Debbi Rawlins - Hot Spot

Madison took off in the woman’s direction. This was bad. Really bad. Madison moistened her dry lips. Swallowed hard. No, it was good. If she reacted this way to him, millions of women out there would be drooling over his pictures. Over the cover. And let’s face it, if she couldn’t snag that cover with him as her subject, she might as well hang up her camera.

Her heart started to race, but this time it wasn’t because of a pair of incredible hazel eyes and a killer grin. She could see her star rising.

JACK GOT OUT HIS CELL PHONE and called Dutch and told him to give him another hour before he picked him up. The network provided a car and driver. It was in Jack’s contract. One of many great perks that came with the job, he reminded himself. This photo-shoot nonsense was a trade-off. The sooner he got it over with, the better.

It could be worse. At least Madison Tate was a pleasant surprise. She was attractive enough, but it wasn’t that. As Larry had warned, there was something compelling about her, some quality that made you want to go along for the ride. Maybe it was her refreshing frankness, or that she wasn’t coy or flirtatious. He admired that she had a goal and kept her eyes on the ball. Too bad he was her short-term goal.

He saw her come from the direction of the front desk, and she smiled and held up a key, earning them a second look from a couple waiting for the elevator. He nearly choked wondering if she even knew what that looked like.

“I want to show you the rooftop garden for starters,” she said, briskly walking past him, obviously expecting him to follow. “And the pool and spa, and two of the suites that I think would be great possibilities. I’ll need to take quite a few shots, of course, and then narrow them down to five. So I’d like to widen our scope and—”

She stopped abruptly and looked over at him. “I know you’re in a hurry so I’m trying to make this quick.”

“Fine.”

“Okay.” She took the lead again, and he noticed that she had a slight sway to her hips that was totally unexpected. “We’ll start with one of the penthouse suites and the garden, and then work our way down until it’s time for you to go.”

“Fine.” He wished she’d lose the jacket. Give him a clear view of her behind.

“I’m kind of leaning toward spots where we can use the city as a backdrop. Obviously the rooftop garden is perfect but so are the suites and spa because they have views of Midtown or the skyline along the river.”

“Fine.” He had no doubt she had great legs. Long and lean, and her jeans were short enough that he could see her slim ankles. Generally a good sign.

She stopped again. “Could we have a little more enthusiasm here?”

“I beg your pardon.”

“Attitude is great for photographs but right now we need to get down to business,” she said, and then looked as if she wished she hadn’t. Drawing in her lower lip, she glanced away. “Sorry.”

Jack’s sparked temper subsided. Not just because of the apology. Or the sexy way she played with her lip. He’d allowed himself to be distracted and lost the thread of the conversation. “I’m sorry,” he said. “My mind wandered.”

She smiled, shrugged a shoulder. “Just give me a nudge if I’m making you yawn.”

He smiled back and they said nothing until they’d gotten into the elevator and arrived at the roof. He held the cab door and waited for her to precede him. Before he stepped out, a fusion of fragrances reached him. Apparently, a small thing like winter hadn’t interrupted the Hush garden.

A retractable glass roof that hadn’t been there during the spring opening now enclosed the area making it a greenhouse. The air was almost too balmy. A plethora of scarlet mums and white carnations gave way to a standing fountain. Near a stone bench grew clusters of lavender orchids.

“Amazing, isn’t it?” Madison looked at him, her eyes gleaming, and then she hurried to the edge and peered out over the city lights coming to life. “Wouldn’t this make an awesome shot?”

“Quite impressive, I have to admit.” Plexiglas domed past the railing giving observers a nearly panoramic view of Midtown and all the way to Central Park.

“They have a full-time gardener.”

“I’d imagine they’d have to.” He didn’t know much about flowers, but this assortment in late November? Someone had to work their butt off. Amazing what money could buy.

“That would be Clarissa, the most interesting woman on the planet. She grows herbs for the restaurant in that corner over there.” Madison turned back to him, squinting a little when the light shone directly into her face. “See? This hotel is about so much more than sex.”

Her makeup was minimal, her skin, smooth, silky, the kind his coanchor had to slave for and frequently complained about. He’d only listened with half an ear. Skin wasn’t what he normally noticed about a woman. He didn’t know why he did now.

She looked away, probably because he’d stared too long.

“It’s still about sex,” he said finally.

She let out an exasperated sound and looked at him again. “How can you say that? This is about attention to detail. Making the place beautiful. Romantic.”

“Which is conducive to sex.”

“Romance and sex aren’t the same things.”

He gave her an appalled look. “They aren’t?”

A smile tugged at her lips. “Don’t be such a guy.”

“I’ll ignore that sexist remark.”

“Thank you. Want to see the pool?”

“Sure.”

“It’s this way.” When she turned, the camera bag hanging on her shoulder swung hard enough to smack his arm. She covered her mouth and murmured, “I’m so sorry.”

His hand reflexively went to the assaulted area. “What do you have in that thing?”

She gingerly touched his bicep. “I hope I didn’t bruise you.”

He laughed. “I think I’ll live.”

“Of course a little makeup would take care of that,” she murmured mostly to herself but her warm breath managed to drift across his cheek.

The sudden urge to touch her face really confused him, and he stepped back, afraid his body’s reaction might take an embarrassing turn. Only then did her comment sink in. “Makeup? On my arm?”

She nodded and lowered her hand. “For the photos.”

He stared at the spot, closer to his shoulder than his elbow, and then met her eyes. “I’m not taking off my shirt.”

“You have to.”

“I wouldn’t bet your camera on it.”

MADISON WASN’T ABOUT to argue. He would take off his shirt when the time was right. So far she’d been able to coax even the most reluctant subject to comply with her requests, be it to smile or show a little skin. Nothing too risqué. Just tantalizing. He’d be no different, as long as she didn’t blow it by shooting off her big mouth. She knew better than to bring up the issue. But for a moment he’d gotten her so damn flustered she couldn’t think straight.

It wasn’t just her. There was definitely a je ne sais quoi thing happening with him. A mysterious appeal that couldn’t be defined by mortal beings. It was just there.

“I only meant that if we take a shot with you in the pool or spa—” She shrugged and smiled when his expression darkened. “Forget I said that. Let’s go.”

She headed for the pool without glancing back, hoping like hell he followed. She didn’t have a lot of time to get her photos in to Today’s Man, and with his schedule he probably had even less time to pose for them. It wasn’t as if they had a contract. If he were to suddenly withdraw…

Her stomach clenched. She couldn’t even bring herself to think about that.

“Madison? Slow down.”

She swallowed and then turned to face him. “Yes?”