LITMIR.BIZ

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basement every night before I went to bed.”

      “Does he still play?”

      Her eyes clouded. “No. He’s too busy with work to relax around a pool table anymore.” She straightened her back and glanced at the table. “Eight ball, corner pocket.”

      At this point, Brody didn’t even care about the game Hayden was certain to win. The sweet scent of her perfume, a fruity sensual aroma, floated in the air and made him mindless with need. Man, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so drawn to a woman.

      After sinking the eight ball, she moved toward him, each step she took heightening his desire. She ran her fingers through her dark hair, and a new aroma filled his nostrils. Strawberries. Coconut.

      He was suddenly very, very hungry.

      “Good game,” she said, shooting him another smile. Impish, this time.

      His mouth twisted wryly. “I didn’t even get to play.”

      “I’m sorry.” She paused. “Do you like to play?”

      Was she referring to pool? Or a different game? Maybe the kind you played in bed. Naked.

      “Pool, I mean,” she added quickly.

      “Sure, I like pool. Among other things.” Let’s see how she handles that.

      A cute rosy flush spread over her cheeks. “Me, too. I mean, I like other things.”

      His curiosity sparked as he stared at the enigma in front of him. He got the distinct impression that she was flirting with him. Or trying to, at least. Yet her unmistakable blush and the slight trembling of her hands betrayed the confident air she tried to convey.

      Did she do this often? Flirt with strange men in bars? Looking at her again, now that he was able to see through the fog of initial attraction, it didn’t seem like the case. She was dressed rather conservatively. Sure, the top was low-cut, but it covered her midriff, and her jeans didn’t ride low on her hips like those of most of the other women in this place. And sexy as she was, she didn’t seem to be aware of her own appeal.

      “That’s good. Other things can be a lot of fun,” he answered, unable to stop the husky pitch of his voice.

      Their gazes connected. Brody could swear the air crackled and hissed with sexual tension. Or maybe he just imagined it. He couldn’t deny the hum of awareness thudding in his groin like the bass line of a sultry jazz tune, but maybe he was alone in the feeling. It was difficult to get a read on Hayden.

      “So…Brody.” His name rolled off her lips in a way that had his body growing stiff. That didn’t say much, considering that every part of him was already hard and prickling with anticipation.

      He wanted her in his bed.

      Whoa—where had that come from?

      Five minutes ago he was telling himself it was time to quit falling into bed with women who didn’t give a damn about him and look for something more meaningful. So why the hell was he anticipating a roll in the hay with a woman he’d just met?

      Because she’s different.

      The observation came out of nowhere, bringing with it a baffling swirl of emotion. Yes, this woman had somehow managed to elicit primal, greedy lust in him. Yes, her body was designed to drive a man wild. But something about her seriously intrigued him. Those damn cute freckles, the shy smiles, the look in her eyes that clearly said, “I want to go to bed with you but I’m apprehensive about it.” It was the combination of sensuality and bashfulness, excitement and wariness, that attracted him to her.

      He opened his mouth to say something, anything, but promptly closed it when Hayden reached out to touch his arm.

      Looking up at him with those bottomless green eyes, she said, “Look, I know this is going to sound…forward. And don’t think I do this often—I’ve never done this actually, but…” She took a breath. “Would you like to come back to my hotel?”

      Ah, her hotel. An out-of-towner. That explained why she hadn’t recognized him. And yet he got the feeling that even if she did know what he did for a living, she wouldn’t care.

      He liked that.

      “Well?” she said, fixing him with an expectant stare.

      He couldn’t stop the teasing twinge in his voice. “And what will we do in your hotel room?”

      A hint of a smile. “We could have a nightcap.”

      “A nightcap,” he repeated.

      “Or we could talk. Watch television. Order room service.”

      The little vixen was teasing him, he realized. And, damn, but he liked this side of her, too.

      “Maybe raid the minifridge?”

      “Definitely.”

      Their eyes met and locked, the heat of desire and promise of sex filling the space between them. Finally he shoved his pool cue in the rack and strode back to her. Screw it. He’d told himself no more sleazy bar pickups, but damn it, this didn’t feel sleazy. It felt right.

      Barely able to disguise the urgency in his tone, he curled his fingers over her hot, silky skin and said, “Let’s go.”

      2

      DEAR GOD, he’d said yes.

      She’d invited a gorgeous stranger back to her hotel room for a nightcap (translation: sex) and he’d actually said yes.

      Hayden resisted the urge to fan her hot face with her hands. Instead, trying to remain cool and collected, she said, “I’ll meet you outside, okay? I just need to tell my friend I’m leaving.”

      His smoldering blue eyes studied her for a moment, making her grow hotter. With a quick nod, he exited the bar. Tearing her attention away from his criminally sexy backside, she spun on her heel and hurried back to Darcy, dodging people along the way. When she reached the table, Darcy greeted her with a delighted grin. “You bad girl, you,” she teased, wagging her finger.

      Sliding into the chair, Hayden swallowed hard and willed her heartbeat to slow. “Jesus. I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

      “I take it he said yes?”

      Hayden ignored the question. “I just propositioned a complete stranger. Granted, he’s a very sexy stranger, but hell! I’m not sure I can do this.”

      “Of course you can.”

      “But I don’t even know him. What if he hacks me to pieces and hides my dismembered body parts in the air-conditioning system of the hotel or something?”

      “You have your cell phone?”

      She nodded.

      “If you see any sign of trouble, call the cops. Or call me and I’ll call the cops.” Darcy shrugged. “But I wouldn’t worry. He doesn’t seem like the serial-killer type.”

      Hayden blew out a breath. “That’s what they said about Ted Bundy.”

      “You can back out, you know. You don’t have to sleep with this guy. But you want to, don’t you?”

      Did she want to? Oh, yeah. As the image of Brody’s chiseled face and scrumptious body flashed through her brain, some of her nervousness dissolved. He was hands down the most gorgeous man she’d ever met. And she got the feeling he knew his way around a bedroom. The raw sex appeal pouring out of him told her she might be in for a very stimulating night.

      “I want to.” Newfound confidence washed over her. “And I probably shouldn’t keep him waiting.”

      Darcy winked. “Have fun.”

      “Are you going to be okay here alone?”

      “Of course.” Darcy gestured to her fruity pink drink. “This daiquiri will attract

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