by Wendi Zwaduk
“Sure.” When she stopped, he jumped out of the car. She did as she’d been told and sat in the silent vehicle. She should have been happy as hell. A room with Austin. This should’ve been her dream come true.
Molly scrubbed both hands over her face and sighed. If she kept thinking the worst then she’d never get him out of her system. Tonight would be a fun night. Room service, she’d take pictures of him, and God only knew what movie he’d want to watch. Maybe more? She couldn’t be sure. If she wanted a good time, she’d have to make it happen.
She gathered up her purse and her shoulder bag then climbed out of the car.
“Where’s the box?” Austin asked. He jogged up to the vehicle. “You’ve got your hands full. What can I carry?”
“My other bag and the box, I suppose.” She paused. “If I’ve got an overnight bag, what are you going to use tonight?”
“Thought I might bum something off you.” He winked. “But seriously, I’ve got a few things in my messenger bag. I’ll be all right.” He gathered up the bag and box. “The room’s ready. You’re never going to believe it. The place is booked up so we hit the jackpot.”
She locked the car and followed him into the hotel. She didn’t say anything as she entered the elevator with him and held her breath until the elevator car stopped. Top floor.
“Bridal suite,” Austin said as the doors opened. “Free upgrade.”
“Are you kidding?” She crept out of the elevator and up to the third door in the foyer. “Really?”
“No kidding.” He slid the card through the reader and twisted the handle. “It’s going to be perfect.”
“Sure.” She hesitated to put her bag or purse down. She’d never been in such a lush room. The suite featured three rooms, not including the bathroom. French doors led to a balcony. Her mind worked overtime. She could see him on the balcony in the waning sun. Him stretched out on the bed, reading the paper. Cooking in the kitchen in nothing but his boxer briefs. She closed her eyes and bit back a sigh. Her body warmed again and her nipples tightened.
“What are you thinking?” Austin rubbed her shoulders. He pressed his chest into her back. “Got ideas?”
She swayed into him and swallowed past the lump in her throat. She couldn’t speak. Not when she wanted to turn around and kiss him.
His breath tickled her ear. “Bet I’m thinking the same thing you are.”
Bet he isn’t.
Austin let go of her and left her things on the couch. He flopped onto the bed. “I’m thinking we need food, drinks and a movie—then the photos.”
“Right.” She rubbed her forehead with the back of her hand. “What did you want to eat?” Molly focused on unpacking the box and her bag. She needed to sort out what they had and what she wanted to do with the ad campaign. She set her laptop up on the desk and plugged in the cord. “Is there a menu anywhere?”
“I’ll get us something.” Austin disappeared onto the balcony. He chattered on his phone and waved his hand as he spoke.
Molly ignored him and finished getting her things out. She unfolded the clothes and arranged the items on the table. The colors needed to contrast just right. Austin strolled back into the suite and she rested her hands on her hips.
“I know they want bright color to sell the clothes, but what about black-and-white art shots mixed in? Like posters within the catalog?” She looked at Austin. “What do you think?”
“Like modeling stuff?” He sat on the arm of the sofa. “You’re really getting into this one.”
“I know what I want out of it. I’ve got a pretty clear vision.” She twined her fingers together. “What did you order?”
He stared at her for a moment. “Molly, are you trying to sell me?”
“Kind of.” Not really, but maybe, yeah, she was. She sighed. “I can see you in the photos, and they’re going to be great.”
“I believe you.” He smiled and scooted onto the couch beside her. “I ordered pizza, beers and sodas. Figured we could watch an action flick or a dirty movie. Whatever you’re in the mood for.” He wriggled his brows. “I’m all for the porn flick.”
“Austin.” She’d watched more than a couple of dirty movies with him—usually when they’d needed inspiration and had been stuck in the midst of procrastinating. After a particularly hot movie, she and Austin had ended up in bed together. She relished the memories of making love with him. After those two times, he’d shied away from her for a week. Did she want to go through that again? The silent treatment? Not really.
