“What?”
“To stay here.”
She pulled in a breath when his body went hard. He held her tighter until her breasts pressed against his chest. His arms wrapped around her waist. “How far are you willing to go?”
He lowered his head, their mouths on a collision course.
With shocking strength, Ellie shoved him away. “Not this far.”
He blinked and released her.
Ellie shot out of the pool. She raced to the chair, scooped up her things and exited the pool room. Carter stood in the water, tiny waves ricocheting against his hips and lower back.
Layers of frustration mounted inside him. He’d pushed her too far, too fast.
Angry with himself, he slapped the surface of the water, his gaze locked on her retreating form.
He was tired of watching her run away.
If he wanted her back in his bed, this wasn’t the way to go about it. He needed to find a way to contain his lust.
Not easy , he admitted.
He wanted her beneath him, beside him, on top of him. He wanted to wake up in the middle of the night, reach for her, and find her warm body curled against him. He wanted to roll over, kiss her awake and have sex until dawn.
Carter got out of the pool, toweled off and made a few mental adjustments as he went to his room, showered and dressed.
From now on he’d give her hints, engage her sharp mind, lure her trust, and spark her sensual nature he knew simmered inside her. Then he’d let her give the invitation to seduction.
Until he had her right where he wanted her.
Back in her room Ellie changed out of her suit and threw on a robe. She brewed a cup of coffee, sipping it as she stared out the window at the gray November sky.
Her attraction for Carter hadn’t lessened over the years. Still, she couldn’t convince herself to reignite the flame, no matter how brightly it still burned.
Obviously, he was here to investigate the hotel, perhaps to buy it. He also seemed determined to dismantle her emotional shields, as if half a lifetime hadn’t gone by since they’d been lovers. If he bought the hotel, would he let her stay? If he didn’t want her to stay, could she convince him otherwise by giving into him sexually?
Either way she felt trapped and miserable.
Worse, the thought of sacrificing her body and her pride to Arnoff Applestone, to secure her place in his grand designs of a floating Sin City, made her sick to her stomach.
Why did she have to give up pieces of herself in order to hold on to her dreams?
Four days.
So much could happen in four days.
A hard knock rattled her door. Ellie jumped up, spilling coffee on her white robe.
“Shoot.” Grabbing a wash cloth from the bathroom, she blotted the stains on the way to the door. She swung it open. “Yes?”
Carter stood before her in jeans and a Dolce & Gabbana knit pullover, smelling of sexy cologne and guest shampoo. A vision of pure, uncomplicated confidence. How she envied him.
She crossed her arms. “What?”
“I need you,” he stated.
She took a step back. “Um—”
Animated, he went on. “Remember the original building plans we found? The night we snuck up to the attic to be together, during that bad storm?”
He remembered that? “I guess.”
“I want to see those plans.”
“Right now?”
His eyes lit up. “I think I found something, hidden inside this hotel. Meet me for breakfast in the dining room, and I’ll show you.”
He left as abruptly as he’d arrived. She shut the door, determined not to let his “discovery” intrigue her.
What could he possibly have learned about the hotel that she didn’t already know? Eventually, her coffee grew cold and curiosity won out over caution.
Ellie showered, blow-dried her hair, dressed in hip-hugger jeans, kitten heels, a cropped beige jacket she’d ordered online from The Gap, and met Carter in the dining hall. At one of the café tables in the breakfast nook, he pored over The Wall Street Journal , shoveling scrambled eggs into his mouth.
He dropped his fork and the paper when he saw her. He wiped his mouth with his cloth napkin. “Ready?”
She shrugged. “Sure, I guess.”
“Up for new adventures. I always adored that about you.” He winked, kissed her on the forehead as he passed, and headed for the central staircase.
Adored? Ellie swallowed. The open enthusiasm he expressed put her on guard. Yet he seemed relaxed, genuinely interested in her company, instead of pawing at her or playing on her emotions. He probably didn’t mean he adored her . He was just excited about something, and the endearment slipped out accidentally.
Intrigue compelled her to follow him. They took the central staircase up to the second floor.
He stopped at the utility room near the elevator. “Keys?”