Sleeping with the Playboy by Julianne MacLean Page A

himself. “You don’t trust me.”
    â€œI do trust you, it’s just that…well, you haven’t exactly been agreeable to my requests before now.”
    He considered her point. “Maybe not, but I’ve hadsome time to think about things, and I feel differently about everything tonight.”
    â€œDifferently? How so?”
    â€œI realize that in addition to the fact that I’m your client, and the fact that I was shot at today and you feel responsible, you’re nervous about getting involved with me because you don’t know me very well and you’re afraid I might turn out to be the playboy you thought I was when you first met me. A little more time together will give me the chance to prove to you that you’re wrong. And maybe prove it to myself, too.”
    The last thing he said went straight through her. He was revealing something of himself. A deeper vulnerability. A desire to improve some of his shortcomings.
    She hadn’t imagined he was aware that he even had any.
    â€œSo you’re going to be good?” she replied, trying to recapture the mood from a few minutes ago—when it was a little more simple. A little more casual. “You’re not going to try to tempt me?”
    He touched her chin briefly. “I’m going to do my very best, hoping of course, that there will be a reward at the end.”
    â€œLike a dog treat?” she replied, finding this all very hard to believe.
    â€œNo.” He backed away and opened the oven to serve up dinner. “Like your heart.”
    A ripple of unwelcome anticipation coursed through Jocelyn. My heart?
    Damn him for being so impossibly, wonderfully charming.
    Â 
    They ate dinner by candlelight in the formal dining room, on the shiny, polished mahogany table, and sipped sparkling, alcohol-free cranberry cocktail from crystal goblets. After the dishes were cleared, it was past ten o’clock.
    â€œOne last chance,” Jocelyn said, “to cancel your surgery tomorrow morning. We could stay here and watch TV and avoid risks.”
    â€œI would if I could, but it’s an important procedure. It’s not something that should be postponed.”
    She nodded, helping him load the dishwasher. A few minutes later, they were yawning.
    â€œWill you be able to sleep?” she asked.
    He walked her to her bedroom door. “I doubt it.”
    â€œWould you like to stay up a little longer? We could watch a movie if it would help.”
    â€œNo, I have to be in the O.R. at 6:00 a.m. I should at least try to get some shut-eye.”
    â€œAll right. Well, don’t worry. I’m here, and remember I sleep with one eye open, the monitor’s on and your new alarm system is second to none. You’ll be fine tonight.”
    He settled one broad shoulder against her doorjamb, and relaxed there, just looking at her. “Will I?”
    Jocelyn’s insides began to quiver at the awesome effect of his words in the wake of his sexy green eyes, half-shuttered in the dim light.
    â€œOf course,” she replied, even though she knew he was referring to another kind of danger. The kind that went hand in hand with temptations and consequences.
    His voice was calm and soothing after the madness of the day. “I’m sure you’re right.”
    Still, he remained at her door, gazing into her eyes, then down at her lips, back up to her eyes again.
    â€œYou’re hovering,” she said in a playful tone. “Remember what you promised.”
    â€œI promised I wouldn’t kiss you. I didn’t promise I wouldn’t look at you. It’s not easy to pry my eyes away, you know.”
    â€œWell, you’d better if you’re going to be able to keep them open during surgery in the morning.”
    He visibly snapped himself out of it, and stepped away from the doorjamb. “You’re right, you’re right. I should go.” He started to back away. “Thanks,