Page 41 of Tempt Me

I cast the costume aside and returned to my closet. After procrastinating for about ten minutes, I chose a simple shift dress in ivory and navy that had just one zip up the back. Quick and easy to get in and out of. I matched this with a pair of navy Louboutin stilettos with a pencil-thin six-inch heel.

I re-examined my reflection in the mirror, touched Ciaté Liquid Velvet lipstick to my lips, and I was ready to go.

With my bag clutched over my shoulder, I made my way to the seventh floor. While I waited for the elevator, a brilliant idea for why I’d be knocking on Benson’s door hit me.

As I rolled the idea around, the doors opened to five people inside, so I was instantly grateful I’d decided against wearing my French maid outfit.

Thankfully, the seventh floor was deserted. At Benson’s room, I plumped my boobs up in my strapless bra, sucked in a calming breath, and knocked on his door.

After a couple of moments, the door opened, and my heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. He wore a hotel-supplied waffle weave bathrobe that was peeled open to the cloth belt around his waist.Is he wearing anything beneath that robe?

“Hi.” He flashed his gorgeous smile at me.

“Hi.” I tilted my head, trying to emulate a sexy come-hither pose.

“How can I help?”

“I’m here for the conference.” It was scary how good I was at lying these days. “I overheard you checking in with that lady downstairs, and when you scored this room, I thought maybe my room would be ready, too.” I shrugged. “No such luck for me.”

“That is unlucky.” He had a cockiness about him that said he knew where I was going with my story, but he refrained from elaborating on it.

“Exactly, and as we have a couple of hours to kill . . . well, I was wondering if you’d like some company.”

His eyes light up. “Yes, yes, of course, come in.”

He stepped aside, and I strode across the carpet as if I were a runway model. I tossed my bag on the back of a dining chair and turned to him as the door clicked closed. Benson had a neatly trimmed three-day growth that somehow enhanced a cute dimple in his right cheek that deepened with his grin.

“My name’s Benson.” He held his hand toward me.

“Yes, I know. I overheard downstairs.” I nearly giggled at my clever role-playing prowess.

“Well . . . can I get you a coffee?”

“Oh, no, thank you.”

He rubbed his hands together as he walked toward me. “So, which newspaper do you work for?”

Oh crap. I hadn’t thought my harebrained idea through that much. “The Country Times.” I blurted out. “Yep, I’m a country girl.”Who is a complete idiot.

“You could’ve fooled me.”

I scrunched my nose up at him. “That’s sweet of you to say.” Damn, this idle chitchat was hard work.

“Are you here for all four days?”

“Maybe. I always find these conferences so boring.”

He nodded. “Some are. It just depends on the speakers and the other guests.” A small grin curled at his lips.

“Boredom makes me horny.”

He swallowed loud enough for me to hear, and that was my cue to get moving. “I’m going to be straight with you, Benson. I find you really attractive and well . . . would you like to . . . you know, get naked?”

His eyes bulged. “I . . . I . . .” He blinked.

“First though, are you married?”

He shook his head. “Divorced. Twice.”

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