from supersweet to sweet with a spicy edge.
She stood up straight again. âMassages?â
He nodded. âCouples massage. We did agree to try out some of the recommendations from the brochure.â
âBut I thought you were bringing a chef in.â
âIf youâre hungry after, we can find something to eat.â
One more peek past her wily friend proved the massage setup was real, not a hallucination. At least, she didnât think so. She reached over and pinched Mattâs arm, just in case.
âOw. What did you do that for?â
âChecking.â
âYouâre supposed to pinch yourself, you nutcase. Now, come on. I think we can both use ninety minutes of pure bliss.â
âThat long?â
âWhat, you donât likeââ
âNo, no. I do. I just donât get them often because Iâm usually preoccupied with other stuff.â
âEverythingâs ready,â he said, standing back and sweeping his arm in front of him like a game-show host.
âYouâre not naked.â
He nodded. âKeenly observed. But I didnât want to freak you out when I opened the door.â
âToo late.â
âGo,â he said. âJust leave your stuff in the other room. Come back when youâre ready. Donât worry. This is Kathy and Duncan and I explained to them that weâre friends, so theyâll make sure I donât flash you and vice versa, okay?â
That made her relax a bit. Then she remembered what was in her purse. Maybe she should tell them to go ahead. Flash away.
Nope. There was no way that was going to happen. She wasnât fond of undressing in front of other people. Not even doctors. Or men sheâd slept with. She was a lights-off kind of gal, and this seemed very...bright.
Matt cleared his throat. It got her moving. She tried not to look as if she was running as she hurried to the bedroom. It took a few minutes to get up the nerve to take off her coat.
She was going to hear Mattâs sex noises during the massage. No doubt about it.
And heâd probably hear hers.
It shouldnât have been an issue, now that sheâd decided to sleep with him, but...
She sat down on the edge of the bed and took a few deep breaths. Maybe this was the best plan ever. Instead of going from dinner straight to sex, there was now this little trial period. One where sheâd get to hear his noises. Picture him naked under the sheet. Hell, if she hated it, she could always leave. Standing up, she started to take off her various layers. Toed off her shoes and was tempted to keep her socks on, but no. She stripped. Undressed. Got naked. Bared her butt.
She was in her robe faster than she could say her five favorite swearwords.
Oh, God. This was going to be terrible. Or wonderful. Sheâd dreamed of naked Matt a lot in her life. But in her dreams, she was sexy, too. Not the skinny, geeky girl who didnât get out much.
She closed her eyes, counted to ten, put on her bravest face and walked out to meet her destiny.
7
M ATT TOOK A deep breath when Sam walked into view. Heâd already figured out what to do if she declined his invitation. As he had taken the precaution of paying the massage therapists ahead of time, they were fine with wrapping things up at his signal. Thankfully, Sam had got undressed. Although she could have easily been wearing her underwear underneath that thick robe.
He didnât care. Sam in her underwear would still be sexy as hell. Though heâd have felt a lot better if she hadnât looked as if she were headed to the gallows. âKathy and Duncan brought an excellent bottle of champagne with them,â he said. âWould you like a glass?â
She hadnât quite met them halfway. Her gaze kept skipping from him to the massage therapists, then to the portable tables and the accompanying assortment of oils and wrapped items.
Heâd dimmed the lights, the walls had turned