“I say, jolly good ear,” he said, hamming it up a little. “Yeah, I was there for a while on business. Speaking of which, how long are you going to be in the States?”
“I don’t know. Maybe a week?”
He raised an eyebrow. “That’s all?”
“Maybe longer,” she said. “I haven’t decided what to do yet, but I’m probably not returning to Asia for a while.”
“If you’re tired of Hong Kong, Tokyo’s not too bad.”
She flashed him a quick smile. “I don’t speak the language, and I’m not experienced enough to warrant a full-time interpreter.”
Ethan slowed down as they approached an intersection. “I don’t know about that. Natalie said you’re very good at your job.”
“Did she now?” Natalie didn’t know the full truth behind Kerri’s workaholic tendencies. Everyone thought she worked non-stop out of dedication to her career, when in fact she kept herself busy so she wouldn’t have time to think. “Nice of her to say so, but seriously, I’m not that special. I work hard, but then so does everyone else.”
The steering wheel glided under his palms as he released it after the turn. A sudden envy of the tightly stitched leather stole her breath away. She’d like to feel those strong hands on her as he reverently ran them over her back and legs. And a few other places.
She concentrated on breathing. It didn’t matter what she wanted. The only thing he’d found notable enough to comment on from their long-ago one-night stand was her name—Jacqueline.
But then, women throwing themselves at him and one-night stands were probably the norm for someone like Ethan.
He pulled into a parking lot in front of the hotel and handed the keys to a uniformed valet. Ethan climbed out, and the interior of the car seemed to expand. She let out a breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding.
“Feeling okay?” he said, opening her door for her. “You look a little flushed.”
Oh god. “I’m fine. Just tired from the flight.” She got out of the car.
The bellhop took her lone bag, and Ethan escorted her to the lobby. His large hand resting at the small of her back seemed to sear her, and the heat streaked through her until her nipples pebbled and wetness pooled between her thighs. Legs clenched, she checked in. The desk clerk smiled and said, “You’ve been upgraded to our junior suite. We put your bags there this morning. Four, correct?”
“Yup.”
“Is Mr. Daniel Johnson arriving later today?”
She felt the curious stare from Ethan at her back. “No. There’s been a schedule change, and he won’t be able to come.”
“I’ll make a note of that.” She handed Ker
ri the room keys. “Enjoy your stay, Ms. Wilson.”
Kerri frowned as she walked toward the elevators. She couldn’t imagine why the hotel would upgrade her. She’d booked the cheapest room she could find.
“Natalie arranged for the upgrade.”
Startled, she looked up at Ethan. It was uncanny how he seemed to read her.
“So who’s this ‘Mr. Daniel Johnson?’”
“A managing director from my office,” she said.
“Do you often share a room on business?”
She snorted. “No. Besides, Dan’s got about as much interest in women as I do in astrophysics.”
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
“None,” she clarified.
“Well, I didn’t want to assume. You could be a closet Stephen Hawking or something.”