“Okay, so no porn—yet.” He tossed his keys and wallet onto the table then rummaged through his messenger bag. “I’m ditching my contacts. If the food arrives, let him in. I put it on the room.”
“Sure.” She twiddled with the settings on her phone and her digital camera. She’d probably get better shots with the phone but clearer images with the dedicated camera. She sat at the table and pulled out her notebook. Time to sketch out exactly what she wanted.
Molly barely noticed Austin moving around the room. She did hear the knock at the door and peeked over her shoulder. Austin wheeled a silver cart and whistled.
“This is great.” He laughed and scooted the pizza box and drinks onto the table. “They think we’re on our honeymoon.” He plunked a vase with two roses onto her notepad. “Happy marriage?”
The cut-crystal vase sparkled and the fragrance of the roses wafted around her. She closed her eyes and breathed in the light scent. Roses were her favorite, but she hadn’t had a boyfriend in forever, or a reason to buy herself flowers. When she opened her eyes, Austin had sat opposite her at the table.
“The roses are nice.” She laced her fingers together. “Thanks for buying dinner.”
“Molls, I couldn’t invite you to a hotel room and not, at least, get food.” He twisted the top off a bottle of beer. “Want?”
“I’ll have a soda for now, but save the bottle. It’ll work as a prop.” She finished her sketch then moved the tablet and vase aside. “So, how was your date with Serena?” She hated talking to him about his various girlfriends but she wanted conversation.
“Serena? She dumped me after two dates. Said I wasn’t able to commit.” Austin shrugged. “I’m not sure what she expected. It was only two dates, but yes, the last one was pretty bad.”
“Oh.” She slid a piece of pizza onto her plate. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“No you’re not.” He winked. “I know you. As far as you’re concerned, I need to stop trying to find a date and focus on work.”
“True.” She willed her hands to stop trembling. For a moment, she thought he’d say she wanted him to stop dating and realize she wanted him.
“Iris asked me out.” Austin downed another swig of beer. “Said we’d get the account if I went with her on a date. I turned her down.”
“Wow.” She picked at the pepperoni on her slice of pizza. “Guess you’ve got women falling at your feet now.”
“Except the one I want.” Austin munched on the pizza and stared at her. “One of these days I’ll get my head out of my ass.”
“But not today.” She ripped the pepperoni away from the cheese. Any other woman would probably want to be in her position—with a handsome man in a hotel room and with the ability to make him strip. But he wasn’t interested in her in a romantic way.
“You never know.” Austin polished off a second slice of pizza then sat back in his seat. “So. I saw the notes. What’s the plan, boss? I’m dying to see what you’re going to make me do.”
Make him do? She could make him explain his cryptic statement, or maybe tell her exactly how he felt about her. But why make things easy? She met his gaze and part of the ice around her heart melted. The old-school black frames brought out the blue in his eyes.
“Well, first I want you to keep the glasses.” She turned the notebook around. Focus. “How about you put the shirt and boxer briefs on and I’ll mess up the bed. I thought I saw a newspaper around here somewhere. We can spread that out a
nd make it look like you’re reading it.”
“Hunt out the sports page and I will read it.” He tossed his wadded-up napkin onto the plate. “And don’t finish the beer. Got it.” He left the table and grabbed the clothing. “Be right back. Don’t miss me too much.”
She rolled her eyes and slumped in her seat. The man would wear her out. She waited for him to close the bathroom door before she hopped up from the table. They were comfortable with each other and he surprised her by not stripping right in front of her—while keeping up a conversation.
Her thoughts turned to Iris Sommerville. The woman knew good-looking men and if she did date Austin, she’d help him improve his social standing. She’d probably get him jobs in the modeling and film industries, too. Did Molly blame Austin for being interested? No.
She yanked the comforter from the bed and messed up the sheets. She wanted the lived-in style.
