Playing the Perfect Boyfriend (Gone Hollywood) by Julie Particka Read Free Book Online Page A

I’m-going-to-ignore-you Hartley .
    “Yes. You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy that, but we need to talk.”
    He spun around and arched a brow at her. “I thought you wanted a shower. Unless you want to talk in the shower. I wouldn’t be against that, you know.”
    The suggestion made her insides tighten with longing, and it was hard to argue with the guy. After all, he hadn’t gotten the chance to clean up this morning, either, and it wasn’t as if she could give him the morning-after boot-to-the-ass anymore. She bit her lower lip and let it slide slowly free. Mmmm…biting sounded heavenly. “Fine. In the shower it is.”
    The grin he wore was deliciously evil. “Lead the way.”
    It would have been so easy to go into the guest room. It was closer. And it was probably what she should have done. No one besides the two of them would ever have known that she kept her own bedroom off-limits to him. But instead of walking straight into the door at the end of her entry hall, she turned and strode past the kitchen with its built-in wine cooler and expansive bar, past her little dining table with the vase of tumbled rocks, and turned into the master suite.
    Not pausing by the bed, she blew out a slow breath and veered toward the bathroom. There hadn’t been a man in this room since Isak—she hadn’t allowed it. Her emotions fluxed between guilt over betraying that memory and the calming sense that this was fitting. Obviously, the only other guy who should be here was the one she was pretending to be with in order to get to her ex, right?
    “So, I take it this is the penny tour, and you’re going to stop plowing through everything after we have our little chat?”
    Jade swept the scarf off her hair, only to find Dean already working at the tie of her wrap blouse. She had to get him situated, but she desperately needed the rules laid out first. “Sure. Whatever you want.”
    “Careful what you offer, kitten. I may take you up on it.”
    Dangerous ground. You need to get on something a lot more stable with him.
    “Right now, I’m offering water, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.” Before he continued undressing her—before she lost her mind to his touch—Jade reached into the shower and twisted on the water. Then she took over removing her own clothes. This was business, not pleasure—not right now.
    Except with how wet her panties were, she knew she wanted the pleasure—badly.
    Without thinking, she reached out, her subconscious clearly intending to help Dean shed his shirt and pants, but she pulled her hand back before making contact and stepped into the shower. If she’d thought he would take a minute to get undressed, use the toilet, check for…anything, she was wrong. He caught the glass door before she closed it and kicked off his pants as he entered.
    It was going to be that kind of day.
    “I need you to understand a couple things about this arrangement.”
    Dean shook his head. “Hair first before those snarls become permanently embedded.” He grabbed her by the waist, positioned her under the spray, then ran his hands through her hair, fingers catching on the offending knots.
    Desperate to take control of the situation, she grabbed the shampoo. “I can do this.”
    “Of course you can, but I want to.” He took the bottle and squeezed some into his hand. Then his fingers were in her hair again, massaging her scalp until her eyes threatened to roll back in her head. “You seem really stressed, and I am going to do everything in my power to remove every last ounce of tension from your body before you have to say or do anything today. Okay?”
    How was she supposed to resist an offer like that? “Okay.”
    And if she gave in this easily now, how the hell was she supposed to resist him at all?
    …
    Jade had been a bundle of nerves since Alfredsson had shown up outside the studio. Maybe in the end, Dean wouldn’t change her mind about going after the guy. Hell, maybe he shouldn’t even try,