Yet only now did he feel something other than anger and tiredness and irritation. Only now, squaring off to Savannah, did he feel even slightly fulfilled.
Jeez, was it as simple as sex? Was that all he needed?
Yes. His body screamed louder. Yes. Yes. Yes.
Why shouldn’t he take a few minutes at midnight to fence with a worthy opponent? Why shouldn’t he flirt for once? Even if he suspected she might be an enemy.
“Talk to me then,” he suggested amiably. “So I can want you for your mind as much as I want you for your body.”
He chuckled at the shocked expression in her eyes. What, she hadn’t expected that kind of honesty? Because it wasn’t a line and they both knew it.
“Besides,” he added. “You’re looking at me the exact same way. I don’t mind. Objectify away.”
She straightened. He liked that she didn’t try to deny it. Somehow he’d known she’d take up a challenge. She ran her gaze over him, acutely assessing. Pointedly. Her lips pursed, like she was disappointed. “It’s hard to objectify when I can barely see what you’ve got to show.”
Connor was momentarily stunned. Wow, she really knew how to throw a challenge.
“You want me to strip?” His blood quickened. He stood and pulled off his jacket. He had a thin merino sweater on beneath.
She cocked her head and gave him another once-over. “Not bad.” Her eyes narrowed. “Now you talk to me. I wouldn’t want to treat you like a piece of meat.” She smiled at him beatifically.
He chuckled. Sugarlips had principles? “What did you want to know?”
Her eyes glittered as she stalked back to the bar with the last couple of glasses in her hands. “Net worth, of course. What else?”
He laughed aloud. Nice. “You don’t want to know that I’ve got a sense of humor and can cook and know how to change a tire?”
“I take that as read.” She put the glasses down and shrugged. “But it makes no difference.”
It didn’t? “Is this why you’re here?” He probed with gentle viciousness. “To hook yourself a wealthy banker who likes to ski at exclusive resorts?”
“Of course.” She nodded sarcastically. “That’s why I’m so charming to them.”
“Treat them mean to keep them keen?”
He laughed at the filthy look she sent him. “I’ll tell you my net worth, if you tell me yours.” He leaned his elbows on the bar conspiratorially and waited.
“Not willing to share?” he prompted after only a moment.
“It’s irrelevant,” she drawled, like she didn’t give a damn. “Given you operate the ski lifts, I already know you’re not a wealthy banker.”
“Ah.” He nodded his head sadly. “You’re right. Maybe I’d better take off more clothes and try to up my rating that way.”
“You’re confident that’ll work?” she asked in a bored tone. But she was still watching him. So alert. So alive.
“I’m confident. No stunted growth issues here.” Hell, his usually loose pants were killing him, he was harder than he’d been in his life.
Something lit in her eyes.
“You want to check that out for yourself?” he invited. Please.
“I’ll take your word for it. For now.”
Had he just gotten harder? Game on. “Can I go back to objectifying you, or are you going to talk to me?”
Savannah glanced at him, weighing up her answer. Was it terrible to admit she was getting off on the way he was looking at her?
This wasn’t like being leered at by those pricks, this was like being savored. Like she was something rare and precious… and yeah, she’d clearly gotten high from the antiseptic fumes or something.
He laughed, suddenly looking so carefree. So sexy. “I do like the view,” he confessed. “Nothing wrong with looking, is there?”
No, maybe not. She was stupidly flattered. The desire to flirt unfurled completely. It was so foreign to her. When he’d walked in he’d struck her as the kind of guy who never smiled, he’d seemed so damn serious and pissed off. How wrong could a girl be?
“How much do you like it?” she asked more from genuine curiosity than any kind of attempt to be an ingénue.
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “An indecent amount.”
A purely genuine answer.
Sexual awareness zinged through her. Indecent. She couldn’t help a quick glance at his crotch. Oh my. He was hard just from looking at her? She didn’t reply but turned away, conscious of his gaze still on her. She could feel it, burning through her clothing.
Yeah, like he had laser vision. But her nipples tightened. Beneath her pressed white shirt they were obvious.
He noticed. He fell silent.
Who knew closing up a bar could count as foreplay? In silence she moved around the room, tweaking the last few things. Unnecessary really given she’d be back in to clean properly first thing. But she wanted to spin this moment out to it’s fullest.
Because it could only ever be a moment.
She bent over to clear the last table and heard the hiss of indrawn breath from behind her. Deliberately provocative, she turned her head over her shoulder and raised her brows at him.
“Come here.”
Was that a command? Oh she didn’t think so. She straightened and turned to face him, but didn’t take a single step nearer.
He smiled, understanding flashing in his face. “You’re teasing me.”
“It’s your choice whether or not to watch.”
“My choice?” He laughed, rough and sexy. “I’m watching.” He answered in a low voice. “Everything.”
Everything.
Savannah paused, her inner alarm ringing. She didn’t do everything with anyone and as fun as this moment had been, it was over. It had to be.
“Well sorry.” And she was. “It’s time for you to leave now.” Her voice was embarrassingly husky and she tasted regret in the back of her throat. “I need to lock up and get going. I’m sure you’re well enough to walk now.”
Hs eyes narrowed for a moment and he looked at her too long, too intensely again. But then it was like the final part of the puzzle clicked in his head and he smiled. He stood.
“That’s what you want? Me to leave you alone?” His blue-eyes seemed to be asking something while still seeing everything.
No.
Yes.
She hesitated, running her tongue over her dry lip. She needed to be alone. She knew what happened if you relied on someone. They let you down. Every. Single. Time. And as tantalizing as this had been, she couldn’t see it through. “Yes.”
“Okay.” He stood up from the stool and walked over to the door, going straight through it and along the short corridor to the main entrance door. He turned and flashed a heart-stopping smile. He’d known she’d followed him. “Thanks for taking care of me,” he said.
And he was gone.
On auto she locked the door after him.
She hadn’t taken care of him. Not the way she could have. And she wasn’t disappointed. But when she went back into the bar she saw his wool hat still on that wide, polished wood. She touched it, felt the soft warmth. Felt another kind of warmth flood her core.
Hell. She’d gone crushtastic and turned into a pathetic stalker. She didn’t do crushes. She didn’t do affairs. She didn’t do anything. She was here to work. Here to call out a family of creeps. Here to get over the past and then she could move on alone and strong and feeling like she’d vindicated her father and restored his honor. Or something.
Glancing around the place in one final check, she then set the alarms before pulling on her thick coat and taking the back exit.
She wasn’t worried about walking home so late in such cold weather. She’d move fast to keep warm and there was zero street crime in this perfectly constructed ski village. But as she started along the snow pale path, a shadow stepped away from the side of the building.
“What are you doing?” she squeaked, reaching into her pocket for her pepper spray, but
recognising him in the same breathless heartbeat.
“Did you really think I’d give up that easily?” His teeth flashed white in the starlight as he smiled. “Thought I’d see you home.” He held out his hands and gave a little shrug. “Thought it was my turn to take care of you. Just a little.”
“I don’t need you to see me home.” She didn’t need anyone to take care of her.
He inhaled deep and let out a long sigh. “I know, but I don’t want to say goodbye to you just yet,” he added oh so reasonably. “I’ve had such a nice night looking.”
“And that’s all you want to do?” she asked sceptically. “Look?”
“You already know I want to do way more than that. The question is whether you want me to.”
She stared at him, remembering what he’d said she needed. What he’d promised. Pleasure.