Husband for Hire by Susan Crosby Page A

He was used to running on empty, but she wasn’t.
    â€œYou must be wiped out,” he said. She was sitting cross-legged in the office, a few piles of paper spread out in front of her. “I hadn’t realized how late it was.”
    She smiled sleepily, which he found incredibly sexy. Then when she stretched, his mouth went dry.
    â€œThe end is in sight,” she said, grabbing hold of his outstretched hand and standing.
    â€œHow’re things going at work with Chip? Is he speaking to you yet?”
    â€œHe’s been distant. People have noticed.” She shrugged. “That, too, shall end.”
    â€œHave you decided what you’re going to tell your brothers?”
    â€œYes. Then no.” She shrugged. “I usually make up my mind quickly. If I had less time to think about it, I’d probably do better. Does that make sense?”
    â€œIt does.” He smoothed her hair, which had gotten appealingly messy over the course of the evening, and then he kissed her forehead.
    She leaned into him for a minute. “My knight,” she said. “Rescuing me from myself.”
    â€œI’m glad I don’t have a trusty steed to feed.”
    â€œInstead you have a mighty sports car that you probably have to feed with gas every two hundred miles.”
    â€œTwo hundred and fifty.”
    â€œI stand corrected.” She pushed away, although she seemed reluctant. “I know it seems like I’malways thanking you, Gavin, but you’re always deserving it.”
    He should be thanking her for giving him something important to do to keep his mind busy, for making him feel needed. “Oh, yeah, it’s been such a hardship spending time with you.”
    Her smile lit up the room. He liked this sleepy, sexy Becca. “Will you sleep in a little tomorrow?” he asked.
    â€œI doubt it. I’m programmed for six-thirty.”
    â€œOkay. I’ll see you for breakfast at seven.”
    She followed him to the front door. “You don’t have to come so early, you know. Sleep in.”
    â€œI might.” But he wouldn’t. He just didn’t want to argue the point.
    He opened the door, turned around, took a last look at her. She raised her brows in question. “Have you ever been in love?” he asked.
    She blinked in surprise to the intrusive question, but she answered. “I thought I was once. I was nineteen. What does anyone really know at nineteen? Have you? Been in love?”
    â€œNo. Have you ever lived with a man?”
    â€œI shared a house with two guys and another girl in college. We didn’t…commingle.”
    â€œCommingle,” he repeated, amused. “Interesting word choice.”
    She shrugged. “How about you?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    It was a strange conversation to be having in her doorway, after midnight, in the middle of the work-week. The whole building seemed to be sleeping. “Never wanted to.”
    â€œNot even tempted?” she asked.
    â€œNot even. You?”
    â€œOnce.”
    â€œThe guy you thought you loved?” She nodded. “We would’ve probably killed each other.”
    He laughed at the outrageous idea. She grinned back.
    â€œSleep well, Becca.”
    â€œYou, too. Don’t forget to take off your armor before you get in bed, Sir Gavin. You might not be able to get up.” She winked at him, then shut the door.
    He was glad she did, because he couldn’t seem to make himself leave. Ever since he’d started wondering if sleeping with her would help him get some rest, he hadn’t been able to think of much else. Would having her there to hold on to help?
    Gavin was tempted to go back and knock on her door, ask if he could stay. Instead he punched the down button for the elevator and then made his way back to his hotel. He got ready for bed, leaving his drapes open, as always, lying on his side to look out into the night. This evening