nodded and then stood up and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling plate-glass windows. Elizabeth hesitated for a second before going to join him.
“I want to warn you, Elizabeth, that this job is not without its drawbacks. You have worked hard to get here but you haven’t reached the final destination. You will still have to work hard—harder even than before—and there is a lot that you will find yourself sacrificing.”
“I’m aware of that,” she said.
“If at any time you find that you no longer wish to make that sacrifice, let me know.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Elizabeth reassured him.
“You might find yourself feeling differently,” he said. “I’ve always put the lodge first.”
“I do, as well,” she said. “This job is the most important thing in my life.”
“I have noticed, but you do run the risk of ending up just like me.”
“Great,” she said. “I want to be successful.”
“But you might also wind up alone. It’s not for everyone,” he said. “Just think about it.”
She nodded, and he said his goodbyes and left. She thought about her midnight call from Bradley and their dinner plans for tomorrow. She didn’t know if it was wise to tempt fate and make their friendship into something more, but she also knew she wasn’t going to back down.
Having it all seemed like a challenge but she was more than up to the task, she reassured herself. Really, she was.
* * *
HER PHONE RANG a little after midnight, just as she shut off the Late Show and was preparing to go to sleep.
“Still struggling with the time zones?”
“Yes, but not in the way you mean. I’m wide-awake, even though it’s the middle of the night. Too much time in the U.K.”
“What were you doing there, by the way?” she asked. “Forgot to ask the other night.”
“We just got a new contract. But that’s not why I called. We can talk business any time. The middle of the night...that’s our time for fantasy.”
“Fantasy? I thought you were a real man,” she teased. “Did I make you up?”
She got out of bed and walked quickly to the wall switch to turn off the overhead light before going back to bed. She lay in the middle of the queen-size mattress, plumped the pillows up behind her and settled down to talk to Bradley.
A long time ago she’d given up the illusion that any man would be sharing her bed regularly. She thought part of it was due to the fact that she didn’t want to have to compromise on any of the things she wanted. But the other part...well, she didn’t want to risk falling in love and acting stupid again.
“Oh, I’m real enough. I didn’t think you’d appreciate a midnight visit, so I called instead.”
“This is getting to be a habit,” she said. “I guess you’re safely back in Utah?”
“I am. Landed earlier today. Crashed for a few hours and then tried calling you around dinner time.”
“I had my phone on silent. I was in an executive meeting,” she said. “So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this late-night call? Is it to discuss our benefits?”
“Benefits. That’s such a fun word. What do you think they should look like?”
“You shirtless, waiting on me hand and foot,” she said.
Keep it light. She wanted him in her bed, too. She wanted someone she could share her fears with. This new job, the one she’d hoped was the pinnacle of her career, suddenly felt like another summit she still had to climb.
“Ah, I see. A glorified cabana boy.”
“Sort of. It’s a shame you didn’t just return from someplace sunny.”
“I’m naturally pretty tanned. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed,” he murmured.
She didn’t think so, either, but his ego was big enough without her stroking it. Though stroking him was what she wanted. She hated to admit it, but the truth was she was ready for sex. And a lot of it. Yet, by the same token, she didn’t want to let this stray into anything other than their regular friendship.
She sighed. End this now before it turns into another regret.
“What’s wrong, Lizzie?” he asked softly.
Guess she shouldn’t be surprised that he’d noticed her sudden trepidation. After all, they’d always been pretty in tune with each other. And even though she kind of wished he wasn’t quite so observant right now, it was probably better to just get this all out in the open.
“Well, if you must know...we haven’t had sex yet and this is getting complicated.”
“Only if you let it,” he said.
Her friend always knew the right thing to say to calm her down and make her believe things would get better. He was the reason they’d made this bargain. She would have been happy for a one-night hookup at Marina’s wedding and a lifetime of loneliness, but Bradley had teased her with the thought that she could have more.
“I hope it’s that easy.”
“Of course it is,” he said.
“You—
“Me and you,” he said. “That’s what this is about. We know what we want.”
“We do?” she asked. She wasn’t as brazen about that now as she had been last night. But then, he hadn’t just woken her from a steamy dream that had left her hot for him.
Reality had intruded big-time today and she was confused. That was it. She didn’t know what she wanted anymore. It wasn’t as straightforward as it had been the day before.
“Lizzie?”
“Yes.”
“I want you.”
His voice was deep and husky as it vibrated in her ear, and it sent shivers of desire down her spine.
“How do you want me?”
“Lying next to me. Curled up close so that I can lean over you,” he said.
“I’d like that. I’ve been thinking about that one kiss...wanting to know if it was the atmosphere and the champagne that made you taste so good, made it feel so right.”
“I can promise it wasn’t just that. It was you and me.”
You and me. He kept linking them together as though they belonged with each other. “You know this is just sex.”
“It’s
