Crystal Cove (Friday Harbor #4)(19)

The assistant sent her a grateful glance and snarled into the phone, “Oh, really? ’Cause about a million geeks have e-mailed about the PS3 version freezing up every ten or fifteen minutes. Here’s an idea—why don’t we get the dadgum game right before we start selling it?”

Justine left the kitchen quietly and carried the shake upstairs. On the way, she passed a couple of guys who were descending to the first floor. “Good morning,” she said. “The coffee cart is in the lobby.”

“Great,” one of them said, his eyes friendly behind wire-rimmed glasses. “I could use some caffeine.”

The other, who was stocky and middle-aged, gave Justine a blatant once-over and said, “I could use some room service.”

Both men chuckled.

Justine was in such a good mood that she only smiled and said, “Trust me, you’d rather have breakfast downstairs.”

Making her way to the Klimt room, she saw that the door was ajar. She knocked on the jamb.

“Priscilla,” came a curt voice. “I need the report from the emerging-markets group. And I want to know who we’re sending to the E3 Expo. Also, get me a hard copy of the exhibitor list and a plan of the show floor—”

“Save your breath,” Justine said. “It’s me. I have your breakfast shake.”

A short silence ensued. “Are you coming in?”

“Are you decent?”

The door opened fully to reveal Jason dressed in jeans and a white T-shirt printed with the Inari logo, the I formed in the shape of a stylized dragon. “I’m clothed,” he said. “Decency is open for debate.”

His black hair was damp from a recent shower, his face clean-shaven. Forcing herself to look into those cool coffee-dark eyes, Justine felt her heart jam up against her ribs until every throb was a sharp little pain. Even though she kept her gaze on his, she was aware of every detail of him, the carnal mouth, the long, superbly conditioned body. The indefinable threat was still there, raising the fine hairs on her arms and neck … something physical, something shadowy.

Something erotic.

She extended the drink to him, careful not to let their fingers touch.

“Who made this one?” Jason asked.

“I did.” She smiled at his dubious expression.

Taking a sip of the shake, he nodded in approval. “Just the way I like it.”

“What a relief,” she said. “Because if I’d had to bring up a third one, I might have added a splash of hemlock.”

“You wouldn’t poison me,” he said, and took another swallow.

“You have that much faith in my integrity?”

“No. It would be too much trouble for you to drag me outside and bury me in the yard.”

Justine grinned reluctantly.

Jason stared at her in the unsettling way he had, taking in every detail. “I made you uncomfortable last night,” he said.

Her smile faded instantly. “No harm done.”

“So … we’re good now.”

“No, I still don’t like you.”

A glint of humor entered his eyes. “Justine, you have to admit—” He broke off, appearing to think better of what he’d been about to say.

“What?”

Jason set the health shake on the table beside his laptop. “You were the one who suggested playing truth or dare.”

“And you were the one who turned it into a cat-and-mouse game.”

He didn’t bother to contradict her. They both knew she was right. And he didn’t look the least bit remorseful. “I should have warned you that I don’t play well with others.”

“Yeah, I’m clear on that now,” Justine muttered, turning away. “Let Priscilla know if you want the rest of what’s in the blender. God knows no one else will touch it.”

“Wait,” he said as she began to leave.

She turned back to him reluctantly. “Yes?”

Jason approached slowly, his gaze holding hers. A visceral pulse awakened in all the vulnerable places of her body. All she could do was stand there helplessly, wondering how his mouth might feel against hers, if his kisses would be hard or soft, if his hands would be impatient or gentle. Taking a deep breath, she fastened her gaze on the logo of his T-shirt. She couldn’t help wondering what it would be like, with a man like this. She would be at his mercy as she had never been with Duane or any other man. He would demand total surrender—

“Would you go out to dinner with me tonight?”

Thrown off balance, Justine stared at him blankly. “Just the two of us?”

Jason gave a single nod, his expression unfathomable.

She shouldn’t. There was a complexity in him that was beyond her ability to untangle. Secrets contained like some volatile substance. If she were stupid enough to have anything to do with him, she would deserve whatever she got.

“No, thank you,” she said unsteadily. “But if you want company, I know some great women I could fix you up with.”

“I don’t want another woman. I want you.”

“You can’t always have your way.”

“Actually, I do most of the time,” he told her.

That drew a reluctant smile from her. “I can see that’s done wonders for your personality. What about your girlfriends? Do they have to pander to you and let you have your way?”