Free Dodging Temptation (The Retreat) by Avery Flynn Page A

mess.
    Still , she couldn ’ t deny that it did something for her. She grabbed the spoon and scooped up the ice cream. Dessert first might be against the rules for the old Harper, but if she didn ’ t it would melt, and that would be unforgivable. New Harper totally approved. Maybe a no-strings-attached hookup was what she needed. Soon, she’d be back in Washington, D.C., so why not have a little fun while in Wyoming?
    One breakfast devoured and a shower later, she glanced at the clock. She had twenty minutes until meeting Dodge in the library. If breakfast was the first surprise of the day, she couldn ’ t wait to see what else he had in store.
    Glancing at the mirror, she gave herself a critical appraisal. No amount of cover-up was going to completely disguise Harper ’ s dark circles, and God knew no one had invented the kind of makeup that would hide the extra spark of naughty in her eyes, so it looked like slightly disheveled with a side of lusty giddiness was her look for the day. Not that the shoulder-high stacks of cowboy diaries would notice, but Dodge would. Her heartbeat sped up at the prospect of seeing him again. Desire slid through her veins bringing a little extra pink to her cheeks and making her bra tight as her breasts grew heavy in anticipation. Exhaling a heady breath that sent her bangs flying straight up, she replaced the highlighter brush into its proper spot in her custom-designed travel case and snapped it shut. Take it down a notch, Harp. He ’ s just a guy.
    Before her newly found sex-kitten side could remind her of what kind of guy he was, Harper pulled her thoughts away from the brink and hurried over to the walk-in closet. The Michael Kors emerald green halter top jersey dress would do nicely. It was comfortable, casual, and the color made her feel like she could strut the runway. Ten minutes later, she pulled her hair into a low, messy bun and was as ready as she was ever going to be to face Dodge again after last night.
    Lucky for her, Mrs. Vander was not lurking in the hallway. She skipped the elevator and took the wide main staircase down to the lobby level. While she was doing her work authenticating May ’ s cowboy diaries in the family ’ s private library upstairs, she ’ d taken several side trips to the lodge ’ s main library and knew the way by heart. The double doors were closed. She checked her watch. Eight thirty on the dot.
    Harper pressed her fist to her stomach, hoping to settle the butterflies swooping around in there, and exhaled a deep breath. Calling up all the image-first lessons she ’ d learned in how to school her face into a neutral mask, she exhaled a deep breath and turned the doorknob. Dodge sat on the edge of a small table flanked by two men, one of whom held a professional-grade camera. Her step faltered.
    Dodge rushed over, his smile doing a number on her and overwhelming the nervous buzzing sounding in her ears.
    “ Harper. ” He held her hand, sending jolts of electricity up her arm. “Thank you again for doing this.” He turned to face the other men. “Let me introduce you to Brian Haley and Steve Carmichael. Brian here is the editor of the Freemont Daily , and Steve is the newspaper ’ s photographer. They ’ ll be doing the interview.”
    Her stomach dropped to her toes and then dug its way several feet down into The Retreat ’ s foundation. Nausea replaced the butterflies, and the sharp sting of betrayal snapped her spine straight. Like a total idiot, she ’ d forgotten that Dodge didn ’ t just want her, he wanted something from her—for her to sacrifice her privacy and lose her job for the sake of the The Retreat ’s super-secret guest.
    “Nice to meet to you, gentlemen,” she said through gritted teeth. “Mr. Loving, may I speak to you outside for a moment?”
    “Of course. We ’ ll be a second, guys.” The certainty in his gaze wavered, and he leaned in closer to whisper. “Are you okay?”
    “I ’ m fine, ” she shot back