Page 32 of Sleeping with the Frenemy

Victoria leaned against my desk. She raised an eyebrow. “Another second longer, and she definitely would have called me a hussy.”

“I like it when you’re a hussy.”

She swallowed. “You saved the lodge.”

I shrugged. “Technically, the Berks County Historical Society saved it.”

“But you made them do it. You persuaded them.” She pushed away from the desk. “How could you leave again without telling me, Chase?”

Confusion settled over me. “Leave?”

“The other hotels on your list.” Storm clouds gathered in her eyes, but there was pain in there, too. “The man from the historical society said you were finishing up here. I know you’re offended I turned down your proposal. That’s a hard thing for a guy to hear, but we don’t have to get married anymore. The grant money more than covers the lodge’s debts.” The pain in her gaze grew. “I don’t want it to be over, dammit. It doesn’t have to be over. We can just be together. We can try it and see if—”

I was on her in a flash, my mouth hushing hers. I kissed her long and hard, and then I picked her up and walked to the desk. Still kissing her, I settled her on top and stepped between her legs.

She broke off the kiss with a gasp. “We have a bad habit of doing this,” she said, her voice breathless.

I put my hands on her thighs and rested my forehead against hers. “They say it takes twenty-one days to break a habit. I say we make the most of it.”

“But you’re leaving.”

“I’m not.”

“The man—”

“Was mistaken.”

She pulled back, her gaze searching mine. “You’re not leaving?”

Slowly, I shook my head. “I’m afraid you can’t get rid of me, Vicky.” I slid my hand to the waistband of her jeans and thumbed open the top button.

“I hate that nickname,” she said, her voice catching.

“I know,” I murmured. I lowered her zipper and found the edge of her panties. “But it makes you angry, and you’re really fucking sexy when you’re angry.”

She let out a fluttering sigh.

“White lace,” I said, smiling. “Perfect.” I kissed her again—a long, slow kiss that seemed to last forever. But that was okay. We had plenty of time.

Eventually, I drew back and cupped her cheek, my gaze holding hers. “Marry me?”

Tears sheened her eyes. She nodded. “Yes. Definitely, yes.”

---