Various States of Undress: Virginia by Laura Simcox Page A

on her seatbelt. “I’m pissed at you,” she declared. “That’s why I didn’t call you back.”
    â€œOh yeah? Why are you pissed?” He turned to look at her, but she stared straight ahead.
    â€œSave it,” she muttered. “I’d rather discuss it in private.”
    He managed to hold his tongue as the SUV weaved through traffic. He assumed it would be a short ride because she probably lived somewhere nearby, but to his surprise, they went south and east, turned onto First Avenue and stopped in front of a building at Tudor City. It was nice enough—but awfully modest for someone as high profile as Virginia.
    She must have noticed his surprise, because she snorted. “Don’t be a snob, Dex. There’s nothing wrong with where I live. It’s secure, and since we’re right across from the UN, there are tons of diplomatic attachés who live here.”
    He shrugged. “I didn’t say a word.”
    â€œYeah, well, let’s keep it that way,” she shot back. “Because I’m going to give you an earful when we get inside.”
    Dex planned to do the same thing, but he didn’t say any more as he followed her into the Gothic lobby and onto an elevator. Then he waited silently with her while her agents quickly checked her apartment. They didn’t say anything either, only gave her brief nods and disappeared into the next-door apartment.
    With a sigh, she sailed into her living room and threw herself onto a sofa. “Now they’re pissed. Wonderful.”
    â€œDoes that happen often?” Dex asked. He perched on the arm next to her.
    â€œWhat are you trying to do, make me feel worse?” She crossed her long legs, reached down to remove one of the lethal looking pumps, and then flung it to the floor. The other one followed with a thump. Her lips parted and she gazed up at him. “Let’s get some things cleared up.”
    â€œOkay.” He looked away from her lush lips and gripped the arm of the sofa to keep from hauling her onto his lap. He shouldn’t want to kiss her, but damned if he hadn’t since the moment he’d caught sight of her today.
    â€œI’m assuming your sister told you where I was,” Virginia said, “and from the catty look on her face, I think it’s safe to say that she couldn’t wait to run to you with the news.”
    â€œYou’re right. She’s not a pleasant person, and her entire purpose in life seems to be one-upping me. But when she told me you were drunk, I couldn’t just shrug that off. I had to—”
    She stood up. “What? Come babysit me? I’m an adult, Dex.”
    â€œYou could have fooled me. Why didn’t you return my calls?”
    â€œBecause even after I said yes to the job offer, you acted as though I wasn’t going to keep my promise. You used the attraction between us to seal the deal. That’s bullshit. I’m not flighty and undependable, and I don’t need to be kissed into doing my job,” she burst out.
    He stared at her but didn’t know what to say because a small part of him wondered if she wasn’t right. He had said the words “seal the deal,” hadn’t he? He hoped his confusion didn’t show. “I wasn’t thinking that at the time,” he finally said, but from the look on her face, she didn’t believe him.
    â€œSo why did you goad me into kissing you?” she asked suddenly.
    The question took him completely off guard. “Because I wanted you to. I wanted . . . you. I have fun with you, Virginia, and I feel good when I’m around you. I thought you felt the same way, but since you seem to have had such a negative reaction, I guess not.”
    â€œI’m not sure that you want anything from me but my help with Lilah’s,” she said in a flat tone that belied the vulnerability in her large brown eyes. “And when Lilah’s is fixed,