She gave a mock sigh. Its time-consuming being all girly.
He grinned. Piece of cake being a guy.
Double standard.
You know it.
Still. She glanced down at the steaming water. It does look inviting.
Thats because it is. He reached across her shoulder and flicked off the light.
Time to take off your clothes, he rumbled.
A sensual shiver ran through her, and she reflexively reached for the hem of her T-shirt.
But his large hands closed over hers to stop them. I mean after I leave.
Youre leaving?
He kissed her forehead. I didnt come here to seduce you, Sinclair.
Suddenly, she wished he had.
Dont look at me like that. Im going to paint for a while, or well never finish.
I can paint later.
His finger brushed over her lips to silence her. The price of being a guy. Your mission is to get all glammed up and frou frou. My mission is to give you the time to do that.
Then he winked, and left the room, clicking the door shut behind him. And Sinclair shifted her attention to the deep, claw-footed tub.
It looked decadently wonderful. Hed set out the shampoo, bath gel and lotion. And hed obviously poured some of the Luscious Lavender foaming oil into the water. Shed spent the last six months thinking about the artsy labels, the expensive magazine ads, the stuffed sample gift baskets for the ball, and the retail locations that needed some extra attention promotions-wise. Funny, that shed never thought much about the products themselves.
The water steamed, and the lavender scent filled the room, and the anticipation of that luxurious heat on her aching shoulders was more than tempting.
She peeled off her T-shirt, unzipped her jeans, then slipped out of her underwear. She eased, toe-first, into the scorching bathwater, dipping in her foot, her calf, her knee. Then she slowly brought in her other foot, bracing her hands on the edges of the tub to lower her body into the hot water.
After her skin grew accustomed to the temperature, and her shoulders and neck began to sigh in pleasure, her thoughts made their way to Hunter. He was on the other side of that thin wall. And she was naked. And he knew she was naked.
She pictured him opening the door, wearing nothing but a smile, a glass of wine in each hand. Hed cross the black and white tiles, bend to kiss her, maybe on the neck, maybe on the lips. Hed set down their glasses. Then hed draw her to her feet, dripping wet, the scented oil slick on her skin. His hands would roam over her stomach, her breasts, her buttocks, pulling her tight against his body, lifting her-
Something banged outside and Hunter swore in frustration. Clearly, he wasnt out there stripping off his clothes and popping the wine cork. She was naked, not twenty feet away, and he was dutifully painting.
She sucked in a breath and ducked her head under the water.
Four
By the time Sinclair emerged from her bathroom, wrapped in a thick, terry robe, her face glowing, her wet hair combed back from her face, Hunter had cleaned up the paint and ordered a pizza. The smell of tomatoes and cheese wafted up from the cardboard box on the breakfast bar while he popped the cork from his housewarming bottle of wine.
How did you know sausage and mushroom is my favorite? she asked as she padded across the paint splattered tarps.
Im psychic. He retrieved two stools from beneath the tarp, then opened the top of the pizza box.
Howd it go in there? he asked her, watching her climb up on one stool.
She arranged the robe so that it covered her from head to toe, and he tried not to think about what was under there.
She smiled in a way that did his heart good. Im a whole new woman.
Not completely new, I hope, he teased as he took the stool facing her. The covered breakfast bar was at their elbows.
She grinned. Dont worry. I saved the best parts.
Oh, good. He poured them each a glass of the pinot. So, are you ready to move on to makeup?
She reached for a slice of pizza. You planning to help me with that, too?
He took in her straggled hair, squeaky clean face and oversized robe. If he had his way, hed keep her exactly as she was. But this wasnt about him.
I dont think you want to arm me with a mascara wand.
But youve done such a good job so far. She blinked her thick lashes ingenuously.
We could call one of the Bergdorf ladies.
She waved a dismissive hand. Ill be fine.
You sure?
She hit him with an impatient stare. Its not that I cant put on a lot of makeup. Its that I dont put on a lot of makeup.
Oh.
She chewed on her slice of pizza, and he followed suit. After a while, she slipped her bare feet off the stools crossbar and swung them in the air while they ate in companionable silence.
What about clothes? he asked.
Ill call Kristy and get some suggestions.
He nodded his agreement. Having a sister in the fashion design business had to help. Sounds like youve got everything handled, he observed.
She shifted on the stool, flexing her neck back and forth, wincing. Its not going to be that big of a deal. Im a pretty efficient project manager. The only difference is, this time the project is me.
