It was a little white lie that had Kat shuffling down the hallway of the lodge in desperate need of a drink.

Well, a little white lie and boredom. But she blamed the boredom on the little white lie, along with the dull headache that had finally prompted her to get up out from under the cozy down comforter and head to the bar that adjoined the main hall, with its overstuffed, ridiculously comfy leather chairs and the large paintings of elk and antelope and other nature stuff. Nature wasn’t really her thing, which was why she’d told the little white lie, which was why she was now bored… and maybe a little hungover.

It was all a vicious circle, really.

She stopped short when she reached the dimly lit bar with its pretty backlit liquor bottles, its cozy booths, and the long oak bar itself. Behind which stood a man.

A hot man.

No, hot wasn’t accurate enough. There was something about him that made him seem… dashing. But not in a Hollywood playboy way. No. This guy was dashing in a rugged way.

He was a dashingly rugged man, she silently amended.

He had dark hair that was just a little overgrown, and the sort of creases and indentations that gave a man’s face character and took him from handsome to oh-my-God-he-should-be-modeling-underwear-on-a-Times-Square-billboard.

Yeah, he had that kind of face, with the dimples and the cleft in his chin. Freakin’ sexy as hell and she had a feeling he knew it by the easy confidence in his every move. He managed to pull off a plaid flannel shirt and jeans like a perfectly tailored tux. The crinkles around his eyes when he smiled was really just overkill. Almost too much sexy when aimed in her direction.

She knew this because he was smiling at her right now. Whether it was her lack of sleep or the late hour or the rapid onset hangover, she found herself blurting out the first words to pop into her head. “You’re not Steve.”

That made his smile widen and she was fairly certain that smile deserved a cape and some sort of insignia. It made him look like a goddamn superhero. But he wasn’t Steve, the pleasant young man who’d been pouring her drinks all afternoon. Steve had been nice-looking in a very average Midwest sort of way.

No one had ever accused Steve of being dashingly rugged, of that she was certain.

The caped crusader pointed a finger in her direction. “And you’re not Rhonda.”

Kat grinned as she continued into the bar and plopped down at one of the empty seats. It was almost impossible not to return that smile. “You are correct. I am not Rhonda.” She rested her elbows on the bar and made herself comfortable. “Who is Rhonda?”

He tossed a bar rag over his shoulder and leaned over the bar too. “She’s the night manager who usually comes in here and locks up for the night.”

“Ah,” she said. “Nope, sorry. Not Rhonda. I’m just a guest here.”

“What can I get for you, not-Rhonda?”

Oh hell. Had he meant for that to come out all low and sexy or was it just wishful thinking? She cast a quick glance in the mirror behind the bar. Probably wishful thinking. She’d been tossing and turning in bed for an hour before finally giving up the quest for sleep and heading out to the bar. Her blonde curls were a disheveled mess and she was wearing yoga pants and a T-shirt. She had a feeling even if she gussied herself up with makeup and the perfect blowout, she still wouldn’t be up to this guy’s standards. A guy like this probably dated the hottest of the hot, and while she would consider herself cute—pretty, even—no one ever insisted she should be modeling underwear on billboards.

Somehow knowing that put her at ease. There was no one to impress here. Just a fun, flirty new bartender. She grinned at him—that she could do.

“I came here to see if you guys had any aspirin back there, but I’m tempted to have a drink instead.” She gave him a questioning look. “Unless you’re closing up for the night?”

His grin widened and unless she was losing her mind, she was fairly certain his gaze warmed as his eyes narrowed on her like she was prey. He held up a drink that he must have been hiding behind the bar. “I’m just getting started.”

“Then I’ll have whatever you’re having.” She watched him grab a top shelf bourbon and an empty highball glass. Oh boy. This was not going to help that hangover when it eventually caught up with her.

“Can’t sleep?” he asked her when he handed her the glass.

She sighed. “I told a lie today.”

Whoa. Where had that come from? She hadn’t exactly intended for the hottie bartender to become her father confessor but there it was. She’d started her story from the very beginning.

His gaze took on a mischievous glint as he wagged his eyebrows. “Do tell.”

