Page 44 of The Playboy

There was only one reason she’d do that.

“Embarrassed to be seen with me?”

“No, it’s not that at all,” she replied without looking up. “I know a bunch of people who work here. If they see me going up to your room, rumors will run wild that I’m the girl who goes home with the vacationer, and that’s not the kind of reputation I want … nor am I that kinda girl.”

“Ah. I get that.”

She stayed quiet until we were in the elevator with her hair hiding both sides of her face, her fingers sealed to her forehead, and once the door closed, she turned toward me, but her hand stayed put. “So, question … if you’re in LA, how would dating even be possible? I’m here, and you’realllthe way over there.”

That had been on my mind for sure. But I hadn’t given it too much weight. Locations were just details that could be worked out. I had access to a private plane. We were building a hotel here.

The possibilities, when it came to my work life, were endless.

I wasn’t going to get into that now.

What was far more important was emphasizing, “I didn’t think you wanted to date?” Even though her face was still hidden from me—assuming she was hiding from the cameras in the elevator and that she even had friends in the security department—both of my hands went to her sides, brushing up to her bra and down to her panty line. “Isn’t that what you were feeding me when you complained about how little time you have?”

“Macon … I see what you just did.”

I brought her closer. “Let’s take it one step at a time and get through tonight first.”

She tapped my chest with her free hand. “Okay, Mr. Good with Words.”

I laughed. “What, you don’t like it when I useyourwords against you?” I leaned down to kiss her but had to maneuver my way under her eye shield.

As I got near her mouth, she stuck her finger over my lips. “Not even a little … youdick.”

“Is that like yourno touchingrule, which I’ve obviously broken?”

“Ohhh. Someone’s on fire.”

I chuckled again, my grip lowering to her ass. “Isn’t that something you like about me?”

“I … give up.”

“Don’t.” I squeezed her cheeks. “Because I’m just getting started.”

The elevator opened to my floor, and I walked her down the short hallway, waving my key card in front of the lock.

“PH 4,” she said, reading the sign to the left of the door. “You must have a really nice boss if he’s footing a bill like this.”

“He’s my uncle.”

“That explains it.”

I huffed air out of my lungs. “It explains nothing. I just hold an important role at his company, and with my title, I get certain perks. Staying in a suite is one.”

I ushered her in first and heard the click of the lock as I joined her in the foyer, where her hand had finally fallen, revealing her whole face.

Since it was late, housekeeping had already stopped by, turning down the room for the night, which gave the interior a completely different vibe than in the daylight. The pendants were dimmed, making the white and mirrored finishes stand out, the mood as serene and sensual as the view—the one in front of me and the one outside the sliding glass door. There was soft, spa-like music playing from the speakers. Even a scent had been sprayed, a mist that was clean and beachy.

But it was nothing compared to the constant flavor that came from her body, a smell I inhaled every time I took a breath.

“I feel very …” As her voice trailed off, she surveyed the room.

From the way she was glancing around, I couldn’t tell if she had spent time in one of the suites and was refamiliarizing herself with the space or if she was shocked at how nice the room was. Whatever it was, at least the weirdness was gone, and she wasn’t covering her face anymore, acting ashamed to be here.

“Dressed?” I played with the bottom of the black cotton, where it hit the upper portion of her legs, lifting it just a little to slide my fingers beneath. “Far too dressed.”

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