Friends and Lovers Trilogy 03 - Seduced by Beth Ciotta Read Free Book Online

you might want to reapply that antibiotic ointment.” He cleared his throat, stepped away. “I’m going to throw on some clothes. Take your time.”
    “I may not move for a week.”
    “The tea will be cold, but the aspirin and I will keep.”
    The gentle reassurance tweaked her unease. Why was he being so nice? In the past, he’d made it clear he considered her an impetuous bimbo. A woman of poor judgment and easy virtue.
Eye candy
.
    She flashed back on the bed she’d tumbled out of, the rumpled sheets. Warm skin, entangled limbs. Oh, no. Heart pounding, she lowered the cloth. Yep. A stellar ass. “Joe?”
    Securing the towel around his waist, he paused on the threshold and glanced back. “Yeah?”
    “Please tell me we didn’t sleep together.”
    “Can’t do that, babe.” He was smiling when he shut the door, leaving her alone in her misery.
    It was a toss up as to whether the coroner would attribute her death to mortification or a hangover.

    Leading Sofia to believe that they’d had sex last night had been cruel, but damn, he’d been unable to resist. Twisted payback for the torture she’d inflicted in the middle of the night when she’d rolled into his arms, pressed that luscious, toned body against him, and clung. Man, had she clung. In return he’d lain awake with a stubborn hard-on. He was pretty certain he could’ve taken advantage and that she would’ve been a willing, though drunk, participant in a carnal slam. “
You’re sexy when you’re intense
.” But even
he
wasn’t that much of a bastard. He had, however, returned the embrace, smoothing his hands over her silky skin when she’d moaned and trembled from a nightmare. Physical contact purely for her benefit.
    Yeah, right
.
    The shower blasted and Joe had to fight not to imagine what Sofia looked like naked, water streaming over her hot
naked
body, the same body that clung to him in bed where she might as well have been
naked
, because damn, those skimpy Victoria’s Secret undies barely covered her fine assets. Not imagining her in the shower wasn’t working, he decided while stepping into his shorts. He had the boner to prove it.
    You’re in serious trouble, Bogart
. Even watching her puke her guts up hadn’t diminished the attraction. If anything it had only highlighted that vulnerability of hers that burrowed under his cynical, thick skin. He had to get a grip. Solve her problem and get out with his heart and sanity intact.
    Room service arrived just as he finished dressing. The perfect distraction, along with the two local newspapers he’d purchased in the gift shop. He scoured the
Arizona Republic
and the
Phoenix New Times
while inhaling two cups of a hearty Brazilian roast. Neither newspaper featured an article describing an accident or a crime that Sofia may have been involved in. He poured a third cup of coffee, needing all the caffeine he could get after three lousy hours of sleep, and pondered a course of action. First order of business, pick Sofia’s brain. With any luck she’d regained her memory with her sobriety. Otherwise, he’d have to call in a favor. He had a bad feeling about that Beretta.
    Pipes groaned as she cut the shower. He gave her a few minutes to towel off, another vision he resisted, and then knocked on the bathroom door. During his gift store shopping spree he’d snagged a grey, hooded jogging suit, white T-shirt, and black sports cap. The outfit, each item embroidered with the hotel logo, had been overpriced, but she needed something to wear and, what the hell, in the end Murphy would be the one to pay. Just the thought of handing his brother an itemized bill for sticking him with Sofia caused him to smile.
    Of course, that’s when she cracked open the door. “Forget it, Bogart. Just because it happened once, doesn’t mean it will happen again. Hell will freeze over first.”
    It took him a minute to figure out what she was talking about. Then it registered and he didn’t know whether to laugh