She let out a sound that was half sigh, half laugh. What was she doing? Oh yeah, just spilling her secrets to a relative stranger. No big whoop. But the stranger in question had such kind brown eyes and he was looking at her like she was the singular most interesting person on the planet.

Also, she needed a friend. Her own friends were safely tucked away in their cozy apartments back in New York, which was what she’d planned on doing this weekend as well. They certainly weren’t roughing it in the middle of Nowhere, Montana for some stupid office retreat.

Not that this lodge was “roughing it” per se… but the hiking? The gun shooting? The freakin’ riding of horses?

No, thank you. This was the kind of event she’d pay money not to attend.

But her hottie bartender was waiting for her to continue so she found herself spilling her guts. “I told my boss that I sprained my ankle,” she said in a mock whisper.

He nodded sagely. “Uh huh. And why did you do that?”

She dropped the whisper as she shrugged and took a sip. Mmm, delicious. “So I wouldn’t have to ride a stupid freakin’ horse.”

His brows shot up. She shouldn’t have been surprised by his surprise. Everyone here seemed to think horses were the best thing since sliced bread. Not that sliced bread was all that great, come to think of it. She took another sip and shook her head. The whole world was bananas.

Or maybe that was the drink talking.

The bartender leaned forward and her attention was drawn to the flex of his muscles beneath the flannel shirt. She could so get used to flannel if everyone who wore it sported burly, sculpted biceps.

His voice held a note of laughter that was more intoxicating than the whiskey. Or maybe the whiskey was more intoxicating than she’d realized….

“You told your boss you sprained your ankle to avoid riding a…” He used his fingers to do air quotes. “Stupid freakin’ horse.”

She nodded.

“And?” he prompted.

Ah. So clearly he didn’t see how that related to her current inebriated state and inability to sleep. She let out a small sigh. Silly man.

Leaning forward so far her breasts were resting against the bar, she smiled broadly. “So, I told them that yesterday and got out of the stupid horse riding. Instead, I cooped up in my room and read my book.” Her grin grew smug. “Win-win.”

Really, she had been a winner. With zero Internet access and limited cell reception, it was impossible to get any work done. For the first time in forever she’d found herself with a period of guilt-free time where she literally could not work. Laying around a hotel room all day had been sweet bliss.

“Mmhmm.” He waved his hand in a gesture to continue.

“So today I said that it still hurt and managed to get out of yet another day of ridiculous bonding activities with my coworkers.” She managed to refrain from making a gagging face at the mention of her coworkers, but just barely. It wasn’t that she hated all her coworkers at the cable news station, just the ones who were here on this executive retreat.

Probably because they were executives. She was not an executive, at least not at the same high level as all these assholes, and they all knew it. She’d only been invited because she was the number one sales rep in the company.

No big whoop.

Honestly if she’d known this would be her big prize for being the best, she might have tried to tone it down a bit.

No. Not really. She wasn’t capable of toning it down when it came to her job. She’d created a plan for herself a long time ago and had been steadily working her way up the corporate ladder ever since. The plan was all-encompassing—mainly focused on her career, but it took into account the fact that one day she might want to get married and have kids. So yeah, that was all part of the plan. But she still had years to go before she reached that point in the plan, and right now she was solely focused on developing her career.

However, if she’d known that this would be her reward for salesperson of the year, she might have given herself an excuse beforehand so she wouldn’t have found herself spending her precious weekend hours hobnobbing with a bunch of D-bags with egos the size of that mountain outside.

The bartender’s lips were twitching with contained laughter and the sight was mesmerizing. Hell, everything about those lips was hypnotic. “So how did that lead you to my bar tonight?”

My bar. She liked that. His easy confidence made her think of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. He had that old-school kind of charm.

When she was done grinning like an idiot she gave her head a little shake, took another sip, and continued with her story. “The problem was, I finished my book yesterday while playing hooky.”

“Ah.” He nodded sagely as though he knew exactly where this was going.

She explained anyway with a sigh that was worthy of an Academy Award for all the angst it signified. “So today, obviously, I was bored. Out of boredom I came out here to seek some company and I found Steve.”

The hottie’s brows rose. “So that’s how you know Steve.”

She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. “Indeed.” Steve had been the instigator of her bad behavior, the accomplice to her lies, the enabler to her excessive drinking. She sighed again. She missed Steve.

