hotels. February is a busy convention month is Seattle. I work as a meeting planner at the Hartington.”
“So I heard.”
She nodded, aware that he’d heard every word of the conversation with her parents. She wondered why he hadn’t asked about the skirt yet. After all, even she would admit it was a little bizarre to believe a skirt could find you the man of your dreams. She’d still be a doubter if she hadn’t seen the effects for herself. On the other hand, maybe Brock was used to desperate women and wanted to steer clear of the subject.
“Most of my time at the hotel is spent coordinating business meetings and conferences, but I also organize parties and receptions. That’s where my parents anniversary party will be held.” She planted her hands on her hips. “Which is still two weeks away. What do you plan to do in the meantime?”
He shrugged. “See the sights. Take a trip out to Whidbey Island. Reacquaint myself with the city…” His gaze lingered on her. “And old friends.”
It was the tone of his voice more than his words that made her skin tingle. It’s the skirt, she sternly reminded herself. Brock didn’t really want her, he was just reacting to the skirt’s magnetic qualities.
“I might be able to squeeze you into a room at the Hartington,” she said, quickly changing the subject. “We usually have one or two last-minute cancellations.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Good. Then I’ll just change clothes and we can be on our way.”
“Need any help?”
Kate blushed, a little surprised at the obvious strength of the skirt’s seductive powers. “I’m old enough to change clothes all by myself now, Brock.” She gathered up the linen pantsuit on the bed and headed toward the door. “But thanks for offering.”
She opened the door, then closed it again. “Can you believe it? My parents are still out there arguing about the cannoli.”
He moved up behind her. “I can see Sid’s point. Your mother’s cannoli is incredible.”
His warm breath caressed her neck, sending a delicious tingle throughout her body. She swallowed hard, then peeked again through the crack in the door. “They just disappeared into their bedroom. Their door is closed. Now is your chance to make your escape. I’ll run interference if they come out before you make it to the front door.”
“Okay,” he said, moving into the hallway. But his gaze was still fixed on her.
“Go,” she cried, giving him a shove. “Before they see you. I’ll meet you this evening at the Hartington Hotel on Yesler Way.”
He smiled. “I’ll be waiting.”
3
BROCK FOLLOWED Kate into the lobby of the Hartington Hotel, his eyes glued to the sexy sway of her hips. She wore a pantsuit now instead of that skirt, but he could still envision the long, slender line of her legs. The way the silky fabric of the skirt had molded to her sweetly curved rear end. He imagined himself fitting his hands there, her body moving against him…
He mentally shook himself. Brock had been attracted to women before, but he’d never let it affect his mission. And his mission was simple. He had to get his hands on the skirt. Unfortunately, it looked as if he’d have to get close to Kate to do it.
That wasn’t part of his plan.
Whenever possible, he tried to avoid contact with people during a mission. It tended to make things too unpredictable. And potentially dangerous. His normal routine was to research the object he’d been hired to recover, map out a strategy for obtaining it, then leave the vicinity before anyone was the wiser.
Only nothing had gone right with this particular mission from the start. His research hadn’t turned up an address for Kate, so he’d decided to search the Talavera house for information. Picking the lock on the front door hadn’t been a problem, but the last person he’d expected to find inside was Kate.
Especially since she was nothing like he remembered.
When had she turned from a sweet, chubby kid with a crooked smile into a sweet, sexy woman with a luscious mouth that could drive a man wild? Not to mention her big brown eyes, generous curves and legs that went on forever and a day.
The sight of her had turned him from a coolheaded professional into a man who could barely think straight. He’d almost blown the mission and now found himself in deeper than he ever wanted to be.
It was time for a new strategy.
Kate conferred with a clerk at the front desk, then turned to face him. “Looks like we’re full tonight, but there should be a room opening up tomorrow. So I guess that means you’ll have to stay with me.”
His pulse picked up a notch at the implied invitation. Business, Gannon, he reminded himself sternly. Keep your mind on the mission. He took a deep breath. “Are you sure that won’t be too much trouble?”
She smiled. “Not at all. I’m in one of the employee suites, so there’s plenty of room.”
It was a perfect setup. He’d be in the same room with the skirt. As soon as Kate was asleep tonight, he could grab it, then hop on the first airplane out of Seattle. Except…
She would know he was the one who stole it.
Usually Brock didn’t give a damn about what people thought of him. But somehow the idea of her believing he was a thief, as well as a liar, unsettled him. When he thought of Kate telling the rest of the Talaveras the story, his blood turned cold.
But what choice did he have? If he didn’t take the skirt, someone else would.
He followed Kate to the elevator, which took them to her third-floor suite. The door opened to a tasteful sitting area with a computer desk and fax machine in one corner. A small kitchenette graced the other corner of the room, complete with small refrigerator, microwave, hot plate and sink. Another door led to a bedroom in the back and a luxurious bathroom lay in between.
“This is nice,” he said, setting his suitcase next to the door.
“It’s been home for the past couple of months. We’ve been so busy at the hotel, that I’m working most of the time anyway, so it’s handy.”
He folded his arms across his chest. “Where do you want me to sleep?”
To his surprise, he saw a pretty pink blush steal up her neck and settle in her cheeks. Was it possible that he wasn’t the only one having erotic fantasies about that king-size bed in the next room?
“On the sofa. It might be a little lumpy, but it should be long enough for you. I can have some extra linens and pillows sent up.”
“Sounds good.” Not as good as sharing a pillow with Kate, but a man couldn’t have everything.
She glanced at the computer. “Do you mind if I check my e-mail, or do you want to go straight to bed?”
“I think I’ll hop in the shower if you don’t mind.” He didn’t tell her it was going to be a cold one.
“Go right ahead.”
Once Kate was alone in the sitting room she phoned housekeeping, then hurried over to the computer desk and sat down. It only took a few moments for the computer to come to life and begin downloading her e-mail.
Most of the messages were related to upcoming conferences and meetings. But two of them made her sit up in her chair. They were both from Todd Winslow. Kate heard the shower running in the bathroom and did her best not to picture Brock standing under the stream of pulsating water. A naked Brock.
She took a deep breath and turned her attention back to the computer, clicking on Todd’s first message. The opening line made her smile.
Dear Kate,
It