“Nice.” Austin eased up beside her. He held the paper. “Almost looks like my room.”
“I don’t doubt it.” She picked up her phone and camera. “I’ll do some quick shots on the phone first to get the lighting right, then I’ll use the SLR.”
Austin plopped on the sheets. He crawled toward the headboard and stretched out.
Molly jumped back and whipped the camera from the bag. The man was a natural. She snapped half a dozen shots before he’d even settled.
“You’re not giving me the chance to pose.” Austin crossed his ankles and rested on his elbow. He smoothed the paper out in front of him then grabbed a pillow and tucked it to his chest. “Better?”
“Yes.” Not really. The pillow impeded the view of the shirt, but she didn’t have to use that particular shot—not for the campaign anyway.
He rolled onto his back and laced his fingers together on his belly. He bent his left leg and kept his right leg straight then glanced out of the window. The shirt stretched tightly across his chest and accentuated the taut planes of his body. When he breathed, his abs became more defined.
Molly wobbled as she clicked away, taking more photographs. He oozed sex. God. She was crazy. She could be taking the pictures for her own use, not to entice everyone else.
“Good?” He grinned. “I’m not sure I want to get up.” He sighed and stretched then sat up. “I bet you want to use that light.” He nodded toward the balcony. “It’s that right time of the night. Creamy light or something like that.”
“The sunset will make your skin look perfect—not that it’s not already.” She blew out a long breath. “Just go out there.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He scooted past her and onto the balcony again. The way he padded out onto the concrete and leaned against the railing was so casual and as if he spent many an afternoon out there.
Molly snapped a few shots with her phone then switched back to the single lens reflex camera. “Hold on.” She grabbed the beer bottle then offered it to him. “That’s better.” She knelt a few yards from him and focused. “Be yourself.” She wasn’t sure what he’d do but she trusted him to know what she wanted.
Austin rested his forearms on the railing and crossed his legs. He swirled the beer in the bottle and nodded once.
Everything he did was exactly what she needed in the photos.
“That’s great. I can work on other shots on the computer.” She strolled back into the hotel room and placed her camera in the bag. If she spent too much more time out on the balcony with him, she’d admit she still hadn’t gotten Austin out of her system.
“I don’t know,” Austin called. “I think we need a couple of selfie ones.”
She froze. ‘Selfie ones’. Yeah, a personal shot would be good. She handed her phone to him without looking back. “Go for it.”
“Thank you.”
She didn’t bother to watch. She’d seen him photograph himself plenty of times. He always managed to take the best shots and never had his hair out of place or his eyes funny. She hated selfies or any other pictures of her.
“I did a couple.” Austin eased up beside her and draped his arm around her shoulders. “Smile.”
When she looked up, he snapped a photo.
“Why did you do that?” she asked and reached for the phone.
“Because you’re adorable.” He kissed her temple and took another picture. “And I love to irritate you.” He kept her phone and strolled away from her. “Aura is going to love what you’re doing. They’re lucky we’re doing this.”
“Correction. They asked specifically for you. I got to do this because they had to take me.” She tucked the notebook back into her bag and slid the memory card from her camera. “Want me to take off? You’ve probably got a girlfriend dying to spend the night with you.”
Austin groaned and took the memory card from her hand. He led her across the room to the bed and tugged her down beside him. “You make me sound like I can’t keep my dick in my pants.”
She shrugged, not wanting to argue with him. Austin liked to date and loved to tell her about the women he’d seen. “You like all the girls you’re with, then you sleep with them and the relationship falls apart. I don’t know if the shine is gone or your attention span is that small, but you can’t commit.”
“You sound like Serena.”
“I’ve been witness to almost all of your relationships since college.” She stood, but he tugged her back onto the bed. “Austin, stop playing with my head, okay?”
“No.” He grabbed the remote and switched on the television. “How can I stop playing with your head? I invited you to stay the night with me in a hotel room. I never said we had to fuck or that I expected something from you. The idea of the photos was your idea—a great one at that—but I’m just going along. Relax and let me give you a great night.”