But this guy. This not-Steve. She rested her cheek on her fist to better gaze upon his beauty. She liked him too.

He was smiling at her in a way that was far too knowing, but also strangely sweet. Like he knew her. Like they knew each other. Like they’d been great friends for ages and not just strangers who’d met in an empty bar this very night.

He moved to refill his own glass. “And the headache?”

She stared in confusion for a moment. Headache? What headache?

Then she sat up a little too quickly. Oh yeah, that one. “The alcohol started to wear off from my day drinking so I figured I’d come out here and either see if Steve had some aspiring….”

“Or just continue to drink?” he guessed.

Her shoulders sagged. She’d been caught. But it wasn’t like she often drank the day away. She enjoyed a pint now again and a bottle of wine even more often, but she rarely did this.

This was a temporary reprieve from the hell that was a work outing poorly disguised as some sort of vacation. Ugh. Whoever thought traveling and mingling with one’s bosses was a vacation had a sick sense of fun.

The hottie surprised her by coming around to her side of the bar and perching on the stool beside her. “I have a secret for you.”

Her breathing stopped. Everything appealing about this man was magnified a million times over at this close proximity. It was too much. Sexy overload. Luckily he didn’t seem to require a response.

His smile grew as he lowered his voice. “This lodge has a library.”

She blinked at him. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting from those tempting lips. A proposition, maybe?

Definitely not tourist info.

Still, once the words sank in, excitement had her bouncing out of her chair. “Where? And why didn’t anyone tell me?” she demanded.

He shrugged and that made her scowl. Dammit, Steve. He’d really let her down.

Tugging on the bartender’s sleeve, she pulled him up and out of his chair. “Show me.”

He obliged. As she followed him through the dark, narrow halls of the lodge, she found herself grumbling. “I can’t believe I’m wasting precious weekend time here, of all places.”

“You don’t like the lodge?” He turned back so suddenly she walked into him and promptly bounced off his hard chest. She found herself staring at the solid rock of a chest in fascination. Holy muscles, Batman.

Her mouth watered and she caught herself just in time before she licked her lips like some sort of perverted horn-dog.

But seriously, this guy was hot. And sexy. And the way he looked at her, like she was adorably wacky but also sensationally hot—well, that look was a turn-on in and of itself. When she managed to tear her eyes away from the muscles that filled out his shirt, she found that he was eyeing her in turn, giving her the same, lascivious once over. She might have been offended that he was ogling her like a piece of meat if she hadn’t been caught doing the very same thing.

Besides, he clearly liked what he saw, mussed bedhead and all. And she liked that he liked it.

She gave him a slow, seductive smile as she leaned in closer to his heat and his amazing, earthy, soapy scent.

Oh yes, this was definitely a case of mutual admiration.

The hottie reached behind him and opened a door. He walked in backward, his gaze never leaving hers.

Oh hell, he was smoldering at her. She hadn’t even known that was a thing men did outside of the movies, but this guy did it well. His dark eyes held a promise. All she had to do was say the word and he would make her night.

Why not?

The voice was unbidden, it seemed to come out of nowhere and she froze in place, blinking like an idiot. Why not? Because she didn’t do that sort of thing. She was here for work, for Christ’s sake, not on some epic girls’ weekend looking to get laid.

Still, it has been a long time, the devilish, possibly tipsy little voice kindly reminded her.

Six months, to be precise. That was when she’d ended her last relationship and she’d been suffering a dry spell ever since. She resisted the urge to lift her hands and touch that amazing chest of his. Maybe wrap her arms around his neck and feel how those pecs would feel against her breasts. Maybe—

“You never answered my question.”

Dragging her gaze up to meet his eyes, she saw that he was laughing down at her. His gaze was knowing and he wore a smug grin that was infinitely sexy and more than a little exasperating.

This guy knew he was irresistible. That should have been a turn off but it wasn’t. He had a striking confidence about him, with just a hint of arrogance. Not so much that he came across as smarmy and gross, but enough to give him an air of total competence. Like he knew he could blow her mind and would be happy to comply.

His lips pulled up on one side so he was giving her a lopsided smile. “What don’t you like about the lodge?”

