The intensity in his voice stopped her. “Providence.”
Oh, God, no.She stilled.
“Providence.”
Turning, she faced him.
As he made his way to her, her heart pounded hard and fast, while her body yearned for him, one more time. He started to untie her mask, but she pulled his hands away. She wasn’t ready to drop the facade.
“No running away, this time,” he said, before kissing the top of her head. “Let’s get dressed and go down to the bar so I’m not tempted to climb all over you again.”
A few beats passed while she weighed her options. A drink and a conversation…or…going home to the silence and the memories. A familiar sadness swept through her.
“Please,” he murmured.
The pull to be near him was undeniable and all-encompassing.
Then, he kissed her. “One drink, Miss Rhode Island.” His charm, along with that tempting smile, was the tipping point.
I don’t want to leave him.“All right.”
After she removed her mask, he kissed her again. One long, searing kiss that made her insides quiver and her arms tighten around him.
“Much, much better.” His smile touched his eyes. “Time to lose the wig.”
Frozen in place, she studied him. Were those the eyes of a killer? She couldn’t read him. She did not know.
After tugging it off, she ran her fingers through her hair. With her disguise gone, she stood there completely naked and feeling totally vulnerable.
“So beautiful,” he murmured as he captured her face in his hands, dipped down again, and dropped another panty-melting kiss on her lips.
She gripped his massive shoulders, clinging to something that wasn’t even real. The smell of sex hung in the air and her back tingled where he caressed her skin. The truth? She didn’t want their evening to end.
But Providence was a die-hard realist. This was her target and she was supposed to be profiling him,notscrewing his brains out.
He collected his clothing and extended his hand. “I don’t want you ducking into the other bathroom. You’re a flight risk.”
She chuffed out a laugh as they entered the bathroom. This should have been the awkward, post-hookup moment, but she felt at ease with him. Too comfortable, really. She pulled on her shorts and zipped up her corset.
He dressed, then kissed her bare shoulder. “You look amazing in that corset and those shorty shorts are blowing my mind.”
“I dressed for you.”Stop blabbing. Get it together.
His smile sent ripples of excitement skittering through her.
“I’m very attracted to you, beyond the sex,” he said. “I wanted you to know the truth.”
He wouldn’t be smiling if he knew the truth about me.
They exited the suite and she paused at the retina scanner outside the door. Once the light turned green, she tapped the keypad, indicating that the room needed to be sanitized. Together, they walked toward the stairs.
“Where are we headed?” she asked.
“The main lounge on L2.”
Dakota stood behind the bar while she got comfortable on a stool. Now, she could breathe something besides his intoxicating scent.
He glanced at the wall clock. “What should we drink at four fifteen in the morning? Too early for a mimosa or bloody Mary? What about a screwdriver? I could put on a pot of coffee. What can I get you?”