Page 43 of Christmas at Sturcombe Bay
She had been almost sure that he had been going to kiss her. She’d wanted it so much, she could almost feel how his lips would have touched hers. Why hadn’t he?
Because he knew, as she did, that it wasn’t going to go anywhere.
With a small sigh, she pulled her jumper over her head, dragged off her jeans, and shrugged into her dressing gown to go down the corridor to the bathroom to get ready for bed.
It wasn’t eleven o’clock yet, and she was pretty sure that she wouldn’t be able to sleep. And when she did, there would be dreams.
Chapter Fourteen
“That was a pleasant evening.” Jess gave Paul a cool smile as he turned into the car park in front of the hotel. He drew up by the steps and smiled back.
“Pleasant?”
“Very pleasant. The food was delicious, the restaurant elegant and charming.”
“And the company?”
“Entertaining.”
“So how many points have I scored?”
“Oh . . .” She let a provocative smile play over her lips. “I think . . . eight out of ten.”
“Is that all?”
“I’m a hard marker.”
The glint in his dark eyes told her very clearly that he wasn’t abashed. She hadn’t expected him to be. Climbing out of the car, he strolled round to open her door for her. She smiled to herself at the gentlemanly gesture as he held out his hand to help her to her feet.
“Thank you.”
“Thankyoufor a very . . .pleasantevening.” His eyes glinted with lazy mockery as he drew her closer.
She put her hand up against his hard chest. “You haven’t earned enough points for that yet.”
“How many do I need?”
“I’ll let you know.”
He laughed in wicked amusement. “So how do I earn more?” He slid his arm around her waist and curled one finger beneath her chin, tilting her face up to his. “Like this?”
She forced herself to hold his gaze, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing the effect he had on her.
But as his head bent slowly over hers and she felt his breath warm on her cheek, the ground beneath her feet begin to shift. She closed her eyes as her lips parted softly . . .
And then abruptly he let her go. “I’m going up to London for a couple of days next week. I’ll see you when I get back.”
She opened her eyes and glared at him as he leaned past her to close the car door, then sauntered round to climb in behind the wheel again.
“Goodnight.”
She was still standing there struggling to get her head straight as he executed an efficient three-point turn and drove out of the car park and back down the lane.
* * *
Jess lay awake, staring at the ceiling. She really ought to get up. Sounds around the hotel told her that everyone else was way ahead of her, but she didn’t feel able to move just yet. Fortunately, she didn’t have to as she was on a late shift today.
Last night . . . Paul. She had really enjoyed the evening, far more than she was willing to admit. But then when she had thought he was going to kiss her . . . he hadn’t. The bastard.
