Читать книгу Totally Tempting - Mary Lynn Baxter - Страница 11

His wristwatch alarm woke Dean and he was surprised how soundly he’d slept. He sat on the side of the bed and looked out the sliding glass doors. The sky was turning to a deep blue as the day faded. Checking his watch again, he went down the hallway and knocked on Jodie’s door.

There was no response.

Finally he opened the door and saw her sound asleep, a cover thrown over her.

“Jodie?”

No answer.

He walked over to the bed. “Jodie, it’s time to wake up.”

“’Kay,” she mumbled into the pillow without moving.

Giving in to temptation, he turned on the radio on her night table and turned up the volume, which certainly did the trick. She jerked up on all fours and looked all around in alarm.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you,” he said, trying not to smile.

She sat back on her heels. “Oh. Guess I should have warned you. I’m a sound sleeper.”

“I gathered that. I’ll let you get ready and meet you in the living room.”

“Are you going to wear your new clothes?”

“Absolutely,” he said and removed himself from the room.

“Wow,” she said to him when she joined him later. “You’ve definitely gone native.”

“When in Rome…” he said with a shrug, trying not to stare.

She wore a tropical print with a sea-blue background. It looked to be wrapped around her, revealing her shapely shoulders and hugging her delectable body. There was little evidence of the secretary tonight.

“What do you think?” she asked and slowly turned in a circle.

He swallowed. “Looks good. Fits nicely.”

She laughed. “Actually it’s a wrap. The clerk showed me how to put it on. I’m wearing an honest-to-goodness sarong.”

That’s when he knew he was in serious trouble.

She walked toward him. “I also bought this shell necklace to go with it.” She took his arm. “This is going to be so much fun, I just know it.”

He silently agreed—if he could survive the evening without grabbing her and kissing her senseless.

* * *

Jodie decided that the luau was everything she’d dreamed about and more. Foods—some she liked better than others—and mai tais, a drink she’d never had before and found delicious, all added to the occasion. The native dances called to her. She had no idea how the women moved their hips so rapidly to the beat of the drums.

It was the drums that kept her pulse throbbing. She glanced at Dean beside her, who seemed to be enjoying himself and the entertainment. She glanced back at the young women. They really were something. Every man there watched them with avid eyes.

She leaned against his shoulder and gave him a slight nudge. “Think you could dance and play the drums like that?”

He glanced at her. “I wouldn’t attempt to try. Are you enjoying yourself?”

“Oh, yes.”

“You might want to go easy on the rum drinks. They have a delayed kick.”

She looked at her almost-empty glass. Was that her second one or her third? “Oh. They taste like fruit juice.” She glanced over at his glass. “What are you drinking?”

“Piña colada. Want to try it?”

“No, thanks.” She sipped on her drink. “There can’t be much rum in this or I’d be able to taste it.”

“You’re not much of a drinker, are you?”

“Not really.” She grinned. “But I’m on vacation, so I thought I’d indulge.”

The drums came to a sudden stop and Jodie looked around. The dancing girls were carrying leis in their arms and placing them around each guest’s neck.

She liked the way Dean looked with the flowers draped over his shoulders.

“Are you ready to go back to the condo?” he asked.

“Sure.” They had walked along the beach to this location and would walk back. He helped her up and she realized that she was a little dizzy. Maybe Dean had been right about the drinks.

He slipped his arm around her waist and she naturally did the same to him. He looked good tonight. The shorts he’d chosen to wear showed off his muscular legs. She smoothed his shirt beneath her hand, enjoying the feel of him. She smiled to herself. This was definitely a romantic evening, and Dean was fulfilling her fantasy of a midnight stroll with someone she cared about.

As they ambled along the edge of the water, she looked up into the sky and said, “I’ve never seen the stars so bright.”

“Big cities tend to put off too much light to see the stars.”

“That explains it.” She rested her head on his shoulder. The sound of the surf added a sensuous rhythm to the night. She’d never been this close to Dean before and she inhaled the scent of his aftershave.

His warmth radiated along her side, and her body tingled everywhere they touched.

“It’s going to be hard to top this experience,” she said dreamily to break the silence that had fallen between them. They turned toward the path that led to the condos. When he didn’t answer, she lifted her head and looked at him. He looked grim as he stared ahead of them. She eased away from him and promptly stumbled.

He grabbed her arm to keep her from falling.

“I think you were right about the drinks,” she said ruefully. “I’m beginning to feel the effects.”

He opened the door to the lobby for her and waited until they were in the elevator alone before he said, “I’m afraid you’re going to have a bad headache in the morning.”

They stepped out of the elevator and he unlocked the door to the condo. Once inside, she replied, “Probably. But it will be worth it.”

He nodded. “Hope you feel the same way in the morning.” They walked toward their bedrooms. They reached hers first.

“Thank you for tonight. I hope you weren’t bored,” she said.

“Not at all. I don’t think I gave the business a thought for, oh, at least thirty minutes.” He grinned at her.

She smiled. “I don’t know what I’m going to do about you.”

