Funny thing was I had a knockout body. A knockout body that no one ever saw. I got the humor in it. Really, I did.
When he’d stopped laughing enough to speak, he apologized. “I’m sorry to say I’ve never seen it. But I’ve heard about you. The show, I mean. It’s quite a hit.”
“It’s…” There was nothing to say except, “Well, it pays the bills.”
He smiled again, and this time I noticed the hint of a dimple. “At least I can be assured you aren’t after me for my money.”
It was my turn to laugh. “I don’t make that kind of dough. And who said I’m after you?”
“Aren’t you? Well, if you’re not, that’s a shame.”
My belly flipped again. I had him intrigued. It was time to make my exit. Next time I’d bump into him more casually, more seemingly accidental, and then, if I was good, he’d ask me out. “I’m sorry for intruding on your morning, Mr. Sallis.”
“Reeve,” he corrected.
“Reeve.” His name slid off my tongue a little too easily. “I’ll let you get to your swim now.”
I stood, and he followed. “After all the trouble you went to, you’re not going to stay and watch? I’m disappointed.”
It was tempting. I scanned his amazing body once more. He probably looked like a God in the water.
But I had to leave with the upper hand. Leave him wanting more. “Is it a lofty goal to want you to learn you can’t have everything you want?”
“It is lofty. And not true.” His voice grew deep and certain. “I want you to join me for dinner. And you will. Won’t you.” It was a statement – plain and clear.
And, damn, I hadn’t predicted that. “When you put it that way, I suppose I will.”
“Tonight. Seven-thirty. In the Cherry Lounge.”
“I thought the Cherry Lounge was closed.” I’d been at the resort for more than a week and the room had been off limits the entire time.
“It’s closed when I’m in town. It’s where I dine. It’s where we’ll dine.”
Though he hadn’t moved, it felt suddenly like he was closer to me than he’d been only a second before. As though his presence had extended out from his body, invading my own space. It flustered me, but I managed, “Formal or casual?”
“You can’t come as you are?” He grinned a grin so wicked that I knew he meant the double entendre, and, though I shot him a disapproving glance, I also smiled. And I shivered. Because while I had ulterior motives for getting close to him, Reeve Sallis got to me. I’d read about his natural charm and sex appeal, but nothing had prepared me for the fullness of it in person. It was indescribable. Any adjective I tried to pin on him felt contrived and unoriginal. He was magnetic and provocative and commanding.
And he did scare me. There was a possibility he’d done terrible things to people – things that would frighten anyone with half a brain. Still, were it not for Amber, I might be able to overlook the rumors. Might be tempted by his charisma. That might have been the scariest thing of all where Reeve Sallis was concerned.
He shook his head. “Don’t answer that. It was inappropriate, and anyway, there’s no way you’ll respond the way that I want you to.”
He was wrong. I’d respond however he wanted me to if it got me what I wanted. What I needed.
But not yet. I couldn’t go that far yet. “That sounded like an apology until you tacked on another thing you probably should be apologizing for. So how about I ignore everything you’ve said in the last ten seconds and we try this again. What should I wear to dinner this evening, Reeve?”
“Nothing too fancy. A dress, though, please. It would be a shame to hide those lovely legs of yours.” But he said that with his eyes on my rack.
It was where I wanted his eyes. Another moment of triumph. A minor one. Partly because it meant he was attracted to me, but mostly because if they were elsewhere, if they met mine instead, I wasn’t certain I could keep the advantage.
Thankfully, it was hard for anyone to look elsewhere. I had a nice rack.
I pushed my chest up and out just enough to let him know the attention was welcomed. “I know exactly what I’ll wear. Until tonight.”
His gaze rose to meet mine and lingered just long enough to threaten my control. Just long enough for me to glimpse the burden of his own restraint. Then, without a goodbye, he turned and dove into the pool, his form so tight and perfect that he barely splashed.
Despite my intentions to leave, I stayed long enough to see him swim the length and back. He was mesmerizing. His body was strong and lithe all at once, his arms gorgeous as they flexed and stretched, cutting through the water with powerful strokes. His tight ass could hold my attention for hours.
Though he never looked up, I’m sure he felt my presence, just as I’d felt his. There was an attraction between us. An electric pull that made the air crackle and twist around me even at that distance. It was something that I couldn’t have faked, and I was grateful for it. It would make it easier to take the steps I needed to take next.
At least, I hoped that was the reason I was grateful for our connection. I didn’t want to believe the alternative.
CHAPTER 2
I turned my face to look at first one eye and then the other in the bathroom mirror of the luxury suite I’d checked into a week before. I’d applied two different shadow techniques to my lids – one soft and natural, the other bold and sultry. Normally putting on makeup wouldn’t have been so stressful. I should have easily been able to choose which look better suited the occasion. But it had been so long since I’d dressed up for a man. The shift in thinking put me on ground both familiar and foreign. Instinctively I tried to fight it, clinging to the woman I’d become, a woman who’d grown fiercely independent.