CHAPTER SEVEN
Out of the corner of her eye, Tia saw that tall, handsome man at the other end of the bar counter stand up. Okay, tall was an understatement. The guy was well over six feet, broad-shouldered and he moved with the swiftness and silence of a predator.
Shifter, she guessed.
The man had his sights locked on her and was making his way to her. Tia straightened her spine and raised her head to look him straight in the eye. Always take control of a situation and don’t lose your cool.
Tia sucked in a breath and let it out very slowly. The man’s hazel eyes held her gaze and his sexy lips were curved in a smirk. His dirty blond hair was slightly tousled, as if he had been raking his long fingers through it. He was wearing a designer suit and the top buttons on his white shirt was undone, allowing her a tantalizing glimpse of his hard, solid chest.
The guy was well-dressed, good looking and oozed confidence and sex appeal. His smile widened when she narrowed her eyes at him. He was relishing the challenge.
Tia allowed her eyes to trail down the length of his tall, hunky body before focusing on his face again. The guy looked even better up close. He looked like he’d stepped off the pages of a GQ magazine and into her fantasies.
Tia gave her thigh a hard pinch. She was here to do her homework. She wanted to check out her new work place and get a feel of the hotel. This was where she would be reporting for work tomorrow.
There were quite a number of security personnel stationed around the hotel, and Tia wondered why the hotel wanted yet another security staff. Oh right. This was the easy, comfortable job that Nathan had promised her sister. Nathan had assured Kerry that he would only give Tia the easiest, simplest assignments. No way Nathan would risk Kerry’s wrath by giving her a challenging assignment which was full of danger and excitement.
But—a job was a job, and she would carry out her duties to the best of her abilities.
Her performance on the job was a testament to the quality of the staff from Chase Security, Inc. She would not let Nathan down.
The tall, handsome stranger was almost upon her, and Tia wondered if he was staying at the hotel.
“Hello.”
Tia was glad she was sitting down. The sound of his rich, deep voice sent delicious shivers down her body and made her knees weak. Shit, she didn’t want to be one of those women who admitted breathlessly: You had me at hello.
“Hi,” she said, keeping her voice and expression cool.
“Can I buy you a drink?” he asked, sliding onto the stool beside her.
“Thanks, but I always buy my own drinks.”
The man raised a brow, and she read surprise, amusement and admiration on his face. He laughed softly. “Wow. No woman has ever said that to me before.”
Tia shrugged.
“I’m Caine,” he said, offering his hand.
“Tia.”
He held her hand for a couple of electrifying heartbeats after they shook, and Tia could feel the heat creeping up her face. She swallowed when he finally released her hand and took a deep breath to compose herself. That was some handshake. Just the feel of his huge hand against hers had made her pulse race and her body tingle. Heat was spreading through her body, blooming low in her belly and igniting her desire and libido.
She’d gone on dates after her recovery, and she’d had a few one night stands. A young single woman was certainly entitled to some no-strings-attached fun.
But none of her one night stands had made every nerve and cell in her body sit up and pant with desire.
She was powerfully attracted to Caine. She wanted him right there and then.
Caine was mouth-wateringly, heart-stoppingly handsome. He was extremely tall and tanned with chiseled features, intelligent hazel eyes and a gorgeous smile. She bet he was great in bed too.
Tia pinched herself again, harder this time. Why was she mentally undressing him and picturing his rock hard, naked body in bed?
Tia crossed her legs and squeezed her thighs together. Her core was throbbing and aching maddeningly. Maybe she needed to get laid, but—tonight?
Tonight was supposed to be about work. Not sex.
But what’s a girl to do when Mr Sex-on-a-stick was right in front of her, staring at her with his mesmerizing bedroom eyes?
Tia had promised herself to live life to the max and experience all there was to experience.
So...maybe she should loosen up? Live a little?