That sinful body.

I’m drowning in the feel of her, when suddenly, she pulls back. “It’s snowing!” she exclaims, her face lighting up. She tips her head back, looking upwards at the cloudy sky. “Look!”

Sure enough, tiny wet snowflakes are tumbling all around us. Sophie spins around happily. “I can’t believe it snowed on Christmas!” She laughs. “I got my perfect holiday after all!”

She closes her eyes and sticks her tongue out to catch the snowflakes. And suddenly, I realize that the holidays won’t be enough with this woman. I want to see her face light up like this on New Year’s Eve, on Valentine’s Day. Summer vacations and Thanksgiving feasts. We haven’t talked much about the real lives waiting for us after this trip is over, but I want to.

I want to make a plan, make this real somehow. More than just a random perfect weekend. More than two strangers finding each other at exactly the right time and place.

I want this to be the beginning with her.

Back at the hotel, I tell Sophie to go up to the room ahead of me. “I have one last surprise,” I tell her, handing her my keycard.

She gives me a devilish grin. “Me too.” She leans closer, to whisper in my ear. “And it maybe involves some new lingerie I never got to wear…”

My blood surges. “Damn, woman.” I pull her in for another searing kiss. “How am I supposed to function with that image in my head?”

“I’m sure you’ll find a way.” Sophie ducks away. “Don’t take too long. I might have to start without you…”

My jaw drops.

“The movies,” she says, teasing. “Whatever did you think I meant?”

With a wink, she spins on her heel and heads for the elevator. I take a moment to get back the power of thought, then detour via the hotel restaurant. It’s almost empty, so the bored busboy clearing plates just gives me a nod as I go to display of Christmas trees in the corner. Even the smallest one is about the same size as me, but I manage to hoist it over my shoulder. I look a pretty strange sight carrying it across the lobby, but I don’t care. It’s not a real holiday without a holiday tree.

And we may not have any gifts tonight, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be unwrapping Sophie, one layer of clothing at a time.

It takes me forever to haul it into the elevator and down the hallway to my room. I struggle to tap on the door.

“Sophie?” I call. There’s no reply. “You better be taking off all your clothes right now,” I grunt, reaching to knock again. But the door swings open, it was left on the latch.

“Taking off all your clothes, and running a bubble bath,” I add, dragging the tree into the room. Ornaments tumble to the ground as I set it down in the corner and look around.

“Sounds like a good idea to me.”

The voice comes from behind me, but it’s all wrong.

I spin around. No.

It’s Anika, strutting towards me in a silk robe—and not much else.

I panic. “How long have you been here?” I demand, looking around. “How did you get in?”

“The bellboy got me a key,” she coos, reaching me. She runs her hands over my chest. “Surprise!”

I wrench away. “I thought you were in Miami for the holidays.”

“I got a red-eye, like you said.” Anika bats her eyelashes at me. “Aren’t you happy to see me?”

There’s an edge to her voice that makes my blood run cold. “Where’s Sophie?” I ask flatly.

Anika pretends to think. “Sophie, Sophie…” She taps a blood-red nail to her jaw. “Hmmm.”

“Don’t mess around with this,” I growl, pacing away. I check the bathroom, and the bedroom too, but the suite is empty.

And Sophie’s things are gone. No high heels scattered on the floor, no dress from last night, no coat hanging over the chair.

Shit.

I return to the living room, where Anika is sprawled over the couch. Her limbs are draped seductively, covered in silk and satin, but I couldn’t care less. “Where did she go?” I demand, my heartbeat racing with fear. “Tell me right now!”

“That mousy girl you had up here?” Anika sneers. “I thought she was your assistant.”

“Dammit, Anika—” I stop, fighting to keep my temper. “What did you tell her?”

“The truth.” She gives me a smug little smile. “That I was your girlfriend. She seemed rather upset. I guess someone’s been telling lies.”

“We were never like that,” I exclaim. “You were the one who wanted to keep things casual!”

“Well, I changed my mind. That’s why I’m here,” she smiles. “I don’t mind about that girl. I forgive you, I know she doesn’t mean anything to you.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.”

I turn on my heel and hurry back out of the suite. The elevator takes too long, so I take the stairs instead, racing two at a time down to the lobby as the sick feeling in my chest grows tighter.

Where did she go? How can I get her back?

I burst into the lobby and head for the desk. There are people there checking out, but I impatiently edge them aside. “I need to know a room number,” I demand, “one of your guests. Sophie…” I stop. I don’t know her last name. “Sophie something, it was the second floor.”

The clerk stares back, stony-faced. “I’m afraid we can’t give out that information.”