Need You Now (1001 Dark Nights)(25)

“Ladies first,” he says, motioning with his fork.

“Chicken,” I tease. “You’re afraid it’s as bad as the coffee.”

His lips curve. “Fine. Together.”

“Together,” I agree and we both cut off a bite and stick it in our mouths.

I grimace at the butter-sodden glob in my mouth and his expression isn’t much better. “I guess if you’re looking for a heart attack, it’s fine.”

“Same impression on my end.” He covers the plate and shoves it aside, dragging another offering forward. Lifting the cover, we discover pancakes.

Remarkably comfortable with Jensen, I use my fingers to tear a small piece off. “Here’s hoping this is better,” I say, popping it in my mouth while Jensen does the same.

I shrug as I swallow. “As good as a box can do.”

Jensen sighs and scrubs his jaw. “Obviously, we need a room service overhaul.”

“It has to be the same kitchen as last night.”

“Apparently, a different chef,” he comments, which means the head chef doesn’t have a grip on the big picture. He glances at the floral furnishings. “This place needs a remodel as well.”

“Is that doable with the company’s low profits?”

“No profits overall,” he corrects. “What one hotel makes, the others lose, but an investment has to be made if this location is to stay afloat.” He turns his chair and then mine so that we’re facing each other. “I don’t want you to stress over all of this.”

“I don’t want to stress over it, but I am. How can I not?”

“Just know this. I’m committed to trying to save Meredith and increase the operation, not shrink it.”

“But the rest of the board is committed to the opposite.”

His cell phone rings and he digs it out of his pocket, grimacing. “I have to take this.” He holds up a finger and answers the call. “This is Jensen.” A pause. “Yes. Of course, I’m f*cking in Florida. Do you think I’m in Paris sight-seeing?” He pauses, that dark edginess I’d seen in him when he’d thought I’d been pulling a fast one ever present now. “No,” he continues. “We’ll talk when I look everything over.” His jaw clenches and he glances at his watch. “When?” Another beat. “That’s ridiculous.” He waits a moment and makes an irritated sound. “Get everyone on speaker in thirty minutes. No. I’ll call you.” He ends the connection and sets his phone on the table, standing to walk to the window beside the table, his back to me.

Remarkably, I have no sense of intruding where I’m not wanted. “The board?”

“Yes. The same uncle and lynch-mob leader I told you about yesterday.” He turns and rests his hands on a chair. “They’re playing some dangerous games to try and push me out. I have to deal with them.”

“Push you out?”

“They want to force me to sell.”

“Can they?”

He laughs without humor. “Not a chance in hell, and they’re only making me more determined to stay in.” He scrubs his jaw, whiskers rasping on his hand, and there is a tiny pinch in my belly, remembering that rasp on my skin. “I’m sorry. I have a call with them in thirty minutes. I have to deal with this.”

I push to my feet, taking the obvious hint but not offended. I don’t think he wants me to go. He just needs me to go. “I’ll go shower and dress.”

He glances at the fancy watch he’s wearing. “It’s 9:30 now. I was going to suggest we go check out the competition’s breakfast at the nearest comparable hotel, but we should make it an early lunch.”

“Don’t we need time to meet the staff?”

“If we get out of here by eleven, we can be back by one o’clock and have a couple of hours with the staff.”

“You want me to announce our presence and set up the meetings?”

“Yes, but wait an hour. Let me call down and complain about the food and see how they respond. I’ll come get you when I’m done with my meeting.”

“Yes. Okay. How are you going to dress for today’s meetings?”

“As much as I’d prefer beach attire, I need the management team to know how serious this is.”

“Professional it is,” I say, motioning to the bedroom. “I need to grab my shorts.”

He nods and turns back to the window. I intend to leave but for a moment I find myself just standing there, studying the hard lines of his body, the tension rippling down his spine. Whatever that call was, it wasn’t good, and I can’t help but worry that the end is coming. The end of my job. The end of this...thing we have going on, and that punches me in the gut.

Suddenly terrified by how quickly I’ve become exposed with Jensen, I tear my gaze from him and walk into the bedroom. Spotting my clothes under the foot of the bed, I quickly pull them on under his shirt and then tear it away, intending to replace it with my own. My skin prickles and my gaze lifts to find Jensen standing in the doorway, his eyes sliding hotly over me, and my nipples pucker under the inspection. I give him my back, quickly slipping on my shirt, and tell myself lust really has the best of me. My brain is mush.

As if I’ve challenged him to prove he has control, not the same lust, he steps behind me, his hand sliding possessively to my belly. My lashes flutter, warmth spreading through me where moments before I was cold with confusion. He leans in and nuzzles my cheek and neck, his lips grazing my lobe, sending a shiver down my spine. I feel him smile against my neck before he groans softly and turns me to face him, hands on my shoulders. “You had better go before I tell the board to f*ck off and take you back to bed.”