Free For Her Eyes Only by Shannon Curtis Page A

counseling retreat, Peter,” she replied, stressing the change of name. “I don’t think they’d be surprised by that.”
    “Uh-huh.” Ryan turned to survey the room, a slight frown lining his brow.
    He crossed over to where an ornamental vase with colored pebbles and a lone orchid sat on the coffee table between the sofas, sweeping his arm in a wide side-to-side motion as he did so.
    Ah. He was sweeping for bugs.
    She dropped her bag and opened up the manual Gavin had given to her at the reception desk. She flicked through the pages. It contained a map, a list of available activities and services—she made a note of the day spa operation. She might be able to squeeze in a massage. That would be entirely in keeping with her character, wouldn’t it? She was pretty sure Reese wouldn’t balk at the extra charges, not when it was work-related.
    “There’s the welcome dinner tonight,” she noted, and glanced at her watch. They had two hours before the meal would be served in the formal dining room. “It might be a good opportunity to meet the other guests,” she murmured, before quickly scanning the rest of the program.
    “Uh-huh.” Ryan crossed to the end tables, and tested each lamp, quickly glancing under the lampshade, and then under the table, before moving on to the next lamp. She watched as he crossed to the tables on either side of the bed and repeated the process. Apparently the place was littered with bugs. Great.
    Ryan finally looked at her and made a circular motion with his hand. “You must want to freshen up after that long trip, hey, hon?”
    Huh? “No, I can wait until our bags come.”
    “Why don’t I draw you a bath?” Ryan jumped from the bed and crossed the room to the door leading to the bathroom suite.
    Run a bath? She’d have to get naked, for that. In front of Ryan. Hell , no.
    “No, I’m fine.”
    “It won’t take long,” Ryan called back, his voice echoing from the tiled room. She heard the sound of running water, as well as the bang and crack as doors and drawers were opened and closed.
    “I don’t want a bath,” she called back, trying to keep the panic out of her voice. If they needed to communicate, they could scribble notes, damn it. She didn’t want to take any layers off anywhere near Ryan. They were friends, and yes, they’d kissed a couple of times, but she wasn’t anywhere near ready to get naked with the big, sexy man.
    “Sure you do.”
    Clouds of steam wafted out of the open doorway, and then Ryan came out, like a dark avenging angel striding out of the clouds of the apocalypse.
    “Come on,” he said, beckoning to her.
    She shook her head, trying to back away as he approached.
    “No.”
    “Yes.”

Chapter Seven
    He grabbed her wrist and dragged her toward the doorway, a finger to his lips as he backed into the bathroom.
    “I don’t want a bath,” she whispered furiously at him, heat rising in her cheeks. He closed the bathroom door with a sharp snap and crossed to the bathtub to open the faucets even further. Water gushed out, filling the two-berth tub at an alarming rate. Bubbles started to foam, and a rose-scented steam cloud wafted up. Rose? How...romantic.
    “I’m not getting in that bath.”
    He put the seat down on the toilet and sat, his long legs straddling the white porcelain.
    “That’s fine, Vic. I just wanted to get you in here.”
    She folded her arms and held them tight across her chest.
    “Not a chance, cowboy.”
    He frowned. “What?”
    “Whatever it is you’re thinking, you can just go ahead and unthink it. It ain’t gonna happen. We’re on a job, for Pete’s sake. It’s unprofessional.”
    Ryan rolled his eyes. “While I’m flattered that you immediately jumped to that conclusion, I didn’t drag you in here for sex.” He looked her up and down, and the left corner of his mouth tilted. “No, I got you in here so we could talk.”
    “Why in here? Why not outside on the patio?” Where there was no warm bath and