Free Her Secret Lover (What Happens in Vegas) by Robin Covington Page B

self-consciously, willing to give him this. “I’ve read them all. Many times.”
    “Really?” He dipped his head to catch her eyes, and she had to look at him. “You’re a Micah Holmes fan?”
    She refused to answer that question. His cocky grin pissed her off a little bit, and she didn’t want to give him that satisfaction or the leverage. Besides, it could lead to conversations about her past and what her future looked like when she let her own dreams loose—dreams that belonged between the pages of books like the ones in the boxes around her because they rarely happened in real life.
    Kelsey reached over and grabbed a container of brownies a fan had brought him earlier today. It lay in a pile of homemade quilts and blankets, jewelry, and other items crafted lovingly by readers who loved his books.
    “Do you need a snack?” She peeled back the top, and the scent of milk chocolate made her mouth water. She reached in to snag a bar but he stopped her, his hand on her own.
    “You can’t eat those.”
    “Why not?”
    “They might be crazy people brownies,” he said, his expression serious as he placed the top back on the container.
    She huffed out a laugh, not sure she heard him right. “Crazy people brownies?”
    He smiled, and she responded with her own. His grin was contagious, sexy, hot.
    “Don’t get me wrong, my fans are very nice people. They mean well, but there’s always a chance that one of them might be a little nuts, so you don’t want to take a chance.” He laughed outright, the rumble deep and rough in his chest, and she couldn’t help but respond. She leaned forward, encouraging him with her body language to continue with his story. “One time Allen ate some brownies from a signing in Colorado, and they were made with pot. He was high as a fucking kite for hours.”
    “Okay, no brownies.” Kelsey took the container from his hands and placed it back on the pile. They laughed, her own giggles making it almost impossible to take another drink without spilling.
    He stared at her, his own laughter dying out first, and she knew what was coming. Her pulse sped up and she didn’t know if it was because of his interest or her anxiety with her deception. In truth, it was a little of both. She wasn’t cut out for all this damn intrigue when it came down to it.
    “Have dinner with me tonight.” He leaned in close when he growled out his plea, his breath warm against her cheek.
    Kelsey shook her head once. “You know I can’t.”
    “Yes. I do.” He stayed where he was, not touching her but it felt like he was all over her. “But it’s not stopping me from asking.”
    She looked at him then, their mouths a hair’s breadth from touching, breaths mingling. Heavy breathing in tandem. His brown eyes were liquid heat, full of desire but also with his usual humor and that’s what got her. Inside of all the heavy come-on was Micah … and he was damn near irresistible.
    “Why can’t you be like all the other guys who come to Vegas?” She heard herself ask before she knew what she was saying. If he were, this would be so much easier. The lines between sex and business would be very clear in her mind.
    “I’m not?”
    She gave one firm shake of her head, eyes still locked on his. “No, you’re not.”
    That’s all she was going to say because anything more would give too much away. Too much of her away.
    “So what does this have to be to make me like all the other guys who come to Vegas? What gets you to say yes to dinner with me?”
    Oh hell. She knew exactly what she’d need from him to risk taking this where he clearly wanted it to go. Why was he doing this? Why was he handing her the perfect excuse to have her cake and eat it, too? Why was he putting the temptation right in front of her?
    “Come on,” he said, his finger stroking the inside of her wrist where her pulse was going nuts, and making any denial of his impact on her a waste of time. “I know last night was risky, but we