“Do you want to watch the show, Alyssa?”
Jackson pulled her into his arms and gave her a look that could in no way be misinterpreted, but he wanted her sure before he had her all alone in his hotel room. Holding his breath, he waited for her answer.
As Jackson’s hands gripped her shoulders, a spark raced through her body. Hunger? Most certainly. But something . . . more. Something that made her want to retreat a step, made her want to shield herself.
Jackson Whitman was a dangerous man. When their gazes collided, she didn’t know whether it was the spirit of the impending New Year or the magic of the moment, but suddenly he was leaning forward and she had no desire to escape. Her only desire was this.
Alyssa sank deeper and deeper into Jackson’s arms while he continued his expert assault on her lips. His hands glided across her back, and she embraced him tightly. Would one night of pleasure with this man be a good farewell to a crumbling career? Or the finishing touch to a very bad week?
Could she go through with a one-night stand? Could she really finish what they’d started just a few hours earlier? The way she felt right now, yes, she could, so she smiled, lifted her finger to his lips, and ran a long red nail along the moistness that was still clinging from their kiss.
“Are you coming back with me, Alyssa?”
“Yes,” she replied, her stomach tightening at what she was doing. If she went down this path, there was no going back. She could either try to get to Times Square on her own, then rush back to the airport for her morning flight, or go with him . . . Hell with it, this was New York City on New Year’s Eve. It wasn’t as if she’d ever see this man again. She could make a fool of herself and have no regrets.
Jackson moved immediately, taking her out front to where his car and driver waited. The streets would be crowded, traffic impossible to get through for people who wanted to stand around in Times Square, but they’d be at the hotel, a part of this fantastic city on this fantastic night—and they’d be alone.
Alyssa scooted inside the SUV, and though her nerves were unsettled, she still had no desire to back out—until she looked at the man she’d met just half a day earlier. And now some doubts began creeping in, sending alerts to her brain. This could be a serious mistake.
As if knowing her qualms, he reached out and pulled her to him. The second his hands circled her, pulled her on top of his lap, she knew she was right where she wanted to be. His mouth descended and all doubts disappeared.
His hands reached beneath her sweater, scorched her skin as he kissed her with hunger. Her breathing heavy, her blood racing, she was ready to get to that hotel room. Losing all track of time, she was startled when he pulled back. “We’re almost there.”
Slipping off his lap, she adjusted her clothing, praying no one knew exactly what the two of them had been doing on the long ride to their hotel. Though she knew thousands of others had to be engaged in exactly the same behavior at the exact same time, she was still embarrassed and blushing when they emerged from the vehicle. The crowds pressed in on all sides, but hotel security met them at the car, forming a buffer against the crush.
“After you,” Jackson said, and Alyssa walked through the wide glass doors and into the hotel.
“You must have unlimited connections to get this place on New Year’s Eve, Jackson,” she said, maintaining a poker face.
“The W is the newest addition to Times Square. I reserved ahead just in case any of my family wanted to come.”
Checking in took minutes, and then they were riding the elevator to the top floor. She was immediately drawn to the balcony in the beautiful suite, to the noise rushing up to her from the seemingly endless mass of people below. “I can’t believe there are over a million people right here.”
“I don’t get the appeal—why would anyone want to be down in that crowd? Way too many people for my liking. I’ll order something for us to eat.”
Time was lost as she stood on the balcony, waiting, as so many others were, for that ball to begin its descent in about an hour. Soon Jackson joined her, wrapping a warm blanket around her shoulders, and a waiter followed with their food. He set up a table right there on the balcony, with a white tablecloth gently stirring in the light breeze, candles lit, and plates dressed to perfection. The balcony heater made it bearable to sit there on this freezing cold night. The view made it worth it. It wasn’t long until they were alone again.
“Wine?”
“Yes, thank you.” She accepted the glass he handed her, then leaned back and sipped the dry wine while looking over the side of the balcony. Nerves seemed to be the only thing she could feel right now.
“What are your hopes for the New Year, Alyssa?”
“To be free,” she said with a sigh. The more her reality sank in, the more she realized that was true. But she didn’t have to wish, or make a New Year’s resolution, because she already was free. The thought made her practically giddy. To be sure, the good wine was a fine contributor to her mood.
“Free from what?” he asked.
“That is something for me to know . . .” She smiled—but she wouldn’t tell him everything about her.
“Hmm, you’re aware, I take it, that you’ve been very mysterious tonight,” he said with an easy smile before he added, “I love to solve mysteries.”
“I don’t think you could solve me, Jackson.”
“Challenge accepted. I’ll give it my best shot.”
“You can try,” she said, accepting a refill of her wine and feeling more relaxed by the minute.
“I want to make your body sing tonight, Alyssa. It’s killing me to wait even one more minute.”
“Ha! You must think you’re a smooth talker, Jackson.”
“And you’re good at avoiding what’s right in front of us.”
“Well, I will say this: my day is ending much better than it began.” This night would be her final good-bye to her old life, and then maybe she wouldn’t arrive at her new Montana home as innocent as she’d left Texas nine years ago.
“I hope I can take some credit for that,” he drawled.
“You get all the credit,” she said, tossing him what she hoped was a come-hither look.
It must have worked, because sparks flashed in his dangerous brown depths. He set his glass down, then moved closer to her. “I’m going to kiss you again,” he whispered, sending a bolt of heat straight to her core.
“Finally,” she replied, and the air left her lungs as he reached over and pulled her close.