Page 27 of Her Captivated Hero

She rolled her eyes for the second time that night.

Little did she know he was damned tempted to carry her to his vehicle. He hadn't realized just how thin that sweater was, he'd been too busy ogling her in it.

Dammit, it was a rookie mistake.

"Gray, why are you frowning. Are you mad at me?" He realized she was having to walk two steps for his every one, and he was frowning.

Great job, Tyler.

"Honey, let me get you into the lobby of the motel, okay?"

She looked sad. He couldn't stand it, so he stopped. He hated it when he made it hard for her to read him. He put his hands on her shoulders and started to rub them up and down along her arms, trying to get the blood moving. He rested his forehead against hers and smiled.

"I'm mad at myself for not realizing how cold it was going to be at midnight and not insisting you bring a coat. I just want to get you onto those seat warmers as quickly as possible, that's all."

"Seriously?"

"Cross my heart."

She let out a deep breath, her smile huge.

He put his arm around her shoulders, and they walked at a more sedate rate out to his car.

By the time they got buckled into their seats and Gray had them on the eight-oh-five heading North, Riya had yawned twice.

"Have you been working long hours?" he asked.

"Probably fewer hours than you. Wanna compare?"

He chuckled.

"Nope. I've played this game with you before. Why don’t you rest? We’ll be at your house in thirty minutes.”

“But I have some ideas on why you like the movie,” she protested. Then she ruined it by yawning again. “Maybe I’ll rest my eyes for just a minute.”

“You do that, Honey.”

She put her hand on the console between the seats and Gray took hold of it. His girl worked too hard.

* * *

The next day,Susan handed Riya her caramel macchiato latte. She had a huge grin on her face.

“Please tell me that smile is because you and Mike discovered some fantastic new sex position while you were on your honeymoon that you need me to write up in Dr. Kennedy’s study,” Riya begged.

Miranda laughed. “You should be so lucky. Susan’s smile was definitely directed your way.”

Susan laughed as she sat down next to Miranda on the small office couch. Both women started sipping their coffee drinks, trying not to smirk.

“I saw that!” Miranda crowed. “You smiled.”

“Yep, I saw it too,” Susan concurred. “It was a dreamy smile. It was all man-smarmy.”

“It was not,” Riya denied. “It was the kick of caffeine.”

“Bullshit. You were thinking of Gray,” Miranda said. “How many dates have you been on now?”

Riya cleared a tiny spot on her desk where she could rest her coffee. The desk was covered in in binders, with precise tabs. They were all live projects, otherwise they would be in the overflowing bookcase.