“Wolf!” Chrissy’s eyes rounded as she craned her neck to check on Romeo. “Why in heaven’s name did you do that?”
Behind him, Romeo said, “So it’s like that, eh?”
Wolf decided it was best not to answer either of them. Instead, he said, “I’m the man for that job.”
Chrissy’s expression was…not terribly encouraging. Her words were even less so. “I’ve long suspected the males of the species were idiots. I think now I’m certain.”
“Hey!” Romeo lumbered to a stand, dusting himself off like he’d fallen into a sandpit instead of onto a perfectly clean floor. “What’dIdo?”
“Let me make myself perfectly clear.” Chrissy’s stare was level. “I have no intention of havingsexwith anyone. But every time I close my eyes, what happened out there on the water replays itself on the backs of my eyelids, and I know I won’t get any sleep if I’m alone.”
“I’m the man for the job,” Wolf reiterated at the same time Romeo said, “Wolf’s the man for that job.”
Chrissy frowned at Romeo. “Whatever happened to good old-fashioned chivalry? I thought you military types were supposed to jump at playing the gentleman?”
“I’m not saying I couldn’t spend the night with you and not keep my hands to myself.” Romeo lifted a finger. “I’m saying I’ve been told I can seduce an ice cream cone just by walking into the parlor, so I’m savingyoufrom not being able to keepyourhands off ofme. If what you’re after is some platonic spooning”—Romeo hitched his chin toward Wolf—“then Wolf’s your man.”
“Am I insulted or flattered? I can’t tell,” Wolf muttered, feeling more the former.
“You realize you have an ego the size of a whale shark. Right, Romeo?” Chrissy asked.
Romeo waggled his eyebrows. “It’s not the only thing on me that’s oversize.”
“Oh, for crying out loud,” Wolf grumbled.
Chrissy shook her head and then turned her sea-blue eyes on him. Right on cue, his stomach squeezed painfully and his blood ran hot. “Are you ready, then? Or do you need to grab a toothbrush or something?”
“We’re headed back to your room?” His voice came out like the wind over the plains, dry and crackling.
“You didn’t think I’d stay in there”—she jerked her chin toward the room behind him—“with both of you. That would be”—she curled her upper lip and landed on—“weird.”
“No.” He shook his head. Although, the truth was he hadn’t been thinking much of anything besidesMe! Me! Pick me!“I already brushed my teeth. I’m good to go.”
“I’m sure you are.” Romeo smirked.
Wolf responded by stepping into the hall and slamming the door in Romeo’s face.
As Chrissy made her way down the hall to her room, Wolf kept close beside her, studying her pretty profile. There was a skip in his step, and a lightness to his heart that’d been missing since that night he went and screwed everything up. He couldn’t stop the happy smile that curved his lips.
“Have you ever wondered,” she began and then did a double take when she saw his face. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Have I ever wondered what?” he asked.
“Nope.” She shook her head, which caused a lock of hair to fall over one eye. He lifted his hand to tuck it behind her ear. Unfortunately, she beat him to it. “Whyare you looking at me like that?” she demanded.
“Don’t know.” He shrugged. “Just happy, I guess.”
Her eyes narrowed. “We arenothaving sex.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.Can’t a man be happy about spendin’ a sexless night with a woman he likes and admires?” He waited a few seconds before adding, “After all, snugglin’ is nice too.”
She was in the middle of swiping her keycard in the lock, and her spine snapped straight. “We’re not snuggling either.”
“Fine.” He lifted his hands. “Sleepin’ in the same bed with a pillow fort built between us.”
