Page 27 of Silk Shadow

"Will he be staying with you?" Viper's expression was neutral, but his eyes zoomed in on her face.

She frowned. "No, of course not. We're not dating."

"I'm sorry to pry, but I've got to ask so I can adapt your security."

"That's okay, and no, Robert will have his own room."

Another curt nod, but she thought she saw a flash of relief cross his face. Or was that her wishing it was so? With him, she couldn't be sure. He was always so guarded.

Last night was about as personal as he'd ever gotten with her. She could understand why he hadn't had a relationship in the Navy, but now he was a free agent. Although, he hadn't been out long. Pat had said only a few months.

She'd read about how hard it was for servicemen to adjust to civilian life. Was he going through that now? He didn't give away a thing. If he was stressed, he wasn't showing it.

"We're meeting the others in the hotel bar at seven," she said.

"Yes, ma'am."

Izzy stared at the two dresses on her bed. The silver one was soft and slinky and demanded attention. She certainly wouldn't go unnoticed in that. The black one clung to her like an oil slick that changed color when she moved. It was sexy as hell but more “rock chick” than “cocktail hour glam”.

"Viper," she called. She'd purposely left the connecting door between their two rooms open, and although he hadn't come through it at all, she'd heard him walking around, taking a shower, getting dressed. It was intimate, in a weird kind of way.

He immediately appeared in the doorway. "Yes?" Then froze when he saw her standing in a towel robe.

"I can't decide which dress to wear. What do you think?"

He didn't move. "You want me to choose?"

"Yes, I need a man's opinion."

He shook his head and came a bit closer. "The black one."

"Hmm... Interesting choice. Why did you pick that one?" Her mind whirred. Was it the rough-and-ready part of him? Did he like a wild child as opposed to a glamour puss? Maybe he was into rock music? He looked the type. That sexy-as-hell tattoo on his chest, right over his heart.

"It'll make you less of a target."

And he turned on his heel and left the room.

Great.

Izzy sighed and flopped on the bed. The man was impossible!

She didn't know why he made her so mad, but he did.

Maybe it was because she couldn't crack him. Every man she'd ever known had hit on her. Even the ones professing to be her friends. Everywhere she went she was fawned over, idolized. It was partly because of who she was and partly because of what she looked like.

A style icon, she'd been called in the media. A role model for millions of young women. She was also a success story, a businesswoman, an entrepreneur in her own right. And of course, her family legacy made her a wealthy debutante.

The exotic, sultry looks she'd inherited from her Brazilian mother meant she drew attention. Designers wanted her to wear their clothes. Magazines wanted her to grace their covers. She was always being given jewelry or outfits or the latest gadget to try out in hopes that she'd give it a stellar online review. Her Instagram account had over two million followers. Her opinion mattered. Her fans adored her. Men wanted to sleep with her.

Except he wasn't like that.

He kept his distance, even when he was standing right beside her. That cool, aquamarine gaze stared through her rather than at her, refusing to engage. He was driving her crazy.

With a huff, she pulled on the silver dress. It was slinky and sexy and had tiny spaghetti straps that crossed at the back. You couldn't wear a bra with it.

Around her neck hung the turquoise necklace.

Just before seven, Viper poked his head through the connecting door. "Are you ready, Miss Beaumont?"

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