Escape for Valentine's: Beauty and the Billionaire / Her One and Only Valentine / The Girl Next Door. Caroline Anderson
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as sleeping her way to the top.
“You don’t need nepotism. But if Roger and this Chantal are out to lunch—”
“Actually, Hunter agrees with them.”
Silence.
“He thinks my image could use some updating.”
Kristy’s voice took on an incredulous quality. “And you’re okay with that? That doesn’t sound like you.”
Sinclair had to agree that it didn’t sound like her. And she’d been avoiding delving too closely into her motivations for going along with him.
“True. But the new wardrobe is nice.”
Concern grew in Kristy’s voice. “Sinclair, you’re not—”
“I’m not.”
“—falling for Hunter. Because I’ve been talking to Jack, and to his grandfather, and he’s not a good long-term prospect.”
“You’re getting ahead of yourself,” said Sinclair, embarrassed that Kristy would have discussed the situation with the Osland family.
“You remember how you were after Zeke.”
“I got over Zeke just fine.” It hadn’t taken that long, maybe a few weeks. “And I have Hunter completely in context.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure.” Well, kind of sure. “It’s all business,” Sinclair insisted. “In fact, we’re about to launch Lush Beauty in the biggest way.” She thought about the spa deal and the time spent with Hunter. “Do you ever find your new life with Jack surreal?”
Kristy laughed. “All the time.”
“Hunter and I went to a club tonight. First class all the way. The band even stopped by. And the weird thing? It seemed pretty normal.”
“It does take some getting used to,” Kristy agreed.
“Yeah, for the launch of the new Luscious Lavender line across Europe, Hunter bought a chain of spas!” She heard him moving around next door. “Sounds like he’s out of the shower.”
“Hunter is in your shower? What the—”
“He’s next door. We have adjoining rooms.” Then Sinclair realized she probably didn’t want to have a detailed conversation on that, particularly when Hunter was about to waltz back into her room. “Better go.”
“Wait—”
“Bye.” Sinclair quickly disconnected.
“Hey, babe,” said Hunter, padding inside in one of the white robes. “You’re not going to shower?”
She stifled a yawn, dropping her phone on the little desk beside the armchair. “Tomorrow.”
He crossed toward her. “Works for me.” He smiled as he leaned down to kiss her. “Ready for bed?”
“Just let me find something to change into.”
He burrowed into her neck, planting kisses along the way. “You’re not going to need a nightgown.”
She chuckled at his gravelly voice and the way his rough skin tickled hers.
His hands slipped beneath her robe. “What’s this?”
“It’s called underwear.”
“You trying to slow me down?”
“Not worth the work, am I?”
“Always.” He drew her to her feet.
Then his cell phone rang.
He swore, but picked it up and checked the number. “Richard.”
“You need to take that?”
“Tomorrow,” he said. “Tomorrow, we need to strategize.”
“Over the spas?”
He nodded.
Sinclair squinted. “I thought the deal was done?”
“It is.” His lips compressed. “Tomorrow I figure out how to explain to my family I spent several hundred million.”
Everything inside Sinclair went still. “How do you mean?”
“I mean, I’m going to hear words like reckless and impulsive. They’ll be ticked, so I need to figure out how to present this just right so Gramps doesn’t go ballistic.”
Her stomach turned to a lead weight. “But I thought …”
He waited.
“I thought you were ready to tell them.”
He coughed out a cold laugh. “Not hardly.” He tossed the phone down and moved toward her. “But it can wait until tomorrow; you’re what’s important tonight.”
“I have to use the bathroom,” Sinclair blurted.
“Sure,” he said, obviously puzzled as to why she was making a big deal about it. “You should go ahead and do that.”
Hesitating only a second, she grabbed her phone.
He glanced at her hand. “Expecting a call?”
“Maybe. I don’t know.” She headed for the door. “Time zones, you know.” Then she quickly shut herself in.
Her hands were shaking as she dialed Kristy.
“Come on. Come on,” she muttered as the connection rang hollow. “Pick up.”
She got her sister’s voice mail and jiggled her foot as she waited for the beep.
“Kristy? It’s me. I really need to talk to you. I’ll try again in a few minutes. Make sure you pick up.”
What to do now? She needed Hunter out of the way. She needed Hunter … asleep.
Okay, this was going to be tricky. He didn’t seem like he was in the mood for anything remotely quick.
She exited the bathroom, and was pulled immediately into his arms, engulfed in a major hug, peppered with kisses that under any other circumstances would have been erotic and totally arousing.
“Uh, Hunter?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m … not …”
He pulled back. “Something wrong?”
“I’m still woozy from the drinks,” she lied.
His eyes glowed pewter as he waggled his eyebrows. “You maybe need to lie down?”
She shook her head. “No. I mean yes. I mean.” She hit him with the most contrite expression she could muster. “Can we wait until morning?”
His gaze grew concerned. “That bad?”
She nodded. It was worse, only not in the way he was imagining.
“Come on, then.” He led her to the bed, pushing aside the comforter and tucking her in.
He slipped under the covers beside her and spooned their bodies together. He kissed the back of her neck, smoothing her hair. “Sleep,” he muttered.
She nodded miserably, and pretended to do just that.
Half an hour later, his breathing was deep and even. Engulfed in his warmth, she was struggling to stay awake herself. She didn’t dare wait any longer.
She cautiously slipped from the bed, snagged her phone, and tiptoed into the bathroom.
She tried Kristy again, still coming up with voice mail.
“Kristy?” she whispered harshly. “You have to call me. I’m sleeping with my phone