My stomach drops. “Excuse me?”

“I said, not so fast. Are you hard of hearing?”

Oh, so that’s it. I’m still sleeping and this is some bizarre dream. Is it possible for a person to hallucinate after inhaling too much vinegar and lemon? “My hearing is just fine. I was only wondering why you would order me around like that.”

“I asked you because there are other things I wish to discuss with you. When it’s time for you to work in my bedroom, you’ll be the first to know.”

My skin flushes and there’s the hair on the back of my neck standing up again, right on schedule. Does he even know he dropped a heavy double entendre? Yes. I think he does. My cheeks burn even hotter than before. I’ll just ignore that. “What is it you want to discuss?”

“Have a seat.” He gestures toward the bed.

I shouldn’t just give in, but it’s probably better for me to just do things without asking why, even if it runs counter to my personality. One of the things that always drove my foster mother crazy was the way I couldn’t stop asking questions. She liked it a lot better when I kept my mouth shut.

I perch carefully, only slightly unnerved by the way he’s staring at me. “Did anybody ever tell you it’s rude to stare?” I murmur.

“I can’t help it. I’ve never seen that shade of red on a human face before.” For the first time, a slight smile plays at the corners of his mouth.

—Oh, my Lord, it’s possible for him to be even sexier. Pure lust explodes inside my body. He’s superhuman, or an angel, or something. That has to be it. I press my palms to my burning face. “What is it, then? I’m sure you want to unwind after traveling.”

“I’m fine, thank you.” He straightens out his long legs.

I can’t help but notice how thick with muscle they are. He’s a real piece of work, in many ways. My eyes helplessly stray upwards, past the area of his—umm—upper-thighs and just a little bit higher, and oh, my—that is some package he has there. Big. Suddenly, I realize what I’m doing and lift my eyes all the way up to his, and they are sparkling with wicked humor.

Oh, God. So embarrassing.

He just watched me check out his junk, and I was practically drooling. I’m such a dumbass. I should just suffocate myself on his super-soft pillows right now. If my cheeks were red before I cannot imagine what color they must be now. They feel like they’re on fire. I meet his amused gaze for a split second before letting them jerk away, while I desperately think of something to say, but really, what can I say? It was an eye-lick pure and simple.  

He gestures next to his head with his finger. “Can you remove that thing on your head?”

Jesus, can this get any worse? “Oh.” I snatch the shower cap away and my hair tumbles untidily down over my shoulders and back.

His eyes darken as he looks at me through half-lidded eyes. “Hmmm…”

I shift awkwardly. “What do you mean ‘hmmm’?”

“I have a problem which I believe you can help me with.”

My heart starts hammering in my chest. I still haven’t forgotten his comment about working in his bedroom. Is he going to proposition me? Does he think I’m that type of girl? Well, I was sleeping in his bed. A thousand thoughts fly through my head at the speed of light. Dani, you are one sex-starved, pitifully pathetic woman! What should I do? This time, I decide, I need to say something. “I hope you don’t think I’m going to do anything with you…”

His eyes flash. “I’m insulted you’d even think such a thing.”

I can feel myself start blushing again. Like a freak. I lift my chin defiantly. “I don’t know you. How would I know what you’re thinking?”

His gorgeous eyes give me a lazy once over. “I don’t need to offer women money for sex, Dani.”

“That’s good to know.”

“I’m offering you a trip to Las Vegas.”

“Excuse me?”

“There you are again, asking me to excuse you. In which way was I unclear?”

I tip my head to the side. “When you offered a stranger a trip to Las Vegas. Somewhere around there.”

“Allow me to explain,” he says, a slow smile is tugging his mouth upwards. He leans forward, elbows on his knees, his stare intense. Like he can see through my clothes.

I realize for the first time that I’m only wearing my tank top. The hoodie got discarded hours and hours ago, once the work got a little tougher. I resist the urge to cross my arms over my cleavage.

“I have a wedding to attend in Las Vegas, and it’s unfortunately the wedding of my ex-girlfriend.”

“Oh.” My nose wrinkles. “That’s no good.”

“That’s putting it mildly. I’ve been dreading it ever since the happy event was announced. We only broke up a few months ago, after dating for…um…some time, so you can imagine.”

I never would’ve thought a man like him would be so affected by his feelings. I wouldn’t imagine he even has feelings. Wrong of me, maybe, but I can’t help it. He just comes across that way. “I’m sorry. That really sucks. I can only imagine.”

“Have you ever had the privilege of watching an ex you haven’t yet gotten over get married?”

“No. No, I can’t say that I have.”

He nods slowly. “You’re right, then. You can only imagine.”

I can’t help but toy with the bedspread a little as I try making heads or tails of where this is going. Am I his therapist now? “So, you need somebody to accompany you to this wedding.”

“Correct.”

“No offense intended, but don’t you have female friends?”

His smile is slow. “No. I can honestly say there are no female friends in my life.”

“Because why would a man want to be friends with a woman?” I can’t help but roll my eyes even though he’s in the power position right now. I’ve never been a fan of men who don’t understand that women are more than pleasure bots, or whatever they think we are.

“I’m not highly skilled in male-female relationships, and I don’t do things I’m not good at.”

I want to ask how he expects to ever get good at it then, but something tells me that would be completely pointless.

“And any female acquaintances may…um…misconstrue an offer such as this. Besides, my ex has a nose for such things. A brand new face would be best.”

I get what he’s saying and can almost imagine some of his acquaintances. Bubble-breasted bimbo gold diggers who would expect more than a trip to Vegas with a man as good-looking and rich as him. Because he’s obviously loaded. His Rolex could pay my rent for years, and I’ve seen the other three watches in a case on his dresser. “What are you asking? That I attend this wedding as your plus one?” Oh, my God, can I really do something like this? I don’t know this guy. He could be anybody. And he’s so darn pushy. Bossy. I can’t imagine we’d get along well, as that sort of attitude always rubs me up the wrong way.

He smiles, showing off a perfect row of straight, perfectly pearly teeth. He really is extremely, extremely hot.

I’m just about ready to faint from sexiness overload, when his grin gets wider, almost wolfish.

“I’ll need a little more than that in return, Dani.”

I take a deep gasping breath and stand. “What do you mean?”

“I’ll need you to act as my fiancée and pretend you’re in love with me.”