“The scarf I’ll put against your skin.” Jerk. “That way you won’t get chafed.” Rot in hell. “Wouldn’t want you showing up to work with burn marks.” And may it fall off.
Oh, no, she couldn’t let him show up for work looking less than corporate. Especially since she knew now just how important that job of his was to him. He could lie and cheat and then sleep like a baby. That’s a skill even she didn’t possess.
A hint of uncertainty lit in his eyes. “Trust me,” she urged, throwing back the same words he used on her half a dozen times.
Eric lifted his hand, and she forced her expression to stay sensual rather than triumphant. Yes. It was working.
Danni pressed a quick kiss on the warm skin of his wrist then slid the scarf in place. He even had sexy wrists, masculine and flexible with the right amount of hair. Oh, it was so unfair. With a quick twist, she secured his arm to the bedpost and used the same routine to bind his other arm and both his legs. Sitting back on her heels on Eric’s large bed, she admired her work.
Despite being such a jerk, Eric Reynolds was the best looking man she’d ever seen. Sprawled against the king-sized bed, his arms and legs tied up, he exuded power and force. Only a man utterly confident in his own strength and had trust in his woman would allow himself to be tied up. That’s what she’d counted on.
There’d be hell to pay if she didn’t work this one right.
Locks of his dark hair fell across his forehead, and she allowed herself one more time to touch the strands, stroke the hair away from his face. She trailed one finger along his sexy cheekbone and the harsh outline of his jaw. His lips, he had such beautiful lips. Wicked lips that made her want to do erotic things. Wicked lips because they told such wicked lies.
Eric sucked in a breath as she leisurely traced a path along his broad chest, and the flatness of his stomach. She smiled as she saw his penis rise, then harden even more. The only place he didn’t lie. But that was because he couldn’t. She tore her gaze from his body, focused once more on his lips.
One last kiss. She needed one more kiss to remind her what betrayal tasted like. Danni bent over and slid her tongue on his bottom lip. Despite being restrained, he moved his mouth so he kissed her fully. Her heartbeat quickened, and she felt her nipples tingle and tighten. He made her feel things. Want things.
And that’s why she had to do this. Why she couldn’t congratulate him on his great con and walk away. Because for a few short days he made her dreams come true, but then snatched them away.
The sounds of their ragged breathing filled his bedroom. She quickly broke contact and scrambled off him.
Frantic, Danni searched for her panties. Damn, that was one part of her plan she hadn’t fully thought through. But then, neither had she made allowances for ditching her clothes in such a hurry, and leaving them all over his suite.
“What are you doing?” Eric asked, his voice curious and oh, so trusting.
Forget her panties. Grabbing her jeans, she swiftly stepped into them and zipped them up. She didn’t look at him. “What do you think I’m doing? I’m getting dressed.”
“What?” Eric managed to sit up higher, his expression growing serious. She’d given too much slack in the legs. Oh, well. Hindsight.
After donning her bra and hastily buttoning her shirt, Danni slipped into her shoes. “I’m leaving.”
“What the hell…? Danni, this isn’t funny.” Eric tugged furiously at his bonds. They held. Good.
She finally met his gaze. “I’m not meaning it to be a joke,” she told him, her voice steady and sure.
Eric struggled against the rope. He must have realized she wasn’t playing.
“I wasn’t lying about being a Scout,” she said. “I really do know how to make good knots. Don’t worry, despite the Do Not Disturb sign I placed on the knob, I’ll call room service to come get you. After a few hours. That should give you plenty of time to reflect on your crimes.”
Cold, controlled anger replaced confusion in his eyes. A wave of unease made her shiver. She had to get out of there. Now. But she couldn’t have him yelling the place down. It was time to tape his mouth shut. Reaching for the roll, she made her way back to the bed. With every step she took, tension filled her.
“What are you planning to do with that?” he asked. He smelled of arousal, and now, unforgiving male. She knew he couldn’t get away, but that didn’t make the man’s intimidating presence any less daunting.
She unrolled a long strip of duct tape.
“Danni, stop this. You’re making a mistake,” he blurted.
Danni shook her head. “I doubt it. You picked the wrong mark, ace.”
“Mark? What are you talking about?”
“Someone has to save my father.”
“Danni, whatever it is you think you know, you’re wrong. Let me expl—”
“Save your explanation. It will all just be more lies.”
His eyes widened in surprise, and she grabbed at the opportunity to secure his mouth.
“What is it you once told me, Eric? You didn’t believe in chance. Well, you made a convert. I don’t believe in chance either. Only making my own opportunities. And I’m making one now. You seduced me to get to my father, and now you’re going to pay.”
1
Two Weeks Earlier
DANNI BALANCED the laundry basket on her hip as she stepped out of the dry Nevada heat, and into the humidity of the Save ’n’ Wash. No one did their laundry on a Wednesday afternoon, so it was the perfect time to study. For some reason, just starting school when most people her age would have been finishing made her feel a twinge unsure. Funny how going straight could do that to a person. She’d always felt cool and in control while on the grift.
She’d been born to play the game. Or so her father had always told her. And taught her.
Not worth thinking about now. Danni blinked to allow her eyes to adjust to the inside light, and set her basket down on an empty table. Her textbook lay on top of her dirty clothes. She had more than two years ahead of her, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
She’d carefully pushed her change into the slot, when a shadow fell across her arm.
“Do you have any dryer sheets? I must have left mine back at the hotel.”
Danni glanced up to match the sexy voice to the shadow. She had heard some pickup lines before, in fact, she’d heard that exact pickup line in the Laundromat, but never from someone like this. Someone who didn’t need cheesy words because his very presence was an open invitation.
Tall and dark and rugged.
Her breath hitched. She’d always gone for the rebels. Long hair, no job and an air of total irresponsibility. Bonus points for lack of sensitivity, except for something useless like his bad music or his dirty poetry. Those were the kind of guys who rocked her world.
But this wasn’t a guy. This was a man.
Despite the corporate cut to his dark hair, he exuded a jagged undercurrent of danger. No rebellion…just promise. She swallowed. This man was gulp worthy. A snug, navy T-shirt molded his proud chest and shoulders. Danni kept a tight rein on her eyes. Do not lower.
She met his gaze. She found humor in the darkness of his brown eyes. And expectation. Oh yeah, he was waiting on her to answer. Dryer sheet. That was it.
Time to work it.
“For a dollar,” she told him.
He raised an eyebrow. “You want a dollar for one dryer sheet?”
Danni shrugged. “You’re welcome to go to