Page 29 of The Player

He barked out a laugh. ‘I don’t believe you about the English. I would’ve read about that in London.’

‘Pity my antics didn’t make it all the way over there,’ she said, her tone holding a hint of accusation. ‘What is it you want me to say? That I danced naked at a grand final? That I had half a rugby team and cheerleaders in my room one night?’

Her voice had risen and she lowered it, making him feel guilty for pushing her. ‘Honestly? I have no idea why my story is so important, other than the fact I haven’t given them a story before now.’

She held out her hands, as if she had no tricks up her sleeves. ‘I’ve been reticent in interviews over the years. I pick and choose the ones I do and the questions I answer. Maybe that’s fostered the mystery surrounding my life? Plus I’ve dated two mega-famous Aussie sporting stars, and maybe people want to know, “Why her? What’s so special about her?”’

He’d touched a nerve. He could see it in the frantically beating pulse in her neck, in the corded muscles, in her rigid shoulders.

He could move in for the kill now he had her more animated and far removed from her trite answers, but something in her eyes stopped him.

She looked almost haunted. As if she’d seen too much, done too much, and was still reeling from it.

It made him even more curious.

What or who had put that look in her expressive eyes?

‘Want to take a break and meet back here at four-thirty?’ He asked, feeling bad for pushing her hard for answers.

Liza nodded and stood before he’d barely finished the sentence, desperate to escape. Yeah, he’d definitely hit a nerve.

He watched her walk to the door, a goddess in sheer stockings, a tight red dress, and heels that could give a guy serious ideas.

‘Liza?’

She glanced over her shoulder and arched a brow.

‘Good work on the marketing campaign.’

‘Thanks.’ Her smile lit her expression and made her eyes sparkle, the first genuine show of emotion all afternoon.

Interesting. Either this book or this marketing job meant more to her than she was letting on.

‘See you later,’ he said, as she slipped out of the door with a wave, leaving him more bamboozled than ever.

What he really wanted to say was, would the real Liza Lithgow please let me in?

Chapter Thirteen

Liza surreptitiously slid the sleeve of her dress up to check her watch.

On the plus side, Wade had stopped interrogating her during their second meeting of the day and had concentrated on marketing plans.

On the downside, it was six o’clock and she was on the verge of fainting from lack of food.

Her stomach rumbled on cue and she wrapped an arm over it. Too late. His gaze zeroed in on it. The rumbles were quickly replaced by a horde of tap-dancing butterflies as she remembered the way he’d stared at her naked body on that unforgettable night.

Damn, she’d vowed not to think about that night again, especially when working. She’d done a good job of it so far, then all it took was one casual glance from him and the entire evening flashed across her mind in vivid detail.

His hungry stare as he’d propped over her, their bodies joined and writhing slowly.

His sensual lips as he’d kissed and nipped the inside of her elbows, her thighs, her stomach, every zone more erogenous than the last.

His skilful hands as he’d brought her to orgasm. Repeatedly.

Great. The butterflies had stilled, only to be replaced by a fiery heat that had her gritting her teeth to stop from squirming.

‘Hungry?’

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