Hunter wasnt convinced project management was the right approach. There was something in the art and spirit of beauty she seemed to be missing. But he was happy to have got her this far, and he wasnt about to mess with his success.
She lifted her wineglass and the small motion caused her to flinch in obvious pain.
He motioned for her to turn around.
She glanced behind her. What?
Go ahead. Turn. He motioned again, and this time she complied.
You painted too long, he told her as he loosened her robe on her neck and pressed his thumbs into the stiff muscles on her shoulders.
I wanted to finish.
Youre going to be sore in the morning. He found a knot and began to work it.
Ill live. Mmmmm.
Thats the spot?
Oh, yeah.
Hed promised himself hed stick to business, and he would. But his body had reacted the instant hed touched her. Her skin was warm from the bath, slick from the bath oil, and fragrant from the water and the candles. But he scooted his stool closer, persisting in the massage, determined to keep this all about her.
To distract himself, he glanced around at the freshly painted room. It was small, but the windows were large, and he could see that it had potential to be cozy and inviting. In fact, he preferred it to the big, Osland family house on Long Island.
He stayed there whenever he was in town, but with just him and a couple of staff members, it always seemed to echo with emptiness. Right now, he wished he could invite Sinclair over to fill it up with laughter. Have you always lived in New York? he asked her instead.
She nodded. Kristy and I went to school in Brooklyn. You?
Mostly in California.
Private school, I bet.
Youre right.
Uniforms and everything?
Yes.
She tipped her head to glance up at him. You must have looked cute in your little short pants and tie.
Im sure I was adorable. He dug his thumb into a stubborn knot in her shoulder.
Ouch. Was that for calling you cute?
That was to make you feel better in the morning.
She flexed her shoulder under his hands. Did you by any chance play football in high school?
Soccer and basketball. You?
I edited the school newspaper.
Nerdy.
Exciting. I once covered a murder.
He paused. There was a murder at your high school?
She gave a long, sad sigh of remembrance. Mrs. Mitchells goldfish. Its poor, lifeless body was found on the science table. Someone had cruelly removed it from its tank after hours. We suspected the janitor.
Hunter could picture an earnest, young Sinclair hot on the trail of a murder suspect, all serious and no-nonsense, methodically reviewing the evidence.
Did he do it? Hunter asked.
We couldnt prove it. But it was the best headline we ever had. Broke the record for copy sales. She sounded extremely proud of the accomplishment.
You were definitely a nerd, he said.
I prefer the term intellectual.
I bet you ran in the school election.
True.
There you go. Hed made his point.
Billy Jones beat me out for class president in ninth grade. She put a small catch in her voice. I was crushed. I never ran again.
Id have voted for you, said Hunter.
No. Like everyone else, youd have fallen for Billys chocolate coconut snowballs-
His what?
Chocolate and coconut on the outside, marshmallow cream on the inside. He brought five boxes to school and handed them out during his speech. I didnt have a chance.
Marshmallow cream, you say?
Sinclair elbowed him in the chest. Quit salivating back there.
Id still have voted for you.
Liar.
He chuckled at her outrage and eased her back against his body. Oh, Id have eaten the snowball. But its a secret ballot, right?
Traitor. But her muscles relaxed under his hands, and her body grew more pliant.
Finally, he stopped massaging and wrapped his arms around her waist. I bet you were a cute little nerd.
She rested her head against his chest. He didnt dare move. He barely dared breathe. All it would take was one kiss, and hed be dragging her off to the bedroom.
She tipped her head to look up at him, all sweetness and vulnerability.
Hunter? she breathed, lips dark and parted, eyes filled with passion and desire.
He closed his, fighting like hell to keep from kissing her lips. I dont want to be that guy, he told her, discovering how true that was. Because he didnt want to screw up their budding friendship.
That guy?
That guy with the bath and the candles and the shoulder massage.
I liked that part.
He opened his eyes again. Its Seduction 101 for losers.
Are you calling yourself a loser?
Im saying if I make love with you, Ill feel like I cheated.
Theres a way to cheat?
He reflexively squeezed her tight. I cheated, and you never had a chance.
As in, I dont know my own mind?
Is there an answer for that that wont get me in trouble?
Not really.
He ruthlessly ignored the feel of her in his arms. He wasnt willing to risk that she might regret it in the morning.
Youre tired. Youre vulnerable. And we havent thought this through. We turn that corner, he continued, we cant turn back.
I know, she acknowledged in a soft voice.
He leaned around her, placing a lingering kiss on her temple. Ill see you at the office?
Sure.