Need You Now (1001 Dark Nights) by Lisa Renée Jones Page A

letting him reach around me to unlock the sliding door.
    I step outside, realizing that I’m barefoot, but I had on sandals when I arrived. My eyes catch on them by the wall, and I reach down and snag the straps, dangling them in the air. “I don’t even remember taking these off.”
    “I’m pretty sure they fell off when I lifted you.” My cheeks heat and he laughs, catching me around the waist. “How can you blush after everything we did last night?”
    “Outside the moment is nothing like inside the moment.”
    His expression turns somber. “Few wiser words have been spoken.” He reaches up and brushes my hair behind my ear. “When I’m in, I’m in, Danny. And I’m in now. With the company and with you. And don’t worry about that call. I’m not as easy to get rid of as they think.”
    “I don’t imagine the word ‘easy’ being spoken often where you’re concerned. ‘Easy’ is like ‘nice.’ It’s rather unexceptional, and I know how you dislike unexceptional.”
    “And perhaps that’s the answer to the mystery of why I can’t get enough of you.” He turns me toward the gate and leans in, pressing his lips to my ear.
    I tilt my head and stare at him. “What’s the answer?”
    He turns me to face the gate. “You’re exceptional, Danny Woods, and it seems it’s addicting. Which is why you really have to go before I strip you naked on this patio again.” He lifts me and sets me on my patio.
    I turn to face him and he shackles my wrist, pulling me to the gate and him, his hand going to my jaw as he gives me a deep, fast kiss. “Make sure the maids didn’t lock you out of your room,” he says, settling me away from him.
    Reluctantly, I walk to the door and slide it open. “It’s good,” I say.
    “Yes,” he agrees. “It is good.” And then he turns and disappears into his room. I stare after him, and I’m not sure why, but something feels off. He’s just told me he can’t get enough of me. He’s just told me I’m exceptional and he’s working to save the company. What is this strange ball of anxiety in my chest? Fear over how drawn I am to him? How easily he could hurt me? Maybe. Or maybe not.
     

Part Ten: The Wolf
    Forty-five minutes later, I’ve dressed in a pale blue sleeveless silk blouse and a black pleated skirt, with strappy black sandals. My hair is flat-ironed to a blonde, silky wave around my shoulders, and I’ve chosen a pale pink lipstick. I settle at the desk in my living area to begin making calls, trying to shake the anxiety from earlier, but I can’t. I try to call Meredith but don’t reach her, and I wonder if she’s on the call with Jensen. Next, I try Katie, only to get her voice mail. Finally, I call down to the front desk and make contact with the manager, who recovers from the shock of our presence quickly and promises to line up key staff for our interviews. Task complete, I repeat my earlier efforts and try to reach Meredith and Katie again, and upon failure, settle on staying busy. I pin down meeting times with the key management staff of the hotel, try to reach Meredith and Katie yet again with no luck, and find out which hotel is our biggest competition and lunch choice.
    I’m just about to try Meredith again when there’s a knock on the door. I pause with my hand on the knob, telling myself Jensen will not impact me any differently than any other man I’ve dated.
    I’m wrong.
    I open the door and his presence slams into me with the fury of a hurricane, and I am definitely in the eye of the storm. And that storm is power and confidence in a pale-gray suit with a green tie that makes his already striking green eyes a pure emerald fire.
    He looks me up and down and drags me to him, kissing me soundly on the lips. “Every time I’m away from you, I convince myself I won’t want you this much next time.”
    “I’m not sure how I feel about that,” I say, despite having just done the same thing myself.
    “I’m not either. Nor am I sure