Page 40 of Restrained

“I told her I was working.” I quirk an eyebrow, and she laughs. “Not a total lie.”

“I don’t remember talking much about business.”

She flushes, and I take a drink of my coffee. “Are we working today?”

We should. I have a lot to do before this hotel opens, but I don’t want to think about work. My eyes skim over her pretty face as she takes another careful drink of coffee. “Probably.”

“At least we know the bed is comfortable.”

“Product testing is important.”

I love the flicker of playfulness in her eyes. Though this side of her is dangerous. She’s letting me see a part of her not many see.

And the guilt stabs me as sharp as a knife.

“Do you always test out the beds before you open hotels?”

I study her intently.Is she asking me if I always fuck someone in the beds? Stay the night with someone?She doesn’t seem jealous. “Not with someone else, but I do test the beds. And the showers. The food. Everything has to have my stamp of approval.”

She takes another drink. “I like that about you. Details are important.”

“I won’t open a hotel unless it’s somewhere I’d stay myself.”

Her eyes drift around the room. “Well, I’d definitely stay here again.”

This is all going to blow up in my face very soon, but I can’t help myself. I place my coffee on the table next to the couch and lean closer to Lola. “You can’t say that for certain yet.”

She also puts her coffee down, her hands resting on the sofa cushion between us. “And why is that?”

I grin, showing her my own playful side, one I thought was long gone after my father took a steak knife to the back of my hand. “You haven’t tested the shower yet. What if the water pressure is shitty?”

Her teeth move over her bottom lip while her hand moves to the button on the shirt she’s wearing. She flicks it open, exposing her flat stomach and full breasts to me. “Gee, what was I thinking?” Her voice is low and husky as she looks at me with desire, setting me on fire and making me feel things I don’t want to admit. “We should try it out.”

I don’t waste another minute, grabbing her and lifting her into my arms to carry her into the bathroom.

This is going to end badly, so I might as well enjoy it now.

19

LOLA

By the time I get home, it’s dark. I spent all day with Hayden in the hotel. Mostly naked. Although we did manage to get some work done. I’m ready for a hot shower and some sleep when I notice the kitchen light is on.

I walk into the kitchen and see Viv at the kitchen table with a glass of wine, the bottle still out on the table.

Uh-oh.

“Viv?”

She turns to look at me, her pretty eyes rimmed in red as I approach with caution and slip my purse from my shoulder, placing it on the table as I take a seat.

I place a hand over hers. “What’s wrong?” I study her. She looks tired, still pretty but too worn-out for her mere twenty-two years. “Did Sawyer do something?”

That dick. If he cheated on her, I swear...

“What?” She wipes a tear away from her cheek and shakes her head. “No. Sawyer hasn’t done anything.”

I close my eyes momentarily and then look back at her. “Asher.”

---