Page 22 of Some Like It Deadly
Some lines weren’t meant to be crossed and she’d sliced right through them, telling him about her brothers and a half-forgotten, but thoroughly thrilling, childhood memory. Leaning her hands against the counter in the bathroom she’d borrowed to take a shower and clean up from their afternoon of leisure in the sun, Kate eyed her reflection.
It had taken a lot to distance herself, but she needed to maintain those lines. Her job was to protect him—not to explore the hard, very able body she’d discovered under his ten-thousand-dollar suits. Unfortunately, her hormones remained in violent disagreement with her ethics.
A light knock at the door sent a shiver of anticipation up her spine. She wore a towel and nothing else. The only thing between her and Richard was couple of inches of door. How easy would it be to open the barrier and make this a truly unforgettable day off…
Seriously, get a grip.She cleared her throat. “Yes?”
“Sorry, Armand called. He’s invited us to dinner at the tower with him and Anna and won’t take no for an answer.”
“Us?” She frowned. The grand duke knew damn good and well what her job was. Maybe that was why he’d included her in the invitation, but it didn’t make her presence any more appropriate. Bad enough Richard had caught her in that bar the night before with the grand duke. So far, he hadn’t asked her why she’d been in the complete opposite direction of where she’d dropped off the court papers or what she and the grand duke had been discussing.
A rasp of fabric against the wall told her Richard leaned next to the door. “Yes,us.Armand said he enjoyed chatting with you last night and that I should bring you along.”
“I don’t really have anything to wear.” She’d planned to put her sleep-rumpled clothes back on and head home.
Unfortunately, Richard wasn’t dissuaded. “Check the closet, I’m sure you can find something in your size in there.”
She’d never have credited the grand duke for being cruel. Including her in a social event in the tower—one of the most highly secured locations in Los Angeles—didn’t sit well with her.Unless…Pulling the door open, she gave Richard an assessing look. “You’re about to lose your wager, aren’t you?”
He straightened immediately, but his attention dropped to her towel. “I am?”
Refusing to be sidetracked because she’d forgotten about the towel, she fisted the ends together above her breasts. “Eyes up.”
Obediently, he snapped his gaze to hers. “Sorry, your towel distracted me.”
“They’re bad like that,” she replied drily. “He invitedusbecause this isn’t just a social visit.”
“Probably not, no.” He nodded and his gaze drifted lower again. He’d showered and changed. Dressed in a navy blue T-shirt that did nothing to disguise the cut of the muscles beneath and jeans, he looked more dangerous and delicious than he did in a suit.
“I said eyes up.” She could have closed the door. A part of her mind acknowledged that fact, and that she could have tabled the discussion for when she was dressed, but a rebellious streak stiffened her resolve.
“I’m trying.” He grinned. “I promise.”
“Hmm, so—since you lost the wager, what do I get?” The corner of her mouth twitched with pure feminine thrill at how aware of her he behaved.
“Not much, I’m afraid.” His grin turned wicked in its delight. “We never did negotiate the terms.”
“Verbal agreements are still binding.” Her competitive spirit surged, refusing to be disappointed.
“True.” He tapped a finger to his lips. “And we did agree we should wager.” Leaning forward, one hand braced against the doorframe, he met her gaze evenly. “What do you want?”
The earthy, clean scent of him wrapped around her and she looked at his mouth, then back up again. Interest gleamed in his eyes and the pupils dilated with the promise of arousal.Oh, this is bad, Kate. Throttle it back, throttle it back.Withdrawing astep before she gave into temptation, she pasted on a smile. “I’ll let you know.”
Closing the door took every ounce of her self-control. She leaned back against the cool wood. For a long second, she’d imagined asking him for a kiss or just saying to hell with it and kissing him herself.
How was she supposed to protect him if she was fantasizing about getting him naked?
“Kate?” Dammit, even the way he said her name sent another shiver to race over her skin and her nipples tightened into nearly painful points beneath the towel.
Professional, soldier. Keep it professional.“Yes, Richard?” Although husky, she managed to keep her tone level.
“Open the door.”
Closing her eyes, Kate shook her head. “I’ll be out in a moment. I need to get dressed.”
A soft sound, a faint scrape, as though he ran his finger across the wood separating them. It teased her senses—imagining it was her skin he traced, as he had the scar on her shoulder. “I promised myself I would behave,” he murmured and she had to strain to hear him. “You work for me.”
“I know.”God help me, do I know.