Oh hell. He wanted to talk. She bit back a sigh and made to move past him.

Then she stopped. “Holy Mary, mother of God.” The words slipped out as a curse and a prayer. This was heaven, surely. Every wall was covered in books right up to the vaulted ceiling. A fire crackled in the fireplace which was surrounded by a cozy couch and two leather chairs that looked like they were made for snuggling up with a mug of hot cocoa and a good book.

She crossed over to sink down onto the couch where she could tilt her head back and see the full extent of the library’s offerings. “I think I’m in love,” she sighed.

He gave a low chuckle as he sank into the couch beside her, his head resting beside hers. So close that if she turned her head—

“So, is it all lodges you despise or just this one?” he asked, his voice teasing.

Dammit, this man seriously wanted to have a conversation and all she wanted to do was give in to her ridiculous desires for an anonymous one night stand.

She turned to face him and saw his gaze fixed on her, his attention and interest so firmly focused on her it took her breath away for a moment. What had he asked?

Oh right, the lodge. “Stupid lodge,” she muttered.

He let out a little snort of amusement. “Not a fan of the rustic vibe, I take it?”

She studied him with narrowed eyes. Why wasn’t he letting this go? Then she rolled her eyes. What did it matter? She didn’t care what this guy thought of her. It wasn’t like she was here to impress him with her love of the wilderness.

“No,” she said with a loud exhale. “I don’t love rustic. And I’m not a fan of nature.”

The couch vibrated slightly and she turned to see that he was laughing at her quietly.

Oh good. She lived to amuse.

With a shrug, she explained. “I’m a city girl, born and raised. I’ve just never really understood the appeal of nature. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a whole lot of insects, rodents, and bad weather.”

“What about sunsets, changing leaves, and more stars than you could ever count?”

She turned to look at him. Stare, really. Good God, the man had a sexy voice. And talking about sunsets and stars? He was rapidly going from hottie to dreamy. If he didn’t stop he would become outright irresistible.

He cocked an eyebrow and she realized she was expected to respond. “All of those are lovely,” she said slowly. “But even more enjoyable when viewed from a hotel room or a cruise ship cabin.”

His laugh was low and rumbly and she felt goosebumps rise on her arms at the sound. She wondered idly what that laugh would sound like if her head were pressed to his bare chest, if she was cuddled up against his side, if they were naked and—

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

She picked her head up quickly. “Nothing.” Crap, had she been drooling?

He was watching her closely. “You let out a big sigh.”

She had? Well, at least it hadn’t been a moan.

“Are you really that miserable here?”

Ah shit. He sounded almost… hurt. Like she’d just offended him personally. “It’s not that the lodge is so horrible, it’s just not my cup of tea.” She heaved a sigh at having to explain herself. “I mean, if I was a gazillionaire, like the owner, I could think of a dozen things I’d rather spend my money on.”

His lips were twitching with amusement, which made her grin in response. Everyone knew the owner of this place was Bryce Dalton, the stupidly rich owner of Dalton industries, which had their fingers in so many pies it was impossible to name just one. Her asshat boss, Gary had told them all about his fabulous in with the big-time entrepreneur on the plane ride out here. He’d been blatantly bragging and no one but her had seemed to mind. They’d all smiled enthusiastically and oohed and aahed like he’d won a Super Bowl and not scored them an invite to a lodge in the capital of nowheresville.

Dumb asshole.

The bartender lost the battle with his lips and she watched in awe as they curved up in a smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners and his dimples deepening. She liked making this guy smile, and laugh… and anything else, really. She could watch him all day long and never get bored.

“If you hate nature so much, what are you doing here?” he asked.

Excellent question. “Work.” She imbued as much disgust as possible into that one word.

“Ah, so it’s a working trip?”

Hell, she could listen to his voice all night. Preferably in bed, but she’d pay good money to just sit here and hear him talk.

“Not exactly. It’s my reward.” She made a gagging noise that probably wasn’t super sexy but it did elicit a laugh.

“Reward, huh? For what?”

She sighed again. “For having the best sales record for the year.” She couldn’t have sounded less enthusiastic if she tried.

“That’s impressive,” he murmured.

