Page 41 of The Player

‘Come home with me.’

Her heart lurched with longing but before she could protest he rushed on. ‘You doubted my sincerity the first night we were together? Then let’s start afresh. Make tonight our night. No work. No excuses. Just two people who are crazy about each other indulging their mutual passion.’

His heated gaze bore into her, unrelenting, demanding an honest answer. ‘No complications at the office tomorrow. No second-guessing. Just you and me, and an incredible night to be ourselves.’

Liza was tempted. Beyond tempted. Her body strained toward him of its own volition, miles ahead of her head in saying yes. But what was the point? One more night would only solidify what she already knew.

She could easily fall for Wade Urquart given half a chance.

But she couldn’t. Not with her responsibilities. Not with her life plan. It wouldn’t be fair to encumber a guy with Cindy’s full-time care and she would never leave Cindy to fend for herself. It was why she never considered a long-term relationship, why she would never marry.

Normally, it didn’t bother her. But she’d never met a guy like Wade before, the kind of guy who elicited wild fantasies, the kind that consisted of homes and picket fences and a brood of dark-haired, dark-eyed cherubs just like their dad.

‘Stop thinking so hard.’ He placed a hand over her heart and it bucked wildly beneath it. ‘What does this tell you?’

To run like the wind. But she swallowed that instinctive response and reluctantly met his gaze.

She had to refuse.

But an incredible thing happened as her eyes met his. She saw a confusing jumble of hope and vulnerability and desire, every emotion she was feeling reflected back at her like a mirror.

No guy she’d ever been with had been so revealing and in that moment she knew she couldn’t walk away from him. At least for tonight.

‘Okay,’ she said, mimicking his action and feeling his heart pound beneath her palm. ‘But this is a one-off, okay? We don’t discuss it again or bring it up at the office.’

‘Okay,’ he said, swooping in for a kiss that snatched her breath and quite possibly her heart.

Liza didn’t remember much of the short drive to Wade’s Southbank apartment. She could barely concentrate on the road with his hand on her thigh the entire time.

He didn’t speak, sensing her need for silence. She couldn’t speak, not without the risk of blurting how he made her feel. Uncertain and flustered and high.

Hell, how bad would it be come morning after another amazing night in his arms?

She shouldn’t have agreed, but the part of her that had the life she’d planned ripped away following the phone call from her financial adviser’s office still craved a little indulgence.

She was doing her best: with the biography, with the marketing job, with caring for Cindy. She deserved a break, deserved to feel good, and Wade was guaranteed to make her feel incredible albeit for a few hours tonight.

His penthouse apartment was everything she’d imagined: glossy wooden floors, electric controlled slimline blinds, glass and chrome and leather everywhere. Minimalist chic, reeking of money.

Not that he gave her much of a chance to study it, because the moment they stepped down into the split-level living room he had his arms around her and backed her against a sleek marble-topped table.

‘Do you have any idea how much I want you?’ He framed her face with his hands, staring deep into her eyes.

The depth of his need shocked her, as if he’d given her a glimpse into his soul. He shouldn’t want her this much. It wouldn’t end well. But she’d come too far to back out now and she couldn’t if she wanted to. She needed him just as badly, if only for tonight.

‘I have a fair idea,’ she said, undulating her hips against the evidence of how badly he wanted her.

He growled. ‘Tease.’

‘No, a tease would do this.’

Her hands splayed against his chest, caressed upward before stroking downward. Lower. And lower. Stopping short of his belt buckle.

‘A tease would also do this.’ She slowly slid the leather belt out, toying with the buckle.

‘And this.’ She flicked the top button of his pants open.

‘A tease would stop here.’ She inched his zipper down, the sound of grating metal teeth the only sound apart from his ragged breathing.

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