Page 9 of One Night Stand After Another
It’s only one night.There was no risk of her terrible judgment ruining the next ten years.
Just her night.
And considering their explosive chemistry, she highly doubted her night would be ruined. Down, down, down, oh yes. She wanted him to go down. She wanted to go down, too. Because in that box of feelings about Zane wasn’t only the disappointment of how he’d reacted when Jack walked in on them, but there was also regret that Jack had walked in on them, period. Grown-up Clara wanted the memory of what it would feel like to be with someone who affected her like Zane did.
Grown-up Clara could have it.
Right now.
Imagine all the inspiration he’ll provide, her muse chimed in. She could crochet a dozen pieces inspired by his scent alone.
“One night, Zane,” she finally said. “You’ve got a deal.”
…
It was still there. The spark. The energy. The thing that had made him crawl lower than he ever had in his life and kiss Jack’s girl.
It was there, but the woman had changed. She seemed tougher, more polished, and he hated to think what had happened between them had anything to do with the sadness in her eyes. But how could it not? She’d spent the last ten years thinking he didn’t want her when nothing could be further from the truth.
He’d never forgotten how she felt in his arms.
This was his fault—and he was determined to fix it. To erase the wariness in her eyes and replace it with satisfaction. To send her on her way, smiling at him instead of running and not looking back.
“I have a plane to catch at ten tomorrow morning,” she said. “My Uber is scheduled for seven. I don’t know whether or not there will be traffic, and I’m not taking any chances. Meet me at my hotel? I’m sure you have some things to wrap up here.”
“Nope—my staff doesn’t need me the rest of the night.” He squeezed her hands and looked deep into her eyes.
Instant connection. Their bodies drifted together until they shared heat. Their breathing synced. He pulled her hand to his chest and pressed it against his pounding heart. Hell yes, it was still there. “This is what you do to me.”
A mischievous glint warmed her violet eyes as she pressed his hand to the bare skin above her full breasts. “Same.”
It took everything he had not to slide his hand under her dress. If he did, they’d never get out of here. “Let’s go to my place.” He was already picturing her in his bed, way better than any sterile hotel bed, no matter how luxurious. “I’ll take you back to your hotel in the morning.”
“I can change my Uber.”
He’d drive her, but they could argue about it over coffee tomorrow.
“Did you check a coat?” he asked, opening the door and gesturing around the coatroom. “Or would you like to pick one?”
She laughed. “No.”
He tugged her out of the supply closet, then led her out of the coatroom and down the short hall back to the party. He wasn’t going to look. Not looking—damn it.
His gaze caught Jack’s. Jack was grinning, smug as ever. And Lila, glaring, of course, because the conversations women had in bathrooms were dangerous. Okay, so maybe he hadn’t mentioned what he’d do if Clara gave him a green light.
Jack beckoned to him, pointing at a blond man standing a few feet away, deep in conversation with Jack’s dad.
Zane hesitated, but only for a second. He wasn’t blowing this chance by boring Clara with shop talk—business could wait until tomorrow. He tucked her under his arm and steered her toward the front door.
Clara sighed, her steps slowing.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’ve been having fantasies about that chocolate fountain since I walked in the door.”
Relief that she wasn’t changing her mind made him pull her a fraction closer. “I promise I’ll give you more satisfaction than the chocolate fountain and all of the desserts in that room put together.”
“That’s a bold claim. You don’t know how much I like chocolate.”
