Page 74 of Starlight Bay

“Says you,” Nick said, stroking the skin on my arm, chill bumps rippling down my body. He pulled me in close, his heartbeat a faint thrum against my bare breasts.

And he was definitely ready for action again.

I gazed down and shook my head. “No way,” I hissed. “Your parents are probably awake now; not happening.” I pushed back against his warm body, working hard to ignore the electric current buzzing between us.

“That’s what makes it even sexier,” he murmured, grazing my neck with his lips.

“Nick…” I said in my most stern warning voice, even as I stared up at the sunburst pattern on the ceiling, attempting to think unsexy thoughts while desire pooled low in my stomach.

“Fine. I’ll try again later,” he said, rolling off me, grazing my nipple with his fingers, the sensitive skin puckering under his slight touch.

“You better watch yourself or you most certainly will have coal in your stocking on Christmas morning,” I said to his backside, admiring his amazing physique. He had a damn good ass, round and tight.

“I know you’re staring at my ass,” he said, his back still towards me as he walked across the room.

“No, I’m not,” I protested, my face flushing.Busted.

“Uh-huh. It’s fine, take it all in.” He glanced back over his shoulder and winked at me before going into the bathroom, closing the door partway.

“Seriously, we need to talk about last night,” I said, twisting the edge of the duvet in my hands.

“What’s there to talk about?” Nick’s muffled voice rumbled through the room.

“Everything!” I said, exasperated. Of course this wasn’t a big deal to him. It was my career on the line, not his. I exhaled, a chilly huff.

“No there’s not.”

I heard the faucet turn on, then Nick rummaging around in the drawers, followed by the hum of his toothbrush.

“You’re overthinking it,” he said. “We’re on vacation; remember, we already covered the ground rules. It’s all good, babe. Trust me.”

He spit in the sink, then the door opened and he walked back into the room, wearing his gym shorts from last night.

I sighed. “Fine. We’ll stick with the plan. But I’m warning you—thiscannotget back to anyone on the team. I need my job.”

“I hear you. Loud and clear, boss,” Nick said, leaning down and cupping my face in his strong hands. He placed a minty-fresh kiss on my lips, taking my breath away as I melted back into the soft pillows.

Why did I let myself fall for this man’s irresistible charms again?He was more intoxicating than spiked eggnog at the company Christmas party.

And probably an equally bad idea.

CHAPTER 10

NICK

Damn if Sydney Porter wasn’t the prettiest, sexiest, most amazing woman on the planet.

Too bad we worked together now. What could I do about that? I understood where Sydney was coming from—I was charming and all, but she wanted her career, too. She’d worked hard to get to where she was and didn’t want to blow that on a relationship.

Even if what we had was different, special.

I was gonna have to work this out—and fast—because Christmas was right around the corner and then we’d be back at the office and on the field and my time would be up.

I rolled my shoulders back, just like I did before a big game, took a few deep breaths. I could work this out, I just needed a minute to think.

“Nick, you ready to go?” my mom called up the stairs. It was almost time for the annual Ugly Sweater party at the Randall’s house down the street.

“Just a sec, Mom,” I said, sticking my head around the doorframe, then shutting the door behind me. I stared at thebathroom door, willing Sydney to come out. Nothing; quieter than a silent night.

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