Secretly Hers (Sterling Canyon)(26)

 

And by setting the stage tonight with her props and plans, she’d make it clear to Trip that she not only understood the terms of their deal, but was taking full advantage of them for her own reasons. Reasons that had less to do with him than with her own sexual curiosity. In an hour or so, after they’d both gotten what they’d wanted from this part of their bargain, she’d politely send him home without any regrets.

 

Inhaling slowly, she took another long, slow drag of wine from her glass to drown out any lingering misgivings. A short while later, she started when her door buzzer rang. Her heart raced. When she stood to answer the door, a dull roar rushed to her ears.

 

Here we go.

 

She pressed the intercom button. “Who is it?”

 

“Prince Charming,” answered the smooth baritone.

 

“Come on up. Door’s unlocked.” She released the intercom and then sat—or rather posed, with her ankles crossed and her chest held high—on the arm of her sofa.

 

Trip knocked gently before opening the door to her unit. He stepped inside, his cocky grin fixed in place until he actually looked at her. Stopping midstride, jaw unhinged, he stood there blinking.

 

Score one for me.

 

In his right hand he held a single white rose, which made her lips part in surprise. Fortunately, she remembered the reality of their situation before her heart skipped ahead of her brain.

 

Trip collected himself quickly, handing her the flower. “Thought we should start off on a high note.”

 

“Thank you.” She lifted off the sofa and forced a calm voice even as six thousand butterflies took flight in her belly. Did he bring other girls flowers, or was this something just for her? “Pour yourself a glass of wine while I put this in water.”

 

Before she turned away, she noted him swallowing hard as his gaze traveled over her body, which boosted her confidence. “You do not disappoint, princess.”

 

“Did you think I might?” she said over her shoulder on her way to the small kitchen to fill a bud vase with water.

 

“No.” He filled his glass but downed it like a cold beer rather than a pricey Amarone. “Did you finish studying?”

 

“In fact, I did.” She slid the stem into the vase and set it on the counter. “Would you like to know what I learned?”

 

“Nope. I don’t want to argue about Wade or his development right now. I’m just making sure I have your full focus for the rest of the night.”

 

Oh, he had her attention. But she needed to remind both of them of their bargain. “First, share a dating tip to prove your good intentions about helping me.”

 

Trip set his empty glass on the coffee table, pulled a folded sheet of paper from his jacket, and waved it in the air while walking toward her. “You’ll learn I’m a man of my word.”

 

He flattened the paper on the counter and pushed it toward her. She lifted the handwritten sheet, entitled “Trip’s Tips,” and raised one brow.

 

He snatched the paper back. “This can wait.” His expression turned wolfish. “I can’t.”

 

This was it; she’d committed to this odd arrangement, for better or worse. It would be fine as long as she retained control of herself and the situation. But at that moment, with his strong body brushing up against hers and his green eyes shining with desire, she didn’t know how in the world she’d manage to keep herself in check.

 

His fingers toyed with the ends of her hair. “You are a most beautiful woman, Kelsey Callihan.” Then he removed the Stetson from her head, grinning. “If you don’t mind, I’d rather not think about my grandfather right now.”

 

As soon as he set the hat down, he cradled her head with both hands and kissed her long and deep. She opened her eyes to find his closed tight, almost painfully so. God, she needed the protection of the sexy fantasy she’d constructed before she started to actually feel something for this man.

 

“Trip,” she whispered. “I want you to do something.”

 

“What,” he murmured against her neck just before planting another kiss behind her ear, one she felt all the way down to her toes.

 

“Come with me.” She eased away, leading him by the hand toward her bedroom.

 

When they approached the edge of the bed, where she’d laid out the props she’d assembled, Trip’s eyes widened before filling with electrified lust. “If I die tonight from pleasure, bury me with my hat.”

 

She smiled and then kissed him, enjoying the way her body trembled under his touch. Her fingers fiddled with the buttons of his shirt, but he quickly took over and unfastened them himself, tossing his shirt to the floor and pulling her tight to his chest.