She shook her head. “I’m exaggerating.” She examined her other shoulder, the one that had been closest to Aiden and shaded by the chute. “This side is fine.”
“We’ll take a look at it when we get back to the room.”
We will?
“I don’t want you uncomfortable tonight. I want you to walk into that room in that dress and slay everyone.”
The thought of slaying a room full of people was laughable. “You do realize I’m short, right? Room slaying is more for a woman who’s five foot ten.”
“All that matters is that you have confidence. And I have complete confidence that you will look stunning.”
Sarah swallowed, hard. The man was lethal. Her resolve was doing more than melting away—she was having a hard time remembering why she’d ever needed it in the first place. Would it hurt anyone if she and Aiden gave in to a night of passion? She’d promised herself she’d stay away from single dads if she were caring for their children, but maybe this was different. She and Aiden had already shared so much more than she ever had with Jason. And she wasn’t really Oliver’s caretaker. Not for long, at least.
They arrived at the hotel and rode to their floor, both quiet. Considering all of the very sexual thoughts running through her head, Sarah was terrified to open her mouth.
“We have about an hour until we need to leave. I’m going to go ahead and hop in the shower.” Aiden took his shirt off right there.
Sarah nearly choked. “Okay.” She couldn’t have moved if she wanted to. Not when the world’s most gorgeous display was right before her. Considering that she’d never touched it, she had an irrational attachment to his chest, longed to spread her fingers across it, feel his skin against her palms and soak up the glory of Aiden Langford.
“Before you get in the shower, let me check your back for sunburn. I’m worried about that shoulder of yours.”
“Oh, okay.”
She stepped closer so carefully you’d think she was about to feed a lion from the palm of her hand.
“Turn around.”
Goose bumps dotted her skin. He swept her ponytail to the side and teased her beach cover-up from her shoulder with his finger.
“Anything?” Her voice squeaked.
“I can’t see very well. Take off this thing.”
No no no. No taking off of things. Oh, but she wanted to. She really, really wanted to. He was so close, radiating heat right into her back. He towered behind her, making her wonderfully aware of his size. She crossed her arms, curled her fingers under the hem of the caftan and lifted it over her head.
“Much better.”
She swore his voice was tailor-made for the bedroom. Why is it hotter now that I’m wearing fewer clothes?
He placed one hand on her left shoulder while brushing the right with the tips of his fingers, leaving behind a trail of white heat. His touch was heavenly and perfect. She could have stood there forever and let him ever-so-slightly caress her shoulder. “You’re a little pink, but I think you’ll live.”
That’s rich since I feel like fainting. “Okay. Thanks.”
Eleven
Sarah finished her makeup—a few dabs of powder and another swipe of deep red lipstick. “I can do this,” she muttered. “I was born to do this.” I think.
She took a final look-see in the full-length mirror. Was this dress the right call? It was certainly stunning. And if any garment, aside from a Kama nightgown, could tell the story of her design aesthetic, this was it. Still, with a neckline aimed straight for her navel, it was a bold statement. For Aiden, it was practically a lie detector test. If he showed no interest while she was wearing it? She’d know precisely how stupid her thoughts about him had been. Like most things she designed, the dress was meant to be left in a puddle on the floor at the end of the night. It was meant to leave a man with few defenses.
Not that she had a single guard against Aiden. If he made a move, it’d be painful to say no. It didn’t help that her brain wouldn’t stop obsessing on the blissful moment when he’d caressed her shoulder and only their bathing suits had kept them apart. What would he have done if she’d glanced over her shoulder and uttered the words she’d been dying to say? Kiss me.
Some part of her hoped that he wanted her the way she wanted him. Another part—the grumpy, sensible part—said that it didn’t matter. Crossing that line would be foolish. It would never end well. He was worldlier and infinitely more powerful than any man she’d been with. How could she possibly make an impression on a man like Aiden? How could she not disappoint him with her relatively narrow frame of reference in the bedroom? And if it happened, and proved to be a misstep, there would be many awkward conversations to endure over the coming days. All while she was trying to save her business.