Page 29 of Forbidden Virgin

“That’s different.”

“Why?” she challenged him. “Because you’re the owner?”

“Yes,” he said, but the moment the word escaped his mouth, acid spilled into his stomach. Shit. He’d always led by examples besides this one time. “It’s different, Kate. I didn’t lie to my bosses and have people go looking for a problem that didn’t exist. I didn’t provoke less revenue because I typed the room was dirty when it wasn’t so I could screw around. They put our reputation at jeopardy. What if a guest walked in on them?” he said, hoping his serious stance would convince her.

“I talked to her, she’s very regretful. This is the only place they can meet because she lives with her family and her mother hates him,” she said, leaning closer. Her expression softened, and her voice pleaded instead of ordering.

He scratched the back of his neck. “Maybe her mother has a point.”

“She hates him because he’s a maintenance guy. She wants her daughter to marry someone with money. Isn’t such prejudice wrong?”

Good grief. How long did she talk to the housekeeper to know her life story? “You’re a romantic, aren’t you?” He touched her nose.

“I’m someone who cares about people. And I want you to be the boss who does too and not just a go-by-the-book Corporate America type.”

“Why?” Why did she care so damn much?

“Because I can’t be in love with someone who’s that guy.” She stroked his jaw with the back of her hand, but this time there was no sexual energy between them. His skin tingled, sure, but for a different reason. Damn it. He loved her too—and couldn’t admit to it while she persuaded him to help a random couple.

He cleared his throat and stepped away from her. “They can’t work in the same property together. Ever. I’ll transfer him to another hotel and she can stay in this one. But if either of them acts out again, they’re done.”

She clapped. “Thank you.”

“Later today, meet me in the parking lot. We’re going somewhere.” He’d take her out to dinner at his favorite place, and tell her how he felt about her. He loved her and wouldn’t let her get away.

* * *

“Going somewhere?” Aaron asked when she stopped by the front desk to pick up a new key to her room.

She smoothed the knee-length sleeveless black dress. Of course, she’d meant to put a jacket on top, but she forgot and now Aaron furrowed his brows at her as she walked around the counter and logged into the system to have access.

“He’s not going to make you his girlfriend, you know,” he said, coming closer to her.

“What are you talking about?” she glanced at him.

“You know. The big boss.”

She swallowed a big lump in her throat, but stretched her full height to show confidence. “This isn’t any of your business.”

He lifted both hands in a defensive gesture. “Hey, I’m just trying to be a friend.”

Really? Because you’ve tried to be more than a friend without success. She curled her fingers into a fist and wish she could land it on Aaron’s face. God. Why was she so worked up? “Thank you for being such a caring friend,” she said, flexing her fingers and slapping on a smile. “But I can take care of myself.” She slid the keycard into the modern device and grabbed it again after it pinged and produced the new key.

“I hope so. He’s done this before, you know. I heard Amanda was heartbroken when he kicked her to the curb.”

Her pulse spiked. “Goodbye, Aaron,” she said, sliding out of the large, moon-shaped front desk counter and walking out of the hotel. A couple of doormen greeted her, and she waved back, then continued striding further into the parking lot.

Anyone with a brain would know Aaron wanted to get the best of her. She was no fool. He’d been interested in her initially, maybe still was, and she’d shut him down and then ignored him. He’d suspected she’d carried on an affair with a rich, better-looking older man and came to his own conclusions.

A light breeze curled the tips of her hair. She smiled when she saw Graham’s car pull up near her, and her heart skipped a beat or two. Her petty opinion of Aaron dissipated the moment Graham slid out of the car and walked around to open her door and help her in.

“I missed you,” he said when she secured her safety belt.

“Me too.”

He turned on the engine of the sports car, and she wondered if he’d gotten any awesome business news. A smile played with his lips as if he had just received an award. He drove them out of the beach area and into the road, with his hand holding the steering wheel in a relaxed way. She couldn’t wait to hear what he had to say, but ruining the news delivery wasn’t in her plans.

“Did you have a good day?” she asked.

“Yes. A great day, thanks to you.”

“I thought you’d be mad at me for interfering,” she said.

“No. You always surprise me, Kate.” He flashed her a sideway glance, and his cobalt eyes sparked. “One of the reasons why I love you,” he said in a soft voice filled with honesty . . . the type that could soothe crying babies to sleep.

A searing sensation throbbed at her chest and radiated through her body. She turned to him right away, needing confirmation of what she’d just heard. She parted her lips, her jaw dropping a notch. He . . . loves me? “You do?” she asked, staring at him like she’d finally figured out a complicated math equation.

“Yes.” He glanced at her again, and the rather shy smile hinted he didn’t do this very often. Was Graham . . . a virgin at saying I love you? Happiness jolted through her.

She opened her mouth to speak, but then a blinding light occupied her field of vision, and when she blinked, confused, a pick-up truck crashed into his car. She wanted to scream, but the sound got trapped in her throat. A huge thump made her slam against the safety belt then hit her head against the headrest. The airbag blew up in her face, and Graham’s tortured scream was the last thing she heard before fading into black.

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