She turned to face him. “Is it? It doesn’t feel impressive.” What had that come from? This guy was too easy to talk to. Maybe it was the bartender in him. He slung his arm over the back of the couch and even though it didn’t even graze her neck, she felt the warmth of him there behind her, around her. It was cozy and added to the intimate feeling in this warm, dark, book-filled space.

She bit back another sigh. “If only we had cocoa.”

He laughed again, most likely at the wistfulness in her voice. “I don’t have cocoa, but I have the next best thing.”

She watched him move over to a drawer and pull out a bottle of scotch that even she, a non-scotch drinker, knew was expensive. “Ooh, fancypants,” she sang softly as she watched him pour out two shots.

He handed one to her before returning to his seat, his arm once again stretched out. She hesitated for a moment before lifting it to her lips. Should they be drinking this? This seemed like someone’s private stash, not exactly sitting out for public consumption.

But he had already taken a sip so she followed suit.

Mmm. It was warm and delicious and it softened her headache to a dull thud as her muscles melted into the soft cushions.

“Why don’t you think your job is impressive?” He seemed to be genuinely interested, his gaze so firmly fixed on her, it was beyond flattering. He made her feel like the only woman who’d ever graced the face the planet. Or at least the only one he’d ever taken notice of.

She was positive that wasn’t true—she knew enough charismatic men to know that it was a personality trait, an ability to focus on the person they were talking to, a way of listening so you knew they were really hearing you.

Still, even though she knew it wasn’t just for her, the result was intoxicating. It was a good thing she was leaving this place in thirty-two hours—but really, who was counting?—because she had a feeling too much time around this man could prove addictive.

She had enough bad habits to kick, namely sugar and excessive amounts of caffeine. She didn’t need to add “sexy bartender from Montana” to the list.

But the fact that she did only have thirty-one hours and fifty-five minutes left added a whole other level of temptation to this scenario. Temptation to lean over and kiss him, because she would never have to see him again or face the consequences. But also temptation to open up to him. She could afford to be honest with this guy because he didn’t know her, he didn’t know her colleagues, and once again for good measure…she was never going to see him again.

He was watching her, patiently waiting for her to talk.

So she did.

First she told him about how she’d fallen into sales during a senior year internship at university. She’d stumbled into it, really. She’d taken the internship to earn credits and then, shockingly enough, she’d been good at it.

“How good?” he asked.

“Good enough that my commissions paid off my college loans.”

He let out a low whistle. “Impressive.”

She shrugged. Was it? Again, it didn’t feel like it. “After a few years I left that job for another sales position and then I was headhunted by CRBO, my current company.”

The cable company had been flatteringly persistent and in the end the signing bonus and commission rate were enough to make her leave her former job and start selling ad time.

“Were you selling ad time before?” he asked.

She shook her head and sipped her drink only to find that it was empty. God, how long had she been talking this guy’s ear off? And why was he still encouraging her? “No, but it doesn’t matter what I’m selling. I can sell anything.”

He laughed and she turned to face him. “What?”

“Nothing, I just love your confidence.”

“I’m not bragging, it’s just the truth.”

His smile broadened. “I know, you’re just being yourself—honest and confident. That’s what’s so sexy about it.”

She stopped breathing. The word sexy hung in the air between them. The original sexual tension had faded to the background a bit as they’d talked about her career but now it was back in full force, making it hard to breathe.

Or talk.

Or think.

“Sexy?” she repeated. It just kind of slipped out.

He nodded, his gaze darkening deliciously as he moved closer, taking the glass from her hand. “You are so fucking sexy, you know that, right?”

She physically couldn’t answer, and even if she could, what would she say… yes? That sounded far too cocky. Besides, while she knew she was cute—and okay, yeah, maybe kind of sexy—she felt distinctly unworthy next to this brawny male model. At least she assumed he was a model. Or maybe a struggling actor?

Maybe she should have asked.

Whatever, it didn’t matter. What mattered was that he found her sexy. No, he found her fucking sexy. Even better.

She licked her lips and watched as his gaze dropped to follow the movement. The fire crackling was the only sound in the room other than her heartbeat, which she sincerely hoped only she could hear.

“You know,” she said slowly, trying to keep her voice from cracking like a teen boy’s. “I might not be a fan of this lodge, but this library is winning me over.”

