“The good thing is that the room my secretary reserved for me is a suite. I understand it’s pretty spacious. Although it has only one bedroom, it features a sofa bed and a Jack-and-Jill bathroom, and is located in a separate area of the lodge for added privacy. But I would understand if you were uncomfortable with sharing.”
Eden fought back a smile. This couldn’t be any better if she had written the script. “It’s your suite, Drew. It’s up to you if you’re okay with sharing. I don’t have a problem with it. We’ve been sharing space in your truck for the past four days. How do you feel about it?” she asked, although she knew sharing space in a truck was nothing like sharing space in confined quarters like a suite.
He met her gaze and held it for a moment. “I don’t have a problem with it if you don’t, Eden.”
“And I don’t. We’re adults. I know you won’t force yourself on me.” But that didn’t mean she might not feel inclined to force her way on him, she thought.
He started the car. “The lodge is on the other side of the main building. We’re in luck since it was designed for celebrities who preferred their privacy.”
“Sounds wonderful.”
Rounding the main building and then driving through a canopy of trees, they came to a stop in front of what looked like a mini lodge. Because it still wasn’t completely dark, she could see the outside of the rustic building nestled behind a bevy of tall trees that tented over it like an umbrella, with an alpine lake behind it. It was a stunning view.
She turned to Drew. “You must have wanted a lot of privacy when you reserved this.”
“I didn’t reserve it. My secretary did. But I think she got a bit carried away. However, now I’m glad she did. It’s just what we need to stay out of sight for a while.”
Eden smiled. She would have Drew Steele all to herself in an isolated mini-lodge. Things couldn’t get any better than that.
“Are you ready to go inside?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“And by the way, it has a telephone you can use if you want to check in with your friend to let her know you’re safe. But I wouldn’t tell her where we are. The fewer people who know, the better. I bet your father is pretty pissed off by now.”
Eden could only imagine. “I would call Dad and tell him to back off, but he’d probably trace the call, so I’ll wait until I’m in Paris to reach out.”
Drew grabbed his duffel bag, then walked around the passenger side of the car to open the door for her. After placing her backpack on her shoulder, she got out. “Thanks.”
They strolled up the walkway together, and she stepped aside, allowing him to open the door and turn on the lights. Eden’s breath caught, not only at the beauty of the inside of the mini-lodge but also at the view outside the wall-to-ceiling window. It provided a panoramic shot of the alpine lake as well as the snow-capped mountains that seemed to reach the sky.This was better than she had ever dreamed—it was the perfect romantic hideaway.
“This view is gorgeous,” she said, moving past Drew to stand in front of the window. She knew the moment he came to stand directly behind her. But not too close. Was she imagining things, or was she feeling heat emitting from his body? This ‘sexual attraction thing’ was unfamiliar to her, but she intended to learn all about it, becoming aware of everything it was and whatever went along with it.
And she couldn’t think of a better partner-in-crime than drop dead gorgeous Drew Steele.
CHAPTER 10
Releasing a deep breath, Drew forced his body to relax and ignore all the desire that was overwhelming him.
Since his company closed each year for the holidays, the three to four months preceding were usually spent hauling as much merchandise to stores as possible. In some situations, that meant all-hands-on-deck, including his.
Although he was the CEO, he tended to work beside his men, in every part of his business. He was even known to operate a forklift, if the need arose. But because of all the extra hours he’d been putting in for the past six months, his sex life had taken a backseat. He had intended to hook up with his on-again, off-again lover, Ashley Jordan, before leaving Phoenix for California, but the timing was off. She had left the day before to spend time with family in Toronto.
He and Ashley had met a couple of years ago in a bar. She had just moved from Canada after divorcing an abusive husband. They were not involved in an exclusive relationship and considered themselves nothing more than sex buddies. He knew she had several of those, but then, so did he. But maybe that missed opportunity was the reason that being around Eden was so hard. It reminded him of how long it had been since he’d last gotten laid.
He’d never had to deal with unfulfilled sexual urges before because when one hit, there were usually women ready and willing to satisfy his wants. But not now. Was it poetic justice that he was stuck in close quarters with a woman he wanted butcould not touch?
“Let’s take a look around, Drew,” Eden said, moving away from the window. Her words drew him out of his thoughts as he watched her move towards the first door. She was wearing an above-the-knee-length top over leggings and boots. Why did she have to look so damn good in them?
“This must be the bedroom,” she said, opening the door wide.
He moved away from the window to follow her. Yes, it was the bedroom, and it was huge. The bed was big! Maybe it was one of those Alaskan king-sized beds? It was almost double the size of a standard king and was obviously designed for people who liked a lot of space. He could just imagine rolling around with a woman between the sheets in that thing. But why did the woman in his mind have to be Eden?
“Wow! I’ve never seen a bed that large before,” she said, moving closer to it, then sitting on top. “The mattress feels good.”
“You can sleep in here,” he said.
She stood. “It’s only fair that you take the bedroom since this was supposed to be your holiday retreat.”