“A good-night kiss would be nice.”

His comment caught her off guard. It was the last thing she’d expected to hear from him.

“Of course,” she said and leaned toward him. She closed her eyes, expecting a peck on her cheek. Instead he slowly drew her into his arms and brushed his lips against hers. What was happening to her? Was it the rum that suddenly made her melt against him…and put her arms around his neck?

By the time he loosened his grip, they were both gasping for air.

“I’ve wanted to do that all evening,” he said hoarsely.

“I didn’t know,” she murmured and rubbed her finger along his strong jawline and cheek. Jodie attempted a smile. “Well, good night,” she managed to say before she stepped into her room and closed the door.

Dean closed his eyes and stood there. What had he done? Was he out of his mind? He’d taken advantage of the fact that she was there with him, which was unconscionable.

And why hadn’t she slapped his face!

Now he knew exactly how she felt pressed against him, how she tasted as her soft mouth opened to his like a budding flower. He’d not forget it, nor would he forget the fact that they still had five days together before heading back to Chicago.

He shook his head and strode into his bedroom. He stripped off his clothes and headed for a much-needed shower and some stern self-talk. Getting involved with Jodie Cameron would be the height of recklessness.

Unfortunately for his peace of mind, he’d discovered tonight that he’d been involved with her for years.

The first thing Jodie knew the next morning when she opened her eyes was that Dean had grossly underestimated the effect of the mai tais. She didn’t have just a headache; concrete drills were going off inside her head.

The second thing that registered was the heavenly scent of freshly brewed coffee wafting its way into her room. The thought of coffee was the call of the sirens that drew her out of bed. She put on the thick terry-cloth robe that was in the bathroom, carefully brushed her hair—even her scalp hurt this morning—and went in search of the elixir that might help her live.

Dean sat at the kitchen bar, next to the coffeepot, reading the paper. He glanced up when she moved carefully toward him.

“How’re you feeling?” he asked, his voice low.

She almost whimpered. Even that much noise made her head hurt worse. “I should have stopped after the first drink,” she whispered. She filled the large coffee mug sitting beside the pot to the brim and immediately lifted it to her mouth. It was too hot to drink, but she could live off the aroma for a moment.

“Aspirin will help,” he said, nodding toward a bottle there on the counter.

She filled a glass with water, took a couple of tablets and sat down on the bar stool next to Dean.

He wore shorts, a shirt and sandals. He looked rested and fit. She could almost hate a person for that when she felt like something that had washed up on the shore. He continued to read the paper, and for the first time she fully appreciated his taciturn personality.

She sipped her coffee and squinted out the window. The sun had been up for hours, but at this particular moment she didn’t care if she ever saw the sun again.

Dean laid the paper on the counter and got up. He walked over to the expanse of windows and drew the drapes closed.

“How did you know?” she asked with relief when he seated himself once again. He flicked on the small light near where he sat.

“I’ve overindulged myself a few times in my thirty-odd years. I know what it’s like.”

She placed her mug on the counter and rested her head in her hands. “The drinks tasted so innocent. I had no idea…” Her voice faded.

He raised his hand to rub her back in sympathy but thought better of it. He cleared his throat. “I know the idea doesn’t sound appealing, but you’ll feel better once you get some food inside you.”

“You are absolutely right. The idea doesn’t sound at all appealing.”

He grinned and picked up the phone. After ordering them both breakfasts, he hung up and looked at her. “Nibble on some toast, drink some juice—”

“Are you kidding?” she asked in horror, dropping her hands from her head. “I’ll probably never drink another glass of juice again.”

“It wasn’t the fruit juice that caused your pain.”

She groaned. “You’re always so logical.”

“So are you, most of the time. You’ll feel better as the day wears on.”

“That’s a relief. Right now I’d have to get better to die.”

He chuckled but didn’t say anything else.

When their meal arrived, he opened the door and took the tray, giving the waiter a tip before closing the door and bringing the food to the bar.

Jodie eyed the tray skeptically at the same time her stomach growled. Like it or not, she needed to eat something.

Did Dean always have to be right?

Miraculously by midafternoon she was beginning to feel almost human again. Not well enough to go outside just yet, but better. Anything was an improvement.

Dean had left after breakfast and hadn’t yet returned. She wondered where he’d gone. Not that it was any of her business. He might have hooked up with one of the women they’d met at the luau last night.

She frowned at the thought.

What was the matter with her? He’d dated a number of women since she’d worked for him and she hadn’t given the matter a thought. Until last night, she hadn’t figured he had much passion in him.

She’d definitely been proved wrong there. She groaned at the memory of her response to him. If she hadn’t felt so awful this morning, she probably couldn’t have faced him.

At least he’d been a gentleman and hadn’t mentioned what had happened last night.

Jodie finally went in and showered, the water having its usual soothing effect on her. By the time she dressed and returned to the living room, she felt human again.

She heard the key in the door and glanced around as Dean let himself inside. When he saw her, he grinned and said, “Ignore the ransom note, I managed to escape.”