I’m a dead woman.
Claire already knew exactly what would happen to her if Ethan Harrison ever got out of prison. “That’s not what I was asking.” She took a breath and pushed on. “Why do you even care what happens in my life? You once said that you owed me a debt, but…we both know you don’t, not really. So why do I even matter at all to you? You’re Noah York.” He’d been on the cover of a dozen magazines that she’d passed in the airport. “And I’m…I’m no one.”
He leaned closer, but he didn’t touch her.
She was…disappointed? No, surely not.
I am.
“You’re someone to me.”
She had to look away from him again. His gaze seemed to see too deeply into her.
His fingers caught her chin. He turned her head back so that she had to stare into his eyes. “Your sister died in Chicago because she was pulled into Trace’s battle. You lost her, and I wish every day that hadn’t happened.”
So did Claire. “Sara was all I had left.” The one person who’d believed in Claire, no matter what accusations were tossed around in their small town.
“I damn well do owe you, Claire, but that’s not why I have my interest in you.”
She waited.
“I want you.” Flat. Almost angry. “More than I can remember wanting any other woman.”
“Y-you’ve had dozens of lovers—” Claire began.
“Yes, dozens.” He released her chin. “But for the last three months, when I close my eyes, I only see you.”
Claire swiped her damp palms on her new, black pants. “I can’t compete with them.” The guy dated super models, heiresses, and—
“There’s no damn competition.” He gave a hard, negative shake of his head. “I told you, I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want you.”
“But…why?”
“Because I find you sexy as hell. I look at you, and I ache.”
Her breath came faster.
His gaze was on her mouth. “And I have the feeling that when I do finally taste you, you just might addict me.”
Helplessly, Claire shook her head. “I can’t give you…what you need.”
“We’ll see about that, Claire.” He inclined his head. “You might want to look out the window now. You don’t want to miss what’s coming…”
She turned back to the window, dazed. D.C. rose before her, but in her mind, she saw a pair of glittering, golden eyes. Eyes that shone with desire.
A desire that she’d felt, too. She hadn’t wanted any man, not in so long. She’d been in cold storage but…
He was warming her again. And making her want things that were too dangerous for her to ever have.
***
At eight p.m., Noah walked into Claire’s temporary D.C. office. They’d been in meetings all day. Talking with contractors, working with marketing staff. They’d barely stopped for lunch.
Claire had surprised him. He’d known that she was smart. After all, the woman had graduated at the top of her class, but she was also damn savvy when it came to the inner workings of the hotel business. And the woman sure had a gift for tact.
Noah wasn’t always so tactful. When he’d been ready to tear into the contractors, Claire had carefully interceded. Charmed.
She was sure charming him.
She was also not even aware that he was in the room with her. Claire was crouched over the laptop that he’d given her earlier, her fingers tapping furiously across the keys.
It was rare that a woman could ignore him.
But then, Claire was a very rare woman.
So he just crossed his arms over his chest and watched her. A small furrow was between her brows—a sign of her focus, he was certain. Her cheeks were pale, her lips bare of color. But Claire didn’t need makeup to shine. She was already so close to perfect that he ached just looking at her.
I don’t have lovers… I don’t have one now. I haven’t had one in nine years.
He’d taken that revelation like a punch to the gut. Claire truly was made for pleasure, and by locking herself off from the world, she was just giving that SOB Ethan Harrison more power over her.
Claire deserved pleasure. Noah was going to see that she got it.
Claire glanced up then. She saw him—and jumped.
“Sorry,” Noah murmured as he straightened. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”
Claire surged to her feet. “Then you shouldn’t skulk in doorways.”
Skulk? He smiled at her. “You looked focused. I was waiting for the right time to interrupt.”
Her eyes narrowed, and he knew she was trying to decide if she believed his story or not.
Since it was a lie, he let his smile stretch a bit more. He hadn’t announced his presence because he’d just enjoyed watching her. “You need to wrap things up for the night.”
She pushed back her hair. “Ah, right…just give me—”
“We’re going out for dinner,” Noah added. Then, so she wouldn’t be so nervous, he said, “I want to check out the competition in town.” He’d just bought one of the historic hotels in D.C.—the hotel they were inside of right then. His crew was updating the hotel’s interior, while still working to keep the ambiance and the character that the clientele would love. He wanted to add a roof-top restaurant to the hotel, though. A new place that would be the talk of the town. He already had a celebrity chef lined up for the new venue.
So while he didn’t technically need to check out the competition, he did want to take Claire to dinner.
Their first date. Even if she didn’t know it.
Claire nodded. “I’ll change and meet you in the lobby.”
Sounded like one fine plan to him. He wondered what the odds were that she’d put on the sleek, black dress that had been purchased for her. One that dipped low in the back and would reveal Claire’s long legs.
She approached him slowly. Cautiously.
Noah realized that he was blocking the door.
If he didn’t move, Claire would have to brush against him as she passed.
I want her to get used to my touch.
He also wanted her to make the next move.
He slid to the side.
But Claire…she still brushed against him as she passed.
That’s it, Claire. Touch me. Do it all you want.