his own.
But instead of staying in bed, she found herself showering, then dressing. While the thought of letting Nick down helped her battered ego, she still liked Aaron. And she was intrigued by the thought of the rope bridge. She would just ignore Nick.
Aaron was waiting for her downstairs. “He’s thirty-three and came out ten years ago after a disastrous six- month marriage to a woman. Why do they even bother to try? Anyway, he works in finance. He likes the same movies as me, we both love to cook and he’s totally yummy.”
She followed him outside to the Jeep they would take to the event area.
“Good kisser?” she asked, thinking Nick was an amazing kisser. Wait. No. He wasn’t. She was mad at him and wanted nothing to do with him.
“Excellent.” He drew out the word to seven or eight syllables. “I really like him. I don’t want to get too excited, though. That road always leads to heartache. I just…” He started the Jeep. “I really like him.”
She smiled. “Then you should enjoy yourself.”
“But? Aren’t you going to warn me to be careful? To not trust too easily? To avoid handing over my bank account numbers or house keys until I’m sure?”
She turned toward him. “It sounds like you already know everything you should be doing. I’m the girl who just goes for it, consequences be damned.”
