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Her heart stuttered in her chest. Why was he asking her that? "I–I don't know."

He nodded. "One of my sisters went to the mountains in Canada. Another went to Hawaii." His dimples deepened. "I bet you would choose the beach."

She looked away, her cheeks warming with a blush. He was right about that. But it was not likely to ever happen. She moved toward the door. "I'm very busy…"

He plucked a photo off her desk that showed the building where the penthouse was located. "So, this Raleigh Place is where we'll be doing the show?"

"Uh, yes." So he had looked at her stuff. Well, it was normal to be curious, right? After all, it was her own curiosity that had forever changed her life. A shiver skittered down her spine. Curiosity killed more than the cat.

He stepped toward her. "Are you all right?"

"I–I'm fine." Did he really care?

"You certainly work long hours. It's almost midnight."

Her eye twitched. How could she possibly explain DVN's odd hours to a mortal? "I–I have a lot of work to do." And she needed to get him out of here. If Sly or any of the ex-harem saw him, they would instantly know he was mortal. And then, they would hound her with questions she didn't want to answer.

"I understand." He watched her sadly.

She suddenly suspected he understood more than he was letting on. Her guard went up. "Was there something you wanted, Mr. Cartwright?"

"I want you to be safe." He touched a lock of her hair that rested on her shoulder. "I want you to trust me."

"I hardly know you."

He rubbed the tendril of hair between his thumb and forefinger. "We can change that anytime."

She wanted to sway forward and rest against his strong, broad chest. With effort, she forced herself to step back. "I don't have any time." She opened the door and peeked out. The hallway was clear.

"Thank you for bringing the portraits."

"You're welcome." He stepped into the hallway. "When does the show start?"

"We should be ready in two weeks. I'll send all the information to your agent." Darcy headed down the hallway, then froze when she spotted Sly talking to the receptionist. Shoot! Why couldn't he be in his office, molesting Tiffany? Sheesh. When it came to men, even the perverts were undependable. She grabbed Adam's arm and turned him in the opposite direction. "How would you like a tour?"

"Great." He cast her a worried look, but allowed her to escort him past her office. "I thought you were short on time."

"A few minutes won't hurt." She pulled him around a corner and out of view of the receptionist's area. "This is where the recording studios are located." She motioned to the right. "Studio One is where they do the Nightly News with Stone… Cauffyn." She quickly gestured toward the left. "And this is—"

"Let me guess." He pointed to the number printed on the door. "Could it be Studio Number Two?"

She smiled. "Yes, how clever of you. That's where they do Live with the…" Her smile froze. "The celebrity talk magazine." Good God, she'd almost said Undead.

He didn't seem to notice. He was trying to peek through the window, but the blinds were closed. "It looks dark in there."

"Those shows are done for the night. The last soap for the evening is on right now." She gestured down a side hall to the back of the building. "Studios Four, Five, and Six are the big sound stages where they do the soap operas."

"What about this one, Studio Three?" Adam walked toward it and peered around the closed blinds.

"What's going on in there?"

He certainly was a curious one. "That's a small studio where they make commercials and such."

"The red light is on. Are they making a commercial now?"

"No, not exactly." She could hardly explain an exercise program for vampire fangs.

He examined a control panel by the door. "Is this a sound button?"

"No, don't." Darcy reached out to stop him but it was too late. Voices from inside the studio emanated from the small speaker by the door.

"I don't think she can hold that position for very long," Gregori spoke. "It looks kinda awkward."

"She can do it," Giovanni insisted. "She's a professional. And she looks so beautiful. So sexy."

Adam's eyes widened. "What are they doing in there?"

Darcy leaned against the wall. "It's like… an exercise."

"R-rated exercise?" Adam asked softly.

"I wouldn't say—" Darcy was interrupted by Giovanni's voice.

"It is time, bellissima. Let them out. Show them to me."

Adam gave her a skeptical look. "Would you say X-rated?"

"No!" Darcy huffed. "DVN doesn't do that sort of thing."

"That's it, bellissima!" Giovanni exclaimed. "They're so beautiful. So white and perfectly shaped."

Adam arched an eyebrow at her.

She winced. "It's not what you think."

"Now, pull them back in, bellissima. All the way in."

Adam leaned close, planting a hand on the wall by her head. "Maybe I have a dirty mind, but it sounds kinda kinky to me."

Embarrassed, she lowered her gaze. Then she realized she was staring at his crotch, so she raised her eyes level to his.

He smiled slightly, only revealing a hint of the dimple in his left cheek. She fought an impulse to poke a finger at it.

He braced a forearm against the wall on the other side of her head, pinning her in. "I've been thinking a lot about that kiss we shared. Have you?"

She opened her mouth to lie, but was interrupted by Giovanni's excited voice.

"That's it, bellissima! Now do it in time with the music." The strains of a slow jazz number filtered through the speaker. A saxophone played low and silky. "Do it again, bellissima. In and out. In and out."

The music made the wall behind Darcy vibrate. Adam leaned closer, his breath soft against her brow. The heat of his body was so tempting. She'd been cold for so long.

He kissed her brow, then her temple, then her cheekbone. She grabbed at his shirt. Desire pooled between her legs, making her ache with need. He drew her earlobe into his mouth and suckled.

She moaned. What was she doing? She'd sworn not to lose control again. And anyone could come down this hall at any minute. "No." She shoved at his shoulders.

He stepped back, his eyes burning with desire. "Why not?"

She inhaled a shaky breath. "This is a place of business. Someone could see us." She turned the sound button off.

"Then let's go to my place."

"No." Darcy strode down the hall. What a fool she'd been to get carried away. And what about

Adam? Had he made a move on her because of the sexy talk and music? Dammit. "I didn't realize you were so easily turned on, Mr. Cartwright."

"I'm not." His voice sounded sharp as he followed her. "Look, I'm always turned on when I'm with you. But not with anyone else."

Her eye twitched. Good God, he was acting like they were a couple. She had to stop this before it went any further. "That was nothing more than a response to the most convenient body available."

"Holy shit. You think you were just convenient?"

She turned to look at him. "No, I'm saying you were convenient for me."

He halted with a jerk.

Damn, she felt cold. As cold as that horrible night four years ago. But this had to be done. It was for his own good.

His eyes simmered with anger, and he stalked toward her. "There is nothing remotely convenient about this relationship. It's damned near impossible."

She breathed sharply. Why did she keep getting the feeling he knew too much? There was something dangerous about him, but God help her, it only made her want him more.