Turning on the shower, he switched the water temperature over to cold in an effort to get his body back under control.
A half hour later, he felt mildly better. That is, until he walked out and spotted Rachel in another one of those flouncy, flowered dresses. This one was a soft green that echoed the color of her eyes. The huge, pink flowers brought out the red highlights in her hair and the V neckline reminded him how much he liked her breasts!
He almost snorted at that last thought. As if he’d ever forgotten how much he liked her breasts! Hell, they’d been pressed against his arm yesterday while on the tower and several times over the course of the afternoon, he’d seen glimpses of her red bra. Why she’d worn a red bra yesterday while wearing a navy dress, he had no clue. But it had been on his mind all day.
Now, he wondered what color bra and panties she wore today. Would they be pink like the flowers on her dress? Or had she chosen a contrasting color, such as she’d done yesterday?
The mystery was going to drive him crazy!
“Good morning,” she called to him, bright and sunny now that she’d had a couple cups of coffee. Meanwhile, he was grouchy and irritable since the cold shower had barely clamped down on his raging libido. And the image of her in that moss-green dress had completely obliterated the effects of that damn, cold shower.
Thankfully, the work day started and, because they weren’t touring the city, it was easier to concentrate. They met with two architectural firms that day and three construction firms. He also got to sit with her during meals to discuss the contractors, listen to her opinion as well as her impressions, and Tarin was impressed with her insights.
Rachel walked into the beautiful hotel, exhausted and ready to curl up with a good book, then fall asleep. Because of her earlier than normal wake up call, the extra energy exerted during their morning self-defense class, plus working so hard today, she was wiped out! Completely mentally trashed!
“Are you hungry?” he asked as he followed her into the suite.
Rachel turned to look up at him, then quickly away when he tugged at the tie knot, revealing that sexy Adam’s apple. “Not really.” What in the world? A man’s Adam’s apple wasn’t sexy!
Tarin pressed a few buttons on a screen and music flowed through the room. “Better?” he asked.
Rachel closed her eyes as the soft, lilting music soothed her exhausted soul. “Yes!” she sighed.
“Come. Let’s dance,” he reached for her hand.
Rachel hesitated. “Dance?”
He hauled her out of the chair she’d slumped into. “Of course. You know the basics of the fox trot. What better way to unwind at the end of a long day?”
With a smoothness that seemed at odds with his height and brawn, he pulled her into his arms, one hand on her waist and the other held her fingers lightly.
“I don’t think we should…”
His voice was husky as he murmured, “Don’t think, Rachel. Just feel.” And he spun her before pulling her close again and Rachel’s heart pulsed with happiness and awareness.
Gliding around the suite, Rachel’s nervousness melted away as she moved through the steps. His lead was strong enough that she knew what he would do almost before he indicated the next move.
“Just relax,” he soothed when she stumbled slightly on a turn. “Let your instincts take over. Stop thinking.”
She laughed slightly, trying to pretend that her stumble was caused by her ineptitude and not because she’d felt his chest brush against her breasts.
The music changed and she looked up into his hazel eyes, wondering…a lot of things. Like what it would be like to kiss him. Was his chest as hard as it looked? Yes, from this morning’s lessons, she knew with absolute certainty that it was, but she wanted to touch it again. Although, this time with her hands. What would he do if she asked to touch him…No, she couldn’t do that. Never!
“What are you thinking about?”
Rachel stumbled over his feet, but his hands tightened, holding her steady.
“Must be something interesting,” he teased.
She blinked, her heart racing. “I was just…”
“Just?”
She shook her head. “It wasn’t anything important,” she whispered back, but her gaze dropped to his lips, her breath catching in her throat.
He paused for a moment, not in the dancing, but the pause was there in his eyes and Rachel was transfixed. Mesmerized.
“I suspect that your thoughts are very important, Rachel,” he replied softly.
His words, combined with the heated look in his eyes, warmed a small piece of her soul. Too many times, her thoughts or opinions had been mocked. It hadn’t been until she’d moved to Izara that she’d started to feel valuable. Now, in Tarin’s arms, small, fluttery wings opened a bit. Those wings fluttered, tentatively feeling the warmth of his pleasure.
“Thank you.”
His eyes widened slightly as they moved around the room, seeming to float as their bodies moved in perfect synchronization. “For what?”
She shrugged. “Just…thank you.” Rachel didn’t want to tell him that she was grateful for his belief in her. Or for valuing her. Those were words that he wouldn’t understand, coming from his background. So instead, she stopped thinking and simply allowed herself to lose herself in the music.
Chapter 8
Rachel stepped into the suite in San Francisco, looking around warily. She’d left Tarin talking with the architects, saying she had some personal errands she needed to get
