I focused solely on Eden, pretending Dale wasn’t in the room. “How about we leave the modules where they are, and tomorrow morning, I’ll have my team members with me, and we’ll finish up and then get into some really fun stuff.”
Eden looked incredulous. “Oh, are you leaving?”
I intensified my fake smile. “I am.”
“You sure you don’t want to stay and eat something with us?”
I hung my purse over my shoulder and swiped my iPad off the counter. “No. It’s late, and I have dinner plans for tonight.”
Eden raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Preferably with a hot guy who’s worthy of having you.”
I was happy that my smile was genuine. Her compliment had not escaped my attention.
“She’s a Christmas, babe. They have private chefs and shit, I’m sure,” Dale said before I could respond to Eden.
“You have a private chef?” Eden asked.
Do not look at him.
“Not this time. But”—I clapped my hands, signaling I was bringing all communication to a halt—“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I thumbed over my shoulder. “And I’ll find my way out.”
“I’ll escort our guest,” Dale said.
“Nope,” I insisted. “No escorting necessary. Good night.” I turned my back on them and got the hell out of there. I was certain that Eden was baffled about why I’d turned down her lemon of a boyfriend’s offer to walk me to the car. Apparently, she had no idea what he was capable of, or she would never have so genially offered his services.
When I made it to my car and turned on my engine, which caused the garage door to slide up, I was only thinking one thing. God, I hate that he’s seen me naked.
Chapter Five
Bryn Christmas
Alone in my car, I narrowed an eye at the road. “Eden, Dale and I used to be a couple. Did you know that?”
“No, but why didn’t you tell me this yesterday?” I said, imitating her high-pitched but sultry voice.
I sighed. That was a good question. “Sorry. I thought that should’ve been his responsibility. But I do have something else to ask you.”
I pictured her looking at me even more incredulously than she had before I rushed out of her house. “Like what?”
I took a breath. “Were the two of you together back in October of last year? Was he the one who suggested you contact me? Because that’s so in his manipulative little wheelhouse.”
I massaged one of my temples, hating that I’d gotten so worked up over a hypothetical situation. I wanted to know the answer to my last question, though. Or maybe not.
For the remainder of the short ride back to the resort, I forced myself to ponder what to do about my cell phone. It was probably a good sign that I hadn’t received a message from Jamison since that morning. My fingers were crossed that he’d put my device in the mail and I wouldn’t have to go through the arduous process of turning off my old phone and buying a new one.
Instead of using the valet, I self-parked. That way, in the morning, I wouldn’t have to wait around for someone to go fetch my car. As soon as I entered the lobby, the concierge informed me that I had messages at the front desk. I yawned and dragged myself over to pick them up. I was starving to the point where I could have actually eaten the messages, and I was dreaming about making it back to my room, stripping out of my clothes, and wrapping myself up in the fluffy white robe. Next, I would call room service and order something fattening and greasy that could compete with the hero sandwich I’d turned down. Then I’d shower.
The girl behind the front desk smiled when I approached her. I read the name on her tag, and before I could ask Kara for my message, she absentmindedly handed me a slip of paper.
“Thank you.” I grimaced at the front of the note before turning to view the back. “This is blank. Are you sure you gave me the right note?”
Kara’s smile grew very large, and her face turned red as I waited for her to address my concern. “Sure,” she replied, staring googly-eyed at something that was happening behind me.
I twisted my body to see what had stolen her attention. My mouth fell open, and then I closed it to swallow. The tall drink of water who had captured Kara’s attention wore a black wool duster over a white cable-knit sweater and black slacks. His figure and face were things of beauty. He stood at least ten feet away from me. I blinked, guessing that my mind was playing tricks on me.
Jamison Cox’s sexy lips smirked, and then he waved. “Thanks, Kara. Job well done,” he said without ripping his hypnotizing gaze off me.
I could hardly breathe. I didn’t know what to say. I resisted the urge to pinch myself to make sure the moment was real. Finally, words found their way out of my mouth. “When I sent you my address, it was for mailing my phone, not hand delivering it.”
Jamison’s smirk turned yummier as he made his approach and then stopped in front of me. “I wanted to see you.”
Oh, his presence. My God, his presence.
A lump formed at the back of my throat. I hadn’t noticed Jamison’s long fingers handing me my cell phone until then. My hand shivered as I took it. Embarrassed about that, I gazed up at his classically handsome face.
“You didn’t have to.” The words came out in a whisper even though that wasn’t my intention.
His devilish smirk made my lips want to mug his. But I couldn’t. He was there uninvited, just like the song. Remember that, Bryn.
“You should really password protect that,” he said.
My eyes expanded and then narrowed. “Did you go through my messages?”
His dimples looked more delicious than ever. “I wanted to. But I didn’t do it. Hey, let’s grab a bite to eat,” he said as if inviting me to dinner had suddenly popped into his mind.
I could feel Kara’s attention and sighed when I turned to glance at her. She was staring at us, her cheeks still red as a tomato.
I shook my head, knowing that before I arrived, Jamison had worked his magic on her. “Poor thing. She didn’t know charm is your superpower.”
He stuffed his hands deeper into his coat pockets as he leaned toward me. “Ha. I’m charming? That’s news to me.”
“Well…” I felt my eyebrows fly up. “At least, when you want something.” My eyes were flirting with Jamison Cox, acting against my more cautious brain.
His chuckle sounded like a seductive song. “Are you hungry?”
It was just like Jamison to try another angle. My stomach growled, and hunger pains punched me, but I was certain he couldn’t hear the ruckus in my belly. “A little.”
“Then let’s get a little food, talk, and catch up.”
I sighed forcefully. Like a gnat, Jamison was a man who wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted. Before our first and only hot night of mad, passionate… Was that fucking? Sex? Neither word captured how our bodies had merged, his cock inside me, expanding me, rubbing against my dripping-wet pussy walls, our gazes connected, our lips feverish for each other. Skin on skin, soul on soul, Jamison and I had made love.
Gazing into his eyes, I was experiencing shadow effects of his manhood stretching me. I knew one thing for sure—if I spent any more time with Jamison Cox than our brief encounter in the lobby, he would end up in my bed, or I’d end up in his.