part of the day?” he asked.
“The botanical gardens. I’ve been to others, but the flowers I saw today were so different from anything I’ve ever seen in the States. The place was so beautiful.”
Landon had to agree with her. It had been something to see.
Finally, the elevator emptied, leaving just the two of them. He released her and she moved away from his side, but they were too late. In the time it had taken for them to reach their floor, as they’d stood there, hip to hip, breathing the same air, sexual tension had overwhelmed them both. At that moment, he wanted her so badly, he could barely think straight. “Do you still plan to do room service for dinner?” he asked.
“Yes, after I take a long soak in the tub. My feet are aching.”
“I can imagine,” he said. “It’s a good thing you’ll get a chance to rest up tomorrow. Dinner reservations aren’t until six.”
“Good. That will also give me a chance to get some work done.”
“I had a good time today, Monica,” he said, when they stepped off the elevator.
“I enjoyed your company, Landon. And I think our ruse has worked. People are keeping their distance. That’s a good thing, right?”
“Definitely,” he agreed.
“When we don’t show up at dinner, can you just imagine what they’ll be thinking.”
He nodded, knowing exactly what they’d think. “Will that bother you, that they’ll think we’re somewhere making love?”
There, he’d voiced the thought that had crossed his mind more than once today—the two of them naked, wrapped up in each other’s arms…making love.
“Heck no. What others think doesn’t matter to me.”
They had almost made it to her cabin door. Would she invite him in? Damn, he hoped so.
“Well, we’re here,” he said, shoving his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
Landon had made up in his mind—he was going to kiss her. He wasn’t going to go through another sleepless night wishing he’d gone for it. Sighing deeply, he continued to look at her. The temptation was killing him to reach out and place his arms around her waist, then lean forward and zoom in for her lips. If only she knew how hard he was fighting for control.
He moved closer to her, but when a couple passed by, he stepped back, deciding he wouldn’t kiss her out here in the hall. He respected her more than that. “Monica?”
“Yes?”
“May I come into your cabin for a minute?”
“Yes.”
She hadn’t asked why. Landon figured with all the sexual energy flowing between them, she had to know he wanted to kiss her. In all honesty, he wanted to do more. A lot more.
She opened her door, and he followed her inside. He reached out for her and she came to him without hesitation, surprising him when she placed her arms around his neck. And when she pressed closer to him, that was all the invitation he needed. Lowering his head, he captured her mouth.
This is what he wanted, what he needed…what he had desired from the moment he had first laid eyes on her that night in St. Paul. She had been angry with that guy, and she’d been frowning. But Landon had wanted to kiss that frown right off her mouth. Like he was doing now. When he felt her response, tentative at first and then with more vigor and enthusiasm, he felt weak in the knees. This young wisp of a woman was actually doing that to him, making him want to devour her, claim her, in a way he hadn’t wanted to claim a woman in a long time.
Landon knew her room had the same layout as his, which meant he could find his way to her bedroom blindfolded. But that’s not what he wanted. At least, not yet. When he felt himself losing control, he broke off the kiss and pulled back, dropping his hands to his side. The raw need in her gaze almost made him pull her back into his arms, but he didn’t yield to temptation.
“I look forward to our evening tomorrow, Monica.”
“Me too, Landon.”
He drew in a deep breath. Monica Bennett brought out a passionate side of him that he’d thought long dead, a side that he needed to control better. It had been years since he’d had to worry about losing his head when he was with a woman, but that was definitely a problem now.
Landon took a step back and smiled. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Then he turned and left.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
THE NEXT MORNING, MONICA stood