“But he left his drink,” Soleil replied, her eyes perusing their table which had been cleared of all glassware by Aleena when she and Avery had left for her photo shoot.
“Maybe he’s done with it.”
“Are you sure, because––”
“Oh my god, that does look like him!” Avery had finally found the gorgeous actor on her phone. “Mm, I think we should stay a little longer, no?” she asked coyly, bumping her butt playfully into Zuri’s.
Absolutely not. His phone call had saved her once, and she wasn’t tempting fate to save her a second time when the intensity in his eyes threatened to unravel her again.
“You guys ready?” Thao joined them, breathless, as though she had hiked up Mount Washington and back to find their waitress.
“Yeah, let’s get out of here.”
“You sure? What about Tall-Dark-and-Sexy?” Thao asked, watching Zuri quizzically.
“You caught that, too?” Soleil seemed ready to take a poll of the entire lounge.
“Yep. I saw him the moment he walked up to the bar. Is he coming back to finish what he started?”
“Oh my god, nothing was started!” Zuri insisted, a little too defensively.
“But––” Avery began.
“But nothing.” Zuri picked up Avery’s gift bag and pressed it into her hands. “Come on, I’m exhausted.”
“Okay, if you’re sure…” Soleil collected her things, with Thao following suit.
Zuri wasn’t sure about anything that had transpired in the last few minutes, but she wasn’t waiting around to find out. One more minute of those sexy dark eyes on her, one more of his devastating smiles, and she’d be inviting herself to his room.
Chapter Four
Hot Cocoa Kisses
Steam rose around Zuri as she stepped beneath the cascade of water. The spray melted the day from her skin, but not the memory of Kyree—his voice, low and smooth, that had vibrated through her chest, his sensual gaze, and the fire that had sparked when she’d put her hand in his. Even now, she could almost smell the intoxicating mix of bourbon and citrus that had clung to him, could feel his nearness like a ghost.
She let her eyes fall shut, the water running over her face as she replayed the way he’d approached her, like she was the only woman in the room worth noticing. Zuri couldn’t believe she’d skipped out on Kyree. In her hasty retreat from L’Antra, she’d almost thought twice about staying when she spotted him at the far end of the corridor leading into the lobby. His phone was propped against his shoulder, his hands busy pushing up the sleeves of his sweater. She was so grateful that his back was to her, or else…
Stepping out of the shower, Zuri dried off, applied her favorite cocoa butter and vanilla body cream, completed her five-step evening skincare routine, slipped on her underwear, then wrapped herself in the hotel’s plush, white robe.
“Girl, when I saw the way that man was looking at you, I thought he wanted to spread you on the table and eat you for dessert,” Soleil said, as Zuri came out of the bathroom.
“Was he really that obvious?” Zuri eyed Soleil, sitting at the foot of her bed twisting her brown curls into a high bun.
“Both of you were. I could see it even from across the room. Why didn’t you stay a little longer, or at least get his number?”
Zuri knew exactly why she had walked away instead of getting to know the handsome stranger, but Soleil didn’t need to know everything about her…
Ignoring her best friend, she stood in front of the long mirror and lifted her robe. Despite icing it through her thermals at the Crown Peak’s lodge this afternoon, the bruise from her fall was still red, and had since taken on a purple hue.
Soleil yawned loudly as she stood, stretched, and crossed to the small table in the sitting area, where ivory silk drapes framed large windows overlooking the glittering town. “Girl, I am so tired, but I’m gonna film a little chit-chat in the bathroom.” She pulled her ring light and phone tripod from her tote. “You don’t mind, do you?” she asked, as if anything Zuri could say would stop Soleil from delivering her weekly vlog to her devoted subscribers.
“Sure, I’m going down the hall to get some ice.” Zuri slid her feet into her slippers.
“Yeah, you and your hot behind need some cooling down.” Soleil squeezed past Zuri, slapping her good cheek as she slipped into the bathroom and promptly closed the door on Zuri’s exasperated expression.
Grabbing her room key and the ice bucket, she swept into the hallway, her fluffy slippers sinking soundlessly into the plush carpet, and made her way to the ice-machine room. The hall stretched ahead, its walls papered in a mauve damask print. Gold sconces cast a warm glow and a garland of evergreen wound along the crown molding. Just past the elevator bank, Zuri pushed open the door to the ice room.
“Oh!” She jumped, startled by the sight of a man, average height, slim body with a six-pack and a dark, hairy chest, swaying unsteadily on his feet in front of the machine, waiting for his bucket to fill. He was wearing nothing but red silk boxers, a pair of black dress shoes, and reindeer antlers on his head. Zuri swore she had seen him with a hot blonde on the dance floor a few hours earlier…
