I need you to be this same way always.” Wait. Shit. He’d meant, um… “Always, you know, when we’re performing for the others here.”
She licked her lips.
He would have happily done that for her. Licked. Sucked. Maybe even given a faint bite on her plump lower lip.
“You changed,” she answered. Her voice was husky. Way too sensual for him.
And he didn’t know what she meant.
She backed away a step. Straightened her shoulders. “You stopped pretending, I saw your real smile again, and I—”
“You what?” he asked when she stopped.
“I liked your real smile.” She spun on her high heel. “The limo is waiting. Let’s go.”
He didn’t move. If she would kiss him like that again, he’d give her his real smile any damn time. Over and over again.
***
“The target has landed.”
His fingers tapped on the computer screen as he watched the security feed. “Yes,” he snapped. “Obviously, I can see that for myself.”
“They’re walking to the limo.”
Was this shit for real? “Again, I can see that for myself. That’s the whole point in you sending me a video feed.” He didn’t need a friggin’ play-by-play of things he could figure out for himself.
As he watched the feed, he saw Dex’s hand linger on the woman’s lower back. A possessive touch. Interesting.
She slipped into the limo first.
Dex quickly followed her.
“I want to know who she is.” Dex Ryan had been a thorn in his side for too long. “Obviously, he’s working some angle, and I want to know exactly what’s happening—”
“Um, this is like a lover’s retreat place, so I mean, I think I can basically guess what is going to happen if you want me to—”
“Get her name. Get her background info. I want to know everything about her.”
Why did he have to deal with such an idiot? “You know what? Fuck it. I’ll deal with this myself.”
The limo drove away. Dex and his lady were off to their final destination.
Time for the games to begin.
Chapter Four
“Do you kiss all of your fake fiancés that way?” Dex asked as he lounged against the leather seat in the back of the limo.
“Yes.” An absolute, honest answer.
It was too dark for her to clearly see his expression, but she felt the sudden stiffness of his body. Someone obviously hadn’t liked her answer. She faked alarm. “Oh, I’m sorry? Did you think you were special? Hate to break it to you, but I do kiss all of my fake fiancés that exact same way.”
His fingers drummed on his knee. “Because I’m the only fake fiancé you’ve ever had.”
Bingo. “Not like I go around town and pretend to marry men every day.”
“That’s good to know.” His voice was a growl.
A nervous laugh escaped her as the car slowed. “You sound jealous.”
“I am.” He turned fully toward her. “When it comes to you, I am very, very jealous.” His hand rose and cupped her chin.
“I don’t even have a ring yet,” she mumbled because Lacey suddenly was feeling way out of her element. It was the second kiss. I knew I should have held on to my control. But he gave me that warm smile, and I just…
It had felt like seeing behind the mask, and she’d reacted. She’d let her walls fall down in return, and she’d kissed him as if nothing else mattered.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of that problem right away.” His mouth swept toward hers.
And she might have leaned toward him. Eager much?
The limo’s rear door opened. “Sir, we are here.”
Dex’s lips brushed over hers.
Part of her was all…He knew the driver was coming. The kiss is deliberate. Just for show, tricky bastard.
But another part of her was like…I’ll take more, please.
She had to yank up her walls again, ASAP.
“Time for us to go, darling,” he rumbled against her mouth. “I hope you’re ready for a week you will never forget.”
“Promises, promises,” she responded. Then, because one good show deserved another, she caught his hand in hers. She brought his palm to her lips. Pressed a tender kiss to the center of his hand.
Dex hissed in a breath.
Then she sensually nipped the pad of flesh under his thumb. “I hope you’re ready for what’s coming,” she added, voice husky.
For a moment, he didn’t move at all. His gaze just locked on her. Even though the back door was open and cold air swept inside, she could have sworn that in the space between her and Dex, the temperature notched up several degrees.
“Uh, sir?” The driver cleared his throat. “The bellman already