“Where did you get that idea?”
“You didn’t order anything at dinner the other night.”
“Ah. Well,I’m feeling mellow and secure in our suite. Would you like some?”
“What is it?”
“Scotch.”
“Yech. No thanks.”
“I also brought wine.”
She thought about it. “Sure. Why not?” One glass of wine wouldn’t turn her into a raving nympho.Hell, I’m sober and already hot for his body.
She didn’t know why she kept giving herself a hard time for wanting the man. Shehad a normal attraction for a man she liked. Most of the time. When he wasn’t being a pain or avoiding her.
“Here you go,” he said, giving her a glass of red.
She sipped it and nodded. “This is good.”
“Yes. I know.”
She rolled her eyes. “Okay, Mr. Arrogant. Let’s play.”
She lost the first hand.
“My question.” He sipped his Scotch and watched her with predatoryintent. “Did I scare you after our date? Our coming together was pretty intense.”
Trust him to go right for the kill. No “what’s your favorite color?” from Noel.
“Um, well, I wasn’t scared you’d hurt me or anything. But I wasn’t prepared for that level of heat between us.”
He nodded but didn’t expand on his feelings. Of course not.
They played again, and she stoppedat seventeen. Noel hit twenty and won.
“Next question. When’s the last time you had sex before me?”
“Geez. A little personal, don’t you think?”
He shrugged. “We got naked together. Not much more personal than that.”
He had a point. “Well, hmm… More than a year ago. Two summers past, I think. I was dating a fellow teacher at the time. It didn’t work out.” She sighedand drank more wine. “What about you?”
He smirked. “I didn’t lose. I don’t have to answer you.”
And so it continued, with her constantly fessing up while he interrogated her like a Spanish priest at the Inquisition. She finished her second glass of wine and realized she’d told him about her parents, her likes and dislikes, her friendship with Solene, dates with Brent and Mitch, andher student stories from this year. But not once did she learn anything new about him.
She felt warm but not tipsy or drunk, yet she shook her head when he asked if she wanted any more wine. “No, thanks. I need my head clear around you.”
He smiled, and she saw the real Noel she’d started to fall for.
“You are either the luckiest man I know or you cheated. And don’t give methat wounded look.” Even his smirks turned her on. “Tell me something about you. Something personal that no one else knows.”
His humor left him, and he stared at her with a somberness she found disconcerting. Being the center of all that focus was intense.
“I’m thinking of a career change.” He seemed to surprise himself admitting that particular truth. “I’m tired, Addy. Tired ofthe travel and the hard work. It takes a toll.”