She scrubbed both hands over her face again and sighed. Being alone with him wasn’t an awful idea. She’d fallen hard for Austin so many times. At least this time she had photos for later. After he moved on and found the woman of his dreams, she’d have a reminder of the man who owned her heart.
“Well?” He met her gaze and grinned. “What do you think?”
“Sure.” What else did she have to lose?
Chapter Two
Austin stretched out and tucked both hands behind his head. Molly would be the death of him—even if she was his best friend and the only woman who hadn’t given up on him. He’d tried to get her to open up so many times, but she kept a few secrets close to her chest. Why? They were partners. She should be able to trust him.
“Once you’re done putting your stuff away, come over here.” He patted the bed. “One of your favorite romancy movies is on the television.” He bit back a wince. She hated how he used that word—‘romancy’. “I meant one of those…movies you like.” He’d eat his foot all the way to his knee if he didn’t shut up.
“‘Romancy’. Nice.” She tucked the loose strands of hair escaping from her ponytail behind her ears. “Austin, we work together and the one shot we took at a relationship didn’t work. We’re good as working friends and friends-friends, but nothing else.”
He scrambled off the bed and strode to the table in the living room area. Things were messed up and she had a point—having a relationship at work and in the bedroom again probably wasn’t smart, but he wanted both, nonetheless. She’d taken his picture and the thrill of being desired had overwhelmed him. She made him feel important, but that was the thing about Molly. She wasn’t like other women. She didn’t beg for his attention. She made him take notice, and not just when they worked together.
He hated to admit it, but she was right—the one time they’d fucked, he’d screwed it up. Instead of running to her and confessing he’d had the best night of his life, he’d avoided her. He still wasn’t sure how to deal with the way he felt about Molly.
Molly zipped her bag shut and rested her hands on her hips. He’d once been told she wasn’t classically beautiful. What was classical? Because she wasn’t nearly six feet tall and a hundred pounds soaking wet? Because s
he didn’t have blonde hair or huge tits? Maybe that wasn’t what he wanted in a woman.
Molly stood barely five feet three inches tall compared to his six-foot-three-inch frame, but she stood toe to toe with him often. He liked the way her hourglass figure fit against him. Her blue eyes sparkled and her laugh lit up a room. Her gravelly voice sent shivers down his spine and he longed to run his fingers through her hair. He loved her hugs. He needed her.
Damn it. She couldn’t leave. Not yet.
“Will you stick around?” He gripped her shoulders, massaging the tight muscles. “We did some kick-ass work tonight and this past month. You deserve to have a good time for a change. When was the last time you had a night out?”
“College.” She sagged in his arms. “Even Linc wasn’t wild about going out.”
Austin bit back his frustrations. He hated how she still talked about Linc, her damn ex-husband. He shouldn’t dislike the guy, but Linc had never deserved Molly. He hadn’t known how to love a wonderful woman like Molly and hadn’t been able to treasure her. Like Austin had? “Then stay with me tonight.” Austin kissed her temple. “Enjoy a night out and watch this movie with me. I’ll buy ice cream or popcorn, or whatever you want.”
“You don’t have to buy me off.” She grabbed her laptop. “I’ll stay, but you need to help me edit the photos.”
“Deal.” He followed her back to the bedroom and settled onto the bed. His spirit soared as she cuddled up to him. He turned the sound on the movie down and wrapped his arm around her. So they worked together. So they shouldn’t be involved. Did that matter? She understood him. He was on the same wavelength as her concerning her ideas on the different advertising campaigns. He needed to get over himself and admit his feelings.
“I bet the pictures are awesome.” She swiped through the images. “Except this one.”
He chuckled at the blurry image. “You got excited.” He could’ve been in the shot, but then a lot of stuff could’ve been happening within the blurry matrixing.