One side of his mouth tilted up and she was fairly certain her ovaries cried out for mercy. Sweet Jesus, she didn’t want to marry and have kids—not anytime soon, at least. But this guy was doing gushy things to her insides. She knew it was just the hormones that made her brain turn to goo and her heart ache with longing.

Hormones. Sex. Chemistry. That’s what this was. And all those other side effects would fade away once the hormones were appeased. They always did.

With that thought some of her normal confidence returned. She hadn’t been lying when she’d said she could sell anything. Hell, her current job had her selling air time, which was nothing, really. She was selling time, for God’s sake, for loads of money.

Besides, she already knew he found her sexy. Fucking sexy, to be exact. She gave him a wicked smile. “You know what other room I like in this place, not-Steve?”

He let out a soft chuckle at her blatant acknowledgement that she didn’t even know his name.

Holy shit, she was really doing this.

“Which room, not-Rhonda?”

Oh crap, she’d never told him her name either. Freaking hell, was she really going to screw a guy who didn’t know her name?

She watched his eyes darken and smelled that heavenly male scent of soap and scotch as he leaned in closer.

Hell yes, she was.

She reached out and toyed with his shirt where it was unbuttoned at the top. Fixing her gaze on the flannel helped her keep her courage up. She wasn’t used to doing this kind of thing. But what happened in lodges in the middle of nowhere stayed in the middle of nowhere, right? She was pretty sure that was a saying….

Swallowing down a wave of nerves and shock at her own aggressive behavior, she flicked her gaze up and nearly forgot to breathe at the sexy intensity in his eyes. “Which room?” he asked again.

“My bedroom has this great canopy bed,” she said. “You should really check it out some time.”

He leaned in so close she almost backed away. Lord, he was hot and sexy and so much man. There was nothing even remotely metrosexual about this guy. Her breath caught in her throat as she waited for him to kiss her.

Doubt flickered in her chest as he paused, his lips inches away from hers. He was going to kiss her, wasn’t he?

His eyes narrowed and she caught a teasing glint in his eyes that only added to the sex appeal. He lowered his voice until it was little more than a rumble. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re an impressive saleswoman?”

She let out a startled laugh. “Well, as a matter of fact—”

His lips came down on hers, turning her retort into a moan.

Oh hell, he could kiss. Of course he could. Hottie McHottie couldn’t be a slouch in the kissing department, no woman would stand for it. The guy probably got a lot of practice.

He kindly stopped that train of thought when he teased her lips with his tongue, asking for access which she happily granted. His lips and tongue moved over her mouth with skilled assurance. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close so her breasts were flattened against his hard chest.

So hard. Holy hell, those were some awesome muscles. His hands moved over her back, pressing her even closer as she clung to his shirt, her hands alternated between desperately grabbing at the material to hold him closer and greedily feeling him up.

Finally, she settled on doing both at once, using one hand to hold him to her—hell, she might never let go—while the other roamed over that amazing chest and those hard biceps. She groaned in pleasure and disbelief. Who was this guy? Where had he come from?

Things like this did not happen in real life. At least not in her real life. Something like this was so not part of the plan. But then, this was a vacation, in a way, and everyone knew that vacation sex did not count.

His mouth moved from hers and she barely held back a moan of protest. Jesus, have some dignity.

But he wasn’t pulling away for good, he’d just repositioned so he could kiss her neck, her ear, that little spot just behind her ear where… Her gasp sounded loud in the quiet room.

Yeah, that was the spot.

“Fuck,” he groaned against her neck, his body stilling, clutching her waist as if he was hanging on for dear life.

Oh fuck, indeed. She knew what he was doing. He was pulling away. For real this time.

Sure enough, he leaned his forehead against hers, his breathing labored. “We should slow down,” he said. “We’re moving too quickly.”

She bit back a sound that was either going to be a laugh of disbelief or a cry of despair. Maybe it would have been both. Because really… moving too quickly? What did he want, to take her to the movies? Maybe give her a pin so they could go steady before they did it?

He didn’t seem to realize that she wasn’t that kind of girl. And even if she was the kind who was currently looking for a commitment, it wouldn’t be with him. It couldn’t be—they lived in different worlds.

