Lex wiped off her chest with a towel while standing in front of the hotel room door. She had pushed herself hard at the gym downstairs. Sweat was still rolling down her back.

She had needed the workout after today. It had been a challenging day from the start. But having to share a room tonight felt like the straw that might break the camel’s back.

Lex’s resolve to keep things professional with Mary was quickly crumbling. Rationally, she thought she was doing the right thing. Emotionally, she was struggling.

It had been a long time since she had even come close to falling for someone. Even then, it had been a long and well-considered process. Not so with Mary.

Lex hadn’t even tried to stop it. Not really. When she made an effort to do the right thing, it was always half-hearted. And then there were the moments when she didn’t even realize she was crossing lines until it was too late.

This afternoon, when Mary had bumped into her, for example. Lex’s hips had pressed back into Mary out their own accord. And man, it had felt so good for a second. Lex had gasped in shock.

She should have apologized on the spot. She had been too flustered. Bringing it up later would have been even more awkward. So she had pretended nothing had happened. Again.

What worried Lex most was that this latest incident had happened in public. If she couldn’t trust herself with hundreds of people around, what would happen when she was alone with Mary?

She guessed she was about to find out. The accident with the sprinklers had forced them into a room together. The hotel had offered them an upgrade to a suite, but Lex had had to clear her room so that the other sprinkler victim had a place to stay.

At least the suite had two bedrooms, Lex thought. But really, what were the odds of ending up in the wedding suite with Mary? The universe was having a good laugh at their expense.

Everything in the suite was, of course, designed for romance. Fresh roses were standing on the table in the living room. The white furniture was very cozy and English-looking. The view of the city was stunning.

And then there was the master bedroom with its fairy-tale-like bed that was perfect for long, sleepless nights with a lover. Lex had looked at it and pictured herself in it, holding Mary in her arms.

Just the thought had made her heart feel so full Lex had decided she couldn’t sleep in the bed alone. She had insisted Mary take it and she would stay in the small, spare bedroom.

When they had walked around the suite together, they soon discovered a large jacuzzi in the master bedroom’s bathroom. It had several seats and came with an assortment of oils and fragrances to fit any mood.

It was then that Lex had decided she needed to escape as soon as possible. The easiest way to do that was to go out for an evening workout.

She had thought a long run would take care of the built-up energy that had pulsed in the pit of her stomach all afternoon. But it hadn’t. If anything, the release of endorphins had intensified it.

The result was that she was feeling very good about herself. Her body was buzzing with confidence. It knew exactly what it wanted. Lex could think of only two ways to give it that.

She looked down at the hoodie in her hand. She knew she should put it on before entering the room. She knew she looked sexy in this outfit. There was no need to tease Mary over and over again.

She had already done that enough today. First, she had worn the blouse with the cleavage on purpose. Then the hips incident. Lex was playing hot and cold again. Except the hot was winning.

Feeling Mary’s appreciating eyes on her today had made Lex feel so damned good again. To be frank, it had turned her on. The force inside her was increasingly demanding release.

Perhaps Lex could get rid of all that energy in the shower. Her heart would still be aching, but at least her body would be satisfied for now.

Lex opened the door, not bothering with the hoodie. She was going to give Mary a quick wave and then walk straight into her bedroom.

But her plan changed as soon as she saw Mary. She was on the couch with an empty champagne flute in one hand and a bottle in the other. Lex also spotted a tray with rose petals and a metal container.

Her pulse picked up. Wow, ordering champagne was a bold move. A clear invitation to throw aside caution and give in to these feelings. Should Lex sit down and let whatever might happen, happen?