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“It’s human nature.”
“Yeah. But it gets old when they take one look at your face and decide you’re a shallow playboy.”
She felt a stab of guilt. Because, in all honesty, she had been part of that judgmental group, and, yes, she well knew what it was like to be summarily labeled.
Hadn’t she just been trying to convince herself that she was only attracted to him for his looks?
Their fingers bumped, and, on impulse, Eve reached for his hand. He stopped in his tracks, tensed for a second, and looked down at her, surprise in his eyes. In the moonlight, they looked dark and deep and even more intense than usual.
He held her gaze for a moment. Then he wrapped her hand completely in his and squeezed, resuming their stroll at a brisker pace. He didn’t let go until they reached the elevator.
•
Thank God he’d buttoned up his shirt.
Stepping inside the darkened suite, Eve thought of another night when she had entered a hotel room and encountered Adam Larssen.
Memories crashed into her of how it had felt to lie with him, fully ensconced in his powerful, warm embrace. She was so very tempted to seek that again. She had asked for separate rooms, and now, she foundherself regretting it.
What she did revolved around men, yet she ended up alone every night. She was so tired, so very tired, of being lonely.
Her physical attraction to Adam was, in itself, unusual. The few men she ended up satisfying never satisfied her because they were…well, clients. They needed release; she gave it to them. That was all. To her, it was something clinical, much like physical therapy.
But Adam… Adam had crashed into her world and complicated everything. He had been the one to satisfy her that night, a stunning role reversal.
He made her feel as if, parched with thirst, she’d suddenly found a cool, clear blue oasis.
“Water?” His soothing voice broke through her thoughts.
“Excuse me?”
“I’m asking if you’d like a bottle of water to take to bed with you. I brought a bunch with me.”
“Oh. Yes, please. Thank you.” She took the cylindrical glass bottle of Voss and had to smile.“Norwegian water? No Aquafina for you, huh?”
He shrugged.“It’s all my family ever drinks. Call of the ancestors, I guess.”
Outside, the partying continued, the loud music still playing.
The drums pulsed even through the closed balcony doors. They beat a primal rhythm that, along with the sight of Adam in his wrinkled linen shirt, needing a shave and languid from fatigue, caused an unwelcome, sinful throb between her thighs.
She couldn’t believe it, but she didn’t want to let him go to bed.
“Well…” He gripped his water bottle, looking as if he wanted to say more, but all he said was,“Good night, Eve.”
“I had a great time today…and this evening.”
“So did I.” He headed toward his room, his steps reluctant.“I’ll be here if you need me.”
She watched the door close quietly behind him, and it was all she could do not to run, yank it open, and launch herself at him.
•
She woke up to the smell of coffee and Eau d’Orange Verte.
Eve brushed her teeth, quickly ran a comb through her hair, and then gave up. Styling was useless at the beach.
She searched inside her suitcase of surprises and found a black silk robe adorned with purple and orange birds of paradise. Throwing it on, she tied it closed and ventured to the kitchen area. There stood Adam, shirtless, setting down a small Styrofoam cup and a larger one. A third already sat on the counter, along with packets of sugar, a few little pods of cream, and two stirrers with the Ritz-Carlton logo.