Burned Deep (Burned 1)

He couldn’t put me off so easily, though. The whole mystery of him and the resort prompted me to ask, “Why didn’t I see you around town until recently? At the very least, I would remember seeing that car of yours in a parking lot or on the street.”

“I’ve spent most of my time on-property or in New York with my investment group. And the car was just delivered a couple of weeks ago.”

“Hmm.” A convenient answer, but one I couldn’t dispute.

“Anyway,” he said, “I have to go.”

“Oh, wait!” I suddenly recalled my previous engagements. “I’ll need some time off in October and a few days next summer for weddings I have on the books. And I’ll need to be out of the office around five this Friday for the reception Anthony Delfino is hosting at his home in Scottsdale.”

“I’ve been invited as well. It’s more of a networking thing—we’re professional acquaintances.”

“I didn’t know.” Dane would be at the party, too? That meant Friday couldn’t come fast enough. Great. How the hell would I concentrate all week?

He said, “Have one of the hotel limo drivers take you to Scottsdale. I’m flying in that night. We can ride back from the reception together.”

My stomach fluttered. I clumsily pulled the towel more firmly around my body, juggling the phone. “An hour in the back of your limo will likely land me in a compromising position, won’t it?”

The wicked dripped from his voice as he said, “There’s a good chance of that.”

A flicker of heat between my legs told me I wouldn’t mind. The staccato beat of my heart told me I just might.

Here we go again with the tug-of-war.

“Wear the green dress,” he insisted in a low tone.

Excitement rippled through me. “It’s new.”

“You bought it specifically for our dinner?”

“The color reminds me of your eyes.”

“And I couldn’t take them off you.”

Mine squeezed shut for a moment.

Breathe, Ari.

“I’ll call midweek to make sure you have everything you need,” he said.

“Including Valium when the size of my salary and budget finally fully hits me?” Not to mention the fact that I’d had a stellar orgasm from his voice alone.

“You’ll do just fine, baby. I have complete faith.”

Baby.

I swallowed hard. Had I heard that right?

Baby. Ari. Yeah, there was no mistaking one for the other. Unless my mind was playing tricks on me and I’d wanted to hear the term of endearment.

But, no. That wouldn’t be like me at all.

I said, “Travel safe.” And ended the call before I dropped the phone as panic seized me.

I hurried about, dressing in my favorite black suit and the new heels. All the while, I kept wondering, Are we … dating?

I tried to focus on anything other than the staggering situation I was suddenly embroiled in as I drove to the resort. Dane had been right about Lux security. The gate was heavily guarded and I had to show two forms of ID and let them jot down my license plate number. Then I traveled to the entrance and Brandon was there to valet-park my SUV. 10,000 Lux was no less intimidating the second time around.

Inside, a fortysomething blonde whom I easily dwarfed greeted me.