Seven Night Stand Read Free Page A

Nathan Harrington this evening. You can tell Lee and Gerry I’ll e-mail them a full report in the morning.”
    “Okay. That should hold them. So, you really think this one is going to work out?” Ellen’s voice lowered and Vivvy knew it was her confidant tone. The tone she used to try to lure Vivvy into a friendship.
    Mainly she kept Ellen and her attempts at arm’s length, but she was still the closest thing Vivvy had to a genuine friend.
    “Yes.” It was tempting to offer more. To gossip about Nate’s looks or confide in Ellen over the doubts Nate had, but that would be giving away too much.
    Vivvy applied lipstick with the phone cradled between ear and shoulder. She had the control over her life now, wasn’t the little girl begging her itinerant actor parents to stay in one place, but that didn’t mean she had any illusions about herself.
    Somewhere along the line she’d lost the ability to open up to that connection, and that was fine. Preferable, really.
    “Just make sure they know it’s all going great. That I’m beyond confident.”
    “I will.” Ellen paused. “You know, if there’s anything I can do to help...”
    “You’ll be the first one I call, Ellen, thanks.”
    “So, where do you think a business dinner in the middle of nowhere happens? I’m guessing sushi or fine dining is out.”
    “Well, I haven’t had a Big Mac in years. Maybe I’ll get lucky.”
    When Ellen laughed, Vivvy knew they were skirting friend territory instead of coworker territory. “I have to go. Don’t forget to—”
    “I’ve already written it down. I’ll tell them you called and things are good the minute they’re out of the meeting.”
    Vivvy said her good-byes and then gave herself one last look in the mirror. Business dinner was probably a stretch, but what could be the harm? Dinner with Nate certainly wouldn’t impede her professional judgment. It wasn’t like sharing food and maybe a bottle of wine would make her some kind of mindless idiot incapable of making her own decisions.
    Even mind-blowing sex wouldn’t do that. Not that she was planning on having sex with Nate. Sure she’d found a drugstore on her way back to the hotel, and yes, she’d bought a box of condoms, but...
    Oh, who was she kidding? If Nate offered, she was going to jump his bones. He was gorgeous, charming, and the perfect candidate for a no-strings-attached affair. She was only here a week. And even if Tyson picked up the show, she’d move on to the next one. What could go wrong?
    She’d changed into a black skirt with a high enough slit to show off some thigh with the right movement. Her plum button-up shirt was the one she’d worn all day, but she’d ditched the jacket and unbuttoned the shirt a little so her cleavage was more visible. A touch of smoky eye makeup, exchanging two-inch heels for three, and she was quite satisfied with the look. It was still professional, but a more seductive professional. Appropriate attire no matter which direction the evening took.
    Hopefully it kept her away from Ivy Vines.
    Ivy Vines was no five-star hotel. Maybe a half of a star. No, a fourth of a star. Everything was dingy, old. There was an incriminating stain on the carpet on one side of the bed. The man who had checked her in had made no bones about staring at her chest.
    She would be spending as much time as possible away from this place. Even keep her suitcase in the trunk of her rental car. And find somewhere else to shower. If the sink was any indication, the shower would be dirty and hairy.
    Vivvy glanced at the clock. Seven. Thank God. She made sure all her valuables were in her purse before leaving the room and heading for the lobby.
    In the dim entry of the motel, Nate was already waiting. That, at least, made her smile.
    He had changed into darker wash jeans and a black button-up shirt casually open at his throat. He still looked windswept and sexy. Most of the guys she had dated in LA were artistic actor types. More lanky