Chapter 3

“Well, here we are,” Claire said. Her voiced cracked with the words as the unlocked the door and motioned for him to come in.

“This is a pretty nice room.”

His hands slid across the marble countertop near him as he spoke. Claire immediately envisioned those large, but delicate, hands sliding along her skin and felt a chill pass through her.

“Yes. My new job put me up here until I can find my own place. Would you like another drink? There’s a full bar in the suite.”

He had taken off his hat again and was running his long, sinewy fingers through his tousled sandy hair. Claire didn’t notice any nervousness on his part and wondered if he always picked up women in Times Square when he got bored or lonely. Though she’d like to think he was just mesmerized by her and couldn’t resist, there was a good chance that he did this often.

“No, I’m fine.”

A tingle ran down her spine as he stood in the center of the room with his gorgeous head cocked to one side, looking at her. It was now or never. If she didn’t go through with this, she would back out and just end up sitting in this palatial room alone, fretting over her first day of work tomorrow. Instead, why not spend a hot night with a stranger? It was time to get this party started. Claire slipped out of her heels as he watched and then walked toward him seductively.

“See anything you like, Harper?”

Her voice was a purr as Claire tossed all her reservations aside and went for what she had brought him here for. A piece of this tall, sexy creature in front of her was just what she needed.

“I see a lot that I like, but that’s not what I came here for.”

His hand found a small remote on the table beside him and he pushed a button, the cool sound of blues music suddenly filling the room. It wasn’t what Claire would have expected from a guy who accepted an invite to a woman’s room, but she had a feeling this one was full of surprises. Claire couldn’t help but think that she could get used to someone like him. Too bad that wasn’t an option.

“What did you come here for then?” Leave it to her to try to have a hot one-night stand and pick up the one guy that wasn’t willing. This was hardly what she had in mind when she brought him back here, talking.

“I thought it might be easier to kick back and talk here than it was in that loud, pretentious bar. Even on the roof, where you would think the sound would carry off into the night, it was damned noisy.” His face conveyed his disdain and she couldn’t say he was wrong in his assessment.

“Okay, then. Tell her more about yourself. I think I will have another drink. Are you sure you don’t want one?”

“Sure, I will take one. Scotch and soda will do fine.”

“Coming right up.” Claire walked over to the mini bar, making a note to herself to go down and pay cash for whatever they drank so that it didn’t end up on the company tab and make her look like some sort of lush buying booze on their dime. She had no idea how to mix a drink, so she just did the best she could and hoped it was right.

Claire felt a bit relieved that he didn’t want to spring into sex. It wasn’t like her at all to jump into bed with some guy she just met, so he was saving her from herself without even realizing it. She finished mixing their drinks, handing him one and taking her own toward the large curtains on one side of the room. Claire pulled them back to expose a gorgeous terrace and amazing view.

“So, you like living here in New York? You must, if you’ve always lived here,” Claire remarked.

“I do love it here. It’s always exciting. There is always a place to go, a party, lots of friends to hang out with. You never have to be alone. I’m not afraid to admit that his city is my first love,”

“Don’t you sometimes want to be alone?” Claire turned back toward him as she asked the question.

“No, not really. I like being surrounded by people.”

Claire wondered if she would get to that point. She had friends back home, but none here. It was exactly the environment in which she would thrive, she though. Always something to do, always something to see. Deep down, she knew that she would love to be able to feel comfortable being alone, but she never had. Unless she was surrounded by people, she felt a bit lost. Claire could see how this city might suit her once she got used to it.

Stepping out onto the terrace, they looked around at all the lights of the city around them. It was nice for a few minutes, but the chill quickly overtook them and ended their continued conversation. They stepped back inside to refresh their drinks and continue talking.

Before long a few more drinks had passed and Claire found herself telling him her deepest secrets as if he were an old friend. What difference did it make? Claire would probably never see him again anyway. Wobbling across the carpeted hotel room, her heel caught on something and threw her forward. Fortunately, he was standing right in front of her to catch her in his arms.

“Well, hello there,” he said. He looked down at her as she flew against him unexpectedly. Claire was certain that her face was red with embarrassment and perhaps from a bit too much to drink.

“I… I don’t know what happened,” Claire mumbled, glancing around for what she had tripped over and seeing nothing.

“Me, either, but now that you are here…” His lips were suddenly on hers in a heated kiss. Claire felt like her entire being was on fire as his tongue explored her mouth lazily his large hands caressed her skin. She remembered that this is what she had brought him here for and she regretted that they had wasted so much time talking instead of getting down to business.

Then again, Claire was grateful that he hadn’t taken advantage of the situation too soon. Her hazy mind was filled with confusion about everything but how much she was enjoying the way he was kissing her right now.

He scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed, laughing as we went. Sitting her down by the bed, he told her he would be right back. Claire struggled to get undressed before his return, but was having a hard time getting out of her panties while maintaining her balance. After a couple of attempts, she gave up slipping out of them and instead grabbed a handful of the delicate material, ripping them free and discarding them to one side.