Page 14 of Secret Crush

Guessed right the first time. His brother had said that her contract depended on getting John to the funeral. She coughed and then stared back at him. "Yeah."

His shoulders relaxed as he stepped closer to her with a genuine smile on his face. "I'm glad I asked the concierge to bring you to me."

Unsure how she became so lightheaded so fast, she hung onto her chair. The air around her smelled like cedar and pine trees and John. She hoped she'd get the thump of her heart under control before she lost her precious control. "Is that what this was? I thought I was summoned."

"Summoned? I can't command anything from you. You can go if you wish." The last thing she wanted was to leave his side.

Then he offered his arm. "I hope you'll stay, though. I don't want to spend the night alone. I just spent the evening with people I no longer wish to know, and I could use your company."

Heat rose to her cheekbones and she’d have bet she was blushing. All her life, she'd dreamed John would be hers. To build a wall, she crossed her arms in front of her chest. "I'm not inviting you into my room, if that's the implication."

"No." He smiled at her. His warm gaze sent her heart into a tizzy. She dropped her arms to her side as he said, "I was hoping you'd have dinner with me here, and maybe a drink. I have a suite on the thirteenth floor."

A drink and dinner with her Prince Charming. She must be dreaming. Maybe she should throw caution to the wind for one night with John. She was an adult now, and her reactions to him sent her body into overdrive. The House of Morgan always controlled the deck of cards, but soon enough he'd be gone back to wherever he came.

In the future, she'd still be here and end up married to someone who could tolerate farm life. This night might be all she'd ever get of John Morgan. She shrugged her shoulders. "If you are afraid of bad luck or Al Capone's hauntings, you might want to change floors."

"Nope." John held out his hand. "Will you hang out with me tonight?"

Hang out was far too tame for her thoughts. Alice brushed her fingers down his thin, long-sleeved shirt, until she reached his hand. Her flesh seemed electrified. If he touched her bare skin, she'd wrap her arms around him, wanting to see every part of his body. This neediness was so unlike her. She wanted to agree with anything he said when she usually questioned everything. "Sure. Let me go change. Meet you here in an hour?"

At least she sounded normal. Earlier she couldn't even do that. She leaned into him as he said, "Perfect, and thank you."

She tilted her head. "For what?"

His dimpled smile drew her into a dream as he said, "For forgiving me so fast."

The wake seemed a long time ago now. "In the House of Morgan, no one taught you to let things go?"

Thenohe gave when he shook his head didn't match the humorous gleam in his eyes. "No, that wasn't one of the lessons."

She turned to leave the bar, but peeked behind her. John watched her and his muscular body combined with those blue eyes and dazzling smile triggered something deep inside her. This was her fantasy coming true, so she'd enjoy every moment until it was over. "Well then, welcome to Alice's worldview tonight. You might regret this tomorrow."

He winked at her. "Somehow I doubt it."

With a spring in her step, she sashayed from the pool and picked up her room key and bag. John said hang out, but this was one night where she could pretend to be Cinderella. Alone in the elevator, she licked her lips and wondered what John's kiss would taste like. She'd bet it was tastier than the freshest strawberries from their fields.

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