Page 18 of The Prince's Game
“He’ll go to Chicago for you?”
“He’s the only one I trust to do it.”
“I take it he’s not on board with your parents forcing you to get married.”
“Not at all.” He pocketed the details and eyed me. “As for the phone, I’ll figure something out. I requested you for the one-on-one date on Saturday, but you’re going to need that phone tomorrow to give notice at work. I’ll need to add you to the group date. An afternoon exploring the French Quarter with eight women. Should be a blast.”
“Wow. Don’t sound too excited there, Evan. You might bring down the house.”
He grinned. “Something tells me having you around for two months won’t be so bad, Sarah.”
“Oh, give me time. I’ll find a few buttons to push.”
“I can think of a few I wouldn’t mind pushing.” My nipples stiffened beneath his open perusal. Faking attraction for the camera wouldn’t be a problem here.
“Draw up the contract.” Then we could talk aboutbuttons.
“Yes, ma’am.” He stretched his arms over his head, lifting that shirt enough to afford me a glimpse of his belt, before dropping his hands to the bed. “If that’s my cue to leave, I’m ignoring it for a few more minutes. I have no interest in moving.”
“Hey, it’s your hotel.” I relaxed into the pillows beside him. “I might fall asleep. I have to report downstairs at seven o’clock sharp for filming. Then I finally get to see some of the city.”
“Is this your first time in The Big Easy?”
“Yep. My plan was to get kicked off the show the first night so I could explore all the cemeteries before going back to Chicago, but that didn’t happen.” I had a thing for dark, scary places. It went hand in hand with my horror film obsession.
He pushed off the headboard to scoot down and lie on his back. His arm went behind his head again, and that sliver of skin peeked up at me. I licked my lips.Yum. “Cemeteries, huh? I’d enjoy that more, but Paul wants to hit Bourbon Street and get everyone drunk. I’m positively thrilled by the idea.”
“I can tell.” I yawned.
“I’ll see if we can add something historic to the list that doesn’t involve women taking off their shirts for beads. If not, I’ll take you around sometime. I know a few good haunts.”
“I’d like that.” The bed was too comfortable for me to keep my eyes open. I was exhausted. “You can stay as long as you’d like, but my conversational skills are falling to the wayside.”
His chuckle was deep, rolling through me on a wave of warmth. I wouldn’t mind hearing more often. “I’ll let you sleep.” He ran the back his fingers over my cheek and down my neck to my shoulder. The tender touch hit every nerve and set my blood on fire.Oh, he’s going to be trouble. His intoxicating scent consumed my senses as he placed a chaste kiss on my lips. “Thank you, Sarah. For everything.”
Cool air replaced his natural heat, and it was the opposite of what I wanted. I curled my fingers in his jacket and pulled him back down. I wasn’t one to mix business with pleasure, but I could make an exception for this man. His leg slipped between mine as he braced himself with a hand on either side of my head.
“Did you think of a contract amendment already?”
“No.” I wasn’t tired anymore. Not with him leaning over me like this. “You know Paul’s going to expect chemistry on set.”
His eyes dropped to my lips. “That won’t be a problem.”
No, it wouldn’t. “Our first kiss is not going to be in front of a camera, where I’m receiving some bogus instructions on how to use my tongue or whatever else those producers have in mind. And I won’t be doing anything more than kissing you while on film.”
“And off film?” One of his hands went to my hip as he lowered himself onto his elbow beside my head, closing the gap between our bodies. His groin was hot and heavy against my leg, leaving no doubt that the attraction between us wasdefinitelymutual.
“We’ll see where it goes, but it’s not like you won’t be getting action from the other girls.”
“Does that bother you?”
“Should it?”
“Probably.”
“Isn’t that the nature of the show?” If I told myself that enough times, I wouldn’t care. I didn’t know him well enough to be jealous. Holding him this close was making my heart race, but that was lust. Deeper feelings weren’t an option between us. As long as I remembered that, I would be fine.
His thumb slipped beneath my tank top to caress the bare skin of my hip. “I can flirt without getting sexual. I’ve managed to ignore Paul’s encouragement so far.”
