Page 8 of Tempt Me

Oh jeez. Maybe I should make a run for it now. Except my killer stilettos made that idea a stupid one. I cleared my throat. “I’m ummm, I’m just taking some time out.”

“Well, you picked a beautiful spot for it. Marriage break-up?”

My jaw dropped, and it was a wonder my eyes didn’t pop right out of my head.

“Wow, okay, not that. Boyfriend then?”

“You’re a nosey one.” Even though I faked my horror at his suggestion, I decided to go with that idea. At least I could draw on some real emotions if needed. “Cheating bastard ex-boyfriend, to be exact.”

“Ahhh, well, good on you for taking this holiday then,” he said as the elevator door pinged open.

With his hand on my lower back, he guided me toward the Triple H Bar, and I was torn between letting him know I was a green belt in karate and looking out for Marjorie, who’d be sitting behind the lobby counter.

This was going to be a huge test of my disguise. Every person who worked in this bar, and in the whole hotel, for that matter, knew me. Well, they knew Jane; none of them knew about Memphis. I’d lose my job if anyone found out. If Tania the barmaid even glanced at me twice, I’d probably pass out with embarrassment.

Hunter and I slipped onto stools at the far corner of the bar, and he asked me what I’d like to drink. That was when I remembered my next mistake. I had no money. “Oh shit, I’m so sorry, but I don’t have my wallet.” Feeling like a complete idiot, I slipped off my stool, ready to leave.

“Stop.” He held his palm toward me. “It’s my treat. There’s nothing better than spending a few hours with a beautiful stranger.”

It took all my effort not to bulge my eyes. His words could have come straight out of my mouth. Hunter was easily the beautiful stranger amongst us.

“So, what would you like to drink?” He smiled at me. The wicked glint in his light blue eyes begged me to stay.

How could I resist? “I’ll have a glass of Shaw & Smith Sauv Blanc, please.”

“Perfect. I’ll have one too.” He wandered to the counter, and as he placed our order with Tania, I admired his sinfully handsome face. He was guy-next-door hot in a Chris Hemsworth kind of way, with a nicely trimmed two-day growth that culminated at the dimple in his chin. He had blond hair and pale pink, perfectly kissable lips. The white T-shirt tucked into his low-slung jeans failed to hide the contours of his torso; if anything, the tight fabric enhanced the six-pack that I already knew was there. I pictured him as an outdoorsy type of guy. If I was lost in the jungle or something, Hunter would be the man I’d want to save me. Even his name suited a man who’d be capable of catching my dinner with his bare hands.

He looked after himself. The question was, other than his lovely offer to buy me a glass of wine, how else would he look after me?

I was ready to find out.

Mr. Fitness returned with our glasses, and we chinked them together.

“Perfect strangers,” he said.

I laughed; his toast totally hit the mark. “Perfect strangers,” I replied.

If I was going to get through this, I’d need to dominate the conversation. I couldn’t have him asking me any more tricky questions. “So, you know why I’m here—what’re you doing on the Gold Coast?”

He held up two fingers. “Two reasons, actually. I competed in the Cooly Classic open swim on Sunday, and I extended my stay to do some business.”

“How did you do in your swim?”

He ran his thumb over his stubbled chin. “I didn’t win; I didn’t lose either.”

“Just finishing must be an achievement.”

“It used to be, but now I want more. I thought this was to be my year. But. . .” He rolled his eyes and had another sip of wine.

“And what do you do for work?”

“I’m a chocolatier. I have my own range of specialty chocolates, and I’m trying to crack the Queensland market.”

I raised my eyebrows. “You make chocolate? Wonderful.”

“Oh, not just any chocolate. My mother was a Swiss pastry chef, and my father a French chef, and I grew up with them competing for my approval of their culinary masterpieces. I live and breathe chocolate. It is, in my opinion, the most diverse, complicated, yet divinely simple treat on the planet.”

His passion captured me. I leaned forward on my elbow. “Carry on.”

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