Page 56 of Tease Me

The anticipation was going to kill me.

Oh my god!He’s flirting with Jane. PlainJane. A hot flush blazed through me so quickly it was a wonder I didn’t self-combust.

I had to get away before my cheeks and neck matched the color of the wine. Swallowing dryness from my throat, I held the empty glass towardhim. “That was delicious. Thank you. But I must keep moving.”

“You’re welcome.”Our fingers touched as he took the wine glass from me, shattering my ability to utter another word, so withmy heart in my throat, I spun on my heel,and left his boothwaslike swimming through wet concrete.

Ihad to forcemy brain back into Jane Nichols, the night manager.

I continued around the remaining booths, introducing myself and assuring the other delegates that if they needed anything,thenI’d be at reception, ready to help.

By the timeI returned to the front counter and removed the sign, it was close to ten-thirty. Duringthe course ofthe next half an hour, many people left the conference room and disappeared into the elevator. When Luca left, he was chatting with another woman, but the distance they stood apart suggested they didn’treallyknow each other, which was a relief.

When the bar closed at one-thirty, a flood of people left about twenty minutes later, and I overheard several debates over where they’d go next. People came and went; conversations carried on around me. Nobody glanced in my direction. I seemed to be invisible.

All of a sudden, I was back to the insecure woman I’d been last year. I flopped onto my office chair and feltimmenselyinsignificant in the large, marbled foyer.

For the first time in three and a half years, I was beginning to dislike my job. I wanted to go out partying like these people. I wanted a social life that crept into the small hours of the morning.

What’s wrong with me?

I didn’t go partying. But now, for some inexcusable reason, I wanted to try. With a jolt, I realized I was jealous.

As I observed people crossing the lobby, I contemplated my future. My thoughts skipped from being single to being attached. That flowed onto howdifficultany relationship would be with my stupid job.

It waswith a sinking heartthat Ialso realized that my career choice may have contributed to my relationship status.

I sat up and wanted to slap myself.

I shouldn’t have been thinking like this. Especially not while I had the challenge to complete. This year was supposed to be fun.

Butcome the new year,it may be time to look for a new job.I brightened at that thought, and as the early hours of the morning crawled along, my mind drifted from what type of job I’d look for,to all the different people I’d met at the conference this eveningand mymind swooped to my sexy winemaker upstairs.

A quick flick through the check-in cards revealed that he was staying in the room next door to mine, and from that second onward, I was consumed. I pictured going to him, all dressed up and ready for sex. I pictured him naked and imagined every inch of his exquisite body. I pictured his gorgeous hands caressing my boobs and our writhing bodies glistening with sweat as we teased each other into acarnalfrenzy.

The remainder of my shift was consumedwith these erotic thoughts, and by the time my boss came and relieved me of my shift, I was practically jittery with excitement at the prospect of going to Luca.

As I rode the elevator to my floor, I contemplated going to the sexy winemaker as myself, butrealizing it would be inappropriate after I’d demonstrated my professionalism as the hotel’s night manager, I cast that frightening thought aside.

In my room, I showered and applied my Memphis makeup, completewith blue contact lenses and the long blonde wig.I chose a simple black dress that crossed over at the front to meet at my waist and flared out to a full skirt that stopped just above my knees.For alittlespice,I chose my zebra print Nilenia Givenchy stilettos and tugged the matching purse from the shelf in my closet.These stunning shoes and clutch had cost me a whole week’s pay, and it was a thrillto finally be wearing them. Thank God I’d stockpiled all these accessories, or my outfits would be boring.

With a touch of my favorite Bobbi Brown retro redlippyon, I glanced at my reflection. My conservative dress was jazzed up just the right amount with these stunning shoesand perfectly suitedmy planned meeting with Luca.

It was going to be a little weird comingout of my apartment and walking just ten feet to his.I grabbed my bag, planted a smileon my face, crossed the short distance to his room, and knocked.

The door opened a few moments later, and Iwas treatedto awonderfulgreeting. The man I’d met downstairs had increased in sex appeal in the space of just eight hours. He wore tan slacks and a white T-shirt that was tight enough to show off his bulging pecs. Yummy.

“Can I help you?” His accent was yummy, too.

“I hope so. I noticed you last night; you were setting up a table near mine, and . . . as we have a few hours to kill before we start today, I thought we could get to know each other a little better.” I offered him my sexual diva smile.

His thick brows drilled together. “I beg your pardon?” His accent wasn’t so sexy now, and I blinked up at him.

“I, um?—”

“You’ve got the wrong door, lady. I don’t do things like that.”I feltas if I’d beenpunched in the gut and slinked away.

“I didn’t see you last night. What’s your name?”

---