okay?”
“Yes. It’s just a little hiccup. Trevor offered me the use of his vacation place in Maine, but his brother neglected to tell him, until now, that he’d promised one of his business associates he could stay there this week. The man is flying in today with a group of friends. An entire delegation of backpackers, apparently. Trevor’s secretary called to book me into the resort, but it’s the height of tourist season and they’re completely sold out. She’s trying to find alternate accommodations, but she’s not having any luck.”
“Tell her she can stop looking. You’ll stay with me, of course.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Sure it is. The resort is only an hour away from my vacation place. You’ll be safe with me. Scout’s honor. After all, I’ve already seen you naked. I didn’t take advantage of the situation then. Well, not really,” he amended with a devilish glint in his eyes.
She was quickly learning he was like a steamroller when he latched onto an idea. It would be foolish to fight him, especially when his invitation solved the immediate problem of having a roof over her head for the duration of her assignment.
“As long as you’re clear that if I stay with you, that doesn’t mean I’m sharing your bed.”
“Understood,” he assured her.
“Okay,” she acquiesced. “Thank you.”
“Now that we’ve got that settled, why don’t we plan on meeting for breakfast tomorrow before we head to Maine? You can leave your car here and travel with me. There’s no need for both of us to make the drive. I keep a second vehicle at my vacation place. You’re more than welcome to use it if you need transportation while we’re there.”
She was feeling steamrolled again, but she had to admit his suggestion made sense. “Okay. Shall we plan on meeting in the dining room, then? Say around eight?”
“Great idea,” he agreed, looking entirely too pleased with himself for her peace of mind.
“It’s been a long day. If you don’t mind, I’m going to call it a night. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“I’ll walk you back to your room.”
He accompanied her to her floor and waited outside her door while she retrieved her key card. She half expected him to make another play to try and convince her to drop her “all business” stance and to develop the sensual side of their relationship. Instead, he was a perfect gentleman. After ensuring she was safely inside, he walked away with a polite “good evening.”
Shutting the door and locking it, she leaned against it with a sigh. She shouldn’t be disappointed that Luke had respected her ground rules. So why was she?
Inexplicably restless and knowing she wouldn’t be able to sleep until she wound down from the day’s unexpected turn of events, she grabbed her e-reader and stretched out on the sofa in the suite’s living room to read for a while.
Twenty minutes later, all hell broke loose. The crash of shattering glass resounded from the bedroom, followed by an earsplitting, body-jarring explosion that sent her tumbling to the floor. Her head collided with the unyielding oak parquet, and she was pitched into darkness.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Incessant pounding tugged Brianna rudely back to consciousness. Where was that ungodly noise coming from?
Processing anything resembling a cohesive thought with her brain shrouded in a muzzy, shock-induced fog was like slogging through quicksand. As the wooziness slowly dissipated, she realized the commotion was coming from behind her hotel door. A familiar voice sounded above the din, urgently summoning her from the other side of the heavy partition.
“Brianna! It’s Luke. Let me in!”
Chapter Six
Luke was poised to breach the door to Brianna’s suite when he heard the click of the lock mechanism releasing. He froze mid-kick, relief cascading over him.
She’s alive. Thank God!
Imagining the woman he was supposed to protect lying lifeless on the other side of
“Yes. It’s just a little hiccup. Trevor offered me the use of his vacation place in Maine, but his brother neglected to tell him, until now, that he’d promised one of his business associates he could stay there this week. The man is flying in today with a group of friends. An entire delegation of backpackers, apparently. Trevor’s secretary called to book me into the resort, but it’s the height of tourist season and they’re completely sold out. She’s trying to find alternate accommodations, but she’s not having any luck.”
“Tell her she can stop looking. You’ll stay with me, of course.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Sure it is. The resort is only an hour away from my vacation place. You’ll be safe with me. Scout’s honor. After all, I’ve already seen you naked. I didn’t take advantage of the situation then. Well, not really,” he amended with a devilish glint in his eyes.
She was quickly learning he was like a steamroller when he latched onto an idea. It would be foolish to fight him, especially when his invitation solved the immediate problem of having a roof over her head for the duration of her assignment.
“As long as you’re clear that if I stay with you, that doesn’t mean I’m sharing your bed.”
“Understood,” he assured her.
“Okay,” she acquiesced. “Thank you.”
“Now that we’ve got that settled, why don’t we plan on meeting for breakfast tomorrow before we head to Maine? You can leave your car here and travel with me. There’s no need for both of us to make the drive. I keep a second vehicle at my vacation place. You’re more than welcome to use it if you need transportation while we’re there.”
She was feeling steamrolled again, but she had to admit his suggestion made sense. “Okay. Shall we plan on meeting in the dining room, then? Say around eight?”
“Great idea,” he agreed, looking entirely too pleased with himself for her peace of mind.
“It’s been a long day. If you don’t mind, I’m going to call it a night. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“I’ll walk you back to your room.”
He accompanied her to her floor and waited outside her door while she retrieved her key card. She half expected him to make another play to try and convince her to drop her “all business” stance and to develop the sensual side of their relationship. Instead, he was a perfect gentleman. After ensuring she was safely inside, he walked away with a polite “good evening.”
Shutting the door and locking it, she leaned against it with a sigh. She shouldn’t be disappointed that Luke had respected her ground rules. So why was she?
Inexplicably restless and knowing she wouldn’t be able to sleep until she wound down from the day’s unexpected turn of events, she grabbed her e-reader and stretched out on the sofa in the suite’s living room to read for a while.
Twenty minutes later, all hell broke loose. The crash of shattering glass resounded from the bedroom, followed by an earsplitting, body-jarring explosion that sent her tumbling to the floor. Her head collided with the unyielding oak parquet, and she was pitched into darkness.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Incessant pounding tugged Brianna rudely back to consciousness. Where was that ungodly noise coming from?
Processing anything resembling a cohesive thought with her brain shrouded in a muzzy, shock-induced fog was like slogging through quicksand. As the wooziness slowly dissipated, she realized the commotion was coming from behind her hotel door. A familiar voice sounded above the din, urgently summoning her from the other side of the heavy partition.
“Brianna! It’s Luke. Let me in!”
Chapter Six
Luke was poised to breach the door to Brianna’s suite when he heard the click of the lock mechanism releasing. He froze mid-kick, relief cascading over him.
She’s alive. Thank God!
Imagining the woman he was supposed to protect lying lifeless on the other side of
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