Gold (All that Glitters #2)(29)

“By all means…”

“But we have dinner reservations,” he said, taking a step back.

She looked at him, aghast. Is he really stopping?

“Go on. Get dressed. I have big plans for you tonight.”

She was sure she was being punished for teasing him the last couple of times they had been together. Now, he was getting her all turned on and walking away. She’d had a great day with him…better than had been expected actually. He was an easy guy to be around. He always had a smile on his face and a ready laugh for all his stories. Being around him was like a breath of fresh air.

Bryna quickly showered off the hours of skiing from her skin, blew out her hair, and kept her makeup natural, enhancing her best features. Her black dress ended at mid thigh and flowed out when she moved in a circle. She paired it with leopard-print pointy-toe heels that killed her feet but looked fabulous. The price I pay for beauty.

She walked out of the bathroom, only to find the entire suite covered in lit candles. The table was set for two with a full buffet of food, and Hugh was drinking red wine in a stemless glass.

“I thought we had dinner reservations,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him.

“We did.” He walked up to her and wrapped an arm around her waist. “I decided I didn’t want to share you.”

“You’re not sharing me.”

“I like to hear that.”

She hid her smile under her lashes.

“Dinner?” he asked.

Bryna sat down at the table, and Hugh took the time to personally serve her food. She was sure a man like him, with his wealth, didn’t do anything for himself, let alone for someone else. They had a Gorgonzola spinach salad, braised chicken, grilled asparagus, and three-cheese truffle macaroni and cheese. Her mouth watered at the display.

She bit into the chicken and sighed at the incredible flavor. “My compliments to the chef. This is incredible.”

“Well, thank you. It’s my recipe.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Friends with a chef and a chef yourself?”

He laughed. “Not exactly. I never went to culinary school, and I don’t run a restaurant, but I’ve worked in a kitchen a few times in my life.”

“Really?” she asked, surprised.

“I didn’t have to, but during college, I was rebellious and decided I wanted to set out on my own. You work in a lot of kitchens when you do that.”

“You seem pretty down-to-earth for someone who runs his own resorts.”

He shrugged. “Life tends to knock you down a few pegs every time you think you’re on top of the world.”

“That’s the f*cking truth.”

Maybe she had pegged him wrong. She had thought he was going to be…well, Jude. She hated admitting that she’d kind of hoped for that. Jude had been an *. Hugh kind of seemed like a nice guy, all things considered.

“So…mind if I ask you a question?” she said.

“Of course you can.”

“Why me? Why did you pick me out that day? Why do you spoil me like this?” she asked in a rush.

The answer was an important one for how their relationship would continue to develop.

His smile was completely open when he responded honestly, “It’s complicated. I noticed your beauty first, of course. How can I not notice? But there was something more. You clearly had good taste, expensive taste. I like that. Yet you weren’t going to buy the earrings, and you seemed very appreciative when I got them for you. I don’t mean for this to come out as offensive, but you don’t seem like the type of person who wants me for my money…and I’ve met people like that.”

Bryna swallowed and tried to keep her face blank. He liked her because she didn’t seem like a gold digger. Well, shit.

“I mean, you knew who I was and didn’t call me right away. We’ve been on several dates, and you haven’t pushed for anything. You seem like a woman doing well for yourself in your own right while doing exactly what you want.”

A blush crept onto her face. That sounded exactly like her…except that she had completely been playing him the whole time.

Knowing his reasoning almost made her feel bad about her motivation.

After dinner, Hugh cleared the table and suggested they take a dip in the Jacuzzi. She changed into her mint-green bikini that made her look even more tan and then met Hugh out on the balcony. He was already seated in the steaming water in nothing but a pair of blue swim trunks. This was the first she had seen of his sculpted body. She had known he was trim and must work out a lot, but really seeing him made her appreciate his body even more.

She jogged over to the Jacuzzi and quickly got into the warm water. “It’s freezing,” she said, her teeth chattering.

“Come over here, and I’ll warm you up,” he suggested.

In the warm water, she dipped her body up to her neck, and she gave him a flirtatious look. “I’m better now,” she said, toying with him.

“You’ve been playing cat-and-mouse with me.” He walked across the square Jacuzzi.

“Have I?” she asked coyly.

“Oh, yes.” He stopped right in front of her.

Her skin tingled, even with the superheated water, just from the anticipation of him touching her. She was ready, very ready, for that.