Hot Property (Hot Zone 4)

On Roper’s couch.

In Roper’s apartment.

After that kiss.

“Oh, my God,” she groaned, tossing her arm over her face.

“Good morning,” he said in a gruff voice.

She peeked out and saw Roper standing over her with a glass of orange juice in hand. “Hi,” she managed to say through the fuzzy cotton taste in her mouth.

Knowing she’d have to face him sometime, she scooted upright, bending her knees in front of her. “Is that for me?” she asked, eyeing the cold juice hopefully.

He nodded. “I figured you’d be up soon.” He handed her the glass.

“Fresh squeezed?”

He rolled his eyes. “Now, that’s pushing your luck.”

She laughed. “I was curious just how far your culinary talent went.” She took a sip and then downed the glass in two big gulps. “Mmm. That is so good. I’m sorry I fell asleep.” The last thing she remembered was planning his seduction while waiting for him to bring her a blanket.

“Me, too.” His intense gaze burned into hers.

She swallowed hard. “I hope it wasn’t inconvenient having me stay over.”

“Only if you consider me lying awake in my bed knowing you were right in the next room inconvenient.” He spoke like a man who’d been a gentleman but who’d definitely had second thoughts.

Thank goodness she couldn’t hold her champagne. “You’re a good guy, John,” she said, cal

ling him by his given name.

“I like when you call me that.” His face actually flushed. “As for being a good guy, I’m pretty sure it was a first.”

She untangled herself from the blanket he’d covered her with. “I really should be getting home. The daytime doorman will let me in without a problem.” She hoped. She got up and folded the covers, leaving them in a neat pile on the couch. “I’ll just change and give you back your sister’s clothes.”

“There’s no rush. Why don’t you wear them home and I’ll get them from you the next time I see you.”

Meaning he wanted there to be a next time. So did she. But she had a plan for her life, and while last night she’d gotten carried away in the moment, helped by the alcohol, she had to put the brakes on here and now. Even if he was the guy she’d gotten to know last night and not the showman from the wedding, she needed time and space to get a foothold in her new life before getting involved in a relationship.

But she wasn’t going to make an issue out of a magnanimous gesture. “Are you sure your sister won’t mind?”

“She hasn’t stayed over since getting engaged, and even if she wanted to, there are more clothes in the closet. Trust me, she won’t care if you borrow some things.” He grinned then, a sexy gesture meant to sway her, and it worked.

“Okay, but I’m going to look pretty ridiculous wearing these sweats and my high heels from last night.”

“You’ll look cute, not ridiculous.” He ran his finger down the bridge of her nose, over the freckles she’d always found embarrassing because they made her look so young. It wasn’t the first time he’d done it, and the gesture felt incredibly intimate and sensual.

“Excuse me for a minute, okay?” she said, slipping by him so she could head for the bathroom before she got caught up in how delicious he looked wearing low-slung, unbuttoned jeans and no shirt.

His hair had been messed either from sleep or from running a hand through it in place of a comb or brush. First thing in the morning he looked endearingly sexy, and she’d have to convince herself not to notice if she wanted to get out of here quickly, with a minimum of fuss. She was determined to make her morning-after-nothing-happened escape, thank you very much.

“Amy, are you okay in there?” Roper knocked on the bathroom door, startling her back to reality.

“Fine! I’ll be out in a sec.” She brushed her teeth with minty toothpaste and one finger before drawing a deep breath and heading out to face him again.

He’d slipped on a royal-blue Renegades sweatshirt and a pair of Nike sneakers.

No less handsome, she thought, holding back a frustrated frown.