Contracted For Love: Famous Love Series by Tracey Pedersen Page A

explore, or can we order dinner and relax until tomorrow?”
    The glint in her eye made him expect the worst, but Charlotte surprised him. “I’m fine to stay in. The airport overwhelmed me a little bit. If you say it’s going to be like that all week, then I need a decent night’s sleep to prepare myself.” She walked to the bedroom door and glanced in at the beautifully-made bed. “Looks like we’re slumming it in a queen-size, tonight. Are you sure you can keep far enough away from me in that?” Charlotte grinned at him as he crossed the room to stand in front of her.
    “You sure you want me to?” Jack reached up and gently touched her chin. “Did you bring pyjamas in that tiny suitcase of yours?” He was so close that she could feel his breath on her hair as he waited for her response.
    “I did, although I thought maybe you’d prefer the white bikini.”
    He snorted and she was glad the tension in the air had been broken. “I hope you left that thing at home, as requested.”
    “Yes. I have an outfit much better, though. You’ll have to wait and see what it is.” She pulled her suitcase onto the end of the bed with a giggle.
    She’d packed for this trip with two thoughts in mind: tease the crap out of the outwardly-calm Jack Fawkner and make sure the room attendants had no doubt that the two of them were together.
    Just wait until you see what I’ve brought to Paris to accomplish those goals.
     
    ***
     
    When they’d eaten and Charlotte had showered, she slipped out of the bathroom with her hair wrapped in a towel. Jack was reading the news on the internet and scowling at the screen. He looked pissed.
    “Something wrong?” she asked.
    He didn’t look up at her and kept reading from the screen. “Did you talk to a reporter at the airport?”
    “Of course not. I was with you the whole time.”
    “So you didn’t tell Michelle Graves from the Paris Tribunal that, and I quote, ‘Rough Desire’s cover art will scare you to death?’” He looked up at her as she stood with her mouth open in surprise. Before she could respond, his own mouth dropped open as he took in her outfit. “What the hell are you wearing?”
    “Clothes, Jack. These are clothes.” She suddenly felt exposed, when just a few moments ago, she’d felt sexy and empowered. “I did say that to a woman at the airport, but I didn’t think she was a reporter.”
    “What were you thinking? Why would you say that about the cover art?”
    Charlotte crossed the room with her hands in front of her. “Now, hold on, Jack. Don’t you dare pick a fight and ruin our holiday. Let’s discuss this calmly before you lose your mind. Please?”
    He bit his lip and she watched as his eyes widened when she sat on the couch across from him. Her camisole was, indeed, skimpy, and the sight of her breasts spilling out the top was having the desired effect on him. She couldn’t believe her efforts were about to be ruined and that they were going to have another argument.
    “Okay, tell me your side.” He said in grudging agreement as she breathed a sigh of relief.
    Disaster averted.
    “What I actually said to that woman, in response to her comment that your music was for kids, was that she would absolutely love it. I told her to get herself a copy of the new album when she got home, but to ignore the cover, as it would scare her to death. I meant that it would scare her off and she wouldn’t give the music a chance—not whatever she’s made it out to be.”
    He stared at her a while longer, careful to look her in the eye and not let his eyes wander south. Finally, he took pity on her. “Have we learned something today?”
    “Yes. You can’t trust anyone, apparently! I thought I was talking to a fan of yours!”
    “Don’t trust anyone, unless you know for sure who they are. It can only end badly.”
    “I’m beginning to see what you mean about guarding your privacy. How can you live like this all the time?”
    “I told you: you get used