Mad About Meg, Mari Carr [book recommendations for young adults txt] 📗

Robshook his head at her stubbornness. “Meals are included with the use of theroom. Company policy again.”

Megthrew up her hands in defeat. “Fine! Order me whateveryou’re having. I’m clearly not winning any battles with you tonight. Maybe overdinner you can tell me how I can get a job with this unbelievably generouscompany you work for.”

“Ah,surrender.” Rob was pleased to see her starting to relax with him. “Finally. Go on and get that hot shower. There should be abathrobe hanging on the door. I’ll dig through my luggage and see if I can findsomething comfortable for you to sleep in since your clothes are still damp.I’m sure I have a pair of sweats and a t-shirt that would work nicely. Then,I’ll order dinner.”

“Areyou sure the kitchen is still open? It’s after two in the morning.”

“It’sopen all night,” Rob replied easily. At least it was for him, but she didn’tneed to know that.

“Alright then.” She dragged her carry-on bag withher. “I won’t be long.”

“Takeyour time,” Rob called out behind her, walking toward the phone to orderdinner. He glanced at his own bedroom considering taking a shower himself. Onlydifference was his would definitely be cold.

Chapter Four

AsMeg entered the bedroom, she couldn’t help but wonder what sort of company kepta penthouse like this available for their employees. Apparently she’d made awrong turn in college choosing education over a business degree. She had noidea people lived like this. Studying the room, she felt overwhelmed once againby the decadence of it all. The room was elegance personified. The largeking-sized bed was on a raised platform on one side of the room, complete withan honest-to-God canopy. She’d always wanted a canopy bed as a child, but therewas never the money for such frivolous things.

Whileher small family hadn’t lived in poverty, it may have been stretching things tosay they were lower middle class. Her mother, Joanne, had gotten pregnant withher while still in high school. Needless to say, her father, a teenagerhimself, had refused to accept responsibility for her. Although Meg knew hisname, she’d never made any attempt to contact him. He’d gone off to college,married, and now lived happily ever after with his legitimate family.

Meg’sgrandfather had died before she was born, so Meg grew up in a house full ofwomen. Her Grandma Linda was the glue that kept their little family of threetogether. She had worked as a secretary in an accounting firm and when hermother had graduated from high school, she went to work for the same firm.Together, they had scrimped and saved every penny they made so that when Meggraduated she could attend college.

Megsilently wished they were here to see this room. Grandma would have laughed tosee her living, even for just one night, like a princess in a palace and hermom would have been trying to guess what every piece of furniture cost. Cancerclaimed them both and not a day went by when she didn’t miss them dearly.

Asoft knock on the door at her back jarred Meg from her recollections.

“Yes?”

“Ifound some clothes that may fit,” Rob replied.

Takinga calming breath, Meg opened the door. The longer she spent in Rob’s presencethe more she wanted him. She’d never felt such an immediate or overwhelmingattraction to a man.

Hestood in the doorway with an easy-going, friendly grin. “You’re still dressed.”

Reachingfor the clothing he offered, Meg silently cursed her trembling hand.

He’dobviously mistaken her distress for nerves instead of the pure hot streak ofsexual energy that was pulsing through her body. “I know it doesn’t help tosimply hear the words, but you can trust me. I won’t hurt you.”

“Ohno, Rob.” Meg stared at his totally kissable lips before catching herself. “Itrust you. Really I do. I’m just tired. That’s all.”

God,what would he do if she leaned forward and kissed him? Shaking the thought fromher head, she felt her sensible, boring side taking control again.

Theslight grin on his face seemed to indicate he suddenly understood what hertrembling was about.

“Meg.”He leaned toward her.

Sheknew she should take a step back, but she felt as if her feet were sunk inconcrete.

“Yes?”

“I’mgoing to kiss you.” His mouth inches from hers. Meg could only assume he wasgiving her a chance to refuse him if she wanted.

“ThankGod.” She rose up the last two inches until her lips brushed his. She wasstunned by the softness of his kiss. She’d anticipated a rushed, frantic maybeeven awkward kiss, which certainly described how she felt, but Rob clearly hadother plans. His lips studied hers as if they had the rest of their lives tofigure out how to do it right.

“Youknow.” His voice tickled her as he whispered against her cheek, placing softkisses everywhere he touched. “Part of the festivities tomorrow include a kissing contest.”

“Noneed to bother. You win.”

Chucklinglightly, he tugged at her earlobe with his teeth. “Last year, the winningcouple kissed for three and a half hours.”

“Mmmm.” Meg struggled to comprehend hiscomments.

“Perhapswe could try to beat that time.” His lips followed the curve of her neck beforeplacing soft kisses just under her chin. “Of course, it would require somepractice.”

“Practice.” Meg was aware she must sound like amindless droid, but she didn’t care. She ran her hands through his soft brownhair, pulling his lips back to hers. He was talking far too much.

Hekissed her again, much more deeply this time, his tongue enticing and teasinghers. His arms were holding her so closely she wasn’t sure where she ended andhe began. His hands drifted down her back, but the dampness of her clothingseemed to rouse him from their impetuous actions.

Pullingaway, he looked down. “You are going to catch a cold if you don’t get out ofthose wet clothes soon.”

Hiswords caused her face to flush with embarrassment. Despite her desires, shefelt her ‘good girl’ upbringing bubbling back to the forefront. She reached upto hide her blushing cheeks. “Shit Rob. What you must think of me?”

“What?”

“I’mnot easy.” Her cursed honesty flew out of her mouth before she could hold itback. “I mean, I swear, I’ve never gone to a hotel room with a stranger andthen started