The Ten-Day Baby Takeover(40)

They made a quick escape into the Miami night, heading back to the hotel. Sarah settled into her seat—as much as a girl can when she’s floating on air for the second time in one day.

Aiden turned to her. “If things don’t work out with Sylvia, I want to invest.”

“Fashion’s not in your wheelhouse, remember?”

“Sarah, you could sell me the Brooklyn Bridge right now. That was a really tough thing you did. And you killed it.”

Pride swelled inside her, as did her yearning for Aiden. However much she’d wished earlier that she could touch him, kiss him, run her fingertips over the intricate patterns of that tattoo on his arm, the desire was tenfold now. “You’re so sweet.”

“That’s not what you’d say if you knew the thoughts going through my head when I look at you in that dress.”

“Thoughts?”

Her face was on fire. Swallowing became an impossible task. Kiss him. Just get it over with and if he turns you down, you can tell him it had been a momentary blip of insanity. The car came to a stop. Why are we not moving? We need to get to the hotel. Now.

“We’re here, Mr. Langford,” John said.

“Good.” Aiden gazed deeply into Sarah’s eyes, taking away her ability to breathe, let alone think. “Time to retire for the evening.”

Halfway through the lobby, Sarah was overcome with the feeling that everything was about to change. And not just with her career.

* * *

Aiden unknotted his tie on the elevator. He couldn’t take it anymore. He’d started something in the car, something that was not smart, but he’d had enough. Being with Sarah all day had been too great a test. Every inch of her was temptation...he would’ve berated himself for suggesting parasailing and subjecting himself to hours with her in a bikini if he hadn’t so greatly enjoyed it. He’d thought at least a dozen times about untying one of those bows on her bathing suit, caressing her soft skin, leaving her bare to him.

Next to her in the elevator, the view was incredible, but looking was no longer enough. He needed to touch her, without the dress, needed her in his bed, so he could finally get lost in her sweetness and beauty. He’d be kissing her right here and now if he thought for even a minute that he’d be able to stop.

Finally, mercifully, the elevator reached their floor.

Sarah stopped halfway down the hall, planted her hand against the wall and kicked off her shoes. “These things are killing me.”

Aiden laughed quietly. Her career was built on aesthetics, but she wasn’t afraid to be real with him. He opened their door, ready to sweep Sarah into his arms and finally just kiss her.

She had other plans. “Sorry, but I need to do one thing.”

Before he could say a single word, she darted into her room and closed the door.

Well damn.

He stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do, which made no sense. He almost always knew what to do. Come on, Sarah. Hurry up. But she didn’t appear. And there was no sign that she would return. What could she possibly be doing in there? How long could it take? So that was that. He’d crossed a line with that comment in the car, and it hadn’t worked. Time to admit defeat.

He stalked to his room and closed his door, disappointment threatening to consume him. This was not the way things typically went for him. Hell, he couldn’t think of any time this had happened. Then again, he’d never known a woman like Sarah. He stepped out of his pants, which oddly enough made his arousal a more pressing matter. It felt good to be less constrained, but now it was impossible to ignore how badly he wanted Sarah. Should I go to her? Tell her how badly I want to make love to her? Or will I seem like a jerk? They only had a few more days together.

A quiet knock came at his door.

Aiden looked around the room, unsure if it was a construct of his imagination. A second knock came. He lunged for the door and opened it, pure evidence of how little he was thinking. In his boxers, there was no hiding how thrilled he was to see her.

“There you are,” she said, slightly breathless, in the tempting black-and-silver nightgown.

“Where else would I be?”

“I thought you would wait for me. I mean...after the car. It seemed like you wanted to, um, spend some time together.” Her eyes flashed with something he’d never seen, which was saying a lot since she was such an animated woman.

“I do want to spend time together.” Why couldn’t he find something smooth to say? Oh right, everything below his waist was doing the thinking.

“What are you up to?” She looked everywhere—at the ceiling, the floor, the windows with the view of the water. Either she was trying to ignore the erection in the room, or she was waiting for him to make his move.