Page 9 of The Player

‘You could try, but you’d have to carry me out of here.’

‘Not a problem. I have a suite upstairs.’ He winked. ‘You could recover up there.’

Guess that answered Liza’s question about how she could instigate celebrating with Wade.

The old Liza would’ve laughed off his flirtation and changed the subject. The new Liza who wanted to kick up her heels for the first time in forever. Surely she couldn’t pass up an opportunity like this?

‘Is that an invitation or a proposition?’

‘Both,’ he said, capturing her hand between his, the unexpected contact sending a buzz shooting up her arm. ‘Am I in the habit of picking up women I barely know at parties? No. Do I invite them back to my place? Rarely.’

He raised her hand to his lips and brushed a soft kiss across her knuckles, making her yearn for more.

‘Am I hoping you’ll say yes to spending the night with me?Absolutely.’

Liza had a decision to make.

Do the sensible thing, the responsible thing, as she’d done for many years.

Or celebrate her new life, starting now.

‘Do I accept offers to spend the night from guys? No.’ She squeezed his hand. ‘Have I had a one-night stand before? Never.’ She slid her hand out of his. ‘Do I want to spend tonight with you?’

She took a steadying breath and laid her hand on his thigh. ‘Absolutely.’

Chapter Four

As Liza stared at the lights of Melbourne glittering below, she had second thoughts about her decision.

Was she really in Wade’s suite, about to indulge in her first one-night stand at the ripe old age of twenty-eight?

She still had time to bolt. She’d thought it rather cute when he’d mentioned making a quick trip to the convenience store across the road, and it reinforced his assertion that he wasn’t in the habit of picking up women or expecting to have sex his first night in Melbourne.

But while he was buying condoms, she was mulling over reasons why this might not be such a good idea after all.

She maintained strict independence for a reason. Depending on anyone for anything inevitably led to heartache.

Not that she’d be depending on Wade for anything, but letting her guard down came with a price. It left her vulnerable to feeling and having her defences weakened, even for a short time, made her skittish.

She’d loved her dad. He’d abandoned her without a backward glance.

She’d depended on her mum. She’d eventually left too.

She’d thought sweet, easy-going Jimmy would always be there for her. He’d done a runner too.

No, it was easier maintaining aloofness, not letting anyone get too close. And that’s exactly what Wade would be doing shortly…getting exceptionally close.

Ironic, it wasn’t the prospect of some stranger seeing her naked that had her half as anxious as the thought of being intimate with him and enjoying it too much.

She’d never been a needy female and had tried to instil the same independence into Cindy despite her physical limitations, yet there was something about how much she wanted to be close to Wade tonight that terrified her.

She could blame it on her impulsive need to celebrate and do something completely out of character. Or she could admit the truth, albeit to herself. That she craved a connection, even if only physical, for just one night.

The soft swoosh of the key-card in the lock had her fingers clenching the window sill.

So much for escaping.

Wade entered and her stomach dropped in an uncharacteristic swoop that signalled she really wanted this guy. She tingled all over from it, her nerve endings prickling and putting her body on notice, a heightened awareness that made her want to rub against him, skin to skin.

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