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firmed his grip on her hand. "Now, what did you want to talk about?"
    Her heart took a big thump. He hadn't forgotten her little squawk. "Uh..."
    His head tilted again. Colors from the show across the street rainbowed across one side of his face. God, he was beautiful, and the way he was looking at her, like she was the most desirable thing in the world... It shattered her.
    But if she was going to do this, she was going to be responsible about it. Valerie took a deep breath. "I knew what I was doing when I invited you up here, I'm not going to pretend otherwise. But I have to admit I'm hardly...prepared."
    He stayed in his tilted-head position. "Do you mean you don't have any condoms?"
    "Well, um..." Talk about being right up front. Valerie swallowed. "Yeah."
    "I've taken care of it."
    "Oh." He had? When? She didn't remember him ducking into a pharmacy. But maybe he carried a pack all the time, just in case, because for him jumping into bed with some stranger was not the least bit extraordinary.
    He kept looking at her, serious, utterly manly. And completely out of her league.
    Valerie swallowed again, painfully. She'd been living in a fantasy all evening, pretending she was important to him. In fact, she was only one among many. A man who looked like this — he could have any woman, any truly fascinating woman, he wanted.
    "So it's okay." Roy's voice was soft. Using his hold on her hand, he drew her closer. "No problems."
    Valerie wanted to laugh. No problems? She was only coming to terms with her own foolishness here. She hadn't been keeping fantasy separate from reality.
    Roy turned her so she could look out the window. The fountains speared upward, synchronized. She watched them numbly as Roy took a stance behind her. He draped his arms over her shoulders, gently leaning her back against his chest.
    He felt solid as a rock. Not like Peter, or any of the other few men she'd had in her life. No, Valerie had never been with a man as sheerly masculine, as powerful, and — and — potent.
    Nor had she been with a man as sensitive. He appeared to know all was not right with her. In a gesture of warm protectiveness, he smoothed his hands up and down her arms.
    But she couldn't relax. Okay, so they had condoms; she was protected from pregnancy and disease. But what about her heart? She wasn't special to Roy, just a stop along the way. A crazy part of her wanted to be more than that. As if she even knew him well enough to sincerely wish such a thing.
    "What is it?" His voice was thick. "What's wrong?"
    Valerie's throat felt too tight to talk.
    "Tell me." Roy's teeth nipped her neck, very gently.
    Pleasure crackled through her. And yet — "I — There can't be a morning," Valerie blurted.
    He halted, his face against her neck.
    Valerie winced. There can't be a morning ? Oh yeah, that was clear.
    Meanwhile he straightened. Valerie composed herself as he took a step back and they faced each other.
    His charcoal eyes regarded her with concern.
    Valerie felt a flutter in her stomach. No, she really didn't want a 'morning after' with this man. He was so — desirable. She could become far too vulnerable. Fortunately, she'd thought of a way to prevent heartbreak.
    "I don't want a morning after," she told him. "I want us to make a deal. Now."
    "A deal?" Concern turned to confusion.
    She swallowed. "I'm checking out of the hotel tomorrow anyway. So, whoever gets up first in the morning leaves. No waking the other person. No goodbyes. Nothing. A clean — that's all. It'll be clean."
    His expression seemed to freeze. Though Valerie couldn't tell what he was thinking, she knew he would agree. He couldn't want the awkwardness of a morning after any more than she did — probably less. If they did what she suggested, they'd never have to face each other again.
    This dream of hers would be able to remain that, a pure, unsullied dream.
    "That's what you want," he said at last, his tone now flat. "Whoever gets up first, leaves."
    No, that