Page 33 of Mr. Dangerous

"It's all right," Rob said. "I was hoping to lookgallant."

"You look broken," I said, nodding to his wrist as I threw the strap of the bag over my shoulder. “I can carry my toothbrushmyself."

Rob shouldered his own garment bag as I handed the key uncertainly to the valet. I hadn't used valet parking before. As I walked towards the hotel, Rob stopped to snag a ticket from the grinning valet. Oops. I thought my city driving was just fine, despite whatever Rob had to say, but I probably shouldn't expect to get a long-term gig as achauffeur.

"I have a hot date for us tonight," Rob said as they entered the marble lobby. I raised my eyebrows at him, and he strode across the floor, a tiny smile playing around his lips although he wouldn’t meet my eyes. I followed him, half-exasperated, half-wild-with-curiosity.

When we took the elevator up to our floor and I slipped the key card into the door, I discovered a luxurious hotel suite. The floor was a warm red hardwood except for the plush white rug around the bed. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the street below, hung with white curtains. Two white-and-blue wing chairs waited temptingly in front of thefireplace.

"I might break our hot date to soak in this tub," I murmured, stopping in the doorway to the bathroom, which was the size of my bedroom at home. Fresh flowers graced the long marble countertop, white lilies that swayed slightly as I walked past them, releasing a sweet floral scent. On the edge of the tub was a tray that held a tall glass bottle of bubble bath, a package of gold-wrapped chocolates, a Kindle in a hot pink case, a cream-colored card with a phone number written across it. Beneath the number, it said,call for teaservice.

I turned the Kindle on. There were several books loaded on it already. A mix of romances and the classics; he'd remembered my soft spot for old school SherlockHolmes.

Oh, Rob. What the hell was he tryingtodo?

Feeling overwhelmed, I moved the tray far from the tub to make sure the Kindle was safe and then began to run the water. The shower had two separate silver shower heads mounted on the cream-and-gold tile. A shower built for two. The image of Rob rose in my mind: water streaming through his dark hair, down his handsome face, droplets beading across that broad, muscular chest and tight abdomen. I felt a rush of desire, so ill-advised and so strong all at once that I bit down fiercely onherlip.

"Get it together, Naomi," I encouraged myself, stepping into the steaming-hot shower. I was so easy. Bought by a Kindle and a nice set of abs? I would not be some conquest for Robert Delaney. I couldn’t let myself get attached all over again, and then be broken-hearted when he went back to California. I would never hear from him again. I could imagine how it would all play out as easily as I could imagine the rough-hewn planes of Rob'snakedbody.

When I had showered, I leaned forward against the marble counter, carefully applying eyeliner and eyeshadow. I straightened up, trying to see a difference. Fluorescent lights like this always made me look my worst, bringing out every faint line and freckle, and I was no great hand at makeup artistry, either. My eyes still looked too large and dark-shadowed, my mouth wide and mobile, my nose tilted. When I was in second grade, I'd punched a boy who kept calling meFroggy. That had guaranteed the nicknamestuck.

I reluctantly shook out my favorite summer dress, a short-sleeved navy wrap dress that wasn’t my favorite anymore. I would look shabby because I was next to Rob and pathetic because I hadtried.

When I crossed the marble lobby floor a few minutes later, he was leaning against the windows at the front of the hotel, looking out. Soft spring rain pinged against the window and sidewalk. He looked like an Abercrombie model with his pose, one leanly muscled arm above his head. He wore jeans and a gray button-down shirt, the casual outfit emphasizing his broad shoulders and the narrow waist above that perfectlyadorableass.

I hesitated behind him, drinking him in. He was so handsome and so unattainable and so infuriating that it hurt to look at him, but I couldn’t look away. I cleared my throat. "Too bad it'sraining."

"I like the rain—" he broke off when he turned to face me. His eyes lit up in a way that made my heart lift, despite my best intentions to play coolwithhim.

A small smile rose to his lips. "You look gorgeous,youknow."

"You're copying. I said it to you theotherday."

Rob offered me his good arm. "The valet's bringing the car around. You ready fordinner?"

"Starved," I said, but hesitated. Was I really supposed to tuck my arm into Rob's as if we were a couple? Did that violate thefriendshipagreement I’d askedhimfor?

I glanced up at him, at his teasing eyes above that strong jaw and bitable pink lip. Oh, forget him. It was just an arm. I would show him that I couldn’t be rattled thateasily.

As I turned to go, sighing, I slipped my fingers into the crook of his elbow, feeling the strength of his forearm through the crisp fabric. This close, I could feel the heat of his body, smell that now-familiarmintysoap.

"Me too," he whispered huskily. I jerked my gaze up to his. He was looking down at me lustfully, those deep blue eyessmoldering.

He let me pull him towards the glass doors. I said, "I should wear this dress moreoften.”

"Yes, yes, you certainlyshould."

Twenty minutes later, we pulled into the parking lot of an office park. "Park there," Rob said, nodding at a spot in front of The Sweet Table CateringCompany.

When we walked into the office building's empty lobby and stopped at the elevator, I stopped to glance at the white letters on the directory. The catering office was on the fourth floor. Rob held the elevator doors open for me until I stepped in and pressed the button for the fourth, then reached over my head and pressed the button for eighth, the topstory.

The elevator doors opened on the fourth floor, and we stared out at a dark, industrial hallway until it closed again. I tried to wait patiently as the elevator rose smoothly towards the top of the building. "It's strange being someplace like this afterhours."

“Trust me,”hesaid.

On the eighth floor, Rob led me down the hall to a door propped open with a brick doorstop. I hesitated, and Rob turned to face me, raising his eyebrows curiously. There was a challenge in his faintsmile.

"You know, I've been to the movies. This is where people always end up trapped outside together overnight..."Isaid.

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