Beauty and the Billionaire

She had been there, laid out across my bed, and the image of that had tortured me all night long.

I cracked eggs into the pan and scrambled them. Why not make toast, too? It was something to do since I couldn't sleep. I thought of all the mornings I had lounged around in bed reading the news and wondered if I would ever get back there.

Corsica was a morning person. Her door opened at almost the same early hour every morning and she went straight out the front door on a run. Then she came back smelling of salt air and the delicious musk of her own sweat.

My mouth watered as I dumped the bacon and eggs on a plate and ignored them. All I was doing was waiting for Corsica, and admitting it twisted something in my gut.

"Wow, it smells fantastic in here," she said, bursting in the front door.

"Go ahead, I'm not really hungry," I said.

"Up late working?" Corsica asked with a cool lift of her eyebrow. She snagged a piece of bacon off my plate and crunched it. "I didn't take you as an early riser."

Her hair was damp with sweat at the temples, her cheeks bright and warm, but her body was loose and relaxed. I kneaded at my own tight neck and felt the knot in my stomach cinch. Corsica was irresistible. She crunched the bacon and frowned as she fiddled with her pedometer and I wanted to press my lips to the faint crease in her forehead.

"Need a hand?" I stepped around the kitchen island and cornered her between two stools.

Corsica's nostrils flared, but she held out the device. "I like tracking the mileage, but somehow I lost today's run."

I took my time working through the menu and screens. The data was easy to retrieve, but I couldn't pry myself away from the warm sheen of her skin. "Here it is."

"Thanks," Corsica took her pedometer and moved to scoot around me.

I ignored her hint. "I never understood running."

Her soft lips frowned. "What's not to understand? It's a great workout with minimal equipment. And, you burn the most calories in a short amount of time."

"Sure, sure, it's practical. Are you really always so practical?" I caught her eyes.

Corsica tossed her hair. "As if you don't work out."

I liked the way she eyed my arm muscles, but when her gaze raked across my abs, the knot inside me burned. "I just like to have fun when I do it. There are plenty of fun ways to burn more calories than running."

"I don't have time for anything but running," Corsica said. She pushed past me and grabbed another piece of bacon. "My letters of recommendation came in. I have to polish up my resume and make sure my cover letter puts me on the top of the pile. I've got to send it in this morning."

I flipped my fork into my hand and picked at the scrambled eggs. "So, you're not going to the audition?"

Corsica's eyes narrowed. "What audition?"

"Check your phone. I called the resort and booked you an audition. Bill got in touch with that trumpet player and he'll be there, too. Just in case you inspire him to put his trio back together."

Her cool facade burned off like morning fog. Corsica bounced back to the kitchen island and leaned across it. "You can't be serious. Are you?"

"What if I told you that was the phone call I took last night?"

Corsica studied me. "Liar. Nice try, though."

I groaned. "Fine, you caught me. But I'm not working now. Maybe we should finish what we started?"

She laughed in my face. "Sorry. Can't. I've got to get ready for my audition. I've got to pick a song and practice! This takes singing in the shower to a whole new level."

"I could help with that," I flung out.

Corsica rolled her eyes. "Stop teasing me. I have to concentrate. Do you think it would be too cheesy to sing one of his songs? Yeah, probably. Though, I was really enjoying that album last night."

"I'd be happy to play it for you again." I knew there was a hint of desperation in my voice, but I didn't care. There was no way I would be able to get anything done until I got Corsica out of my system.

She lifted herself across the counter and kissed my cheek. Before I could catch her hands and turn it into a real kiss, she slipped away with a bright smile. "Thank you for getting me the audition! I know you probably just want to get me out of your hair so you can work, but I really appreciate it."