And even better at anticipation.
She finished her meal in record time, hunger for food satisfying one craving, while her need for Jack only grew.
JACK HAD PROMISED to wake Mallory from a late-afternoon nap but calls to his secretary and another client took longer than he’d expected. By the time he left the conference room Lederman had given him for business use and made his way back to their floor, Jack realized she was probably out sightseeing or walking on the beach. But he figured he’d give waking her a shot anyway, just in case.
“Wake up, Sleeping Beauty. Rise and shine.” He knocked on her door.
“You looking for the Missus in the room?”
Jack turned.
A chambermaid stood behind him, an armload of towels in hand. “I saw her leave a little while ago.”
His disappointment was keen. For no good reason, he knew, because he had no concrete plans—just a burning desire to see her again. And he couldn’t control the disappointment building inside him, because after their bonding session she’d thought nothing of disappearing without leaving him a message.
“Are you sure it was her? Dark hair, blue eyes.”
“I’m sure. She asked me for fresh towels and…” The dark haired woman shook her head. “Never mind. Other folks’ strange requests aren’t my business.”
He didn’t question her further. “Well, I appreciate the information.”
She smiled. “No problem. You have a nice day.” She let herself into Mallory’s room carrying the towels and Jack began a retreat back into his own.
“Wait.”
He turned back.
“I didn’t realize you were the gentleman across the hall. She…” The woman pointed to Mallory’s door. “She left something for you. I was going to leave it on your bed when I finished inside. Wait here.”
She strode to her utility cart and returned with a white sheet of paper in one hand, an innocuous brown bag in the other. “These are for you.”
“Thanks.” His pulse picked up rhythm as he lifted the paper and inhaled the fragrant scent. Arousal hit him harder and stronger than ever before. So did the sense of anticipation.
One part of him knew she was answering his challenge from last night. Another part of him sensed she was responding to their new-found closeness today. He’d never experienced such intense feelings for another person—never wanted to make someone else feel better and ease their pain—until Mallory.
The thought scared him spitless so he focused on the invitation instead. Waiting until he was alone in his room, he peered into the bag and pulled out the bottom half of a string bikini, too skimpy to cover anything at all.
His mouth went dry and he opened the sheet of paper and read aloud. “Our cabin at eight. Come for a romp on my beach.” He fingered the nylon strings in his hands. He could come right now, he thought wryly.
A vision came to him, of Mallory wearing the matching top, nothing below. Jack broke into a sweat. He shook his head. No way would she have the nerve. Then he remembered she’d already gone skinny-dipping. She had also revealed her deepest emotions. Her nerve was greater than he’d realized.
The next couple of hours loomed long in front of him, but no doubt that was her intent. To leave him with the flimsy bottoms and lots of time on his hands to think.
And fantasize.
By the time eight o’clock rolled around, Jack was in a heated state of need. And by the time he arrived at the cottage door, his hands were shaking.
The woman knew how to drive him mad with suggestion and innuendo. If he believed in relationships, he’d think he’d found a woman who could engage and entice him, keep him interested for a lot longer than one night.
Good thing he didn’t believe or he’d be in deep trouble. Jack raised his fist and knocked on the door.
CHAPTER NINE
MALLORY ANSWERED the door quickly, greeting him with an easy smile. “Hi, there.”
“Hi, yourself.” She’d left him hanging this afternoon with a skimpy piece of her bathing suit and a provocative invitation for tonight.
It hadn’t been enough. He’d been a man deprived and he drank in the sight of her now.