This wasn’t the first seduction scene Connor had arranged. If memory served, he’d done something similar the first time he’d made love with Maggie all those years ago. He could still remember the day as if it were yesterday. The lavish picnic on a deserted beach at sunset, aching desire, sweet hesitancy, shy touches, her giggles, his need, their bliss. For a while, anyway.
Connor ruthlessly shut off those flashes of memory and concentrated on his plans for right now. This time, he thought as he glanced around the room, at least he would know what he was doing.
As he double-checked that the champagne was properly chilled, he accepted that there would be no pretense of “making love” this time around. No, this time when he and Maggie got around to doing the deed, it would be good old-fashioned, sweaty, hard-driving sex—and plenty of it. That was the plan, anyway, despite Maggie’s words of protest. The way she kissed him in his office told a different story. At least he hoped so.
And what about that searing hot gaze she’d cast his way that morning in the truck? If that was any indication of her feelings, he figured it wouldn’t be too hard to bring his plan to fruition. So to speak.
They both seemed to be on the same wavelength. And why not? After all, he mused, as he carried a large vase of stunning red roses over to the mantel, this wasn’t their first rodeo together. They’d done this before. So why not do it again, for old times’ sake? They were two consenting adults, right?
And in case she didn’t see it that way, Connor figured the flowers and champagne would go a long way toward softening her attitude.
He didn’t mind putting on a romantic show for a woman when the situation called for it, as long as it worked out in his favor. And yeah, by that he meant sex. He wasn’t ashamed to admit that that was the bottom line.
Connor stared out the window at the sun setting over the ocean view and frowned. Was he starting to sound callous or deceptive? Because he wasn’t that guy. He didn’t expect Maggie to say yes simply because he was loaning her some money. He grimaced at the very thought. He would never make sex a condition for the loan, for Pete’s sake. He didn’t have to, he thought with a grin. His charm and persuasive abilities would take care of any qualms she might have.
Although why she would have qualms, he didn’t know. She wanted him as badly as he wanted her, that much Connor knew. Maggie’s expressions were still easy for him to read, so he figured he wouldn’t have to work too hard to make it happen.
“This is a beautiful room.”
He whirled around. Maggie stood near the doorway to the bedroom, using a towel to fluff her still-damp hair. She was dressed casually in a cropped T-shirt and a pair of those sexy yoga pants some women wore that fit like a second skin. Connor gave a brief prayer of thanks for that current fashion choice.
“I was in such a rush earlier,” she murmured, and took her time meandering about, touching a knitted throw rug hanging off the sofa, studying the artwork, smelling the roses. “Oh, the flowers are gorgeous, aren’t they?”
Connor couldn’t help staring at her as she moved with supple ease around the room. Her feet were bare, her petite shoulders straight. Her hair, thick and healthy, became lighter and more lustrous as it dried. He could see the outline of her breasts as they rose and fell with each breath she took.
His groin tightened.
How had he forgotten how sexy her toes were? How perfect her skin was? To give himself some credit, he’d never forgotten her breasts.
As beautiful as she was, Maggie seemed more fragile now than when she was younger. She was quieter, too. Or maybe it just seemed that way because they were getting to know each other all over again. He would have to wait a few days to decide if that was true or not.