She would never see him again after this trip, didn’t he see the beauty in that?

Forcing herself to ease up the death grip she had on his shirt, she exhaled slowly. It wouldn’t do to come across as horny and desperate…which she was. But still, she had some dignity. “I don’t need romance.”

She felt his eyebrows raise as their heads were still leaning together, their breathing mingling and ragged.

“I don’t need romance,” she said again, in case he didn’t believe her. “In fact, I don’t want it.”

His breathing was the only sound for a moment and she knew he was considering her words, probably trying to determine whether he should believe her. “Then what do you want?”

You. In my bed. Inside me. No, that wouldn’t do. He needed a real answer, not a cheesy attempt at seduction. What did she need? “An escape.” It came out on a sigh and sounding far more pathetic than she’d planned.

She heard his grin more than saw it. “You’re really that miserable here, huh?”

Pushing back to face him, she answered honestly. “Yes. But not just because I’m spending my weekend in nature.” Though that truly did suck, to be honest. “I could deal with it if I was here with my friends and with the sole purpose of having fun.” She exhaled loudly and watched as his eyes softened with concern. God, he was too good to be true. “But I’m not. I’m here with people I not only dislike but who make me doubt all my life decisions.”

His eyes widened in shock at that. Crap, she’d said too much. Before he could ask her questions, she shook her head. Dammit, they were losing the sexy momentum here and she had to get it back. This was not the time to be talking about her existential crisis surrounding her chosen career.

She had a hottie in her hands. Lord Almighty, this was so not the time to get all angsty and emotional.

“Look, tomorrow morning I’m going to wake up with a hangover and be forced to deal with my asshole boss who insists on hitting on me every chance he gets while simultaneously stealing my glory, his colleagues who hate me because I’m good at my job and view me as competition, and the rodents that are waiting to devour me whole when I walk outside that door.”

He was quiet for a moment but his gaze roamed over her, studying her intently. “Rodents, huh?” His lips were turning up in that way she loved. “Most people are more concerned with bears.”

She shrugged. “Most people are idiots. The chances of running into a bear are slim to none—I know, I checked. But the chances of having a run-in with a raccoon?” She raised one eyebrow meaningfully.

He chuckled and started moving his hands. The motion was more of a comforting caress along her back, but it was a start.

“You don’t know me,” he said. “And I don’t know you. We don’t even know each other’s names or—”

“Does it matter?” Wow, that sounded worse than she’d intended. Luckily he was smiling. “What I mean is, I’m leaving in thirty-two hours and I’m never coming back. The odds of us seeing one another again is about the same as me running into a bear before I go.”

He let out a short laugh and it was hard to tell if he was relenting or just shocked by her logic. Taking advantage of it either way, she shoved him slightly so he was sitting back against the couch. Then she moved so she was kneeling over him, her breasts brushing against his chest and holding herself steady with her hands on his shoulders.

“Look, I don’t want a relationship with you, I just want to have some fun.” Her brow furrowed in mock consternation. “I need some fun, dammit.”

She could see that he wanted to relent. Hell, she could feel it against her thighs. His hard cock was saying loud and clear that he wanted this as much as she did.

“You’ve been drinking,” he said, his voice sounding strained.

“So have you.”

He looked upward as if praying for patience, or maybe trying to keep control if his clenched fists were any indication. “I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

Her heart melted instantly and stupidly. But really, he looked so freakin’ sincere it hurt. She shoved the emotions aside and tried for humor. “Use me, I don’t care. I want you to.”

He didn’t laugh. His eyes met hers and he was frighteningly serious. “I don’t want you to have any regrets.”

That was it. She was done for. Thank God she’d never see him again because his sincerity slayed her. Leaning forward, she wrapped her arms around his neck and slid her hands into his hair at the nape. Tilting her head down, she met his gaze with no filters, no defenses, no sarcasm…. just the truth. “I won’t regret being with you. I promise.”

The fire crackled and she felt him tense beneath her. Then he moved quickly, coming to his feet with her in his arms. He threw her over his shoulder so quickly, she squeaked with delighted surprise.

His voice was a low rumble as her head came to rest against his back. “Where’s this amazing canopy bed I’ve been hearing about?”