Some Like It Hotter (Sweet Life in Seattle #3) by Andrea Simonne

from the paper fox and up to Lindsay again.
    It would be so easy to reach for her. Touch her soft skin, feel her breath on him. Taste her. Because she wasn’t just any elixir. She was exactly what she said she was—one hundred proof. The hard stuff.
    “I’ll take you back.” His voice sounds hoarse as he places the fox gently on his nightstand.
    “That’s not necessary. I’ll just grab a taxi.”
    He snorts. “Christ, it’s almost two in the morning. I’m not letting you run around alone at this hour.”
    She cocks her head. And he knows from the expression on her face that she runs around alone at this hour all the time. “That’s very gallant of you.”

    They head down to the lobby and Lindsay has to admit she’s a little surprised Giovanni didn’t try to seduce her. For a moment, it almost seemed like he was considering it, but apparently he was too busy insulting her.
    “How much longer will you be in Berlin?” he wants to know.
    They’re standing in front of the hotel, waiting for a taxi to unload its passengers who, by all appearances, have come back from a night of partying.
    “Only a couple more weeks.”
    “And then you’re going back to Seattle?”
    “Yes, then I’m going back home. Why?”
    “Just curious.”
    “How much longer will you be here?” she asks.
    “Not long. I have a meeting tomorrow, and then I’m flying to Roma to visit family.”
    “But what about all those relatives in Norway? Aren’t you going to visit them too?”
    Giovanni raises an eyebrow. “I don’t know anybody in Norway.”
    “Sure you do. Your real parents, Sven and Greta? I’m sure they miss you.”
    He shakes his head. “You think you’re so damn funny, don’t you?”
    “Hey, I’m not the one pretending to be Italian. Though, let’s face it, I look more Italian than you do.”
    He leans closer and lowers his voice. “ Penso che tu sia abbastanza sexy per essere italiana .”
    Lindsay’s breath catches, swaying toward him. She recovers quickly though and feigns curiosity. “What’s that strange language? Some kind of Norwegian dialect?”
    Giovanni chuckles.
    “What did you say to me?”
    “Sorry.” He shrugs. “I guess you’ll have to learn how to speak Norwegian if you want to find out.”
    Lindsay is glad to see his mood has lightened. She doesn’t like being told how to live her life though. Not to mention the way he accused her of cheating at cards or said that her face could be improved? Seriously ? Who says shit like that?
    But then she thinks about the way he ripped into Werner and has to smile.
    That was nice .
    He leans toward her as the cab driver waves them over. “What I said was ‘I have a particular weakness for brown-eyed brunettes.’”
    “Really? Well, I’m sure you’ll find one if you look hard enough.”
    She hears him chuckle some more as they climb into the back of the taxi together. Like last time, Lindsay is careful not to let their bodies touch, though she can’t stop her eyes from enjoying how muscular his thighs look beneath those dark corduroy pants. She’s always liked nice thighs on a man. There’s so much fuss made about a guy’s chest, and she certainly enjoys a nice chest, but strong thighs are under appreciated. Though, as she recalls, Giovanni had a nice everything.
    She wishes she were less attracted to him. Almost wishes she could lie to herself about it and take a free pass, but she never lies to herself.
    I need sex, that’s all. Real sex.
    She desperately needs to get her mojo back. To rid herself of this chronic dissatisfaction. It’s not that she’s lacking in male attention either—three marriage proposals have proved that. She already knows the problem isn’t with men at all—it’s with her. It’s like something within her has changed and none of the guys she dates are turning her on anymore.
    They all seem like boys, but she doesn’t want a boy.
    I need a man .
    In the meantime, she’s been taking care of things herself,