LITMIR.BIZ

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in seconds.

      As the door to her room clicked shut Brock inhaled a deep, steadying breath.

      So much for seducing her slowly.

      Chapter 5

      So they kissed, that wasn’t so bad. Over and over Noelle told herself this as she moved silently through Brock’s house, passing the porch where they’d shared a nice platonic steak dinner last night. That had been only an hour before he’d kissed her and she’d acted like a deprived sex fiend, crawling all over him as if she just couldn’t get enough.

      It wasn’t quite six yet, but the sky was already brightening, the morning coming whether she wanted to face it or not. Now, was it through this door and around to the left or around to the right? Brock had shown her the pool during the tour yesterday. One thing she’d become accustomed to living in Jade and Linc’s spacious home was the indoor and outdoor pools. So the majority of her mornings either started with a brisk run or a couple of laps. Because she didn’t know this area well, Noelle had opted for a swim. She was meeting with Brock in a few hours, so thinking about the kiss and its effect on her would have to wait. Or she’d simply bypass it altogether.

      That was one of her other talents—one that she hadn’t figured out whether was good or bad. She could push things aside, put them in their own compartment and pull them out and deal with them when she was ready. And right now, she thought as just a few short feet away—after making the left turn—she’d spotted the pool, she wasn’t ready to deal with the attraction to Brock Remington.

      Moving quickly, Noelle dropped her towel on one of the lounge chairs and headed straight for the water. She could dip a toe in to test the water but where was the fun in that? Instead, she dove right in, going almost to the bottom then paddling herself up to the top. Breaking through the water she spewed a bit and took a deep breath. Pushing her wet hair out of her eyes she lay back into a seamless backstroke.

      When the sun finally made its appearance, Noelle felt its warm persistent rays against her skin as she continued to move throughout the water.

      It was really pretty here, quaint and scenic. So much so that she probably would have never thought to put a new casino in this area. This was either a place for lovers or retirees, like one of those complexes in Florida—Lake Buena something or other.

      But Linc had done his research and she’d read the reports. Just forty-five minutes to the south there was a slots-only casino and north in Delaware there was another slots-only casino, with another one in West Virginia. Maryland was prime for a full-fledged gaming facility. The state already boasted a world-class race course at Pimlico, but the Gramercy II would offer gaming beyond horse racing. It was a gold mine and Linc was determined to tap into it.

      Coming out of the pool for the first time, Noelle ran to the chair where she’d dropped her towel and dried off her face. Holding her head to one side, she waited for the water to drain out. She hated that echoing when water was stuck in her ears, but she hated wearing earplugs even more. So after checking her watch and confirming she had more time, she headed for the pool once more. Just a few more laps, then she’d head into the house to get ready to meet Brock.

      His name resonated in her mind as she moved sleekly through the water. She allowed her thoughts to circle around him for a moment. Attractive in a rugged, outdoorsy kind of way was what he was. Not the polished money men she dealt with back in Vegas, that was for sure. He was kind of quiet, uptight and definitely on edge about something. Still, his body was the bomb, muscles rippling from every part of him. She’d bet it came more from working right alongside his construction crew than from working out inside any upscale gym.

      And, as far as she was concerned he delivered one whopper of a kiss. Her body still tingled when she thought about their exchange. But it was just that, a kiss, nothing more. Which should probably be the story of her life with men. The physical was always easy. It always came first, hot and fast. Then like a one-alarm fire being attacked by a hose, it smoldered, leaving in its wake the charred remains of what could have been.

      Well, Noelle Vincent was tired of getting burned.

      She swam more quickly now, trying to outrun her past, the mistakes, the pain. Her lungs were just beginning to burn for air when she felt something snake around her waist. On impulse she squirmed, turning to see what had grabbed her. But it was too late—the grip was tight and she was headed for the top without even having to tread water herself.

      Sucking in air she opened her eyes, then flung around quickly, ready to punch, scratch and scream her way free, only to find herself face-to-face with the man she had a sinking feeling was up to no good.

      “Mornin’,” he said, his smile not really matching the heated gleam in his eyes.

      “Good morning,” she managed, wiping her hair out of her face.

      Brock lifted a hand, moved another strand away from her eyes. “Heard you down here and decided a swim looked like a good idea.”

      He had thick eyebrows. She hadn’t noticed that last night, but she did now because he was really close to her and she was attempting to keep her gaze above the shoulders because it was clear he wore no shirt.

      “I was just finishing up,” she said. “I need to go and get dressed.”

      He caught her arm when she attempted to swim away. “No. Stay.” Pulling her close again, this time he cupped her chin. “Please.”

      In the most nonchalant voice she could conjure, Noelle said, “Sure. Why not?”

      Brock released a breath with her words. For a moment he thought she was going to be all awkward and bothered by their kiss. The kiss that had kept him up most of the night. But she seemed to be pretty relaxed as she swam slowly beside him. They watched each other between strokes but didn’t speak. She looked confident, self-assured as she cut through the water. He liked that. It convinced him that his instincts about her had been right. She wasn’t one of those starry-eyed women who took a kiss to mean the beginning of some life-changing relationship.

      That wasn’t what Brock needed in his life. He’d had enough emotional issues without adding more. Besides, he had nothing to offer a woman on a long-term basis, nothing at all.

      But right now, at this very moment he knew what he wanted to offer Noelle Vincent. He wanted her—there was absolutely no doubt about that. Beneath him, on top of him—each and every possible position had run quickly through his mind.

      When he’d heard the water and looked out his window to see her in the pool this morning, his desire to be close to her had only heightened. She wore a bikini that showed more than it hid. His mouth had literally begun to water, his erection growing so hard it had taken several minutes and thoughts of the last few World Series baseball games to get it to go down enough for him to comfortably slip into his swim trunks.

      So deep in his lavacious thoughts of her it took a moment before Brock realized she’d stopped swimming.

      “What? Is something wrong?” he asked, treading water as he looked back at her.

      “No. This is just so boring. Since we’re both out here I was thinking…”

      What were you thinking? Brock found himself with a ridiculous urge to hear all her thoughts, to know any and everything about her. She was even prettier first thing in the morning with her hair soaking wet, no makeup and a bathing suit that would send a blind geriatric man into cardiac arrest.

      “Let’s race!” she suggested with an exuberant smile.

      Now that was the very last thing Brock had imagined or hoped she’d say.

      “Race? I don’t think so,” he began.

      “Oh, come on, don’t be such a dud.”

      Smacking her hands against the water, she smiled as it splashed in his face. Brock blinked the droplets away, not sure if he’d just been insulted or not.

      “Unless you’re afraid to be beaten by a girl.” She

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